Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos

Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos, commonly known as CBC, is a Brazilian manufacturer of ammunition and firearms headquartered in Ribeirão Pires, in the state of São Paulo. Founded in 1926, the company developed from a domestic ammunition producer into an internationally active defense-industry group serving military, law-enforcement, sporting, hunting, and commercial customers. CBC is particularly associated with small- and medium-caliber ammunition for portable weapons. Its product portfolio includes military cartridges such as 9×19mm, 5.56×45mm, 7.62×51mm, and 12.7×99mm, as well as ammunition for pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and sporting applications. Through the Magtech brand and related operations, the group also supplies commercial ammunition in a broad range of handgun and rifle calibers. CBC’s offering additionally includes specialized ammunition lines, including the Sniper1 range for precision-oriented military and law-enforcement applications. The company has held strategic importance in Brazil because of its role as a major supplier to the country’s armed forces and law-enforcement organizations. CBC has also developed a substantial export business, with its products reported as being sold in more than 100 countries. Its international structure is organized around CBC Global Ammunition, which brings together CBC Brazil, Magtech Ammunition in the United States, MEN in Germany, and Sellier & Bellot in the Czech Republic. The group’s international manufacturing and distribution footprint also includes operations or facilities in Belgium and India. CBC expanded beyond its original Brazilian base during the 2000s. In 2000 it opened a firearms and airgun production plant in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul. In 2007 it acquired the German ammunition manufacturer Metallwerk Elisenhütte, commonly known as MEN, and in 2009 it acquired the Czech ammunition producer Sellier & Bellot. These transactions gave the group a wider European manufacturing base and strengthened its ability to serve defense and commercial customers outside Brazil. In 2015, following approval by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense, CBC acquired a majority stake of 52.67 percent in Taurus Armas. The transaction connected two major Brazilian firearms-industry companies and expanded CBC’s position across both ammunition and firearms. CBC has also maintained a connection with competitive shooting through the CBC/Taurus Regional Championships, organized with Taurus since 2004 at shooting clubs across Brazil. CBC operates three production units in Brazil, including one in São Paulo and two in Rio Grande do Sul. In May 2025, CBC Global Ammunition announced an agreement connected with a new Oklahoma facility in the United States. The planned plant is intended to manufacture centerfire cartridges ranging from 9mm to 12.7mm for military, law-enforcement, sporting, and hunting uses. The announced project was described as involving an investment of approximately US$300 million and approximately 350 jobs. CBC therefore combines a long-established Brazilian industrial base with a multinational ammunition platform serving government and commercial markets.

Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos was established in Brazil in 1926 and became one of the country's important ammunition manufacturers. Its core business developed around cartridges for portable weapons, eventually serving both Brazilian government customers and international commercial markets. The company has been described as a Strategic Defense Company, reflecting its importance as a supplier to Brazil's armed forces and law-enforcement agencies. CBC's Brazilian manufacturing base expanded during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. In 2000, the company opened a second Brazilian plant in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul. The site was associated with the production of firearms and pressure weapons, broadening CBC's activities beyond ammunition. The company continued to maintain production facilities in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul while developing export capabilities. A major phase of international expansion began in the 2000s. In 2007, CBC acquired Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH, a German ammunition manufacturer commonly known as MEN. In 2009, it acquired Sellier & Bellot, a Czech producer with a long history in ammunition and related supplies. These acquisitions gave CBC a broader European manufacturing and commercial presence and helped form the international group later presented as CBC Global Ammunition. The group brought together CBC Brazil, Magtech Ammunition in the United States, MEN Germany, and Sellier & Bellot in the Czech Republic. CBC's products are used across military, law-enforcement, sporting, hunting, and civilian markets. Its military range includes cartridges such as 9×19mm, 5.56×45mm, 7.62×51mm, and 12.7×99mm, as well as larger-caliber ammunition for selected weapon systems. Commercial ammunition is sold under the Magtech name in numerous handgun and rifle calibers. CBC also offers specialized precision ammunition under the Sniper1 line, including variants associated with 5.56/.223, 7.62/.308, .50, and .338 applications. The company strengthened its position within Brazil's firearms sector in 2015. Following review and approval by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, CBC acquired 52.67 percent of Taurus Armas. The transaction made CBC the controlling shareholder of a major firearms producer and linked its ammunition operations with a significant Brazilian firearms business. CBC has also supported organized shooting in Brazil. Since 2004, it has organized the CBC/Taurus Regional Championships together with Taurus. The events take place at shooting clubs around the country and include multiple disciplines and competition categories, allowing participants to use firearms or pressure weapons. By the 2020s, CBC's activities were distributed across Brazil and international locations including the United States, Germany, Belgium, and India. The group reported exports to more than 100 countries and combined production capacity of more than 1.5 billion rounds annually, with approximately 3,500 workers across its global operations. In May 2025, CBC Global Ammunition announced plans connected with a new facility in Oklahoma. The proposed plant is intended to produce centerfire ammunition from 9mm to 12.7mm and to serve government and commercial users. This project reflects the group's continuing strategy of expanding production closer to major overseas markets.

