There is no denying that gun control legislation, or even just the threat of it, can have a major influence on the price of weapons and ammunition. More recently, the announcement that no new import permits would be issued for Russian-made ammunition prompted panic buying and even higher prices for imported cartridges. While existing permits will be honored for the next 2 years, this legislation is sure to have knock-on effects across the ammunition industry. Russia has been the largest external supplier of ammunition to the United States for the past 16 years, and certain munitions, such as 5.45x39 mm, come almost entirely from Russia.
Similarly, recent inflation has also contributed to higher ammunition prices. This correspondent is not willing to predict whether the price of ammunition will rise or fall in the immediate future. The future seems especially murky right now, with many tendencies toward instability. The war in Ukraine, supply chain problems and rising energy costs have the potential to drive up ammunition prices.
If the American Republic survives, consistent dollar ammunition prices will likely decline in a few years, but inflation may have risen at nominal cost as the value of the dollar deteriorates. There are many ammunition brands, such as CCI, Federal, Remington, Winchester and Speer, but they are all controlled by two firms: Vista Outdoor and Olin Corporation. Oliva, from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said many people have turned to the Internet in hopes of finding quality ammunition at low prices. But guns don't do much good without ammunition, which has been running out since the start of the pandemic, leaving empty shelves in ammunition aisles at gun stores across the country.
Any company or speculator that gradually built an emergency inventory in an orderly manner when ammunition and labor were normally priced and available, would have done a great killing during the panic. If you're wondering what the future holds in terms of ammunition prices and availability, you probably don't like the answer, at least in the short term. Last but not least, it is important to consider the sharp increase in recent arms sales and the effect those purchases have on the supply of ammunition. Ammunition prices have skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, the inevitable result of ammunition shortages across the country, unprecedented demand, record arms sales, a disrupted supply chain and an international fight for copper.
The national shortage of boxed ammunition and refill components has led to empty shelves, purchase limits and drastic price increases. Oliva said major U.S. ammunition manufacturers, Hornady, Federal Premium Ammunition, Remington, CCI and others, have increased production dramatically. In most cases and places, it's manufacturers' prices that are criminally high and they don't care about the consumer as long as someone buys the ammunition, even quality control has dropped.
At Fort Walton Beach, you source your weapons and ammunition on an assignment from your dealer, so you're at your mercy in terms of what you can store on the shelves.
