Cancel Certain Caliber Production Runs?

[InkEd]

I know that most ammunition manufacturers are running at full production. IIRC most ammo is produced in large runs by caliber due to having to change out certain dies and things on the production line. What I was wondering...

Given the supply shortage conditions, are any of the companies stopping/shortening production of some of the less popular calibers?

It would make sense (if the same production line is used for both) to skip a production run of (for example) .222 Remington Magnum and produce more regular .223 Remington or skip making .22short to do an extra run of .22lr.

I was curious if anyone knew whether of not this is being done by any of the manufacturer?

 

[JohnM]

Only makes sense. Why would a manufacturer produce high volumes of something with low demand.

 

[RCArms.com]

I believe that 22LR is manufactured on completely different machinery than the centerfire calibers. The mfg are cranking it out as fast as they can produce it, but it's selling as soon as it hits the floor at retailers as well as being diverted to large outstanding contract orders like DHS, DOD, LE, and major wholesalers as well.

 

[Ignition Override]

But as for .22LR, the US govt. might not be buying any of this.

The ammo flippers appear to have caused much of our shortage, affecting regular shooters who noticed a string of well-publicized massacres in the US followed by comments by politicians, and either were totally broke, or somehow did not plan ahead.

 

[InkEd]

I know all that stuff. I was wondering about the original question. Can anyone confirm or heard of they are doing such a thing to help get caught up?

Rimfire and centerfire ammo are usually on different lines but the same things applies... Cancel .22short and do more .22lr ammo because I'm pretty sure they are on the same line.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

If all the non shooters stopped buying everything they can to flip at 10x the price the shortage would clam way down. I bet there are tens of thousands of people out there with multiple thousands of rounds who do not own a single gun.

Online Classifieds are full of 550rnd value packs of .22lr for 75-100 dollars!

Anyone who pays those prices to the flippers is part of the problem.

 

[22-rimfire]

Traditionally the less popular calibers (from a sales volume point of view) are done in batches and often there is no additional production of that caliber the rest of the year. For example, Remington lists 41 mag as a production seasonal item.

My guess is that the major cartridges manufacturers are only loading popular calibers right now just as you would expect. It is a business. They want to sell their production so new orders can be received and produced.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I am certain that all the ammo mfgs. are using all their resources to produce the most in demand calibers at this point.

 

[mrvco]

And here I was thinking the ammo mfgs were focusing on restocking the shelves with .41 AE rather than the more popular calibers

 

[cfullgraf]

It would make sense (if the same production line is used for both) to skip a production run of (for example) .222 Remington Magnum and produce more regular .223 Remington or skip making .22short to do an extra run of .22lr.

The answer is it depends.

Remember, manufacturers do not sell to the end user. Their customer base is very different from John Q Public.

The manufacturers may have orders for those less popular cartridges and the mark up is greater than the popular stuff. Why pass up a way to make more money.

Contracts have an influence on production schedules.

Some of the cartridges only get run once in a blue moon. They may delay a production run, but when inventories get too low for too long, why risk pissing off your customers for too long. They may take their business elsewhere. Well, you are saying "If they can sell everything, why will the manufacturers care". The panic will end and upset customers may leave for better service.

Even the manufacturers put there customers on allocation.

Then, from another point, how easily or quickly can the manufacturer change a line over. If the start up after a change over is quick and easy, change overs will be more frequent. If change overs create painful start-ups, the manufacturer may risk some future business to keep the lines running now.

It is a tight rope walk for the manufacturers and can be quite the headache for the manufacturers.

 

[itsa pain]

it is plain to see no one will blame our govt. the same govt that will in 40-50 years eliminate all gun rights. the same govt that banned norinco ammo and guns in collusion with American gun and ammo dealers. norinco would flood the country with billions of rounds and I think the Russians are being held back. they would love to send shiploads of ammo here but I think they are being limited by our govt. "American" companies love no competion and monopolies and will pay prostitute politicians to get it

 

[22-rimfire]

On the 22LR front, if I were a manufacturer right now, I would produce the ammo lines that create the most profit on a unit basis. If that is bulk packs, then I would produce bulk packs. But there is that sticky question of order priority...

On the other hand, where do you think those expected supply dates come from at places like Midway? The manufacturer has orders and they fill them and I would assume they fill them on a priority basis.

 

[blue32]

Has anyone posed the OP's question to a manufacturer and received a response?

 

[22-rimfire]

I have read several responses by manufacturers and all simply say essentially that they are running at full production to meet demand.