Hundred Years of PFA Tradition
In 1926, the first batch of ammunition was available to purchase.
It was the beginning of the development of Skarżysko arms factories. Over a dozen thousand inhabitants of the city worked in them throughout history. Over time, this activity has become a tradition in many families, which continues to this day. Knowledge, commitment, and professionalism have been passed down from generation to generation. These values, combined with the latest technical solutions, mean that Skarżysko ammunition is gaining more recognition in global markets. Based on these experiences, the Polish Ammunition Factory (PFA) was established.
The basis of our activity is primarily a passion for shooting combined with technical knowledge and many years of experience. We have developed an enterprise thanks to which we develop ourselves.
We attach importance to each stage of production so that the ammunition we create is of the highest quality. Shooting is also our passion, so we make sure that the final product meets our expectations. Below there are the various stages of ammunition production, emphasizing the importance of QUALITY.
Explore the PFA ammunition manufacturing process.
The first stage of production presented by us is the so-called “Recycling of shells” (in the production of re-elaborated ammunition).
Each product goes through a pre-selection process. Already in the first phase, we reject faulty shotgun shells. These are both significantly deformed and those that can be excluded later by an automated selection system.
At this stage, a significant part of each batch of recovered shotgun shell goes to scrap. The next stages of selection are: several-step, detailed cleaning, followed by formatting, during which we form the shotgun shells shape and dimensions identical to the new shotgun shells.
Each recovered shotgun shell goes through many checks to check its re-use at each stage of ammunition production.
Iron pressing takes place on a modern production line created by the world-renowned creator of this type of machine assembly (the company name is the trade secret of PFA). His products have international CIP and SAMI certification, thus guaranteeing the safe use of weapons and ammunition. Our staff has undergone thorough training with specialists from this reputable company and is in constant contact with them.
At this stage, the shotgun shells are merged with the primer. Quality control takes place several times during the operation of an advanced production line. Initially, optoelectronic and mechanical sensors control the length and depth of the shotgun shells, and then the primer socket parameters are checked. The next stage is the fire channel patency test. We end the process with automated control of the primer setting depth.
Each batch of ammunition is subject to primer depth control. It supplements the review taking place at an earlier stage of production.
Shotgun shells are inspected twice – they are the basis for the proper operation of the powder charge initiation by the primer.
The most critical element of merging is the repeatability of each process related to this stage of ammunition production.
For this purpose, we also use a technologically advanced production line made by the aforementioned company. Precision mechanics and all electronic solutions used in these devices guarantee the correct implementation of the merging process.
During the initial phase of elaboration and reelaboration, shotgun shells are checked again for their technical parameters. The presence of the primer and its proper fit are also checked. Only after these activities the machine integrates the bullet with the shotgun shell.
This phase involves electronic and mechanical measurement of the amount of powder dosed (with an accuracy of 0.002 g). Next, another device controls the depth of the projectile embedment and examines the final dimensions of the produced cartridge.
All described devices are equipped with an electronic measurement system. At each stage of the cartridge production process, the suitability of the husk for reuse is examined. It is particularly important when using recycled material, but this also applies to new shotgun shells. The machine makes the selection itself – the detection of a faulty scale interrupts the production line operation and forces the use of appropriate procedures.
PFA verifies 100% of its products, i.e. every cartridge!
Most manufacturers report that 0.1 – 10% of the batch produced is subjected to final verification.
Additional quality control of PFA ammunition is its random control in laboratories belonging to the producer of production lines. It has CIP and SAMI Certificates, which guarantees the safe use of weapons and ammunition.