{"id":110572,"date":"2025-06-10T21:06:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T02:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=110572"},"modified":"2025-06-10T21:06:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T02:06:57","slug":"110572","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=110572","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

Ammo Under Pressure: Why America Must Reinforce Domestic Ammunition Production Now!<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2014and fast.<\/p>\n

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Bosnia Primers In The Crosshairs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

According to a recent NYTimes.com article, Bosnia\u2019s ammo manufacturers, like Ginex in Gorazde,\u00a0are on edge.<\/a> 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\u201435 % one week, then revised to 10%\u2014but even the lower number is enough to make American customers think twice.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0Without primers, bullets don\u2019t go bang. Period.<\/em><\/p>\n

SAAMI WARNS: U.S. Commercial Capacity Is Critical<\/h3>\n

According to a\u00a0detailed report from SAAMI\u00a0<\/a>(Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers\u2019 Institute), U.S. commercial producers already carry the bulk of the load when it comes to total output\u2014eclipsing even the federal government\u2019s own Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. However, unlike the military, which produces only a handful of calibers, America\u2019s commercial plants crank out over 130 different rifle rounds and 40 handgun types.\u00a0They\u2019re running at full tilt.<\/em><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why any disruption\u2014be it government-mandated tracking rules*, foreign material shortages, or international tariffs\u2014hits 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.\u00a0*CHALLENGES TO MARKING: SAAMI Report Page 3<\/em><\/p>\n

China Cuts Off Key Components<\/h3>\n

In late 2024, China\u00a0slammed the door on exports\u00a0<\/a>of two critical ingredients: nitrocellulose and antimony. Without these, there\u2019s no smokeless powder, no primer compound, no ammo. China supplies over 63% of U.S. antimony\u2014a key hardening element in bullets. American mines for these materials were shut down decades ago. Now, we\u2019re scrambling to reopen sites like\u00a0Idaho\u2019s Stibnite Gold Mine<\/a>, but that\u2019ll take years.<\/p>\n

The Military Isn\u2019t Waiting<\/h3>\n

The U.S. Army just broke ground on a massive\u00a0new 6.8mm ammo plant<\/a>\u00a0in Missouri to support its Next Generation Squad Weapon program. That\u2019s great news for defense readiness\u2014but make no mistake, that plant won\u2019t be making your 9mm range ammo or .308 hunting loads. Most handgun, shotgun, and rimfire ammo still comes from private companies, not Uncle Sam.<\/p>\n

What Smart Shooters Know<\/h3>\n

Dan Wolgin, CEO of Ammunition Depot,\u00a0reminds shooters not to panic<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cMost of our ammo is made right here in the USA.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0But that doesn\u2019t mean the risks aren\u2019t real. Supply disruptions, material shortages, and panic buying can drive up prices or empty shelves faster than a Black Friday stampede.\u00a0It\u2019s not fearmongering\u2014it\u2019s math.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Solution: Bring Ammunition Production Home<\/h3>\n

If COVID, Ukraine, and China taught us anything, it\u2019s this: critical industries can\u2019t be outsourced. America needs to:<\/p>\n