Ammo and Primer Shortage Will Continue into 2021
Gander Outdoors in Kenosha, WI — reader-submitted photo on GMToday.com
The ammo and primer shortage is real, and it’s here to stay — well into 2021. That’s what industry experts tell us: “With [ammunition] demand far outstripping supply and inventory levels in the channel at all-time lows, we see strong demand continuing[.]” — Christopher Metz, CEO of Vista Outdoor
Certain types of ammunition, 9mm Luger for example, are very difficult to find these days. And what IS available is often marked up 300-400% over 2019 prices. Demand has far exceeded supply. And the ammo shortage won’t end any time soon. Vista Outdoor’s CEO Metz added: “Despite us producing flat-out for six months, there is no buildup of inventory at any of our customers. In fact, every one of them would like significantly more. Simply put, consumer demand continues to outpace our ability to supply.”
Ammunition Shortage Impacts Primer Supply
Rifle and pistol primers are nearly sold out everywhere, with some less-than-reputable vendors now charging 4-5 times the normal price. So what’s going on here — why can’t you find primers? One reason is that primer producers such as Federal and CCI are using the vast majority of the primers they make to complete their loaded ammunition, which is flying off the shelves.
What is causing the ammo panic buying and primer shortage?
There are a number of key reasons:
1. Concerns over the recent election and potential Democratic Party control of U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the White House;
2. General worry and paranoia caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
3. Fear of new legislation banning guns and restricting ammunition purchases;
4. Social unrest and rioting led by BLM and left-wing activists and tolerated/encouraged by Blue State government officials; and perhaps most importantly,
5. The vast increase in the number of new gun buyers.
Huge Increase in Gun Purchasing in 2020
2020 will probably set an all-time record for gun purchasing in the USA. This spike in gun buying has been propelled by the greatest annual increase in gun ownership in U.S. history. According to data from the NSSF, roughly 6.2 million Americans purchased their first firearm in 2020. A NSSF dealer survey estimates that 40% of all gun sales were conducted to purchasers who have never previously owned a firearm. And women accounted for 40.2% of first-time gun purchases. We’ve never seen that kind of spike in gun ownership in a single year. This is unprecedented.
Ammo Shortage Will Continue for Many Months, Well into 2021
What are the prospects for greater availabilty of loaded ammo in the months ahead? Not so good according to Vista Outdoor CEO Christopher Metz whose company operates Federal, CCI, RCBS, Alliant, Blazer and many other shooting industry brands. Metz declared: “We currently have over a year’s worth of orders for ammunition.” That value of those back-orders exceeds ONE BILLION dollars. “This is unprecedented for our company. With demand far outstripping supply and inventory levels in the channel at all-time lows, we see strong demand continuing[.]”
There is some good news however — the former Remington ammo factory will start cranking out ammunition again. The American Rifleman reports: “Vista Outdoor has purchased the [Remington Outdoor] ammunition factory in Lonoke, Arkansas [and will resume] production at or near full capacity. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports 300 employees furloughed by the former owner of the plant will soon be recalled to join nearly 400 still working at the facility.”
Similar Posts:
- What Caused the Ammo Shortage? When Will Things Get Better?
- America’s Big Ammunition Plants Are Running at Full Capacity
- Primers — Why There is a Primer Supply Shortage
- Vista Outdoor May Sell Off Savage Arms and Stevens
- Message from Hornady about Ammunition Shortage
Share the post "Ammo and Primer Shortage Will Continue into 2021"
Tags: Ammunition Shortage, CCI, Democratic Party, Federal Primers, Primer Availability, Vista Outdoor
All the years that we have supported the gun and ammunition and components industry, and the first opportunity the supply chain gets, from manufacture down to the local gun stores, they screw us over and over and over.
Americans screwing Americans.
