One Killed, Three Missing In Sellier & Bellot Ammo Plant Explosion

[ReloaderFred]

http://bearingarms.com/one-killed-t...urce=badaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

Approximately 30% of their ammunition production is sold in the U.S.

 

[Walkalong]

That's terrible. Do they know the cause of the detonation yet?

 

[kcofohio]

https://www.rt.com/news/316077-czech-republic-firearms-blast/

This article says there was no fire afterward. Primer mix, possibly?

I read where Sellier & Bellot are, or has been into much military munitions.

Maybe somebody from that region can clue us in better.

 

[fguffey]

The last fatal accident at this facility was in 2003, when mercury fulminate used in primers detonated, killing one employee and injuring another.

I have 2 boxes of S&B 303 British ammo, nothing on the boxes indicate what type of primers were used. I am sure all of the ammo made with mercury fulminate by S&B went to the other 70% of their customers.

F. Guffey

http://www.cowart.info/Florida History/Dupont/Dupont Biography.htm

 

[Snejdarek]

S&B was founded in 1825, making it one of the world's oldest ammunition makers. (are there any older ones still in business actually?)

They make 2 million rounds of ammo daily, 66% of the production goes to civilian markets. 30% of production is sold in US.

I.e. S&B sells 219.000.000 rounds of ammo in US annually.

The explosion happened in the part of manufacture when the primer is inserted into the cartridge. The detonation was contained to the building where it happened with no damage/danger to anything around.

 

[danez71]

Did any one notice this part?

An explosion in 2014 at PB Clarmont in Belgium sent the entire global ammunition market scrambling for rifle powder, an effect which is finally starting to subside.

 

[kcofohio]

S&B was founded in 1825, making it one of the world's oldest ammunition makers. (are there any older ones still in business actually?)

They make 2 million rounds of ammo daily, 66% of the production goes to civilian markets. 30% of production is sold in US.

I.e. S&B sells 219.000.000 rounds of ammo in US annually.

The explosion happened in the part of manufacture when the primer is inserted into the cartridge. The detonation was contained to the building where it happened with no damage/danger to anything around.

Thank you for the update.

DuPont's legacy, maybe, through IMR and Alliant Powders.

 

[1911 guy]

That sucks for a few reasons. The most important is that four families are hurting right now.

Distant to that, it's going to have an effect, large or small, on ammunition availability and price.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Snejdarek, thanks for your always useful info from the CR. This is horrible - sympathies for the families and everyone at S & B. Hope the death toll does not rise, and that they are able to regroup and get back to work soon.

 

[Ryanxia]

That's too bad. I actually just stuck 100 rounds into my BOB last night because they came to me shrink wrapped and they don't hardly rattle in the boxes.