Cowboy State Daily
Ammo Shortage Continues in Wyoming
Wyomingites love their guns. And apparently, the rest of the country is jumping on that bandwagon.
This story first appeared on Cowboy State Daily
By Wendy Corr, Cowboy State Daily
Wyomingites love their guns. And apparently, the rest of the country is jumping on that bandwagon.
In an era known for panic buying and stockpiling, guns and ammunition are popular items. In fact, ammunition is in such short supply that outdoor supply stores can’t keep enough on the shelves.
“They sit on the shelf for maybe a day and then they’re about gone for the most part,” said Madison Pendley, store manager at Rocky Mountain Discount Sports in Cody. “Unless we get like a full pallet, then that will last a couple of days, but that’s about the extent of it.”
Pendley said the store has multiple suppliers that it orders from, and it will get multiple small shipments a day, but only about 10 boxes at a time.
Shawn Wagner, the owner of Wagner’s Outdoor Outfitters in Casper, said he has never seen a shortage like this one.
“Not in 24 years,” which is the amount of time Wagner has been in the sporting goods business, he said.
“Well, it was similar, right after the Sandy Hook shooting thing during Obama time,” he added
Wagner pointed to efforts to pass stricter gun-control laws since President Biden was elected as one reason gun owners are stockpiling weapons and ammunition. Biden has proposed multiple forms of restrictions on firearms and accessories, such as ammunition capacity limits, a federal assault weapon ban and universal background checks.
“People are still paranoid, at least in our area,” Wagner said. “You know, we’re all conservative, not all of us, but the majority. And they’re just worried about what the administration is gonna do.”
And particularly in Wyoming, where shooting is a way of life, Pendley said people want to make sure they have enough ammunition on hand.
“People like their guns and ammo here,” she said. “So they’re seeing it all across the US, but we’re still buying everything that anybody can get their hands on because, of course, people like to shoot here.”
But political insecurity is only part of the equation.
“Somewhere about the first of March last year somebody flipped the switch with this COVID thing, plus the election coming,” Wagner said. “People just bought up stuff to where now I don’t have regular supplies of hunting ammo, I’m just starting to see it come back in right now, but it’s still very, very limited. It gets here and it’s gone, usually within a few days.”
The bottleneck also stems from factories limiting production during the pandemic, according to Pendley.
“The components that they need to load the ammo, primers in particular, are tough for them to get,” she said.
“Some states are shut down and couldn’t get components; they couldn’t get brass,” Wagner adds. “Some of the factories have limited production, and they just kind of snowballed.”
There has been an increase in new gun owners as well, adding to the demand. According to an official with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an estimated 8.4 million people bought firearms for the first time in 2020.
“So if you’re just going to buy the one or two boxes of ammo for (each new gun sold), that’s another 10 or 20 million boxes of ammo they have to make,” Wagner said.
And with a shortage of supply and an increase in demand, prices are bound to rise.
“Ammo for sure has definitely gone up,” Wagner said. “I think a lot of it’s gone up at least 30% to 50%. That’s just on everything.”
“We’ve seen price increases across the board,” Pendley said. “Anywhere from 3% for some companies, up to like 20% or 30% for other companies.”
And how much the price jumps depends a lot on who retailers order from, according to Pendley.
“The big guys aren’t increasing their prices nearly as much, as they have the buying power to still get the same prices that they have been getting,” she said. “The little companies, though — like, there’s a company in Montana that we’ve seen huge price increases from, because they don’t have the buying power to get what they need. They’re making sure that they get their money’s worth for the little bit that they do get out the door.”
But Wagner said production has started to ramp up again, which may alleviate the shortage.
“Now things are cranking out,” he said. “I know most of these ammo factories are running 24/7. And right now I’ve had .223 and .556 on the shelf – and we’re selling a lot – but I’ve gotten in enough to where it’s always been available for maybe two weeks now.”
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Gary M Small
May 24, 2021 at 11:13 pm
I bought the ammo to protect my toilet paper stash. What’s wrong with that?
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 12:23 pm
To protect your TP stash, ask yourself what did the people do before toilet was invented.
Ted Wright
May 25, 2021 at 6:33 am
Ammo shortage and mainstream firearms shortages aside. Why is every obscure gun such as single shot break action 22s and 5k 416 Rigby’s constantly out of stock? Nobody is buying these enthusiast firearms for defense. I’m not buying the reasons being pushed for the shortages. 2+2=4 logic says there’s more afoot here than we’re being told.
