Do you think the gun manufacturers and ammo manufatures are doing enough?

[lightman]

I think they are doing all they can do. My friends that work at the Remington ammo plant near me still talk about supply line problems. Ya can't make it if you can't get the raw material.

I assume others beside Remington and in the same situation. And weekly unemployment payments are often exceeding what some make per week. So do the math on that............

 

[gyp_c2]

Well...seems to me there are a few folks trying to end the problem PERMANENTLY.
I'm a little more worried about that...

 

[SharpDog]

I don't. I can't find ammo or reloading components. Guns are hard to find now. All are more than happy to ask us, as gun owners, to contribute a little on our firearm purchases for the goodness of the cause.

Are they there for us now? Are they stepping up to the plate to provide us with the things we need to continue our shooting hobby? No they are not.

In the cart? You purchase price, shipping, and a donation for your favorite gun supporting organization.

After that call 1-800-have a nice day. Cause we are forever done with you as a customer unless you give us some more money.

That would be what we call running a business.

 

[FFGColorado]

Big box stores try to keep pricing down to get you inside their stores.
Online only guys could care less. Their price reflects their inventory. Low inventory = high pricing.
I think the factories are charging more, to keep the 3rd shift happy. But I'll bet that they're making as much as they can, because of the current higher profit margins.
I can't see if they're limited by Covid or a primer shortage?

Perhaps but I doubt ammunition is a 'loss leader' at big box stores..they don't sell it below their cost.

Pick an online place. Their ammo inventory is YUGE and no limit to how many you buy. I think it's 'whatever the market will bear', for online places.

Just for fun, first one on wikiarms, 9mm, I put in 20 times 100 rounds..2000 rounds and added to my cart($1100+)..didn't even blink(then deleted..don't want 2000 rounds of russian ammo)...

 

[Zerodefect]

I agree, the big stores ain't losing money. Just trying to undercut online sales enough to get you inside.

All of those expensive rain jackets and tents are available online as well.

 

[daniel craig]

I do. Considering how hard component materials are to get in most industries still (lumber for example).

Also, “doing enough” to me makes it sounds like we’re talking about the production of essential items like food or the production of fresh water. For the vast majority of people this industry represents little more than a hobby and thus “doing enough” is largely irrelevant.

I think, like in many other areas of life these days people need to be patient, take a chill pill and a half and move on. I get that instant gratification is a very real part of our culture but I don’t think it’s a reason to point the finger at anyone other than ourselves and our consumption habits when supplies aren’t what we want them to be. Imagine how silly we’d all think people were for complaining about there not being enough cloth for sewing projects? It’s the same here.

I also think that people don’t realize that the system right now is working exactly as it was designed. The entire point of the system is the maximizing of profit and NOT guaranteeing an inexhaustible supply. It’s the system we created and the system we live in.

Lastly, I find it hard blaming manufacturers when so many people I know are sitting on many hundreds or even thousands of x,y,z rounds or components. It’s always more, more, more.

 

[DeepSouth]

I don’t know, I’m not in the ammunition business. But common sense tells me they are making as much money as possible, that is after all the point of every business. I’m willing to bet they’re making all they can.

I mean assuming they’re making all they can, what else could they do?

Like others have said, I don’t think it’s the manufactures and sellers, problem is the buyers.

 

[buck460XVR]

Because times like this are high profit, you can bet your sweet backside that gun and ammo manufacturers are doing all they can. Problem is, they can't catch up with the unprecedented demand. Folks want to blame the Democrats, but they have done nuttin' new yet to restrict access to guns and ammo. The Republicans instigated civil unrest in this country just as much as them Dems did. Look at Jan. 6th. Look at the lies and tin foil hat conspiracy theories propagated since November 3rd. While the ecomony is dire for some, for many others, it is booming. Not being able to travel cut gas prices. Not being able to recreate in other way made for shooting guns more. Then give folks with a fair amount of expendable income free monies in the form of "stimulus checks" and guns are the first thing on many of their lists. One only has to read these types of forums to see many gun folks are using theirs for guns and ammo, if and when they can find any. Guns and ammo are hard to find, but so are other things. Have you tried to buy a good bicycle lately? stand in line and wait. I went to the Harley dealer yesterday to schedule service for my bike. Place was packed and every salesman has folks at their desks. Most every bike in the store had a "sold" sign on it. Stiopped at a ATV/UTV dealer afterwards and they were the same. One salesman told me "if it ain't nailed down, it's been sold." While they had some Chinese ATVs/UTVs left(2 each), anything with the name Polaris was sold and there was a 8 week wait for anything ordered. Few weeks back, my wife and I went to a RV dealer to look at travel trailers. Same thing there. Salesman told us February was a record breaking month for them and once everything on the lot was gone(and it almost was), they didn't know if and when they would get more. Like guns and ammo, all of that stuff is "fun" stuff and not really needed for folks to live. Folks aren't stocking up for Armageddon, just living for today. You can bet all of those industries are doing their best to take advantage before the opportunity is gone.

