Photo credit: Zero Hedge
Sturm, Ruger & Co. has hit a record and has a massive backlog – again. The demand for firearms is surpassing production by 2 million units, meaning that they need to produce an extra 2 million firearms just to fulfill their current orders. In other words, Ruger is very busy and cannot keep up with the current demand for firearms.
The American-made company located in Prescott, Ariz., Ruger produces the LC9 and LCP pistols. Both are popular, especially among women, for personal defense and concealed carry weapons. In addition to these pistols, among others, Ruger also produces rifles and revolvers. The company has had a reputation for making quality, affordable firearms since 1949.
Although Sturm, Ruger has seen a 100 percent increase in both production and shipments since last year and a 40 percent increase since the last quarter, reaching over 1 million units, it’s still not enough to keep up with the demand.
Of course, the massive backlog isn’t really news or all that surprising, as last year Ruger actually had to stop taking new orders for a little over two months in an attempt to catch up on backorders that numbered 1 million at that time.
Demand has surged in recent years and skyrocketed in the last few months. Customers are continually seeing empty store shelves where boxes of ammo used to be stacked and empty gun racks behind the counters. Stores can’t keep firearms and ammo long enough to put it up on the shelves and consumers can’t get to the stores fast enough. Many stores have also had to implement ammunition rationing policies, or limiting the amount that a customer can buy at a time. In most places the limit is two boxes, and the biggest demand seems to be for 9mm, .22 long rifle, and .40 caliber bullets.
Reasons for the gun craze vary. Some say it was due to the Presidential election this past year and the now impending efforts of federal gun control regulations. Still, in a society with growing epidemic violence, more and more people are feeling the need to purchase firearms for personal safety and protection. Then there’s the idea of a looming disaster ahead, whether it be an economic collapse or war on our own soil. And then, of course, there’s also the whole issue of the government stockpiling its own weapons and ammo, which many blame for the shortage. The reasons go on and on, but the facts remain: Gun and ammunition sales are at epic proportions.
Photo credit: Zero Hedgeother companies, such as Sturm, Ruger, have continued to see an enormous increase in sales with no sign of slowing anytime in the foreseeable future.
Although some company’s sales and stocks have done a nose dive after their response to the current gun control debate in the country.
The increase isn’t just limited to Ruger either. As David Shaw of Fiocchi, a quality ammunition company out of Ozark, Mo., states, “Industry-wide, we are not able to keep up.” Shaw also states that even though Fiocchi of America has already added extra shifts to production, they were already sold out in March for the entire year of 2013.
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