Understanding The Spending Habits Of Ammunition Buyers
BY Herschel Smith
5 years, 6 months ago
Duncan Johnson at Ammoland.
While only a third of active ammunition consumers report spending less than they did three years ago, the difference is in the size of their purchases. On average, those who report spending less have reduced their annual purchases (in dollars) by 38%, while those who report buying more are buying only 23% more. When combined, the net effect of the two groups translates into a roughly 2% decline in overall retail ammunition sales. The differences between manufacturers’ reported declines and the numbers reported here can be attributed to this survey’s orientation towards more avid spenders and retailers’ inventories which affect the volume of orders received by manufacturers.
Over the past five years, stockpilers, or those who set aside 20% or more of their ammunition purchases for future use, account for 44% of all ammunition purchasers. Reasons given for storing ammunition include:
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Uncertainty about future supplies, 69%
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Uncertainty about the political climate, 64%
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To save money, 57%
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Uncertainty about future economic conditions and income, 54%
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To save time, 39%
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Other, 8%
I don’t believe this is very complicated. I expect sales to pick up in about a year or little less as the election draws near. Then it will go berserk right after the election or slow back down for another four years – depending upon the results of the election – at which point it will go gangbusters again, never to slow down until made illegal.
This is just a temporary lull.
On May 23, 2019 at 1:06 pm, ExpatNJ said:
B.L.O.A.T.: “Buy lots of ammo, today”.
On May 23, 2019 at 1:25 pm, Gryphon said:
Ammo is a Discretionary Spending Item; although driven by ‘political considerations’ from Time to Time, unless one takes Deliberate Measures to shift their Non-Essential Purchases to Ammo (and Guns) most individuals have only a Limited Amount of Funds available for Ammo. It would be interesting to Compare other Trends of Discretionary Spending on different items before and After the past few (P)resident (S)elections. I think the “Background Check” Numbers for Retail Gun Purchases are probably a better indicator of the Political Environment in regards to this.
p.s. you never have too much ammo,
On May 24, 2019 at 8:47 am, Sgt.BAG said:
The vicious circle will repeat itself. Buy now or cry later.
On May 24, 2019 at 1:01 pm, TheAlaskan said:
Always use cash.
On May 24, 2019 at 6:07 pm, Paul B said:
Use cash. Mine as slowed down some as I don’t have a good place to store it. I also need to get out and shoot more. Troubles, troubles, troubles.
On May 26, 2019 at 6:16 pm, Grandpa said:
The only time you may have too much ammo, is if your floor collapses; or it sinks your boat
Either put the pallets on a concrete floor, or buy a bigger boat. See? Easy.