Opinion
The U.S. ammo industry is facing a perfect storm. From new tariffs to hostile foreign suppliers, and explosive global demand, one thing is clear: America needs to make more of its own ammunition—and fast.
Bosnia Primers In The Crosshairs
According to a recent NYTimes.com article, Bosnia’s ammo manufacturers, like Ginex in Gorazde, are on edge. The small Balkan town that once supplied ignition primers for countless U.S. cartridges is now paralyzed by uncertainty, thanks to new tariffs announced by President Trump. Rates have fluctuated wildly—35 % one week, then revised to 10%—but even the lower number is enough to make American customers think twice.
These much-needed and well-deserved tariffs, aimed at protecting American industry, may ironically cut off supplies that many U.S. ammo makers rely on, at least in the short term, to keep production rolling. Without primers, bullets don’t go bang. Period.
SAAMI WARNS: U.S. Commercial Capacity Is Critical
According to a detailed report from SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute), U.S. commercial producers already carry the bulk of the load when it comes to total output—eclipsing even the federal government’s own Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. However, unlike the military, which produces only a handful of calibers, America’s commercial plants crank out over 130 different rifle rounds and 40 handgun types. They’re running at full tilt.
That’s why any disruption—be it government-mandated tracking rules*, foreign material shortages, or international tariffs—hits hard. Ammunition facilities in the U.S. move millions of components daily, and trying to micromanage every bullet is like asking UPS to track each peanut in a 40-pound bag. *CHALLENGES TO MARKING: SAAMI Report Page 3
China Cuts Off Key Components
In late 2024, China slammed the door on exports of two critical ingredients: nitrocellulose and antimony. Without these, there’s no smokeless powder, no primer compound, no ammo. China supplies over 63% of U.S. antimony—a key hardening element in bullets. American mines for these materials were shut down decades ago. Now, we’re scrambling to reopen sites like Idaho’s Stibnite Gold Mine, but that’ll take years.
The Military Isn’t Waiting
The U.S. Army just broke ground on a massive new 6.8mm ammo plant in Missouri to support its Next Generation Squad Weapon program. That’s great news for defense readiness—but make no mistake, that plant won’t be making your 9mm range ammo or .308 hunting loads. Most handgun, shotgun, and rimfire ammo still comes from private companies, not Uncle Sam.
What Smart Shooters Know
Dan Wolgin, CEO of Ammunition Depot, reminds shooters not to panic: “Most of our ammo is made right here in the USA.” But that doesn’t mean the risks aren’t real. Supply disruptions, material shortages, and panic buying can drive up prices or empty shelves faster than a Black Friday stampede. It’s not fearmongering—it’s math.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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US Cartridge 9mm 115 Gr +P Nosler JHP (200 Rounds) | Ammunition Depot | $ 99.99 $ 60.89 |
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US Cartridge 9mm 124 Gr FMJ (200 Round) | Ammunition Depot | $ 79.99 $ 48.99 |
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US Cartridge 9mm 124 Gr +P Nosler JHP (200 Round) | Ammunition Depot | $ 79.99 $ 66.99 |
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US Cartridge 9mm 124 Gr Nosler JHP (200 Round) | Ammunition Depot | $ 89.99 $ 66.99 |
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The Solution: Bring Ammunition Production Home
If COVID, Ukraine, and China taught us anything, it’s this: critical industries can’t be outsourced. America needs to:
- Reopen domestic mines for critical materials like antimony.
- Invest in smokeless powder production capacity.
- Support the expansion of U.S.-based primer manufacturers.
- Stop punishing American ammo makers with overregulation and unstable policies.
- Encourage private capital and public-private partnerships to scale up ammo output.
Bottom Line
Tariffs, foreign restrictions, and global conflicts are squeezing the ammo industry from all sides. While big factories like Lake City are building new military stockpiles, everyday shooters could face shortages if commercial production doesn’t keep pace.
We can’t shoot our way to freedom if we don’t make our own ammo. It’s time to reinvest in American manufacturing and end our reliance on foreign powder, primers, and politics. The Second Amendment means nothing without the brass, powder, and lead to back it up.
Pro tip: Stock up now. Not because the world is ending—but because it’s smart to stay ready when everything else isn’t.
U.S. Army Breaks Ground on New 6.8mm Ammo Factory to Support Next-Gen Weapons ~ VIDEO
China’s New Export Restriction Choke Hold on Critical U.S. Ammunition Components, Are You Prepared?
Tariff argument is a hoax. The tariff is on what manufactures buy it for, in other words if a primer cost a dollar in the US., They would buy it for five cents from over seas (or less). So at 20%. Tariff Would tack a penny onto their cost for the product. Not 20 or 25% up charge for what our manufacturer sell it for. Just A ploy to Scream shortage and charge us more.
US buyers should be used to this.
I like tariffs and forcing Wall Street to bring jobs back home.
But, how can the US government put tariffs on Second Amendment related items, whether in this case ammo components, to foreign made firearms or fully foreign produced ammo, foreign scopes, etc, without it being in violation of the Second Amendment?
I don’t see how tariffs on 2A goods, can be constitutional.
Shall not be infringed.
“…and panic buying can drive up prices or empty shelves faster than a Black Friday stampede.”
So what better way to avert panic buying than by posting an article designed to drive up panic buying? The article makes a few good points, but the overall tone sure sounds like fearmongering to me, not math.
CBC/Magtech is building in Oklahoma. The majority of ammo manufacturing isn’t under American control. It’s a lot like our agriculture. Take chickens for instance. That chicken you eat might be grown and butcher and packaged in America but it’s foreign owned and run. Same with your marijuana yall toke. The globalists have been winning for decades and now there’s a panic trying to fix it in years or less and that’s unrealistic. Over half the politicians are working in foreign interests and are fighting against American control. The other less than half are going to make things very expensive in… Read more »
Learned my lesson with the pandemic. I reload ten different calibers now, including handguns, carbines, rifles and shotgun. I have enough powder on hand for 5-7 yrs. Primers for several years, need to get on that. Bullets are a bit tougher to keep up with. Yes, you save money on reloading but then you look at it and rationalize that you can now afford better reloading bullets, those with a higher BC and therefore better accuracy.
The other problem goes back to the saving money, that only means you can shoot more often for the same price!
Tariffs won’t make any difference at all.
The EPA is what killed domestic production.