The (Not So) Great Ammo Shortage of 2013

[punkndisorderly]

From everything I'm reading, ammo makers are running at 100% capacity, 24/7. And yet the shelves remain pretty bare.

I understand the reasons for the demand side, but not the supply side of the equation. It seems weird that the supply side hasn't even begun to catch up. When you consider that supplies haven't been normal for probably 4-5 years (though better at some times than others) I would think established companies would have significantly added to capacity and/or new ones would have popped up and/or some enterprising companies/individuals would be partnering up with foreign makers to pull in supplies from outside America (the shortage isn't global, is it?).

Yes, the demand is high, but I don't even remember the last time I've seen a fully stocked ammo counter.

[Chris]

I'm going to say it's tons of new gun owners. I couldn't even find a bottle of gun oil at three stores yesterday. I've never had a problem finding oil. My mom, my wife, my brother, and two of my cousins are all becoming first time handgun owners.

[Excaliber]

From everything I'm reading, ammo makers are running at 100% capacity, 24/7. And yet the shelves remain pretty bare.

I understand the reasons for the demand side, but not the supply side of the equation. It seems weird that the supply side hasn't even begun to catch up. When you consider that supplies haven't been normal for probably 4-5 years (though better at some times than others) I would think established companies would have significantly added to capacity and/or new ones would have popped up and/or some enterprising companies/individuals would be partnering up with foreign makers to pull in supplies from outside America (the shortage isn't global, is it?).

Yes, the demand is high, but I don't even remember the last time I've seen a fully stocked ammo counter.

The 2 billion rounds DHS has ordered might have something to do with it.

Has anyone considered that the primary objective of that purchase just might have been to dry up the civilian supply at a critical time? If so, it's working out real well.

[jmra]

I'm going to say it's tons of new gun owners. I couldn't even find a bottle of gun oil at three stores yesterday. I've never had a problem finding oil. My mom, my wife, my brother, and two of my cousins are all becoming first time handgun owners.