County 17

County 17 operates as an ammunition supplier in Wyoming and Wyoming during one of the most significant supply constraints the industry has seen in decades. If you're looking to stock up on ammo, here's what you need to know: it's not just your area. The shortage is nationwide and shows no signs of quick resolution.

The perfect storm hit in early 2020. COVID-19 shut down component manufacturing (primers and brass especially), factories limited production, and the 2020 election triggered panic buying. Then 8.4 million first-time gun buyers entered the market in 2020 alone. That's roughly 10-20 million additional boxes of ammunition that manufacturers had to account for—on top of existing demand from shooters who already owned firearms.

"People just bought up stuff to where now I don't have regular supplies of hunting ammo. It gets here and it's gone, usually within a few days." — Industry report from the period

Price increases vary significantly depending on where retailers source ammunition. Larger distributors with buying power have absorbed costs better, keeping price increases to 3-5%. Smaller manufacturers (particularly regional makers) have seen 20-30% increases because they lack the volume to negotiate with suppliers.

As of recent reports, ammunition factories are running 24/7 and production has started normalizing. Popular calibers like .223 and 5.56 have become more consistent on shelves, though availability varies by location and supplier relationships.

In Wyoming and Wyoming—where shooting is part of the lifestyle—demand remains high. People aren't just replacing what they use; they're building reserves.