Ammunition Sales Continue to Soar in Response to Coronavirus Panic

by | Mar 21, 2020 | Michael Reed | 0 comments

As the novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) spreads across the United States, its impact can be seen in every community. Businesses and schools are closed, the market is volatile, and store shelves are empty as the public scrambles to protect itself and obey governmental orders social distancing prescribed by the WHO and the CDC.

While people stockpile toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and pantry essentials, they’re also purchasing ammunition at Georgia-Pacific Professional Envision 19880/01 Toilet ...an unprecedented rate. Ammunition has seen significant growth in sales that directly correlates with the panic concerning the COVID-19 virus spreading across the country, fear of potential threats to personal security with the National emergency declaration, the potential for lawlessness and rumors concerning UN and domestic troops patrolling neighborhoods. Ammunition noticed a 54% sales increase on February 23, as the search term “coronavirus” started to gain traction, according to Google Trends.

When over 1000 confirmed cases in the US were announced on March 10, an unprecedented surge of over 250% in ammunition sales were noticed across the country according to Ammo.com. This coupled with the declaration of a pandemic, implementation of travel bans, and the biggest crash of the stock market experienced since 1987.

Ammunition supplier Ammo.com noticed tremendous increases in ammunition sales during a 22 day period from February 23, 2020, through March 15, as compared with sales from February 1, 2020, through February 22. Proprietary data shows the following dramatic increases:

309% increase in revenue
78% increase in conversion rate
222% increase in transactions
77% increase in website traffic
27% increase in average order

 

State-by-State Breakdown of Ammo Sale Increases Due to the Coronavirus scare

Sales in various states appear to be impacted by the proximity of the virus. Most of the top 10 states with the highest increases in ammo sales are either states with some of the greatest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases or neighboring states.

The large numbers of corona virus cases in Massachusetts and New York impacted ammunition sales in Vermont. Meanwhile Delaware saw ammunition sales growth skyrocket 4,529%. Corona virus is low in Delaware but it has proximity to a high concentration of cases in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.

Oklahoma saw a growth of 1,081% in sales along with borders states like Texas and Colorado, both of which have been hit hard with COVID-19. Mississippi has also seen a significant increase of ammo sales at 1,049%, perhaps influenced by its proximity to Louisiana, which has surpassed 100 confirmed cases. In the same period Louisiana saw ammunition sales growth of 1,041%. Florida and Georgia COVID-19 hotspots may have influenced ammo sales growth in Alabama, which saw an increase of 892% in saw ammo sales..300 AAC Blackout - Wikipedia

Wyoming, which borders Colorado and its 100-plus coronavirus victims, has seen an increase of 819% in the 22 day time period listed. Colorado reached 667% increase in sales.

Both Idaho and Oregon share a border with the U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington. Idaho has seen ammunition sales increase of 586%, while Oregon, which also shares a border with California, has seen ammo increases of 550%.

 

The following table lists states by sales volume with Texas having the largest sales volume and South Dakota the least. It also shows the top three ammo calibers for each state listed so that you can see which calibers have sold the most in each state, and their corresponding sales increase since February 23rd.

 

