Mar 18, 2025
Ammo Makers: Jennifer Logan, CCI/Speer, Mixes In Well to the Ammo World
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For 14 years, Jennifer Logan’s work was delicate and sweet. As a former bakery and deli department manager, Jennifer managed employees and determined the daily menu. Her days were filled with the comforting scent of donuts and sweet taste of frosting.
While she loved the work, Jennifer felt a pull toward something different – something more impactful. Just three years ago, she traded her rolling pin for gauges and switched to manufacturing ammunition at CCI/Speer.
“I made donuts,” she said. “Now I make bullets.”
As odd as trading cupcakes for cartridges may be, Jennifer has proven that a baker’s delicate touch has a place in the precision manufacturing world. The process was challenging; her hands were more accustomed to the softness of dough and had to gain strength needed to shape metal. The role at CCI/Speer was more physically demanding, an aspect of the job that she has noticed in her body.
“This role requires a lot of lifting and moving. This job has increased my strength, and I feel better about myself,” Jennifer said.
Aside from feeling stronger, Jennifer’s skills shine at CCI/Speer. Her meticulous eye for detail and dedication to quality transferred to ammunition manufacturing.
Jennifer’s main role is in centerfire assembly as a Statistical Process Control (SPC) operator. In this role, she tests and monitors the quality of ever-changing product on the line, collecting samples and dissecting them. She completes dimensional checks of the ammunition and troubleshoots any variations she notices. She monitors trends, communicating variances so the team can minimize deviation and keep the product within specification.
“I especially like what I do because there is no gray area. These products are made one way – and it’s how they must be made,” she said. “I start by looking, isolating everything out, inspecting it down, tearing it apart, building it up. And in the end, I check it before we ship it out. I’m there at the beginning and I’m there at the end. I don’t put my name on any box I have not inspected myself.”
Since starting at CCI/Speer three years ago, Jennifer has extended to working in the brand’s Gold Dot room, where she fills in as inspection lead for that product, which is widely used by law enforcement.
“Working on Gold Dot is precise, critical and a little scary,” Jennifer said. “If you stop and think about the end-user and the scenarios they may be in, you realize the responsibility you have in manufacturing the product.”
“If you stop and think about the end-user...you realize the responsibility you have in manufacturing the product. Law enforcement only uses the best of the best – and they’re using Gold Dot – so it feels awesome. It makes me proud and happy that I get to work on this.”
-Jennifer Logan, SPC Operator, Speer
Even though it’s scary, Jennifer says the work is paired with a lot of pride.
“Law enforcement only uses the best of the best – and they’re using Gold Dot, so it feels awesome. It makes me proud and happy that I get to work on this.”
Aside from her regular role and performing as a consistent backup inspection lead for the Gold Dot product, Jennifer has also worked on inspecting law enforcement and contracts products and was recently the key point of contact during one of the brand’s recent external ISO audits.
She has also provided some bonus training to her son, who started working at CCI/Speer in the past year. The mom and son work different shifts and rarely see each other, but Jennifer has provided some guidance and answered several of his questions as he builds confidence on the job.
While Jennifer’s manager says she takes her job very seriously and is extremely quality-focused, Jennifer says it’s because the job is simply that important to her.
“Working at CCI/Speer is meaningful,” she said. “Providing a donut is nothing compared to providing ammunition that is going to provide protection and save a life or, in the case of the bullets we manufacture for hunting, help put food on peoples’ tables. I really appreciate the opportunity to work here.”
In Jennifer’s evolving journey from making bread to making bullets, one thing remains unchanged: her unwavering dedication to quality, perfection and providing a product that perfectly suits the customer.
What activities do you enjoy outside of work?
I have done a lot of things in my life: camping, fishing. I have had two kids, but my children are grown and established, so I am letting go of activities we did for them and transitioning to “me time.” I combine alone time with spending time with my parents, who are in their mid-70s. Otherwise, I relax, read, play video games and cook.
Accomplishment in your life you’re proud of?
I lost 160 pounds about six years ago. I was heavy my whole life and I finally exercised and lost a lot of weight and was so proud. After I lost weight, I went hog wild and bought tons of cute clothes. I spent about $10,000 on a new wardrobe!
This brings me to the second accomplishment: as of May 2024, I am completely debt free. It feels awesome to rid myself of the stress and pressure finances used to bring. Now, if I want it, I buy it outright with cash, no juggling. It took me a long time to get to a point like that.
I guess you could say I lost weight in two ways – financial and physical.
Do you have a collection?
I collect Doc Marten platform boots. I am 5’4” so I get 2-inch platforms and have a couple pairs of the Max ones. I have about 30 pairs in the collection, but only wear the plain ones to work, not the unique cute ones.
Your best adventure?
My best adventure was when I was 28. My best friend and I drove from California, where we lived at the time, down to Mexico and stayed there for three days. The atmosphere was great, and it was the only time I have ever left or have done anything spontaneous like that.
I came back with a sombrero and a purse for my daughter, I had a lot of horchata and tried a lot of other things. I still have the sombrero: it’s velvet and fuchsia.
Bucket List item that’s brewing?
I made a pact with my sister that when we get older, we would move and live in Ireland. I may not be the woman living in a cottage living behind a pub somewhere in Ireland, but I want to get together with her at some point and take a trip to Ireland.