In 2026, CCI Ammunition—formally Cascade Cartridge Inc.—marks its 75th anniversary with a fitting tribute to innovation and American ingenuity. Founded in 1951—or, actually, a few years before when Dick Speer and his brother Vernon moved to Idaho to start companies to manufacture components for the ammunition reloading market—this Lewiston, Idaho-based manufacturer evolved from a small primer operation in a converted chicken coop into a global leader in rimfire ammunition and reloading components.
CCI’s 75th anniversary celebrations include new product launches, special-edition collaborations and commemorative merchandise, underscoring CCI’s role as a cornerstone of shooting sports, hunting and reloading culture. Over seven-and-a-half decades, CCI has not only survived industry shifts and ownership changes but has repeatedly redefined what rimfire cartridges can achieve, making high-performance ammunition accessible to millions of shooters while supporting military needs and handloaders alike.
The story begins with Richard “Dick” Speer (1915-1994), a talented machinist at Boeing’s Seattle plant and brother of Vernon Speer, founder of Speer Bullets. Just after World War II, Dick recognized an opportunity in the reloading market. Proprietary rifle cartridges like those from Weatherby and Newton lacked factory support, so he left Seattle to join his brother in Lewiston and began producing specialized cases using an impact-extrusion process in a small room at the Speer plant. After two name changes and partnering with Arvid Nelson, the company settled on Cascade Cartridges Inc. (CCI).
Early challenges nearly derailed the venture. Post-war brass shortages made quality cartridge cases impractical. Speer pivoted to component primers, which were in desperately short supply. War-surplus primers offered limited options, so CCI stepped in. CCI’s very first shipment fulfilled a military contract using the older chlorate FA-70 formula. Quickly, the company shifted to safer, non-corrosive, non-mercuric primers for sporting use. For the first time, hobby reloaders enjoyed a reliable, steady supply of rifle and pistol primers—an unheard-of convenience that helped fuel America’s postwar shooting boom.
To scale production, Speer purchased a small former chicken ranch next to the Lewiston Gun Club. The farmhouse served as office and warehouse. Manufacturing began in a renovated chicken coop. As demand grew, modern labs and factories rose on the site. When the gun club relocated, CCI acquired the adjacent land, creating the footprint the plant still occupies today. This humble beginning in rural Idaho symbolizes the grassroots American entrepreneurship that defines CCI’s legacy.
By the early 1960s, CCI had firmly established itself in the primer market. But its most transformative chapter arrived with rimfire ammunition. In 1962, the company introduced the first high-velocity .22 Long Rifle load: the legendary Mini-Mag. Loaded with a 40-grain jacketed hollowpoint at higher velocities than standard .22 LR, Mini-Mag delivered improved accuracy, flatter trajectory and greater downrange energy. It instantly became a favorite for small-game hunters and competitive shooters, proving that factory rimfire could compete with handloads in consistency.
Thirteen years later, in 1975, CCI engineers pushed the boundaries further with the .22 Stinger. This hyper-velocity cartridge featured a longer case (.702 inch vs. the standard .613 inch) while maintaining overall length compatibility with existing firearms. Loaded with a lighter, 32-grain plated bullet, the Stinger achieved muzzle velocities around 1685 fps—dramatically flattening trajectory and boosting energy. Varmint hunters and small-game enthusiasts embraced it; the Stinger reduced 100-yard drop by roughly 3.5 inches compared to conventional .22 LR loads of the era. It ushered in a new era of rimfire performance, forcing competitors to innovate or else fall behind.
In the beginning the brothers made primers in an old chicken coop, and used a farmhouse as an office and warehouse. Over the years modern labs and manufacturing plants rose. When the Lewiston Gun Club next door relocated CCI acquired its land, creating the footprint the company still maintains today.
These breakthroughs were no accident. While other manufacturers clung to century-old technology, CCI invested in research, precision manufacturing and relentless quality control. Its primers remained industry standards for reliability. The company expanded into full lines of rimfire ammunition—including snake shot, target loads like Green Tag and later innovations such as the .17 HMR (for which CCI produces premium loads). Centerfire offerings followed under brands like Blazer with affordable aluminum-cased and brass-cased handgun ammo. Polymer-coated Clean-22 rounds in 2023 further reduced lead fouling, showing CCI’s ongoing commitment to cleaner, more consistent performance.
Ownership changes tested but never diminished CCI’s independence. For decades it operated as a family-influenced enterprise. In 2015 it became part of Vista Outdoor. In 2024, Vista Outdoor’s sporting products segment rebranded as The Kinetic Group and was acquired by Czechoslovakia’s CSG industrial group. Today CCI sits alongside Federal, Remington, Speer and many more under The Kinetic Group’s Ammo+ division. The Lewiston plant remains the heart of production, employing hundreds and upholding “Made in America” standards.
The 75th anniversary in 2026 perfectly encapsulates CCI’s enduring importance. At SHOT Show 2026, the company unveiled a suite of new products that honor its rimfire heritage while expanding into adjacent markets. The Hunter Series returns to basics with .22 LR loads featuring 40-grain flat-nose lead bullets—ideal for small-game hunting. Shooters can choose a 1235 fps supersonic version for versatility or a 1050 fps subsonic load optimized for quiet performance on squirrels and rabbits. Both ship in eye-catching blaze-orange 100-round plastic packs, emphasizing field-ready reliability without excessive meat damage.
In 1962 CCI released its Mini-Mag line, and 13 years after that its Stinger line, a hyper-velocity .22 load that features a light, 32-grain, plated bullet revered by hunters. Both are now industry mainstays, sold alongside new stalwarts in the company’s portfolio like TNT Green target ammo featuring lead-free hollowpoint .22 WMR bullets.
A patriotic collaboration—the CCI x Henry Golden Boy Collector’s Edition—marks the occasion. This 275-round bulk pack of .22 LR uses a 36-grain copper-plated hollowpoint at 1260 fps, tuned to cycle flawlessly in Henry’s iconic lever-action rifles. Gold-colored limited-edition packaging celebrates both CCI’s milestone and America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The box proudly declares “Made in America or not made at all” to reinforce its commitment to America.
CCI also entered the growing air-gun segment with High Bar Air Rifle Slugs—four .22-caliber (.217 inch) options, including 30-grain and 35-grain hollowpoints and segmented hollowpoints. Packed 100 per box, these precision projectiles deliver the same consistency CCI is famous for in rimfire, meeting the demands of modern high-powered air rifles.
Additional launches expand the popular Blazer Brass line: Clean-Fire Suppressor loads in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 Auto with lead-free primers and subsonic velocities—perfect for suppressed shooting and competition. New JHP and FMJ handgun options further broaden affordable, reloadable brass offerings.
In an era when rimfire ammunition trains new shooters, CCI has democratized the sport. Its primers powered generations of handloaders during shortages. Its rimfire innovations turned the humble .22 LR— arguably the world’s most-popular cartridge—into a serious hunting and varmint tool.
The 75th anniversary is not merely a birthday; it is a testament to American resilience. For 75 years CCI has consistently anticipated shooters’ needs. As part of The Kinetic Group, it continues investing in research while preserving its Lewiston roots. Dick Speer’s vision—mechanical ingenuity serving the shooting community—lives on.
For millions of American shooters, CCI isn’t just an ammunition maker—it’s a trusted partner in tradition and innovation. As the company blows out 75 candles in 2026, it does so with the confidence that its best years still lie ahead.
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