• 2025

  Planned Oklahoma ammunition facility

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  CBC Global Ammunition announces plans connected with an Oklahoma plant producing centerfire cartridges from 9mm to 12.7mm.

• 2015

  CBC becomes majority shareholder of Taurus Armas

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  Following competition approval, CBC acquires a reported 52.67 percent of Taurus Armas.

• 2009

  Acquisition of Sellier & Bellot

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  CBC acquires the Czech ammunition manufacturer Sellier & Bellot, expanding its European production network.

• 2007

  Acquisition of MEN

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  CBC acquires Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH, the German ammunition manufacturer known as MEN.

• 2004

  CBC/Taurus Regional Championships begin

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  CBC begins organizing regional shooting championships in Brazil together with Taurus.

• 2000

  Second Brazilian production site opens

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  CBC opens a plant in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, associated with firearms and pressure-weapon production.

• 1926

  CBC is established in Brazil

  [1]Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org

  Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos is created as a Brazilian ammunition manufacturer.

CBC positions itself as a strategic Brazilian defense manufacturer and a global ammunition supplier, combining domestic military and law-enforcement importance with a multinational manufacturing and export network.

• Military ammunition

  CBC Military Ammunition

  CBC's military portfolio covers ammunition for infantry weapons, machine guns, and selected larger weapon systems. Reported calibers include 9×19mm, 5.56×45mm, 7.62×51mm, 12.7×99mm, and several 20mm and 30mm formats. The products are intended for armed forces and other government users and form the core of CBC's strategic-defense positioning.

• Commercial ammunition

  Magtech Ammunition

  Magtech is the group's commercial ammunition brand, serving civilian, sporting, hunting, and commercial firearms markets. Its listed range includes handgun cartridges such as .22 LR, .380 Auto, 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 Auto, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum, together with rifle cartridges including .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, .300 AAC Blackout, and 6.5 Creedmoor.

• Precision ammunition

  Sniper1

  Sniper1 is CBC's precision-oriented ammunition line for military and law-enforcement applications. The range is associated with 5.56/.223, 7.62/.308, .50/12.7×99mm, and .338 configurations, covering common precision and designated-marksman requirements across several weapon platforms.

• Firearms and airguns · 2000

  CBC Firearms and Pressure Weapons

  CBC also manufactures firearms and pressure weapons at its Brazilian operations. The Montenegro facility opened in 2000 and broadened the company from a primarily ammunition-focused manufacturer into a wider producer serving sporting, commercial, and security-related equipment markets.

• 2004CBC/Taurus Regional Championships

  Brazil

  CBC and Taurus began organizing regional shooting competitions at clubs throughout Brazil. The program covers multiple shooting disciplines and categories and permits the use of firearms or pressure weapons.

  Outcome. The championships became an ongoing platform connecting the two companies with Brazil's organized shooting community.

  Source

• 2025

  Expand centerfire ammunition production in OklahomaStrategy

  Background

  CBC Global Ammunition sought additional United States manufacturing capacity for government and commercial customers.

  Action taken

  The group announced plans connected with an Oklahoma facility producing centerfire cartridges from 9mm to 12.7mm.

  Aftermath

  The planned project was described as supporting approximately 350 jobs and serving military, law-enforcement, sporting, and hunting markets.

  Planned investment. Approximately US$300 million (Announced May 2025)

  Source

• 2015

  Take majority control of Taurus ArmasM&A

  Background

  CBC aimed to strengthen its position across Brazil's firearms and ammunition industries.

  Action taken

  After approval by Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense, CBC acquired 52.67 percent of Taurus Armas.

  Aftermath

  CBC became the majority shareholder of Taurus Armas, linking a major Brazilian firearms producer with CBC's ammunition business.

  Acquired equity stake. 52.67% (2015)

  Source

• 2009

  Acquire Sellier & BellotM&A

  Background

  CBC continued its international expansion after establishing a German manufacturing presence.

  Action taken

  CBC acquired the Czech ammunition producer Sellier & Bellot.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened CBC's European production and distribution capabilities.

  Source

• 2007

  Acquire Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbHM&A

  Background

  CBC sought to expand its ammunition manufacturing and international presence beyond Brazil.

  Action taken

  CBC acquired the German ammunition manufacturer Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH, known as MEN.

  Aftermath

  MEN became part of CBC's multinational ammunition platform and European manufacturing network.

  Source

1. 1Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchosen.wikipedia.org