***Remastered this is fresh update to the Outdoor Gibbon Podcast ***
From product design engineer to shotgun cartridge innovator, Andrew's journey building Empire Cartridges reveals the perfect blend of engineering expertise and shooting passion. What began as a father-son project in 2017 has evolved into a thriving business proudly serving enthusiast shooters who value personal connection with manufacturers.
The road wasn't easy. Andrew describes the 18-month process of securing explosive manufacturing licenses from the Health and Safety Executive—where specific building distances and strict regulations create the primary barrier to entry in this industry. Rather than competing directly with industry giants, Empire carved its own path as a grassroots brand offering flexibility and customization that larger manufacturers simply can't provide.
Despite launching commercially just three years ago—with two of those during pandemic restrictions—Empire has thrived through automation innovation. Andrew's engineering background shines through their custom packaging systems, reflecting a core philosophy: "We don't want to be employing people on minimum wage. We'll employ people on good money for doing valuable tasks." This mindset extends to their forward-thinking approach to the looming lead ban.
While some manufacturers fear the transition away from lead, Empire embraces it. By mid-2023, they plan to be "wholly a steel shotgun or non-toxic manufacturer," already developing clay loads 30-40% cheaper than lead equivalents. Their most exciting innovation? A partnership producing patented biodegradable wads that naturally decompose within six months while remaining stable in shooting conditions—technology they plan to offer to home loaders and other manufacturers.
Try Empire Cartridges for yourself and experience the difference personal attention to manufacturing makes. Available in slabs of 250 or by the thousand, with competitive pricing that improves with volume, these cartridges represent the future of sustainable, high-quality shooting supplies from a company that genuinely understands what shooters need.
Check out https://www.empirecartridges.com/
Don't for get to mention that The Outdoor Gibbon podcast when you come to purchase
They are well worth a look and great for the up and coming game season
Enjoy
