Is Another Ammunition and Powder Shortage Coming in 2024?
Luke Cuenco 12.05.23
Just a few days ago, as December kicked off, Vista Outdoors, the primary proprietor of numerous well-known ammunition, powder, and primer brands, revealed plans for a price hike scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2024. This surge is a response to what Vista Outdoors describes as an unparalleled surge in demand and an expected worldwide scarcity of gunpowder. Hunters might be especially affected by this as they are often the most avid reloaders right alongside precision shooters. Could this spell disaster for your 2024 hunting season?
Ammunition News on AllOutdoor
- HEVI-Shot Ammo Debuts NEW 410 Gauge HEVI-XII Waterfowl Loads
- CanMod Ammo Can Storage Trays from Hardcore Storage Solutions
- HEVI-Shot Ammo Launches All-New HEVI-Metal Xtreme Waterfowl Loads
Is Another Ammunition and Powder Shortage Coming in 2024?
Recent small incidents, like the black powder explosion in Mindon, Louisiana, have shown how they can create lasting effects throughout the firearms industry. Similar to the black powder shortage in 2023, this scarcity seems to stem mainly from a surge in ammunition usage. The shortage might also be linked to the multiple ongoing armed conflicts across the globe, putting a significant strain on components available for civilians.
December 1st, 2023
Dear Customer:
Thank you for your business and for your continued support of American jobs and
manufacturing. Due to world events our suppliers have notified us of unprecedented demand for and an anticipated global shortage of gunpowder, and thus has increased our prices substantially. We must therefore raise our pricing to help offset those increases.
Effective January 1st, 2024, Alliant Powder, CCI, Federal, HEVI-Shot, Remington and SPEER will take the following increases:
- Shotshell 1-7%
- Rifle 1-7%
- Handgun 1-5%
- 22LR/Shorts 1-5%
- WMR/HMR 1-7%
- Primers 5%
- Alliant Powder 10% (Limited Availability)
Unless you notify us to cancel an order, we will reprice all existing and future orders shipped on or after January 1st, 2024, to the new prices. New pricelists will follow in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support of our brands and our American workforce.
Brett Nelson
VP of Sales, Sporting Products
While we may see an industry-wide price increase in ammunition and reloading components, for now, the only hard evidence we have of price increases is from the Vista Outdoor Group which includes some of my favorite brands like Federal Ammunition, and CCI (for my rimfire addiction). Obviously, we’d like to hear your thoughts on this bit of industry news. What do you think is the cause for the sudden demand and shortage of gunpowder and do you think this will affect the entire ammunition and reloading industry?
