We’ve already written that, based on conversations with knowledgeable people in the industry, AR-15 rifles (and others) have basically sold out of the supply chain. I’m now here to bring you further distressing news. The last time there was a massive gun control push, rifles were first to go. Ammunition followed shortly thereafter. The ammo supply dried up and once it was gone it took years to recover. For a long time, as soon as ammo became available again it would be bought up by shooters stockpiling as much as they could get their hands on and we’d be back to square one. It looks like at least one ammunition company has taken notice of the trend and is putting their wares back “on allocation” . . .
Word comes to TTAG through our gun dealer contacts that industry giant Federal Ammunition has put all of their stock on allocation. That means gun stores can only get a certain number of rounds in a given time period, and that’s it. No more. One gun store we talked to told us the maximum number of rounds is two cases at this time.
In theory this should allow the maximum number of stores to at least keep a trickle of ammunition flowing no matter what happens. In practice what this will probably do is cause The Second Great Ammo Shortage to start up even sooner, and for artificial reasons. Even if people don’t run out and buy up all the 9mm they can carry, this will ensure that the ammo supply will eventually dwindle.
In short, there’s a bad moon on the rise. Again.