How long before the ammo shortage dies down

[RCCrawler]

I personally just don't understand it. Ammo companies must be working around the clock pumping out as many rounds as humanly possible, where can it all be going? Are they not producing rounds like they used to? Is there a shortage on raw materials?

[losttrail]

I personally just don't understand it. Ammo companies must be working around the clock pumping out as many rounds as humanly possible, where can it all be going? Are they not producing rounds like they used to? Is there a shortage on raw materials?

Look at the amount of ammo that DHS has on order: 1.6BILLION rounds, and that is just what we know of.

Consider also that DHS is not the only federal agency buying ammo; Social Security, IRS, FEMA, etc. ar also buying large quantities.

There is also the mindset of the liberals that if they can't get the guns banned right now, they can restrict ammo and reloading components. If we don't have ammo, we have expensive oars, sticks, clubs.

Rest assured that the Liberals fully understand what our Founding Fathers and George Mason intended the Second Amendment for. That is why they are so determined to nullify our ability to defend ourselves from their tyranny.

[RCCrawler]

If the mfg cannot obtain the raw materials to mfg components they can't do anything.

That's why I asked earlier if there was a material shortage. So it goes up the line, ramp up the mines, ramp up the foundries, ramp up the entire line of production from raw materials to ammo salesman in the stores. If the demand is there work to fill it.

There just seems to be more to the story to me.

It's not just ammo, guns as well. I don't understand why everyone is out of everything. If you manufacture bolt carrier groups, and you can't keep them on the shelf, bring on a second shift, if you still can't keep up bring on a third shift, if you still can't keep up bring in more equipment and people to run it. You should be trying to sell everything you possibly can while the demand is there for it, because you never know when it will disappear.

[Great-Kazoo]

That's why I asked earlier if there was a material shortage. So it goes up the line, ramp up the mines, ramp up the foundries, ramp up the entire line of production from raw materials to ammo salesman in the stores. If the demand is there work to fill it.

There just seems to be more to the story to me.

It's not just ammo, guns as well. I don't understand why everyone is out of everything. If you manufacture bolt carrier groups, and you can't keep them on the shelf, bring on a second shift, if you still can't keep up bring on a third shift, if you still can't keep up bring in more equipment and people to run it. You should be trying to sell everything you possibly can while the demand is there for it, because you never know when it will disappear.

Not every job position requires someone who can push a broom. A lot require skilled personnel to handle the task assigned. I wouldn't want some FSA or fresh out of college kid with no hands on experience, running a backhoe let alone mills, lathes and foundry equipment.

The hire more people mantra, seems like a simple fix, but it's not. Some of these jobs require BG checks beyond the usual piss test and local LE approval. My last job required Bio-Terrorism security clearance and lots of training. The average turn around time for the sec clearance was 6 weeks. I was fortunate having the necessary training and clearances to work right out of the gate.

[davsel]

That's why I asked earlier if there was a material shortage. So it goes up the line, ramp up the mines, ramp up the foundries, ramp up the entire line of production from raw materials to ammo salesman in the stores. If the demand is there work to fill it.

There just seems to be more to the story to me.

It's not just ammo, guns as well. I don't understand why everyone is out of everything. If you manufacture bolt carrier groups, and you can't keep them on the shelf, bring on a second shift, if you still can't keep up bring on a third shift, if you still can't keep up bring in more equipment and people to run it. You should be trying to sell everything you possibly can while the demand is there for it, because you never know when it will disappear.

“We are not experiencing a gun or ammo shortage. We are experiencing a customer surplus.”

Good Article concerning this topic:
http://www.gunsandammo.com/2013/04/02/ammo-shortage/

[Special Ed]

It's not just ammo, guns as well. I don't understand why everyone is out of everything.

The wife and I were at Cabela's in Ft. Worth yesterday (and Monday) and guns were quite plentiful. I'd say that their shelves were fully stocked. This was everything from concealed carry handguns up to AR-10s and AR-15s. They had lots of powder and primers, shotgun shells and magazines too. They had zero .22LR, were woefully short of any pistol ammo and .223 and .308 were out of stock too (though they did have a bunch of .223 on Monday morning, it was gone when we went back Tuesday morning.....price was around the .41/round figure for 55 gr. FMJ quoted earlier in this thread).

Now...15 miles away at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine (just north of DFW Airport), their gun shelves were better than our Bass Pro in Denver but nowhere near the Cabela's stock level (they had maybe 20 handguns total and half of those were SAA clones and other revolvers).

[RCCrawler]

The only other way, then, to increase capacity is to add new production lines, or upgrade existing machinery to do more or go faster. That takes money, lots of money, and time. Why on earth would an ammo factory add, say, $100M in new equipment in order to keep your price down, and when supply catches up to demand, they're sitting with expensive new machines to make more product than they need?

From the article davsel posted:

First, ammunition manufacturers have been running at or near capacity for at least 10 years. Some of their production is still earmarked for military contracts, even though the U.S. military’s presence overseas is being reduced. But the fact of the matter is most ammo makers have barely recovered from the last ammo-buying panic. Nobody who makes ammo has had it sitting around getting dusty on their shelves. They were barely able to keep up with commercial demand before the country went into panic-buying mode.

So running at capacity for 10 years before all of this happened isn't reason enough to ramp up and invest in more equipment?

[Great-Kazoo]

From the article davsel posted:



So running at capacity for 10 years before all of this happened isn't reason enough to ramp up and invest in more equipment?

You're leaving out the most important item. MANPOWER Sure lets hire john & jane doe to run 36/7 . As any business increases the workforce they also increase their INS coverage, FICA (Soc Sec) for the uninformed, workers comp, AND HEALTH INS as mandated by the unreasonable health care act. I can hire 6 more bodies to fill a small window of opportunity. it makes me $500K more in 6 months. However the up front paid out in all benefits, equip etc cost me $501K. Why pay more to make less??
As Circuits pointed out increasing production for something that may or will not maintain todays level, cost a lot more in the long run.

PLUS ........If the assholes in DC have their way the ammo prices could double if not triple due to new TAXES on components and Finished product. How many smaller companies woudl close their doors under those conditions?

[Circuits]

From the article davsel posted:
So running at capacity for 10 years before all of this happened isn't reason enough to ramp up and invest in more equipment?

Manufacturers have very carefully sized their capacity to fill the market demand they have. Running at capacity means they have just enough money invested in capital equipment - right where they want to be, and not a sign to increase capacity. Why would they increase their capacity beyond their market?

Most ammo manufacturers have added capacity in the past ten years - just enough to fill any sustained increases in demand.

[Great-Kazoo]

Manufacturers have very carefully sized their capacity to fill the market demand they have. Running at capacity means they have just enough money invested in capital equipment - right where they want to be, and not a sign to increase capacity. Why would they increase their capacity beyond their market?

Most ammo manufacturers have added capacity in the past ten years - just enough to fill any sustained increases in demand.

Because those who do not comprehend how a business runs, or the logistics, WANT IT NOW!