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DES MOINES, Iowa - Ammunition shipments to local gun shops and police departments are being delayed for months because the Army has more than tripled its demand for small caliber ammunition.
Ammunition plants have dramatically ratcheted up production, but company officials acknowledge delays to police and retailers of up to a year.
"There are millions of rounds backordered because the war has put such a demand on the manufacturers," said Lana Ulner, manager of Rapid City, S.D.-based Ultramax Ammunition, a distributor for several manufacturers. "In some cases, it can take eight to 12 months."
The Army's demand for small caliber ammunition has soared from 426 million rounds in 2001 to 1.5 billion rounds in 2006, according to the Joint Munitions Command at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_bi_ge/ammunition_supply;_ylt=Ar8jKZ7I6ko1EteB0wkFTZJK2oc A (broken link)
DES MOINES, Iowa - Ammunition shipments to local gun shops and police departments are being delayed for months because the Army has more than tripled its demand for small caliber ammunition.
Ammunition plants have dramatically ratcheted up production, but company officials acknowledge delays to police and retailers of up to a year.
"There are millions of rounds backordered because the war has put such a demand on the manufacturers," said Lana Ulner, manager of Rapid City, S.D.-based Ultramax Ammunition, a distributor for several manufacturers. "In some cases, it can take eight to 12 months."
The Army's demand for small caliber ammunition has soared from 426 million rounds in 2001 to 1.5 billion rounds in 2006, according to the Joint Munitions Command at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070521/ap_on_bi_ge/ammunition_supply;_ylt=Ar8jKZ7I6ko1EteB0wkFTZJK2oc A (broken link)
not new news to me,I've been trying to get 5.56mm and everyone says "backorder" or has doubled-tripled in price.7.62mm is drying up also.Guess I'll be using my .22lr more often...
I'm going to call B.S. on that article and the reporter, it just doesn't make sense. For one thing the conflict in Iraq does not involve small arms conflicts of any large or extended nature (mostly small and quick clashes) and I wouldn't think the demand would be any greater than the regular military usage during training, etc.
For another thing the caliber that the military uses is different from civilian usage. Don't the M16's use a 7.62 mm rounds? And the various SAW's and sniper rifles use different rounds as well. This would exempt typical civilian used 9mm, .45, and 22 rounds, and of course shotgun shells.
Maybe it's some type of gunpowder shortage related to resources. Seems the article is only quoting one or two vendors.
I'm going to call B.S. on that article and the reporter, it just doesn't make sense. For one thing the conflict in Iraq does not involve small arms conflicts of any large or extended nature (mostly small and quick clashes) and I wouldn't think the demand would be any greater than the regular military usage during training, etc.
For another thing the caliber that the military uses is different from civilian usage. Don't the M16's use a 7.62 mm rounds? And the various SAW's and sniper rifles use different rounds as well. This would exempt typical civilian used 9mm, .45, and 22 rounds, and of course shotgun shells.
Maybe it's some type of gunpowder shortage related to resources. Seems the article is only quoting one or two vendors.
The M16,M4 and M249 SAW use the 5.56x45mm while the M60,Mini gatling gun and M240 ,and sniper and SDM rifles use 7.62x51mm.Yes there really is a shortage,many firearm forums are discussing this at length.
I cannot verify this next statement,but I heard on another board this...
Jane's Intelligence Report back in 2002 and 2003 they had items documenting the US DoD efforts to by surplus 7.62 NATO on the international market and that France, Russia and Red China were actively buying MILLIONS of rounds to keep the US Military from obtaining it. This was back when we were first into Afghanistan and re-learning why you need more than 5.56 in open country. There were estimates that as much as 40 million rounds were shipped to Russia, France & China and likely destroyed or broken down to components.
Non military caliber ammo has gone up in price also,due to metal costs and fuel costs.
Interesting. Thanks Lionking. I retract my BS call. I wouldn't be suprised if the U.S. military have a surplus of ammo in stock now, for contingency, since I still don't see them using alot of small arms in combat roles.
I doubt our guys & girls in uniform have a shortage to get the job done,training might be scaled back some though.
Their needs come before ours,the shortage will not last forever,and I'd rather see a round used on Bin Ladin & Co then mine used on a paper target.
I gotta edit my statement about SDM rifles,M14's in 7.62mm have been put back in use while M16's in 5.56mm are also used in the SDM role.
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