Why is ammunition all sold out?

The scarcity of ammunition is the result of a perfect storm that initially formed during the first quarter of 2020 as the effects of a worldwide pandemic took hold. In one fell swoop, the COVID-19 outbreak and the restrictions that came with it put the brakes on a roaring US economy.

What is behind the ammo shortage?

Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com. Firearms sales climbed during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an ammunition shortage in the United States as manufacturers still struggle to keep up with demand.

Is the ammo shortage all over again?

Makers of guns and ammo are reporting double-digit increases in revenue. Handguns are flying off the shelves and ammo is selling out and getting scarce. “It’s the 2013 shortage all over again,” said Brian Rafn, a gun industry analyst who recently retired from Morgan Dempsey, referring to the run on ammo during the Obama administration.

Do gun companies make their own ammo?

But the idea of gun companies making ammo and expanding their offerings into ammunition is not a new concept. Often times, a gun company will just lend its name to a line of ammo for marketing purposes. But in some cases, as with Sig Sauer, a gun company will actually handle the loading and manufacturing process.

Why is there a shortage of bullets in the US?

Spikes in demand result in bullet shortages because the ammo manufacturing industry, dominated by Vista Outdoor and Olin’s Winchester, is less flexible than guns. Dionisio said bullet makers manufacture huge batches of ammo with massive machines to maximize efficiency, with no wiggle room to match fluctuations in demand.

Why do bullet makers make so much ammo?

Dionisio said bullet makers manufacture huge batches of ammo with massive machines to maximize efficiency, with no wiggle room to match fluctuations in demand. “That’s an industry that has less of an ability to max up or max down,” he said.