A new ammunition manufacturer, First Breach, has opened its doors inside a historic World War II-era aviation plant in Hagerstown, Maryland, marking a notable addition to the domestic ammunition industry amid ongoing efforts to stabilize supply and pricing. Founded in 2022 by Jeffrey Low and his son Jordan Low, First Breach was created in response to recent ammunition shortages and price spikes that peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that period, common calibers such as 9mm and 12-gauge became scarce, with prices climbing dramatically due to panic buying, supply chain disruptions, and raw material shortages particularly primers.
The company operates out of the former Fairchild Republic aviation plant in Hagerstown. Opened in the 1930s, the 75,000-square-foot facility produced more than 5,000 PT-series training aircraft between 1939 and 1944. During the Cold War, the plant manufactured several military aircraft, including the C-119 Flying Boxcar, C-123 Provider, and, beginning in 1972, assembled 716 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft through 1983.
The factory is located adjacent to Hagerstown Regional Airport, which includes a runway capable of accommodating Air Force One during presidential visits to nearby Camp David. The facility also contains an underground bunker originally designed to withstand a nuclear blast in Washington, D.C. Today, that bunker houses a 30-yard indoor ballistic testing range used for product development.
Unlike many ammunition manufacturers, First Breach produces most of its core components in-house. The company manufactures its own brass cups and casings and smelts lead on site for bullet cores. Currently, primers and gunpowder are sourced externally, though company officials say they have received approval to begin primer manufacturing once specialized equipment is installed.
The company is currently producing:
Plans are underway to expand production into .308 Winchester and 7.62x39mm cartridges.
Jordan Low, now COO and President, is a veteran of the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion in the Israel Defense Forces. He was wounded during combat operations in Gaza in 2014 and later received an honorable discharge. The company’s name, “First Breach,” is a reference to his unit’s nickname.
Jeffrey Low serves as CEO. Together, the father-son team says their goal is to provide high-quality ammunition at competitive prices to civilian shooters, law enforcement agencies, and military customers.
First Breach currently employs 25 workers and plans to expand its workforce significantly in the coming year. The company has obtained Israeli Ministry of Defense import and export licenses and is seeking potential military contracts domestically and internationally.
As ammunition markets have stabilized compared to pandemic-era volatility, new manufacturers such as First Breach are contributing additional domestic production capacity. Industry observers note that expanded manufacturing may help buffer against future supply disruptions.
For now, First Breach represents both a continuation of Hagerstown’s long-standing role in American defense manufacturing and a new chapter in domestic ammunition production.
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