19 Sept 24

Ammunition

This, from friends in the ammunition-manufacturing business:

“Right now, most components are reasonably available, but that will begin to change soon!

Two weeks ago, the CCP precipitously announced that it was discontinuing the export to the USA of nitrocellulose and antimony.  These two products are indispensable in the production of propellent powder and primers.

There are other, lesser sources, but CCP has always been the main supplier.

My local supplier of propellant powder has been unable to fill orders for most of this year!  The vast majority is going to the war effort in Ukraine, some directly to ammunition manufacturers in Europe and some to refill critically depleted domestic military inventories.

That doesn’t leave much for ‘the rest of us!’

I predict significant commercial ammunition shortages, starting shortly!

We’ll do our best here to continue to produce high-quality ammunition for commercial domestic consumption, but when we can’t get components, we’ll be unable to produce anything!”

My suggestion:

Stock-up now!  Have “adequate” supplies on-hand.

Ammunition companies are under a lot of pressure, as we see, and it’s going to get worse!

/John