Since President Donald Trump’s announcement on April 4 about new tariffs — a 10% blanket tariff on all imports, plus targeted reciprocal tariffs — ammunition retailers have been talking about how the U.S. ammunition industry could be affected, and downstream, how consumers would feel the pinch. Certainly shooters will feel it in the cost of firearms and finished products, but ammunition manufacturers will get hit hardest because of their reliance on global supply chains for raw materials and components.
According to DetroitAmmoCo.com, based in South Lyon, Michigan, “U.S. ammo makers depend heavily on imported metals like brass, copper, lead, and steel, especially for casings, bullet jackets, and projectiles. Tariffs on raw materials (some already as high as 25%) will increase the per-unit cost of production across the board. Brass and copper are essential for casing production — and the U.S. doesn’t mine or refine enough domestically to meet demand. Lead, used in most bullet cores, is often imported due to environmental regulations that have closed many U.S. smelters. Even primer chemicals may be affected if precursor compounds are sourced from overseas.
“The result? Higher costs to produce even the most basic FMJ rounds, which are the backbone of civilian, law enforcement, and military training.” And the result to consumers will be, “Whether you’re a hunter, a competitive shooter, or someone who keeps a stash for home defense, the downstream effect is the same: expect ammo prices to climb.”
Likewise, Sam Gabbert, the owner of SGAmmo based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, distributed a detailed statement about the effects of the U.S. tariffs on imported ammo:
First, I want to say everything written here should be considered my opinion, based on what I have seen so far regarding tariffs on imported ammunition and conditional to the tariffs staying in place. Late in the afternoon yesterday, the US government’s new wide sweeping tariffs on imports were announced. In my opinion, they were worse than expected regarding what effect this will have on price and supply for ammo in the USA.
In short, it is going to drive up prices for the consumer in a dramatic way and totally cut off supply in certain brands over time. Starting Friday April 4th, I will be forced to begin adjusting my retail prices where I adjust upwards to offset higher replacement costs on goods purchased later to likely replace what sells now. SGAmmo’s price increases forced by the tariffs will take at least a week up to a month to fully implement, and may be incremental, meaning that on the current inventory we have in stock, we do not adjust all the way up at once.
For example, if the tariff is 20% for a $40 increase on 9mm from S&B, we may only go up $20, then do the other $20 later. Alternatively, we may make full adjustment at once, or possibly no immediate adjustment. As for today, April 3rd, 2025, we make a “last call at this price” at recent catalog pricing, and starting Friday the 4th prices will begin to change. Buy it today, or don’t blame me later if it has gone up.
In greater detail feel free to read the following approximate examples…
- PMC from South Korea was hit with a 25% tariff and is a major supplier of the most popular options for 5.56/223 ammo, as well as 9mm and many other calibers. This tariff increases the cost to 1000 rounds of 5.56 by about $100, and 1000 rounds 9mm about $50. At that point they simply cannot compete in the market against US manufacturing and most likely would slowly exit the market over the next year with the most popular products drying up first. Also, PMC’s mother company, Poongsan Corporation, supplies US ammo manufacturers with a huge portion of copper strip used to make ammunition, which will drive up cost of US manufactures.
- Prvi Partizan in Serbia was hit with a 37% tariff, and is a key supplier of metric rifle calibers, economical handgun ammo, and 5.56 FMJ ammo. This 37% tariff, if it holds, will totally force them out of business and you will see this manufacturer totally exit the US market over the next 6 months.
- Igman in Bosnia, a key supplier of 7.62×39 and 7.62×51 ammo was hit with a 36% tariff, which increases the cost of 1000 rounds of 7.62×39 by about $180. No one will import it at all if this cost is added.
- Sellier & Bellot in the EU (Czech Republic) was hit with a 20% tariff. This drives the cost of their 9mm up $40 per 1000 and affects other products in a similar way, and at that point they cannot compete in the market on many popular products.
- Magtech in Brazil was hit with the smallest tariff at 10%, but still substantial to drive 9mm prices up $20 or so per 1000 rounds.
In my opinion, unless the tariffs are reversed or reduced to much lower levels, the most likely course for where we are at is that many of the import ammo brands are driven out of business in 6 months to a year or are forced to charge unrealistic prices that very few consumers will pay, shrinking their volume to an unsubstantial point.
At the same time, US manufacturing most likely slowly raises prices 3% to 8% once each quarter of remaining 2025 and early 2026, pushing prices up to match import competitors on the most popular calibers like 9mm, 45 auto and 5.56 / 223 and more, where profit margins have been suffering due to price cuts over the past 2 years while also dealing with continuous upward movements in manufacturing costs.
What you do is your business, but this will have an undeniable effect of forced price increases at our store and all other ammunition websites and retailers of all types, and it is my opinion that buying today will save you in the long run. — Sam Gabbert, SGAmmo Owner
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to stock up.
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