Freedom Munitions just hit a rough patch along with its parent company and other related entities. (Photo: Freedom Munitions)
Update: Freedom Munitions issued a response about their restructuring. We’ve added the comments to the article below.
Freedom Munitions is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It’s filing for bankruptcy along with other related brands including Howell Machine and X-Treme Bullets. The brands are owned by Howell Munitions & Technology and all four entities are filing in Reno, Nev.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies to reorganize their structure and debt. The Freedom Munitions website is still up and running where they sell guns, ammo and other shooting accessories. The X-Treme Bullets page is up and working, too.
“We would like to take this time to assure our valuable customers of the ongoing commitment to provide affordable ammunition to shooting sport enthusiasts around the country,” said Freedom Munitions.
“Freedom Munitions will continue to manufacture ammunition, ship orders and provide the best service we possibly can,” they added. “We are still here and plan on maintaining a steady path of manufacturing cost effective ammunition and moving towards a positive future.”
Freedom Munitions is known for its inexpensive target and plinking ammunition. They manufacture and remanufacture popular ammunition and largely sell it online. They also sell other prominent brands of ammo.
The company is one of the bigger names in remanufactured ammunition. (Photo: Freedom Munitions)
Freedom Munitions had a physical retail location in Houston that they closed earlier this year.
It’s a bit of a surprise as ammunition sales are still strong after years of surges in demand and slow increase in supplies. Ammo makers around the world have ramped up production to meet the increasing American appetite for ammo.
The overwhelming increase in demand for ammo peaked a few years ago when buyers completely wiped out ammunition stores across the country. Prices went through the roof and many people simply stopped shooting. Even some police departments ran out of ammunition for training and qualifications.
The increase in demand was largely a response to the Obama-era push for increased gun control and ammunition bans. It was also intensified by a similar increase in the number of new gun owners just then getting into shooting.
Since then almost every ammo manufacturer has expanded with prices finally stabilizing. And while under Trump there is less pressure for more gun control, there are still many politicians and gun control advocates calling for gun, magazine and ammo restrictions.
Because of this and the ever-expanding body of gun owners, it’s pretty easy to sell ammo. Why Freedom Munitions and its family are going bankrupt is unclear.
It’s possible that Freedom Munitions over-expanded during the gun and ammo sales surge and now is struggling with the slow drop in demand and prices.
It could also be a simple issue with leadership. Legendary manufacturer Remington has been struggling for years under the leadership of Cerebus Capitol Management.
See Also: Remington Successfully Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Remington filed for bankruptcy multiple times in efforts to reorganize its debt. Gun owners turned away from the brand for a few reasons after Cerebus took over.
In an apparent attempt to maximize profit, Remington started cutting corners in quality control and lowered their standards for fit and finish. The company also failed to innovate and focused more on government contracts and brand recognition.
Hopefully Freedom Munitions will be able to restructure quickly and efficiently. They’re a go-to ammo supplier for shooters everywhere.
Please send me a brochure on your munitions available for sale
Thank you
I’ve been using Freedom ammo for years, usually the remanufactured stuff for training, in four different calibers and different bullet weights/types in each. I’m rather thrifty, and will usually buy the least expensive product of good quality I can find, and I rarely find ammo for less than Freedom’s. I had problems with one batch of their ammo that I believe had hard primers. But because I’m only using it for training, I consider that an opportunity to practice a malfunction drill! Friends of mine have bought less expensive ammo elsewhere and have had multiple problems with some of it, including very dangerous squib rounds. Never had such a problem with Freedom Munitions.
Never did business with Freedom since I have a local outlet within walking distance from my home. That said, While some continue to quarrel among themselves, there is another reason why Freedom Munitions may be a bellwether predicting the decline of gun ownership in America. States such as CA, NY, NJ, OR, WA, CT, MA, and other Blue states have pasted restrictive and unconstitutional laws regarding ones right to purchase ammo and bear arms. This has shrunk the consumer base for many firearm, ammunition and accessory manufacturers, and retailers. This is the strategy that the anti-2nd Amendment movement is using successfully to disarm America. Banning \”large capacity mags, a plethora of semi-auto rifles, and pistols they define as \”Assault Weapons\”. Requiring ammo be bought through an FFL. In CT as well as other states, requiring a permit to purchase ammo. These are the real culprits, that in the long run, will make gun ownership in America a distant memory. I suggest we focus our anger at those who will take our freedoms from us and get out and vote in this years mid-term. It\’s a horrific thought that Nancy Pelosi might gain control of the gavel in November.
all the rest of guns and ammo, and parts manufacturers should file bankruptcy especially if they were financed by the lenders penalizing them for producing and selling firearms related merchandise.
BTW F*CK DENIRO
Theses negative comments don’t comport with my experience at all. Most of my shooting friends and I have used Freedom ammo for many years. Quality, reliability, consistency, variety of ammo, excellent customer service, excellent prices, and delivery to my door, I couldn’t ask for more. They do not owe us an explanation of their financial matters as long as they give us what we buy. If I had to guess what changed, it would be the new law in Kalifornia that stopped direct internet sales of ammunition. Now that ammo orders must go through an FFL, Freedom’s competitive price and convenience advantages have been destroyed. I sincerely wish this company and its employees and their families a speedy recovery from this problem. I hope others in the shooting community will offer their support as well. God bless you all. -victor
Poor Freedom. Business has to compete. Their price has to be exceptional, or their product, or their service. I have no personal knowledge of how Freedom’s product, service, or prices compare. So I’ll just throw out, if they are having to file bankruptcy, then something is falling short somewhere.
