With the ongoing Ukraine-Russian War and the Israeli-Hamas/Palestinian conflict it is expected to cause a shortage in ammunition and affect American hunters and firearms enthusiasts.

Firearms industry experts said they are expecting a shortage at not just fully assembled metallic ammunition but their respective components. There are only six manufacturers in the entire United States that make primers. And the number of gunpowder makers is even smaller.

Recent reports have stated that the government-owned/Olin Winchester-run Lake City Ammunition plant in Missouri, has suspended all commercial contracts for ammunition, which produces 30% of all 5.56/.223 caliber ammunition.

This ammunition is now expected to be transferred to distribution to Israel. Meanwhile the Ukraine will be awarded different types of ammunition, but which require the components necessary to likewise make ammunition products for hunters and shooters.

A fatal explosion at Hornsby’s manufacturing primer-making plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, may possibly complicate even further any potential ammunition shortage.

Bryan Hendricks, a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette newspaper wrote, “Expect the price of ammunition to rise substantially in 2024 as manufacturers dedicate materials to supply the war in Ukraine.”

Hendricks also wrote, “When Vista Outdoors sold its outdoor sporting products division to the Czechoslovakia Group for $1.91 billion, clouds began to darken. Vista holds title to several famed firearms associated firms. Among them are CCI, Federal, Spear and Remington. The Czechoslovakia Group wants the ammunition making capacity for the war in Ukraine.” 

Adding to the worrisome scenario is a reboot of the panic buying and hoarding that plagued firearms owners only a few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The crisis appeared at an end this summer, as ammunition availability and respectable prices were again flourishing. Even any number of hard to find antique, unique, and old-fashioned calibers were again becoming available. 

George Klier, owner of Black Dog Ammunition of Scobey, Montana said, “There are always rumors, and I don’t know which ones are true and which ones are not. Ammunition prices were coming down and now they are creeping up again.” 

Klier did say he’s less concerned that ammunition manufacturers will be able to hold their own in keeping up with demand. Rather, he’s more troubled that gun owners will harken back to the days of buying up boxes of whatever ammo they can find in calibers they do not have, and/or in quantities they do not need. He said he doesn’t know what some people are thinking, noting that even some of his friends engage in speculative hoarding.