This isn't industry or pro 2A or anti 2A "news" outlet, but instead a local "this is news" story published out of Idaho.
https://www.idahopress.com/news/loc...cle_9034df78-c381-512b-ae09-cc63d7b98f92.html
Shell shock: Ammo shortage bites industry
SPOKANE, Wash. — While last year’s toilet paper panic during the grip of the pandemic was disturbing, at least it was brief. Meanwhile, a nationwide ammunition shortage continues to impact shooting facilities, hunting trips and even law enforcement agencies – with no end in sight.
Shooting industry insiders say a combination of fear stemming from social unrest, COVID-related manufacturing restrictions and political shifts had contributed to the ammunition shelves in sporting goods stores being mostly bare.
Dedicated shooters appear to be perpetuating the problem as they snap up and hoard nearly any handgun, rifle and shotgun ammo that becomes available.
Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop in Spokane started feeling the impacts about 16 months ago, said Jeremy Ball, co-owner.
“We’re still not completely reopened, and it has absolutely nothing to do with COVID,” he said. “We’re closed 21 hours a week that we’d normally be open because ammo across the board is in short supply.”
Independence Indoor Shooting, a shooting range in Meridian, Idaho, outsourced its ammunition, relying on overseas suppliers, said Media Marketing Manager Michael Newgen. The U.S. shortage is a result of record-setting demand for firearms in 2020 combined with pandemic-related strains on manufacturing and shipping, he said.
For a couple weeks, the range limited sales of certain ammunition but has not had to restrict sales for several months, Newgen said.
“Right now is just a really big game of catch up,” he said.
Hunters found a dearth of turkey loads when the spring gobbler seasons opened in April. What showed up on shelves at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Spokane, for example, was gone quickly, even at $33 for a five-pack of 3-inch 12-gauge shells.
Some regular shooters at Landt Farms Sporting Clays west of Spokane are conserving their personal supplies of target loads by scaling back training, sometimes going half rounds (50 targets) rather than shooting the full course, owner Sally Scott said.
https://www.idahopress.com/news/loc...cle_9034df78-c381-512b-ae09-cc63d7b98f92.html