EchoCharlie Sends: Arizona Ammunition Maker Facing $80-Million In Back Orders
Got ammo? You should have by now, before all this. Can’t say I didn’t tell you so. But a lot of people didn’t, and it is what it is. Run what you brung bacause it ain’t gonna get better anytime soon. -NCS
Read the original at Bearing Arms
Just how bad is the ammo crunch right now? This bad.
Scottsdale-based ammunition company Ammo Incorporated is facing an $80.1 million order backlog amid record demand for ammunition.
“We’re working right now seven days a week, 24 hours a day in all the manufacturing plants,” said CEO Fred Wagenhals.
Ouch. The good news, if there is any to be found here, is that ammunition companies like Ammo Incorporated are now investing millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades to increase their output. If manufacturers felt like this was only a short-term run on ammunition, they might keep their cash in reserve rather than spending it on new equipment, but at least for Ammo Inc, that’s not the case.
“We just bought 2.8 million dollars worth of machinery and equipment last week to increase our production and increase our volume,” Wagenhals said.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the year has already seen a boom in gun purchases, up 95% in the first half of 2020 compared to the same time period of 2019.
“The start was the pandemic that was going on. But there was always that fear of the election. Of who’s going to be elected of the next President of the United States,” Wagenhals said. “But thirdly, I think the unrest in this country right now. And as you’ve seen in a lot of cities, the looting and the burning, and I think people are just scared.”
Wagenhals is right about what’s driving the increase in sales for both firearms and ammunition, and unfortunately no matter who wins in November I think there’s a growing expectation among many Americans that the unrest, looting, and burning will continue. That will likely keep sales strong well into 2021, and hopefully other manufacturing companies will be making similar investments in their own operations in order to increase the availability of ammunition.
It’s also worth noting that Wagenhals says production lines are operating 24/7 right now. That’s an indication that supply chain problems with ammunition components may be easing, allowing the manufacturing facilities to work at full capacity instead of being limited by the amount of raw materials that they can get their hands on.
The problem right now seems to be a simple matter of supply not being able to keep up with demand, and it’s good to see manufacturers being proactive in addressing the problem by increasing supply rather than waiting for demand to subside. With just one company looking at $80-million in back-ordered sales, however, it could still be some time before the crunch for consumers lessens and a decent supply of ammunition can be found on store shelves.
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About the Author: NC Scout
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GUNS N GEAR
Wow. That’s 80 million to 240-320ish million rounds of ammo. Depending on the price. That’s A LOT of ammo.
As of 10/3 6:22 AM PST..
Ammo Empire has,
7.62×51 Prvi M80 500rds case $415
.223 Remington 45gr JHPs 200rd case $189
.223 PMC 55gr FMJ 1000rds $649
7.62×39 G/Tiger 124gr FMJ 1000rds $420
In stock, Free Ship!
Just ordered 400rds of the .223 Remington 45gr JHP..
Should work good in shorty 7.5″ AR pistol..
And Thats 1 manufacturer, think of all the others.
We’re in a run what you brung environment. Getting everybody up to military standards isn’t going to happen. OPFOR is noted for wearing body armor, some hard plates and helmets. Meth and other street drugs are also being used by OPFOR as combat enhancements like the Waffen SS.
Got training plans to get your less prepared folks ready for trouble? Pistol caliber, most Walmart shotgun loads and 22 LR are not useful against even soft body armor. Meth Heads are well known to keep on trying to kill you even after several wounds as they are dying but the their body hasn’t got the memo yet. I’ve had Military Police on my operating table with multiple stab wounds from a suspect they shot several times with 9mm ball.
Folks I’ve been training have been trained with civilian weapons to go for mobility kills of legs and groin first. Even a meth head needs leg bones to run at me. Getting folks to really understand Cover Vs Concealment is the hardest as TV keeps showing police hiding behind a “Car Door” with AK’s being used. A lot of folks are going to get butchered from TV gunfight “Training”.
I’m welcoming any real world experience suggestions as some 30 days until the fraud election of the Sock Puppet and mass Antifa troubles erupt across our Republic.
I run a lot of classes. Everything I teach comes from the very perspective you’re asking about.
NC Scout no disrespect Sir but I suspect most of the senior citizens and their families here in NH are unlikely to be able to attend your classes. Thus my query about training plans for the less than Military folks wanting some self defense training.
