Posted on 09/30/2020 9:13:20 PM PDT by Kevin in California
Just how bad is the ammo crunch right now? This bad.
Scottsdale-based ammunition company Ammo Incorporated is facing an $80.1 million order backlog amid record demand for ammunition.
“We’re working right now seven days a week, 24 hours a day in all the manufacturing plants,” said CEO Fred Wagenhals.
Ouch. The good news, if there is any to be found here, is that ammunition companies like Ammo Incorporated are now investing millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades to increase their output. If manufacturers felt like this was only a short-term run on ammunition, they might keep their cash in reserve rather than spending it on new equipment, but at least for Ammo Inc, that’s not the case.
“We just bought 2.8 million dollars worth of machinery and equipment last week to increase our production and increase our volume,” Wagenhals said.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the year has already seen a boom in gun purchases, up 95% in the first half of 2020 compared to the same time period of 2019.
But ammo sales skyrocketed even higher, up 139% compared to 2019 during that same time period. “The start was the pandemic that was going on. But there was always that fear of the election. Of who’s going to be elected of the next President of the United States,” Wagenhals said. “But thirdly, I think the unrest in this country right now. And as you’ve seen in a lot of cities, the looting and the burning, and I think people are just scared.”
Wagenhals is right about what’s driving the increase in sales for both firearms and ammunition, and unfortunately no matter who wins in November I think there’s a growing expectation among many Americans that the unrest, looting, and burning will continue. That will likely keep sales strong well into 2021, and hopefully other manufacturing companies will be making similar investments in their own operations in order to increase the availability of ammunition.
It’s also worth noting that Wagenhals says production lines are operating 24/7 right now. That’s an indication that supply chain problems with ammunition components may be easing, allowing the manufacturing facilities to work at full capacity instead of being limited by the amount of raw materials that they can get their hands on.
The problem right now seems to be a simple matter of supply not being able to keep up with demand, and it’s good to see manufacturers being proactive in addressing the problem by increasing supply rather than waiting for demand to subside. With just one company looking at $80-million in back-ordered sales, however, it could still be some time before the crunch for consumers lessens and a decent supply of ammunition can be found on store shelves.
Glad I “stocked up”in early spring. $6.95 for brass-cased 9mm FMJ (AKA range ammo) in those days of long-ago..
[People aren’t stupid. They can see that the DNC- Soroznazi/ communist putsch is underway. Also, that the D politicians are aiding and abetting the Burn Loot and Murder criminal gangs by removing police protection from the citizens. People either defend themselves or get killed, robbed, mugged or burnt out of home. So, they’re preparing to do self- defense.]
What you said. You are 100% correct.
The DNC has unleashed their Democrat Storm Troopers to Burn, Loot and Murder. Burning, Looting and Mayhem.
Democrat terrorists doing the DNC’s dirty work - Democrat Shock Troops still rioting and complaining after Hillary lost.
bookmark
That’s one of my concealed carry guns. With extra magazines.
I pray to God I never need it. But I’m glad I have it.
I’m a factory certified armorer for glock pistols and I find the G2C compares favorably to the smaller glocks at a much lower price. There was a time when Taurus quality control was hit and miss. In the last 5 years they’ve upped their game.
CC
Ammo manufacturers need to ramp up production BIGLY. Gun manufacturers need to do the same.
I have always wondered if there was a way to find a comparison between small arms and ammunition annual purchase totals between:
- American citizens and
- US Military
Or
- American citizens vs.
- Military’s of other countries.
I wonder if American citizens represent the largest small arms and ammo purchasing group in the world.
” looting and the burning, and I think people are just scared.”
Being prepared does not translate into being scared.
What I’m wondering is if the Deep State is throwing up obstacles to importation of foreign ammo?
This would seem to be a prime time for foreign militaries to sell their stockpiles of older ammo, and replenish.
Ammo on line is sold out, some are offering ammo from slavic countries
ammoseek.com will have what ever you want
im not saying cheap but they got it
No lead mines thanks to that wretched Obama. Trump should authorize them to start up again.
“...the year has already seen a boom in gun purchases, up 95% in the first half of 2020 ..”
I just picked up one from an online purchase from gunbroker.com. The local private FFL told me he’s processed 150 such transfers so far this year and he’s just one of many around here.
Pun intended.
I'm a gun "accumulator" (some consider me a "collector") and I follow these trends.
The "good news" is that after President Trump was elected there was a terrible slump in firearms sales. Local dealers were closing shop, etc.
But with the current boom, ammo and gun manufacturers are going to be able to stay afloat longer.
That's the good news for gun owners.
Yes they do. It is not even close.
An enormous order for small arms in a military is 1 million rifles. That may happen every 20 years.
Americans are buying that many every three months.
I’m guessing the huge demand for ammunition has to do with the massive quantities of deer permits issued for hunting season.
“Tyre balancing weights”
The EPA made it illegal for tire shops to sell or give you lead.
There were car batteries and tire-balancing weights available during the Civil War? I never knew that.
And most balancing weights aren’t lead anymore.
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