Trump’s Tariffs Are Impacting American Gun Makers. Here's How

Steel tariffs have indirectly impacted Sturm, Ruger & Co., the company said during an earnings call on Thursday. The gunmaker’s experience is indicative of a larger potential issue for the industry, as American steel becomes more desirable to manufacturers.

“We’ve been sourcing our steel domestically for decades,” Sturm Ruger chief executive officer Christopher J. Killoy said during the call. “The tariffs have made domestic steel more attractive, so demand has risen tremendously recently as manufacturers who had been getting their steel from overseas look to find domestic sources. This has led to some price increases and some shortages of raw materials.”

As a result, Sturm Ruger’s purchasing staff have been working more closely with steel suppliers to maintain the inventory necessary for firearms production. Killoy warned that inventory is “tighter” than the company would like.