Of course, bankruptcy is influenced by other things too, like whether you go into business without adequate knowledge or capital, or by going into a field that is already very crowded.
It is just the way things work. Like Remington. A once-great old time firearms company, but they waited too long to move out of an anti gun, high tax and high labor cost state. And they have had some glaring design missteps with a new product or two. And I’ve heard their quality control has really slipped.
So too bad, Remington, Freedom, Charles Daly, Olympic, etc. You didn’t make the grade in a highly competitive environment. Just like Plymouth, Saturn, Pontiac, Oldsmobile.
Btw, I was reading comments last nite on a liberal news site, and they were really cheering Remington’s possible demise, like it actually indicates the demise of the firearms business as a whole. But of course we all know lefties know nothing about economics and how business actually works.
Obama’s remark to business owners, “You didn’t build that,” is certain proof he knows nothing about business. Glad that clown’s gone.
I have been buying straight from their store in Jersey Village Texas for about 8 years now and the store prices are a lot cheaper than their online prices. A whole different group handles their online sales. I have shot 8 or 9 different calibers of their ammo (reman and new) and only had two FTF’s with their 5.56 reman. It didn’t bother me since I only use their reman at the range and use their new stuff for defense and hunting. They also carry a lot more calibers and other brands in their store that they do not show on their website. The guys in the store are excellent to deal with and they will usually load you up with FM stickers, stickers from other companies, patches and anything else they have on the counter lol. I was getting bricks of .22LR for $39.99 when it couldn’t be found anywhere else. They were selling another companies brand just to help out their customers. I shoot more than the average person here in Texas since I work for myself as a Gunsmith and can hit the ranges during the week down here. I also buy my ammo in bulk most of the time. Freedom Munition’s prices do go up and down but their store prices are always cheaper than anywhere else that I have found. What they have in stock in the store is also different than what they have online. We got lucky down here in Texas during the big ammo shortage and a lot of places still had ammo on the shelves. If you went outside the city areas, you could always find local stores with stuff in stock. If you ever have a problem with their online store people, call the store and talk to the manager to make a complaint. They do value their customers and don’t try to price gouge their customers. They will tell you exactly what they are paying to get the ammo made. They also have a brass trade-in program to help keep the prices down which is pretty cool. I don’t work at their store and I am just a satisfied customer who has shot a ton of their ammo through the years. Do yourself a favor and check out their store if you are ever in the area.
“Freedom Munitions is known for its inexpensive target and plinking ammunition.”
That is a frakkin’ joke. One of the reasons they had to file Chapter11 is their ammo was over priced compared to the market. I can pick up 1000rds of factory 9mm for less than their reloads were selling for.
They made a name during the dark times after Sandy Hook and tried to continue to ride that horse. The only problem is that the market corrected and that horse was no longer a winner.
They dumped all their money into providing ammo to all the various popular Youtubers and that backfired (pun intended).
They competition community realized their ammo was of questionable quality control and they moved on to other companies.
Freedom tried to continue a business practice that thrived under supply scarcity failing to understand or recognize that the supply issues that first made them successful had resolved itself.
Then, in an effort to control costs, they cut corners on their quality control.
In the end they priced themselves out of the market along with questionable reliability.
I’ve purchased from Freedom Munitions for several years with great satisfaction. Their re-manufactured ammo is perfect for me and I’ve never had a problem in all five calibers. The immediate “out of stock” situation on many sizes does not lend itself to foreseeable survivor-ship without explanation.
I\’ve used its products off and on for several years.. So-so practice ammo but the stuff did not always go \”bang\” when I worked the trigger; Ditto with the ammo made by \”Midwest\”.. Keeping that in mind, using either brand for range time is acceptable, given their price point, but, no, I would not use it as my carry or home defense ammunition… Still, it\’s sad to see any manufacturer have struggles of this kind.. All of those people in the photograph have mortgages, car payments, kids to support and health care to pay for… I certainly hope Freedom Ammunition can right its financial ship…
After they screwed me over a few times in shipping, not filling an order and there “we don’t care attitude” I stopped using them. It would seem I was not the only person they screwed over and treated like crap.
I love FREEDOM MUNITIONS, their ammo is just as good as the big names in the industry. They manufactur good clean shooting ammo for very good prices. I have used several different ammo calibers. I will remain loyal to them.
Every time I bought from them, their shipping speed was glacial. They just couldn’t compete with other sellers.
On the 4-5 orders I placed with them, my experience was just the opposite. All orders arrived within days. On 1 order, I was making sure something new (to me) would be handled without issues, but RN was sent instead of JHP. When I contacted FM, they sent the box I ordered and said to enjoy the RN box on them.
When Freedom screwed me over in favor of a “bigger” customer, I swore I’d never buy from them again, and I never did. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one either.