Artful,
Yes the French might have the capacity to manufacture military ammos, but rarely for the civilians. We have (had?) a military industry quite competitive on the world market, but we rarely got the autorisation of the GVT to sell our weapons abroad in case it turns back onto us or our allies (rembember that EXOCET missile during the Falkland war...?) The Military factories are simply closing one after the other and our special forces are getting H&K assault rifles from Germany .(our Famas are to old as well now).
I did not know that woodleigh was making 50 cal bullets. that is good then.
Now that I have moved to New Zealand they would be easy to get.
I m not rich enough to afford a gun in that calibre though.
ND