{{Short description|Ammunition manufacturer in the United States of America}} {{Notability|WP:ORG|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox company | name = St. Marks Powder, Inc. | logo = File:St. Marks Powder logo.png | image = File:St. Marks Powder plant entrance.jpg | image_caption = Main plant entrance | fate = | foundation = 1998 | location = 7121 Coastal Hwy, Crawfordville, Fla. 32327 | slogan = | key_people = | industry = Manufacturer of ammunition components | products = ball propellants | homepage = https://www.gdots.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/400002982-BALL-POWDER-Propellants-4.pdf | parent = General Dynamics }} '''St. Marks Powder''' is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems manufacturing ball propellant<ref name=ots>{{cite web |url=https://www.gd-ots.com/commercial_powder.html |title=Commercial Powder Applications |last= |first= |website=General Dynamics |publisher= |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref> in Crawfordville, Florida. St. Marks makes about 6,000 tons per year,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/10/22/lighting-a-fuse/ |title=Lighting a fuse |last=Hundley |first=Kris |publisher=Tampa Bay Times |accessdate=3 February 2025 }}</ref> making it the world's largest producer of propellant.<ref name=bpp>{{cite web |url=https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/ball-powder-st-marks-powder/462658 |title=Ball Powder Propellant: You Are Probably Shooting St. Marks Powder |last=Emary |first=Dave |date=21 July 2022 |publisher=Guns & Ammo |accessdate=3 February 2025 }}</ref> The company is a member of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saami.org/member_companies/index.cfm |title=Member Companies |last= |first= |website= |publisher=SAAMI |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref>
==History== Large-scale ball propellant manufacture began during World War II at the Olin Corporation plant in East Alton, Illinois. Population growth of the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area encouraged finding a more remote location for a modern production plant. The St. Marks manufacturing facility was built in 1969 on a large plot of undeveloped swampland south of Tallahassee, Florida, at near sea-level elevation between the St. Marks River and the Gulf Coast.<ref name=wra>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwpowder.com/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005182440/http://www.wwpowder.com/history.html |archive-date=2016-10-05 |title=A Brief History of Winchester Smokeless Propellants |last= |first= |website= |publisher=Winchester |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref> Plant operation was transferred to St. Marks Powder in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manta.com/c/mm7fbnp/st-marks-powder-inc |title=St Marks Powder Inc |last= |first= |website=Manta |publisher= |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref>
==Products== St. Marks Powder supplies nearly 100 percent of the propellant used in 5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×51mm NATO, 9×19mm NATO, and .50 BMG ammunition for United States military small arms and 20mm ammunition for the M61 Vulcan aircraft cannon.<ref name=bpp/> Similar propellants are sold to commercial manufacturers of rimfire and centerfire ammunition<ref name=ots/> or marketed by Alliant Powder,<ref name=bpp/> Winchester, and Hodgdon Powder Company for civilian handloading.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ammoland.com/2010/10/loss-of-smokeless-powder-the-greatest-threat-to-keep-bear-arms/#axzz4yceo8v8a |title=Loss of Smokeless Powder: The Greatest Threat to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the United States Today |last=Marbut |first=Gary |website=Ammoland |date=26 October 2010 |publisher= |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref> Other propellants are used for military 60mm and 81mm mortar rounds,<ref name=bpp/> rocket-assisted projectiles,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gd-ots.com/155mm_M203A1.html |title=155MM M203A1 |last= |first= |website=General Dynamics |publisher= |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref> or dispersing non-lethal agents used for crowd control, marking, or area denial.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gd-ots.com/agent_dispensing.html |title=Non-Lethal Agent Dispensing |last= |first= |website=General Dynamics |publisher= |accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref>
==Sources== {{reflist}}
Category:Ammunition manufacturers Category:Companies established in 1998 Category:General Dynamics Category:Wakulla County, Florida Category:Companies based in Florida