Bullet Shortage: Why Ammo Prices Are Going Sky High

While the total number of firearms sales for 2020 won’t be known for another couple of weeks, it is already evident that last year broke all the records. With just weeks until President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn in and moves into the White House, sales of guns are only likely to increase, and that means ammo prices are spiking across the nation.

Ammo in Short Supply

As numerous reports have highlighted, a driving factor in the increase of sales was due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but it wasn’t just gun owners stocking up. 2020 saw the largest increase in first-time gun owners. That trend may not continue into 2021 – there are after all only so many people who can or will become first-time gun owners.

However, even if gun sales dip in 2021, the same is unlikely to be true of ammunition sales. In other words, if 2020 broke the records for firearms, 2021 could set a new benchmark for ammunition sales and continue to build on last year’s strong sales.
That is provided the industry can support the demand.

As the NRA’s Shooting Illustrated reported, a commercial ammunition shortage is likely here. It would be the third significant shortage since 2008, and each was the result of political action or reaction.