1869
Barnaul, Russia
- manufactured by Barnaul Cartridge Plant in Russia
- One of the first cartridge plants founded in St. Petersburg
- originally known as “Arsenal P”
- 1920 renamed “Factory P”
- 1928 renamed “Factory 17”
- World War I provided Russians with ammo
- 1941 factory was evacuated
- 2009 began steel-cased with a lubricious polymer coating
– Centaur brand - 2018 MKS Supply began importing Barnaul-branded ammunition
- Barnaul Machine Tool Building Plant
– Academy Sports Monarch name
– Centaur brand
– lacquer-coated Brown Bear
– zinc-coated Silver Bear
– brass-coated Golden Bear steel-cased
About Barnaul
Barnaul ammunition is made by the Barnaul Cartridge Plant, which traces its origins to a 19th-century ammunition plant in St. Petersburg designated Arsenal “P.” During the Russian Civil War the plant was evacuated to Podolsk in 1918, resumed production as Factory “P” in 1920 and was redesignated Factory 17 in 1928. In 1941, during World War II, it was evacuated east to the Siberian city of Barnaul, which remains its home and gave the brand its name.
For American shooters, Barnaul became familiar as a source of affordable steel-cased rifle and pistol ammunition. In 2009 the plant began retooling to produce higher-grade ammunition for American and European markets, and in 2011 it produced the first ammunition under its CENTAUR brand. Barnaul also manufactured steel-cased ammunition sold under other names, including Academy Sports’ MONARCH line. Its low-cost steel-cased loads made it a common choice for high-volume practice. U.S. availability of Russian-made ammunition has changed with federal import restrictions, so buyers should check current rules before relying on any Russian brand.
Key Facts
- 1918: Plant evacuated from St. Petersburg to Podolsk during the Russian Civil War
- 1920: Production resumes under the Factory “P” designation
- 1928: Redesignated Factory 17
- 1941: Evacuated to Barnaul, Siberia during World War II
- 2009: Retooling begins for American and European markets
- 2011: First CENTAUR-brand ammunition produced
Sources
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