I’ve already mentioned here about the cowboy action shoot set up I use to train folks with shoot and NO Shoot targets, hostage-terrorist targets and door way-window shooting. I find that air rifles and CO2 pistols useful for reduced range training as they get them comfortable with shooting quickly at pop up targets. Then they move into live fire.
Considering that this site is mine, and there’s a couple other trainers who contribute and advertise here, soliciting others is kinda sorta not cool. I’m willing to travel and frequently do.
Second, Dodge is running classes in Northern VA, this weekend, and plan on running more. So that’s another option.
Third, I have zero idea who you really are, or if you’re genuine, and we have quite a few antifa-types following this site closely. There’s a lot to digest over the past couple years if you’re new to finding us. The search function is your friend.
NC,I really do not think Mike is trying to compete with you,sounds just working with locals and not even sure if for monies.
That said,if a group was put together and land available(can do that part/25 acres,woods and a bit of fields)would you be willing to travel to say N.H. and run a class/classes /get a group package together.I would be willing the world permits it to come down your way for a radio class,not sure I want to travel thru what are considered enemy states in regards to gun rights on the road for a class that includes firearms,and,would really want to do the drive as to see parts of the country have not had the pleasure of visiting,have always loved road trips.
You good with this will talk to some folks in these parts and if the world holds together try and aim for a Spring date,obviously could put you up at the home. You have me e-mail and if something that could happen drop a line time permitting.
I have no idea what he’s actually asking, but judging by his reply which went in the trash I don’t care.
Shoot me an email. That’s how I conduct business.
James, not to speak for NC Scout however, Scout is open to any and all training. Whether it be in NC, WY, or NH. I suggest that folks interested contact Scout directly through his site Brushbeater. Discussing this on American Partisan through the comments section, is not cricket. I am not picking on anybody in particular just drop him a PM through his site and he will answer all of your questions.
Now with that written, having NC Scout facilitate any of his classes or a specialized class for your group, would be outstanding. He is willing to travel to meet your group. And to be quite frank, enjoys meeting patriots all around the country.
Drop him a PM.
73 & God Bless
5
My go to folks SG have now run out of 7.62×39,a friend bought the last of their HP and 3 cases of fmj,hope all here bought when times were plenty.I do believe we will see soon a lot of foreign made coming in,some is excellent and some,well…..
Food/fuel/clothes ect. reasonably priced,go shopping,yet again.
Picked up another AR from FFL in town (rifle was built in Florida, I’m in northern Arizona) and couldn’t even purchase the “limit 3 to a customer” ammo from him because I didn’t actually _buy the gun_ from him. That’s how extreme it is at the moment here.
And I’m not real impressed with the fact that we no longer run and process lead mining here in America anymore. Yet another primary supply chain weak link.
If you are thinking about a gun purchase you might consider securing the ammo first. And it probably won’t be a 9 mil. The number of new gun owners purchasing weapons is mind blowing, And what are they being sold? 9 mils. It’s almost laughable. The local gun store here get a couple G17’s and G19’s in and they are gone in a matter of minutes. You can still find 45. Hopefully for a while yet.
So if you travel to train NC Scout how do you know the Allegiances of the Group that’s paying you for training? Locals you might have word of mouth vouching for them.
Seems Antifa has enough money to run continuous rioting, errr “Peaceful Protesting” every night and SOMEBODYS paying for their food, shelter, weapons, legal and Medical care? They have been showing ever increasing levels of professionalism so I suppose the core badasses are getting training. I’d be surprised if they wanted more training they would ditch the black clothing and goth eyeliner long enough to go through a professional training session for enemy intel if nothing else?
Seriously when I study the actions during the Spanish Civil War I was amazed at how many times normally friendly units FIRED on each other due perhaps to lack of identification? And they had some level of uniforms or at least arm bands. How pray tell will we “Know” that’s a friendly or not?
The old army training of “advance ONE man to identify themselves” didn’t work all that well in the WW2 Battle of the Bulge as Germans dressed and equipped with American equipment still got through to attack and sabotage American forces. Eventually their lack of knowledge of American Baseball stopped the infiltration.
I’ve worked with NODs in the sandbox and know their weaknesses as I was the medic on site patching up soldiers who thought NODs made them midnight ninjas. And even then I knew of night operations were two American units engaged each other with casualties. Night time ID would even be more difficult.
My local friends have discussed this and we really dislike the idea of shooting up potential friendlies but then again IF they have firepower and empty bellies are they REALLY Friendlies?