Braxton Taylor
If you’re not stacking ammunition right now, you may be missing the boat. Why? Because imported ammo and components are getting slapped with tariffs, supply chains are under stress, and demand is quietly building in the background. Everyone’s distracted by stock market drama but here’s the truth: ammo prices are currently at their lowest point since 2020. While the “smart money” chases digital ghosts, working-class Americans are locking in hard assets. This isn’t about paranoia—it’s about opportunity.
Look, I’m not a financial advisor. I’m not here to tell you how to balance your 401(k) or if you should buy the dip in crypto. But I am someone who’s been paying close attention to trends—real ones, the kind that hit close to home. I can tell you that the market is down (duh), the dollar is down, and gold is up, way up.
I can also tell you something that nobody is talking about: ammunition is probably one of the smartest things you can put your money into right now.
Yeah, I said it. Ammo.
Not crypto. Not tech stocks. Not even gold (and I like gold). Ammo.
Let me tell you why.
Prices Are Only Going One Way (And It’s Not Down)
The gun industry is at a low right now. Call it the “Trump Slump”. It wasn’t entirely unexpected – we saw this in 2016 as well. Gun sales are down. Gun owners get complacent when nobody is screaming about taking their guns away. It’s something we’ve seen over and over again.
But if we shift from gun politics to economics, something near and dear to my heart, I can easily build a case why right now is the best time to put your money in ammo that I’ve seen in a long time.
Here are three reasons why ammo prices are likely going up in the short term:
- Tariffs on foreign ammo and components: These tariffs aren’t temporary speed bumps—they’re structural. Trump wants to use tariffs to at least partially fund our government. At a minimum, every country is expected to be hit with a 10% tariff in the long term, so that means everything imported into the US will be at least 10% more expensive.
- Overall demand is up: More Americans are waking up to the idea that having ammo on hand isn’t optional. It’s foundational. Thanks to the Covid lockdowns, there are more gun owners today than there were five years ago. Owning and practicing with a firearm isn’t as “taboo” as it once was. As I see it, the pendulum is swinging back toward freedom, and I love it.
- The military wild card: So far, there haven’t been many indicators that we’re going to ramp up excess military production other than refilling depleted stores that we sent to Ukraine and Israel. But if the sabre rattling with China continues, who knows what the result might be down the road. Military small arms production is a big wild card.
So, imported ammunition and components are being hit with new tariffs, there is more dormant demand for ammo than in the past, and the political juggernauts are playing a giant game of “chicken” that has the potential to go kinetic. That means, no matter what way you look at it, prices are heading north. Add in dollar depreciation and you’ve got the perfect recipe for ammo prices that only go up from here.
This might be the lowest you’ll see ammo for the foreseeable future.
If you’re on the sidelines, you’re already losing. In my opinion, you need to at least have a plan to accumulate ammunition over time so you don’t miss this ammo price bottom. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I’m a big believer in dollar cost averaging. Heck, I built a company on that concept!
Here is something else to consider…
What Gold is Telling Us
As you probably already know, I like gold a lot – almost as much as I like ammunition. 😉 Gold is a time-tested hedge against political instability, which is why its price is currently trending up. It is tangible, and the value can never go to zero, unlike crypto. (I know crypto guys will argue with me on that point, but I actually lost all of my Bitcoin when the government seized Samourai. So while Bitcoin itself didn’t go to zero, my electronic assets did. Yes, I know about cold storage, etc, but gold and ammo are easier to understand and will always be tangible – something I can hold. As they say in ancient Rome: “Unicuique suum”, translation: “whatever floats your boat”.)
Anyway, I just read this article on Seeking Alpha that seemed particularly relevant: “Gold, Guns, And The Market What Rising Tensions Really Mean For Your Portfolio”. Here is a snippet that stuck with me:
“Deterrence is a posture, not a plan.
The best way to avoid war, historically, has been to be ready for it. That’s what we may be seeing: the U.S. gearing up not to fight, but to be taken seriously if it has to be. That means rebuilding industrial muscle—because you can’t win a 21st-century conflict with PowerPoint presentations and imported semiconductors.
You need steel, ships, chips, AI, and energy independence. America is strong militarily but hollowed out industrially. That’s changing… Because if this trend continues—if tension ratchets further—markets will reflect it long before the headlines do.”
The article was primarily talking about strategic portfolio positioning during this time of global uncertainty (ie: where to put your money). He mentions gold, of course, but as I read it, my mind was screaming: AMMUNITION!
Unlike gold, ammo actually does something. That’s what ammo is. A working asset. I would even call it a “working man’s asset” because I don’t know many people with a ton of money in the stock market or huge amounts of gold, but I do know average folks with A LOT of guns and ammunition!
Of course, hedging in times like this isn’t about cramming your basement full of cases of 5.56 and 9mm and hoping the neighbors don’t notice (or a pipe bursts!). It is about finding a convenient, safe place to park a few bucks until the dust settles.
Services out there, like my company, AmmoSquared, make it easy to dollar-cost your ammo stockpile just like you would a savings account. It is literally ammo on autopilot, and it fits any lifestyle or budget. Build up your stockpile over time, get a shipment, hold ammo in your hand, experience peace, joy & freedom, repeat.
Peace of Mind in Uncertain All Times
There is nothing wrong with prepping – everyone should be prepared for an uncertain future. But buying ammo today when prices are low is about being smart, unconventional, and calmly “zigging” while everyone else is “zagging”.
Forget about the stock market, focus on the fundamentals of America and the current opportunities out there. Personally, I’m optimistic about the future of our great nation. When I accumulate ammo, I do so in good times or bad because I’m thinking about my family, my community and my ability to adapt or respond when things go sideways. Right now I’m also thinking about inflation, the price of gold as a leading indicator, the price of everything going up due to a weaker dollar and the current (low) price of ammunition…
Keeping a reserve of ammo is NEVER a bad idea. Ammo gives you peace of mind in a variety of circumstances: good, bad, or otherwise.
Final Word: Ammo is Not Going to Get Cheaper
If you’ve ever thought, “I should probably stock up on some ammo”—this is your sign.
- Tariffs are driving up prices.
- Supply chains are tightening.
- The political world is shifting.
- Ammo isn’t getting cheaper.
And frankly, there’s no downside to having more of it.
Don’t overthink it. Set a monthly budget. Do a one-time buy. Stack what you can. Sleep better at night. Repeat.
Ammo is more than just rounds in a box. It’s a statement of personal responsibility. It’s an essential resource to resist tyranny. Everyone should have a plan to accumulate and store ammo in a way that fits thier life and budget.
GET SOME!
Read the full article here