 

[FFGColorado]

Because times like this are high profit, you can bet your sweet backside that gun and ammo manufacturers are doing all they can. Problem is, they can't catch up with the unprecedented demand. Folks want to blame the Democrats, but they have done nuttin' new yet to restrict access to guns and ammo. The Republicans instigated civil unrest in this country just as much as them Dems did. Look at Jan. 6th. Look at the lies and tin foil hat conspiracy theories propagated since November 3rd. While the ecomony is dire for some, for many others, it is booming. Not being able to travel cut gas prices. Not being able to recreate in other way made for shooting guns more. Then give folks with a fair amount of expendable income free monies in the form of "stimulus checks" and guns are the first thing on many of their lists. One only has to read these types of forums to see many gun folks are using theirs for guns and ammo, if and when they can find any. Guns and ammo are hard to find, but so are other things. Have you tried to buy a good bicycle lately? stand in line and wait. I went to the Harley dealer yesterday to schedule service for my bike. Place was packed and every salesman has folks at their desks. Most every bike in the store had a "sold" sign on it. Stiopped at a ATV/UTV dealer afterwards and they were the same. One salesman told me "if it ain't nailed down, it's been sold." While they had some Chinese ATVs/UTVs left(2 each), anything with the name Polaris was sold and there was a 8 week wait for anything ordered. Few weeks back, my wife and I went to a RV dealer to look at travel trailers. Same thing there. Salesman told us February was a record breaking month for them and once everything on the lot was gone(and it almost was), they didn't know if and when they would get more. Like guns and ammo, all of that stuff is "fun" stuff and not really needed for folks to live. Folks aren't stocking up for Armageddon, just living for today. You can bet all of those industries are doing their best to take advantage before the opportunity is gone.

Reality, what a concept...The inauguration was 53 days ago.

 

[mcb]

If the OP thinks firearms and ammunition manufacturers are not doing their part now it makes me wonder if the OP was doing his part back in 2017-18 when the market supply lines where jammed, over-full with product and prices where low and many manufacturers had to reduce their work forces due to this glut in supply lines, and the very low demand for firearms and ammunition. Had the OP done his part back then he might have enough ammo and reloading supplies still today and the manufacturer might have more confidence to add more capacity knowing they would not get burned again with a market turn down.

Takes two to tango and the manufacturers are just one partner in the dance.

 

[mmb617]

I find the notion that any company is intentionally holding back their production of products that are in high demand, rather amusing. What kind of business model would that be?

 

[Zerodefect]

If the OP thinks firearms and ammunition manufacturers are not doing their part now it makes me wonder if the OP was doing his part back in 2017-18 when the market supply lines where jammed, over-full with product and prices where low and many manufacturers had to reduce their work forces due to this glut in supply lines, and the very low demand for firearms and ammunition. Had the OP done his part back then he might have enough ammo and reloading supplies still today and the manufacturer might have more confidence to add more capacity knowing they would not get burned again with a market turn down.

Takes two to tango and the manufacturers are just one partner in the dance.

Yeah, that kinda stinks.

Feel bad about that, but didn't have the cash to stock up until 2019.

 

[jmorris]

Do you think the gun manufacturers and ammo manufatures are doing enough?

If they are not cutting production to keep costs artificially high, how could you not?

Would you prefer that they invest billions in greater manufacturing to meet the temporary artificial demand spike, then watch that investment sit and layoff 1000’s of people once it’s met?

If you look at the number of sprouting business that petered out after Hillary didn’t win and how they had to shut down because buyers were not doing enough...

As long as it’s a free Country, it will work itself out. Those that had to close down after the last panic subsided might not be eager to jump right back in; however, if the market is sustainable, competition will iron things out.

I suppose we could also get the .gov involved, they don’t seem to mind importing just about everything else in from China, have them remove import bans and I bet there are lots of folks that would give Norinco primers and ammunition a try. In other words, we in part did this to ourselves.

