Gun and ammo sales in the U.S. hit a record high in 2020 — and the crazy year is not done yet.
The record-setting highs in 2020, set for various reasons, namely COVID-19 and the lockdowns that followed, have led to a gun and ammo shortage.
“We saw it coming earlier in the year,” said Gold Mine Pawn and Gun owner Price Cook. “Once the lockdown went into effect in March, it started. We were selling more guns and ammo to people who never brought guns before. It has just continued and continued and continued. Every time something happens, everyone comes in a buys a little more.”
The lack of production due to lockdowns and social distancing protocols have made the shortage of guns and ammo worst.
“It’s a big battle,” said Hunters Edge co-owner Laurie Rogers. “We’ve been struggling for a couple of months now. It all started when the virus hit back in March. It had to do with companies cutting down production. For example, Glock runs at 33 percent, and Smith and Wesson are running at 25 percent production. All other ammo companies are doing the same thing. They have to space out because of the virus and social distancing rules [inside their factories].”
Cook explained how production has slowed down in further detail as some lockdowns were eased months ago.
“It’s not as easy as manufacturers saying we’re going to go in a make 30-06 bullets all day long [on a given day],” said Cook. “They have to change the dyes out, etc. It’s a big long process. So what they’ll do is run so many weeks of 30-06, so many weeks of .243, and so many weeks of .308 till they meet their orders, plus a surplus. Well, with the virus, the guy I talked to at Winchester said normally they have 17 workers on one line, but now they have 5, and that’s because of social distancing. So, of course, that slows things down.”
COVID-19 and lockdowns are not the only reason sales are hitting record highs as production remains low.
“Of course, you always have shortages during presidential elections,” said Rogers. “Sales always go up during those times. You also have the rioting that took place up north, which has scared many people. People who have never owned guns and ammo before are shopping for it.”
According to a recent study, there are over 9 million new gun owners in the U.S. this year.
“I would say that about 20 percent of our sales going out of here are first-time gun owners,” said Rogers. “I also teach an enhanced carry course, and I have many people who have never shot a gun before. My classes have been full every single class.”
“We’ve seen a 100 percent increase in new gun owners, based on what we’ve seen in years past,” added Cook. “We’ve kept our guy who does lessons and instructions classes. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Across the nation, one study done by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) claims that 40 percent of gun sales this year are first-time gun owners.
This has compounded the shortage even more.
“We’ve had to go and put back two boxes of ammo for each gun we have here to sell,” said Cook. “Because people aren’t going to buy a gun if we can’t supply the ammo. It’s been a strain on us.”
“We beg and plead daily for whatever we can get,” said Rogers. “We can no longer fill special orders, and we can’t pick what we want. [The warehouses] gives us a little bit here and there, and, of course, we do not turn anything down.”
July, usually the slowest month for gun stores, was the busiest this year.
“June was our largest month ever in eight years,” said Rogers. “June is normally our slowest month of the year.”
“All this happened near tax time, which is normally our busiest time of the year anyway,” added Price. “Then, the next few months, things start to slow down. But this June — which is normally our slowest month of the year — I did more than I did at Christmas last year.”
Backorders this year will lead to a shortage of guns and ammo in 2021 as well. Federal Ammunition, one of the nation’s biggest dealers, has well over one billion dollars in backorders and is no longer accepting any more orders for 2021.
“I have about 250,000 dollars worth on backorder right now,” said Price. “It’s not that I don’t have things ordered. It’s just not available now.”
“With production way down and sales way up, things have caught up with itself,” added Rogers. “It has made the situation worst going into hunting season. It’s a desperate situation all over the country. I have several friends that are having to shut down several days a week or every other week to try and recoup.”
Cook says the situation will be worst next year, in his opinion.
“It’s probably going to be worst next year than it is this year,” said Cook. “A lot of those plants are up north, and as well as anyone knows, anytime they get a chance to lock things down up there, they do it.”