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 12:42 pm
Just try to remember one of the most important things about life, there is always room for improvement. We just have to figure out the who, what, where, when, why, and the how. Life is good ask yourself what was one of the best meals you ever had. Even some of the foreign recipes. It has been said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Hmmm the point is not to be to concern about the things that don’t make sense, but be concerned about the things that does make sense. For we all have ideas, and the world is full of problems, if we all could sit down, and to use reasoning to try and solve them.
Ted Wright
May 26, 2021 at 6:41 am
A fine sentiment! Perhaps a little naive. All wiggle room for comprise has been used up in the last 245 years we are now oil & water ( they don’t mix ). The division will continue and get worse until one side vanquishes the other. It’s inevitable.
Thomas Jones
May 25, 2021 at 8:33 am
biden will end up beating 0bama as the best gun and ammo salesman of the year!
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 12:31 pm
One may never know what can be accomplished, if we don’t put aside our differences. Only if we can put our positive thoughts in it to work some of these problems out. We all have a mind, and good ideas. So let’s try to use it for the good of all, short, tall, big, and small. This world could explore the ends of universe, if we could contribute to what matters most, and that’s life.
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 12:20 pm
Let’s get an understanding about all of the nonsense, why do need to do this. I didn’t give you life, neither did you give me life. So why is it that we are allowing ourselves, to come to hurting one another, or trying to kill one another. What is the law, or justice system for, if we don’t abide by it. I have served 27 years in the Army, I have come to realize that the Lord God has given life, and for he is the one who was meant to take life. Sure of course in the event I had to defend myself, believe me I will. I don’t like it when a mosquito bites me, but I don’t go out of my way to cause any thing or anyone any harm. What in the world is the meaning of we the people, if we the people can’t come together, and try to work things out. People all over the world is looking for a better way of life. Unless they are content with what they have. Don’t we all have, a right to become better, or to do better. Life is too short for nonsense, and or ignorance, to hate someone just because the color of their skin. That is down right nonsense, and ignorant. When WW II was happening the great majority of the men went off to fight the war, there wasn’t enough men left here to keep the factories running. So the women came out of the houses, and went in the factories to help to support the war. But we don’t need any more wars especially here in on this soil. For all who believe in the Lord God I say to you Bless You, then again may all be blessed throughout the world’s unrest. If there be anyone who may have a problem with the way things are take it up with the Lord, and remember that the Lord doesn’t make mistakes. For if he did, ask yourself did he make a mistake in creating you. Hmmm may you all be blessed throughout all of the world’s unrest.
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 12:48 pm
I had an uncle, that had bought a pistol, someone had broke in his house, and stole the pistol. In the event he had a trigger lock on it. No one could use it hmmm the point is no matter what we do, we all must try to use precautions.
Levon Wilkerson
May 25, 2021 at 1:03 pm
For all you veterans, go back to your basic training days, the drill instructor would say. Take a deep breath, and let it out the idea is now that you are a veteran, and alive and kicking take a deep breath. So as to enjoy life, each and every day. Take a deep breath, and enjoy life, for you never know when it will be your last. People die all the time from one thing to another, but never try to rush it. Take a look around, and discover the Joy’s of life. Just don’t look up when birds are flying over, they just may dot your eyes Lol. There has been a many of pioneers that has come to make life a little bit more tolerable for us all. The Wright brothers, Mr. Henry Ford, Mr. Thomas Edison, and so on. In the event life should go on let those with their gift to be able to continue to do so. Hmmm
Stuart Dougan
May 25, 2021 at 8:05 pm
It’s the company is creating the shortages. Decrease the supply increase the demand by playing on people’s paranoia. Who gains the people who make the ammunition by selling it at a premium price
Thomas Kuzsma
May 26, 2021 at 4:01 pm
A tremendous amount of ammo is being produced. Very little is being sold to the public. The last shortage existed during the Persian Gulf War. Other than that, people say what they want or say what they are told to say.
Mark Steingass
May 27, 2021 at 8:39 am
The high demand, expense, shortage, weight and inconvenience of brass ammunition is being evaluated by the military (especially the US Army) with a potential replacement of brass cartridges by composite cartridges…this would be a good project for a joint venture between Weatherby and Ramaco to figure out a solution…the possibilities of marketing for such a successful joint venture could create endless employment locally