 

[Targa]

Don't blame the sellers. Blame the buyers. Everything is getting sold out as soon as it hits the shelves or website.

Sums it up for me! I will just add the naivety of the consumer to pay ridiculous prices....you know $1 a round for 9mm etc etc....

 

[Armybrat]

Everything is still available. It seems you are not willing to pay for it.

I find it interesting (and appalling) that most of the major online gun dealers consistently show almost no firearm inventory 24/7 for months on end. Where is the production going? Are distributors selling the hardware directly online themselves and bypassing the retailers?

 

[3Crows]

I don't. I can't find ammo or reloading components. Guns are hard to find now. All are more than happy to ask us, as gun owners, to contribute a little on our firearm purchases for the goodness of the cause.

Are they there for us now? Are they stepping up to the plate to provide us with the things we need to continue our shooting hobby? No they are not.

In the cart? You purchase price, shipping, and a donation for your favorite gun supporting organization.

After that call 1-800-have a nice day. Cause we are forever done with you as a customer unless you give us some more money.

OP, perhaps you are new to shooting sports but over the last decade there have been several shortages, this one being the worse by far. You should have in your inventory at all times at least one year supply of ammunition and supplies. You did not stock up and now you are faced with the choice of nothing or purchasing from the gouger/reseller bunch at inflated prices who are part of the cause of the shortage. I have been steady purchasing both guns and ammunition at local stores at normal retail prices. It has been spotty but seems to be getting better. I will not buy anything from gougers or resellers. Ammunition prices at retail have taken a 15% increase, or will very soon. That is a permanent increase through the supply line. I expect guns will take a similar jump if not already. As to the NRA and similar, without them, it would be a lot worse.

 

[George P]

All companies are producing as much as they can as fast as they can quality-wise. The head of Fiocchi US sales was on a podcast explaining what is happening. NO company is going to invest the millions it would take to expand production for a temporary situation and then have it sit idle when things calm back down. Mfg prices have gone up 15% per Vista; the major uptick in pricing is at the distributor to retail and then the retail to the consumer level. We are our own worst enemy. Folks who would stop at a store and buy a few boxes on the way to the range are now trying to buy everything; even for guns they don't own so they can flip or barter with it.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I don't. I can't find ammo or reloading components. Guns are hard to find now. All are more than happy to ask us, as gun owners, to contribute a little on our firearm purchases for the goodness of the cause.

Are they there for us now? Are they stepping up to the plate to provide us with the things we need to continue our shooting hobby? No they are not.

In the cart? You purchase price, shipping, and a donation for your favorite gun supporting organization.

After that call 1-800-have a nice day. Cause we are forever done with you as a customer unless you give us some more money.

I blame the manufactures and sellers for not being aggressive enough to keep up with the demand. They are certainly a power in the force. When we run out of ammo we can blame a politician. A 45 acp Democrat caused me not to be able to shoot today.

Comforting. After all that's all we need to do.

Define what's "enough".

Have you ever run a business? I haven't...but I've helped others.

It's not easy running a business. It SOUNDS easy...make a product, sell a product, right?

When the market is somewhat stable, it's not too bad. You can fairly easily predict upswings and down swings based on seasons of the year, upcoming sporting events, school activities, etc. depending on your market.

But radical changes mean crunch times when it stresses your production capabilities. And some businesses you can't just "scale up" production capabilities/capacities because the equipment and building spaces are premium expenses that take time and money to invest in and don't pay for themselves easily when the market drops back down...requiring you to inactivate equipment and buildings and now have to spend time and money keeping the inactive equipment in good condition while it's not being productive.

 

[CraigC]

The Republicans instigated civil unrest in this country just as much as them Dems did. Look at Jan. 6th. Look at the lies and tin foil hat conspiracy theories propagated since November 3rd.

I didn't need anyone to tell me something fishy was going on. I watched it unfold with my own eyes. The run on guns and ammo started long before January 6th. Which was nothing more than a protest that got out of hand. The riots that ensued for MONTHS before that were something else entirely. Propagated by the media and perpetuated by Democrat mayors, city councils and governors.

 

[GEM]

It's the darn Democrats and Republican who engineered this because .... they wanted me to close this thread!

Asked and answered about economic realities and the conspiracies can just take a nap.

PS - what about the Lysol conspiracy? Who has the Lysol?