State Ranking by Sales Volume and Most Popular Caliber by Sales Volume

State % Increase % Increase % Increase % Increase
1. Texas +338% 9mm ammo +217% 223 ammo +735% 5.56×45 ammo +319%
2. Florida +235% 9mm ammo +315% 223 ammo +368% 5.56×45 ammo +413%
3. Georgia +344% 9mm ammo +263% 223 ammo +832% 12 gauge ammo +3,489%
4. Pennsylvania +375% 9mm ammo +208% 5.56×45 ammo +504% 223 ammo +1,193%
5. Colorado +730% 9mm ammo +560% 223 ammo +3,178% 7.62×39 ammo +421%
6. Virginia +199% 9mm ammo +142% 40 cal ammo +1,016% 5.56×45 ammo +87%
7. Illinois +350% 9mm ammo +263% 223 ammo +289% 5.56×45 ammo +125%
8. Ohio +392% 9mm ammo +231% 223 ammo +1,012% 5.56×45 ammo +179%
9. Washington +351% 9mm ammo +401% 223 ammo +657% 5.56×45 ammo +159%
10. Michigan +298% 9mm ammo +215% 5.56×45 ammo +661% 223 ammo +244%
11. North Carolina +273% 9mm ammo +398% 223 ammo +952% 5.56×45 ammo +73%
12. Arizona +314% 9mm ammo +275% 223 ammo +665% 5.56×45 ammo +421%
13. New Jersey +218% 9mm ammo +225% 223 ammo +6,353% 12 gauge ammo +199%
14. Tennessee +110% 9mm ammo +85% 223 ammo +731% 12 gauge ammo +135%
15. Maryland +602% 9mm ammo +884% 5.56×45 ammo +908% 12 gauge ammo +496%
16. Alabama +899% 223 ammo +2,645% 9mm ammo +716% 5.7×28 ammo +∞%
17. Utah +363% 9mm ammo +290% 223 ammo +750% 7.62×39 ammo +702%
18. Missouri +182% 9mm ammo +305% 223 ammo +∞% 5.56×45 ammo +59%
19. Nevada +514% 9mm ammo +206% 5.56×45 ammo +1,439% 223 ammo +361%
20. Minnesota +372% 9mm ammo +771% 223 ammo +1,173% 5.56×45 ammo +231%
21. Indiana +211% 9mm ammo +186% 5.56×45 ammo +147% 7.62×39 ammo +∞%
22. New York +204% 5.56×45 ammo +436% 9mm ammo +172% 223 ammo +102%
23. Wisconsin +150% 9mm ammo +606% 223 ammo +112% 5.56×45 ammo +∞%
24. Kentucky +226% 9mm ammo +433% 223 ammo +415% 5.56×45 ammo +1,848%
25. Oregon +614% 9mm ammo +2,787% 223 ammo +1,668% 7.62×39 ammo +∞%
26. Louisiana +1,058% 223 ammo +1,711% 9mm ammo +369% 308 Win ammo +3,083%
27. Connecticut +332% 9mm ammo +752% 45 ACP ammo +724% 5.56×45 ammo +62%
28. South Carolina +384% 9mm ammo +187% 45 auto ammo +1,209% 5.56×45 ammo +1,425%
29. Idaho +743% 223 ammo +∞% 9mm ammo +1,398% 40 cal ammo +2,086%
30. Oklahoma +1,166% 223 ammo +380% 9mm ammo +1,961% 45 ACP ammo +∞%
31. New Hampshire +224% 223 ammo +∞% 5.56×45 ammo +638% 9mm ammo +16%
32. Mississippi +1,049% 5.56×45 ammo +∞% 223 ammo +643% 45 ACP ammo +∞%
33. Nebraska +160% 223 ammo +140% 9mm ammo +71% 5.56×45 ammo +122%
34. New Mexico +207% 9mm ammo +575% 380 ACP ammo +34% 40 cal ammo +∞%
35. Kansas +125% 9mm ammo +35% 223 ammo +239% 12 gauge ammo +1,347%
36. Iowa +227% 223 ammo +∞% 5.56×45 ammo +∞% 45 ACP ammo +∞%
37. Maine +631% 5.56×45 ammo +∞% 223 ammo +229% 308 Win ammo +∞%
38. Rhode Island +188% 9mm ammo +375% 45 ACP ammo +∞% 223 ammo -12%
39. Wyoming +819% 223 ammo +946% 9mm ammo +∞% 308 Win ammo +∞%
40. Arkansas +176% 12 gauge ammo +∞% 9mm ammo +10% 38 Special ammo +∞%
41. Delaware +4,529% 223 ammo +∞% 9mm ammo +∞% 5.56×45 ammo +∞%
42. West Virginia +44% 9mm ammo +164% 223 ammo -56% 20 gauge ammo +∞%
43. Montana +434% 5.56×45 ammo +∞% 9mm ammo +∞% 308 Win ammo +∞%
44. Vermont +∞% 223 ammo +∞% 45 LC ammo +∞% 5.56×45 ammo +∞%
45. North Dakota +49% 5.56×45 ammo +∞% 308 Win ammo +∞% 223 ammo +∞%
46. South Dakota +38% 223 ammo +57% 40 cal ammo +∞% 17 HMR ammo +∞%

All increases with +∞% signify that there were no previous sales recorded for the state (i.e. Vermont) or caliber to that state (i.e. 223 ammo sales to Iowans) for comparison. It should be noted that due to city and state laws, Ammo.com does not ship ammunition to Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, Washington, D.C., New York City, or Chicago.

 

Caliber Breakdown of Ammo Sale Increases Due to Coronavirus

The top ten most popular calibers of ammunition sold in America during late February and early March show the following increases:

40 Cal (S&W) ammo: 645%
223 ammo: 563%
7.62×39 ammo: 386%
12 gauge shotgun shells: 368%
9mm ammo: 308%
5.56×45 ammo: 296%
45 Auto (ACP) ammo: 272%
22 Long Rifle (LR) ammo: 263%
380 ACP (Auto) ammo: 212%
308 Winchester ammo: 106%

Ammunition and firearms sales continue to show increases as the corona virus spreads, but those increases are more likely growing as emergency declarations, “red flag” laws, travel and other restrictions on liberty, and scarcity of resources grow on a day by day basis. Firearms typically protect individuals, families, and home & property owners from those who live lawless. Any restrictions on firearms are seen as a threat to the safety and well being of those mentioned. This may help explain ammunition and firearms sales increases.

 

Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard.

 

 

 

 

Visit our sponsors on this page.

 

 

Leave a Reply