Randy you are absolutely right! This will never stop but for one reason…”its all about me and I have to take care of me” mentality consumers have. I have loaded ammunition that would take me 10 years to shoot and that’s going thru a case a week. I have half that much in components. But even with that I continue to buy only when the price is right, which it is not right now for a lot of loaded ammo but is on components thru LE/Military purchase programs and dealer pricing. My guns will never become paper weights for me, my kids or grandkids. To get anyone let alone a large group, half the country buying ammo now to stop and force the price down is “NEVER” going to happen. Instead of complaining but agreeing we are getting screwed by the retailers selling the ammo won’t help but remember who these folks are when times are over supplied. But again try getting everyone to remember that….bottom line is like anything supply and demand drive the prices but you need to be prepared so when times like this happen in the ammo world you can sit back and be relieved you don’t have to buy. Poor planning on your part is not an emergency on mine.
Pro2nd,
Same for me, my supply will take me a number of years to exhaust and will also buy when prices are as good as they’ll get in the future. In the meantime I bought a $2,000 air rifle that will shoot 300 yards. I bought 4,000 match grade pellets for $104. No primers, brass or powder needed. Adapt and overcome.
Personally I feel like this happens more and more and the savvy retailer would open more capacity investing their profits…and that reloaders are their most reliable customers and their needs should be met over panic buyers even if there are limits. But that is just one man’s opinion.
I don’t see why the gun and ammo manufacturers even sell their product to the government, when it is the government that wants to shut them down.
Is the Primer & Powder shortage real, or another “gun control” method.
Why is Canada getting USA made powders & primers when shooters in the US market can’t?
The Canadians don’t seem to have a problem getting American made reloading supplies and ammunition.
Primers from CCI and Winchester are available in Canadian stores.
So are various brands of ammunition.
See for yourself.
Here is just one of the many Canadian shops.
https://www.bullseyenorth.com/reloading-primers
Even the big 2 in the USA (cabalas & bass pro) don’t have ammo, powder or primers for sale.
One reason US manufacturers claim for the shortage is; millions of 1st. time gun buyers bought up the ammunition.
Question:
Did they also become 1st. time reloaders?
And why can’t foreign Primers be imported to fill the gap?
They used to be readily available.
Brands such as Seller Bellot, Rws or Fiocchi manufature boxer primers, not just berdan.
There must be a lot of 1st time gun buyers & reloaders in Europe.
Either way;
Maybe I am wrong, I’ve been wrong on things before, but for now, it’s my opinion this is a made to order shortage.
What do you think?
The great Primer shortage will not stop until the suckers paying 400.00 per 1,000 stop paying it . Many of the gun broker sellers are actual gun shops. They have loads of inventory that is not making it to the shelves on their actual store. Why should they when someone is willing to pay 400.00 for a 29.00 box of primers.
If you want the price to go back down stop buying it for the price of gold . Only then will the price return to normal.
STOP CREATING THE DEMAND. ITS A DEMAND SOMEONE CREATES EVERY ELECTION.
HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR AR 15 MAGAZINES WHEN OBAMA RAN . NOW THOSE MAGS ARE HOW MUCH ?
In my state i have found a few gun shops putting primers straight to gun broker for 300 to 400 per brick. I will not forget the shops that did this. I will never do business with them again. Many shops have not done this and those will be who receive my business later on .
Barry And John. Thank You for your posts, You are correct, The only small rifle primers I can find are in Canada And they won’t ship to the US. I have been reloading for over 50 years, And this shortage is Getting old, I have Brass, Bullets, Powder, Just No Primers, Any primers online are being priced gouged and I refuse to buy, And refuse to do any business with Greedy Bastards(GunBroker.com) who want to make our life more miserable In these Trying Times. God Bless, Stay Safe, Hopefully things will change for the better.
Supply is flying off shelves but not to commercial vendors. Powder and ammo contracts with US Govt cteating shortage. You can speculate how that works but if theres no ammo your 2A means nothing.
HAZMAT controls any type explosives movement any hwy or state line.
HAZMAT has everything to do with shipping of components to reload around country.
Secondly, Since when does government reload ammo? Why the 6 billion primer purchase?
my @.02
like she said “human nature sucks, I oughta know”
If the ammo companies are really putting out ammo, where is it all going? No dealers have anything in stock and no back order. So where is it going??
I was notified by a non US company that they have tons of primers but cannot ship to USA because they are not allowed due to export restrictions. Wonder who did that? Biden?
Biden and Harris couldn’t have been elected without gun owners voting for them. We’re our own worst enemeys.