Polymer Power: How Hancock County is Shaping the Future of Ammunition

Brooke Glass
Jan 9
4 min read

Today, defense manufacturing is evolving rapidly. Polymer-cased ammunition production is rising, and with each new batch shipped out, the future is becoming lighter, stronger, and more efficient.

Of course, this alternative ammo isn’t just a material shift. It also represents a logistical move that will bring big implications for supply chains and field performance across the globe.

And right in the midst of this shift sits Hancock County.

From advanced R&D facilities and defense-ready infrastructure to workforce pipelines and federal connections, let’s take a look at how our region is quickly becoming a national hub for polymer-cased ammunition innovation.

What Makes Polymer-Cased Ammunition Compelling?

Brass has been the dominant casing material for almost 200 years. To dethrone its performance, any contender needs to bring major advantages to the table, either in cost or performance. With polymers, it’s potentially both.

Weight & Performance Benefits

Compared to traditional brass casings, polymer-cased ammunition has the potential to be 30–40% lighter. According to True Velocity, this reduction will allow soldiers to carry more rounds (an estimated three extra magazines per loadout). In heavy-caliber applications like .50 BMG, polymer casings could eliminate more than 1.2 ounces per round, which translates into 23% weight savings overall.

The benefits aren’t just about loadout, either.

Polymers also act as thermal insulators, keeping chamber and bolt-face temperatures 25% lower than those of brass casings. This can help reduce weapon wear, lower the risk of heat-related malfunctions, and extend component life.

On the chemistry side, polymers boost propellant efficiency. According to True Velocity, these casings require 8–10% less powder to achieve the same speed. That means lower costs, improved logistics, and consistent ballistic performance soldiers can rely on.

Tactical & Safety Advantages

With their heat insulation properties, polymer casings remain nearly cool to the touch after ejection. This can make a significant difference in rapid-fire scenarios by improving handling safety and minimizing risks for users in intense combat environments.

In addition, most polymer rounds are non-reloadable by design. While this does limit reuse, it serves a tactical function by preventing scavenging and unauthorized reloading, which can help secure occupied zones.

Polymer is also corrosion-resistant, outperforming brass in marine and humid environments. For operations in coastal regions or during long-term storage, this feature could significantly improve shelf life and dependability.

Defense Market Momentum

Support and demand for these casings is already building. In fact, branches of the U.S. military have already begun pilot programs and field tests using polymer ammo:

In 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps began testing lightweight .50-cal polymer rounds. They found no compromise in lethality or accuracy, while significantly reducing load weight.
The U.S. Army’s Project Manager for Small-Caliber Ammunition has reported that polymer prototypes could reduce load weight for machine gun crews by up to 17 pounds, making them a tactical game-changer for mobile units.
Companies like True Velocity and Textron (via the LSAT program) have developed polymer-cased rounds with up to 40% weight savings. The Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program is already using these rounds to explore innovative platforms for frontline deployment.

Hancock County’s Polymer-Defense Edge

Strategic Location & Infrastructure for Defense Development

Today, Hancock County is already defense-tested and ready to hit the ground running. At Port Bienville Industrial Park, we offer logistical advantages with fast access to railways, highways, ports, and sky via Stennis International Airport. This multimodal ecosystem is well positioned to simplify distribution across the U.S. and beyond.

Cutting-Edge R&D Capabilities

Defense manufacturers here enjoy support from a deep bench of innovation partners. Chief among them is the Mississippi Polymer Institute (MPI) at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM)—our nationally recognized R&D facility that specializes in composite materials, ballistic polymers, biodegradable compounds, and material testing.

Through MPI and regional university partnerships, manufacturers can access things like:

Ballistic-grade polymer development
Composite casing research
Rapid prototyping & destructive testing
Thermal, tensile, and moisture resistance studies

This gives manufacturers the runway necessary to test, validate, and bring advanced ammunition products to market faster. It’s an undeniable edge in today’s high-stakes arena of defense innovation.

Strong U.S. Defense Collaborations

Our proximity to federal defense agencies has turned our region into a magnet for military innovation and procurement. With assets like active testing facilities nearby, companies gain early access to defense program opportunities, joint development options, and pre-qualified sites for DoD-aligned projects.

This environment has the potential to fast-track operations from prototype to procurement, all within a secure, tightly integrated business ecosystem. As adoption of polymer-cased ammunition accelerates, integrated companies here will have advantages that put them well ahead of the pack.

Defense Workforce & Incentives

You can’t make breakthrough products without skilled people. That’s why our community invests in defense workforce pipelines to supply businesses with the talent they need to reach the next breakthrough.

From the University of Southern Mississippi and Pearl River Community College to the Mississippi Polymer Institute, our institutions provide instruction focused on polymer science, advanced manufacturing, and materials engineering. The course material ensures graduates leave school prepared to meet the demands of high-precision production.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Development Authority and local programs offer tailored incentives for advanced manufacturing and defense sector investments, including site readiness, tax credits, workforce training grants, and streamlined permitting.

Put Next-Gen Ammunition in Your Sights

Looking at the bigger picture, it’s clear that polymer-cased ammunition is no longer just a passing industry trend. It’s an emerging standard. And for manufacturers looking to stay ahead and compete? This means that having the necessary resources and logistics to make this shift will be critical.

Companies here in Hancock County are already several steps ahead. From streamlined R&D channels and regulatory-ready infrastructure to multimodal logistics and federal partnerships, we’ve got all the pieces in place to bring lightweight, high-performance defense products to life.

So whether you're a supplier scaling casing development, or a startup prototyping next-gen rounds, our region might be the perfect launch point for your next product.

Ready to explore opportunities in Hancock County?

Connect with our team to learn how we can help your business take aim at the future.

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