Reloading/ammo shortages -

[TaperPin]

Like him or not, Donald says tariffs are coming - increased prices on anything imported covers an awful lot, so Tikkas, carbon fiber for stocks, material for clothes, scopes, imported powder, even avocados from Mexico.

Even more impactful, European countries are stockpiling ammo and equipment since the US involvement in Ukraine and NATO is questionable at best - our commitments to support things only lasts 4 years at most. Chaos makes military contracts happen, and even if Ukraine falls to Russia this coming year, we will be a long time away from inexpensive reloading supplies as everyone over there gets prepared for the next Ukraine. If Putin gets a pass, why wouldn’t he continue onto another country?

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to guess American shooters are going to get the short end of the stick. I feel bad for new guys just getting into the sport, who think shortages and high prices like we’ve had are somehow normal.

 

[*zap*]

Good point but:
Anyone who has not stocked up by now is a dim bulb, regardless of who is potus.
Keep your 4 basic calibers/gauges and gather it up. Mine are .22, 6.5, 9mm and 12 gauge in 2 3/4. If you have 20 different ammo needs you will need some more $ to stock up.

 

[N2TRKYS]

He did all that the last time he was in office, but I don’t remember the dome and gloom you suggest, until the Chinese flu shut things down.

 

[Geewhiz]

I will happily pay extra for imported items if it means feeding Americans as opposed to citizens of other countries.

 

[Mish-pop]

I feel it's hard to stock up the way it is right now with prices. Can't imagine how much I could really stock up if it goes up fast again

 

[IdahoBeav]

I'm glad Trump won, but tariffs are always bad policy. I'm hoping that Elon and Ron Paul can knock some sense into Trump on this issue.

It's interesting how the left was silent on the Biden tariffs but cannot stop crying about Trump's.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I have enough supplies to load my entire life.

 

[TaperPin]

He did all that the last time he was in office, but I don’t remember the dome and gloom you suggest, until the Chinese flu shut things down.

That’s two of his talking points from like a week ago - tariffs on all imported goods from everywhere - his words not mine.

As we speak, Europe is stockpiling ammo outside of support for Ukraine. I can’t find the recent article about military contracts, but it has already been happening.

It is good that we aren’t the only military muscle in the mix and other NATO countries are stepping up to a larger degree, but the less we do, the less say we have in each situation.

I’d be happy if the world was a friendly place, but it’s not. Conflicts in the mid 1800’s set up the world for WW1, which laid the foundation for WW2, and conflicts since are just a continuation of butt hurt people getting their “fair share”. It’s a western notion to respect another country’s boarders, and history is full of examples where we don’t.

 

[N2TRKYS]

That’s two of his talking points from like a week ago - tariffs on all imported goods from everywhere - his words not mine.

As we speak, Europe is stockpiling ammo outside of support for Ukraine. I can’t find the recent article about military contracts, but it has already been happening.

It is good that we aren’t the only military muscle in the mix and other NATO countries are stepping up to a larger degree, but the less we do, the less say we have in each situation.

I’d be happy if the world was a friendly place, but it’s not. Conflicts in the mid 1800’s set up the world for WW1, which laid the foundation for WW2, and conflicts since are just a continuation of butt hurt people getting their “fair share”. It’s a western notion to respect another country’s boarders, and history is full of examples where we don’t.

I guess you should start stock piling components.

 

[LFC911]

even avocados from Mexico.

I thought we have a free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico USCMA

 

[pacoalcracker]

USCMA is up for renegotiations in 2025 I believe. Mexico cannot allow China to import goods into Mexico to be imported into the USA.....China is good at back-dooring to get around tariffs.

 

[Okie_Poke]

As we speak, Europe is stockpiling ammo outside of support for Ukraine. I can’t find the recent article about military contracts, but it has already been happening.

Here's a couple of sources for this: https://www.ft.com/content/8616b418-6c2c-45e9-aaa3-2b89bb67f9fc and https://www.defensenews.com/opinion...unitions-problem-and-europe-needs-to-step-up/. As I think you were implying, this has been going on already, regardless of who presently occupies the White House.

I guess we'll see what happens on tariffs. I do expect Trump will impose new tarrifs under various existing statutory deligations of that power to the President. https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/presidential-tariff-powers-need-reform#introduction. I'll be shocked, though, if he actually imposes "across the board" tariffs---that's likely hyperbole. What actually gets tarriffed remains to be seen. Regardless, I'm not super excited about a bunch of new tariffs because that invariably makes things more expensive for the consumer. Neither Team Red nor Team Blue is particularly committed to reducing tarrifs at the moment.

I really just want large rifle primers to come back in consistent stock and the price on them and powder to come down (or at least stabilize). But as long as the world is warring, that's unlikely. As an aside, I wish someone in the U.S. would make extruded powder so it didn't have to all be imported. Having a domestic powder source other than St. Marks would be handy. Perhaps the sustained higher prices might make that more likely, but I'm skeptical prices have been high enough for long enough yet. (Edit to add: For example, lots of IMR extruded powder is made in Canada, and those powders seem to be more expensive than the stuff we import from Australia).

I expect we're about to see a glut of firearms discounted due to no panic buying as a result of the election, but that ammo and component prices will remain high and supply tight. Whether any of this will lead to another shortage, I don't know. But I don't expect to be able to buy any Alliant powders any time soon. (Edit to add: But that doesn't really have anything to do with The Donald winning the election).

 

[Lawnboi]

4 years of fear mongering and we just came out of it.

I don’t see the mad dash for ammo happening in the US.

Dosnt surprise me when countries bent on disarming their citizens are going to push the run on components.