At First Breach, we take pride in that our products are manufactured solely in the United States of America. Our manufacturing facility is housed in what was once a fabrication plant for the Fairchild Engine & Aircraft Corporation in Hagerstown, MD. The history of the building and roots in American manufacturing perfectly aligns with our values and mission at First Breach and further instills and inspires our sense of patriotism every day.
The Building’s History
Construction of the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation facility at the Hagerstown Airport began in early 1941 with the fabrication of Plant 2. With the entry of the United States into World War II in December of that same year, demand for Fairchild aircraft increased exponentially. In 1943 several additional assembly bays were constructed, and an all wooden, curved-roof hangar used for flight testing of all aircraft before delivery. The most significant addition to the facility began in late 1944 and continued through early 1945. Construction of a large final assembly bay, sub-assembly areas, and additional flight test hangar space was finished in early 1945. Although, construction of the Fairchild facility at the Hagerstown Airport ended in the early 1960s with the addition of a small final assembly building for the Fairchild-Hiller FH-1100 helicopter, the facility would see the production of arguably its best-known and long-lasting product, the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. As affectionately known, the “Warthog” is still an active aircraft in the U.S. Air Force. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the infantryman’s friend and is, without exception, the most remarkable close-air support aircraft ever made! In preserving this history, the Hagerstown Aviation Museum is home to the world’s most extensive collection of Fairchild aircraft and memorabilia.
First Breach - Our Factory
The First Breach factory occupies 80,000 sq ft of space with
another 120,000 sq ft of contiguous space for future growth. We
are in the old Fairchild-Republic Aircraft plant where the WW II
PT-19 Trainer and the A-10 Thunderbolt close air support (CAS)
attack aircraft were manufactured and assembled.
As an ISO 9001 certified, vertically integrated manufacturer
of small caliber components and ammunition, we house a large
variety of machines and equipment.
Below is an
overview of our manufacturing assets and their purpose at
First Breach.
Raw-Material & Metal-Forming Equipment
Our process begins by transforming raw metals into building blocks of
precision ammunition. Brass, copper, and lead are refined and shaped
using advanced rolling, slitting, and wire drawing technologies. We
utilize consistent Copper-Zinc alloy rolls, while our heavy-duty presses
form uniform cups for cases and jackets. Every step is engineered to
ensure material integrity, consistency, and readiness for downstream
manufacturing.
Cartridge Case Manufacturing Machines
Our cartridge cases are produced using highly automated,
multi-stage forming systems designed for consistency across
calibers such as 9 mm, 5.56 NATO, and .223 Remington.
Progressive drawing presses shape each case, followed by
controlled annealing to maintain proper metallurgical
properties. Precision trimming, mouth-forming, and head-stamping
ensure exact specifications, while advanced cleaning systems
deliver a polished, inspection-ready final product.
Bullet (Projectile) Manufacturing Equipment
We currently manufacture FMJ projectiles through a tightly
controlled, multi-step process. Using premium lead, we utilize our
own in-house smelter and extrude our own lead wire. Lead cores are
cast, cut, and swaged to precise weights, while copper jackets are
formed and trimmed for consistency.
Cartridge Loading and Assembly Line
Fully integrated, high-speed assembly lines bring all components
together into finished cartridges. Automated systems manage case
feeding, primer seating, powder charging, and bullet seating
with exceptional precision. Modular tooling allows rapid caliber
changeovers between 9 mm, 5.56 NATO, and .223 Remington,
maintaining both flexibility and efficiency in production.
Quality Control & Inspection Equipment
As an ISO 9001 Certified factory, quality is embedded at every stage of
our manufacturing process. Advanced optical inspection systems detect
defects in real time, while case-gauging and dimensional analysis ensure
compliance with strict tolerances. Bullet weights and measurements are
continuously verified, supported by statistical process control systems
that monitor production trends and maintain consistent, repeatable
performance across all product lines.
CNC Machines
First Breach utilizes its CNC machines for a variety of applications.
Ammunition production requires extreme precision tooling, and this
precision tooling wears out rapidly and must be maintained and
replaced. By having our CNC machines in-house, it drastically
reduces downtime and cost. From a safety perspective, our CNC
machines support the factory without touching energetic
materials.
In short, our CNC machines don’t make ammunition
directly; they make everything that makes ammunition possible.
