From the inside, we are a dealer and a builder of AR platform guns and also sell some parts.
We are not the Ace Hardware Store of parts. Others have that covered. But, if you don't realize it already, let me explain: most really good parts come from really good rifle makers. Think of a name you associate with quality. That brand is looking hard for parts: making some parts, buying other parts, all with the primary goal of building and selling rifles. So, every part that is made; every part that is purchased, is destined for a rifle build. Most rifle builders, in normal times buy or make more parts than they really need, so those "excess parts" get sold.
The situation today, in early 2021, is that there is a critical shortage of certain parts, and a growing problem with other parts. Today, barrels, BCGs and receivers are at crisis levels, and pretty much in that order. Many rifle builders and upper receiver builders cannot get enough quality barrels and BCGs to make uppers. Others who do not make their own upper and lower receivers are finding it starting to get hard to get those.
Then, there are the parts that make up the larger parts. I know one rifle maker who has stopped taking orders because they cannot get BCGs. The BCG maker has stopped taking orders because they cannot get a gas key screw. So, the entire rifle cannot be built, for lack of a $1.00 part.
And, just so you know, this situation has been getting worse every week. We saw production capacity at its peak around August, then demand started to surge toward November, and orders fell further and further behind. From the election to the ignauration, demand surged, and the supply chain started to hit critical bumps. And, the bumps have gotten more frequent.
The problems we have, as a builder right now is barrels, scope rings, muzzle devices and some suppressors. The list ebbs and flows weekly. We are doing better than most, as we have large inventories of certain strategic parts we purchased over the last few years, but we have parts that are keeping us from building and delivering. And, our suppliers have told us, "no more orders until we catch up." That is not true across the board, but every week, another supplier is delaying or stopping orders.
So, we are also a dealer and reseller of parts. So, guess what happens? We need 100 muzzle devices, and have back orders for 30 rifles and uppers that need breaks or suppressors or scope rings or BCGs. Then, we get a big box in from a supplier. We first want to make sure we can deliver rifles and then upper receiver groups. In the past, we might sell 1/2 of of the parts we get. But, we clearly want to sell rifles in April, so we sit on the parts.
So, while you wonder where your parts are, I thought I would give you a view from within. Last year, we spent most of our time with customers and taking orders and designing rifles. Now, 2/3 of our time is spent with suppliers and other builders and dealers, begging for parts. Will it return to normal? I am sure it will. But, for us, the brands we work with were at capacity 6 months ago, so it will be a very long time before we get back to normal. For brands that are a little more popular, they will likely see the light and have more supply by summer.
Our issues are largely with AR parts, quality pistols, high-end gas guns, suppressors, muzzle devices, scope mounts, slings, accessories and some optics. We are doing better with supply and demand on high-end optics, long-range precision rifles and bolt action parts.
I did not mention ammo. We all know that story.
We are not the Ace Hardware Store of parts. Others have that covered. But, if you don't realize it already, let me explain: most really good parts come from really good rifle makers. Think of a name you associate with quality. That brand is looking hard for parts: making some parts, buying other parts, all with the primary goal of building and selling rifles. So, every part that is made; every part that is purchased, is destined for a rifle build. Most rifle builders, in normal times buy or make more parts than they really need, so those "excess parts" get sold.
The situation today, in early 2021, is that there is a critical shortage of certain parts, and a growing problem with other parts. Today, barrels, BCGs and receivers are at crisis levels, and pretty much in that order. Many rifle builders and upper receiver builders cannot get enough quality barrels and BCGs to make uppers. Others who do not make their own upper and lower receivers are finding it starting to get hard to get those.
Then, there are the parts that make up the larger parts. I know one rifle maker who has stopped taking orders because they cannot get BCGs. The BCG maker has stopped taking orders because they cannot get a gas key screw. So, the entire rifle cannot be built, for lack of a $1.00 part.
And, just so you know, this situation has been getting worse every week. We saw production capacity at its peak around August, then demand started to surge toward November, and orders fell further and further behind. From the election to the ignauration, demand surged, and the supply chain started to hit critical bumps. And, the bumps have gotten more frequent.
The problems we have, as a builder right now is barrels, scope rings, muzzle devices and some suppressors. The list ebbs and flows weekly. We are doing better than most, as we have large inventories of certain strategic parts we purchased over the last few years, but we have parts that are keeping us from building and delivering. And, our suppliers have told us, "no more orders until we catch up." That is not true across the board, but every week, another supplier is delaying or stopping orders.
So, we are also a dealer and reseller of parts. So, guess what happens? We need 100 muzzle devices, and have back orders for 30 rifles and uppers that need breaks or suppressors or scope rings or BCGs. Then, we get a big box in from a supplier. We first want to make sure we can deliver rifles and then upper receiver groups. In the past, we might sell 1/2 of of the parts we get. But, we clearly want to sell rifles in April, so we sit on the parts.
So, while you wonder where your parts are, I thought I would give you a view from within. Last year, we spent most of our time with customers and taking orders and designing rifles. Now, 2/3 of our time is spent with suppliers and other builders and dealers, begging for parts. Will it return to normal? I am sure it will. But, for us, the brands we work with were at capacity 6 months ago, so it will be a very long time before we get back to normal. For brands that are a little more popular, they will likely see the light and have more supply by summer.
Our issues are largely with AR parts, quality pistols, high-end gas guns, suppressors, muzzle devices, scope mounts, slings, accessories and some optics. We are doing better with supply and demand on high-end optics, long-range precision rifles and bolt action parts.
I did not mention ammo. We all know that story.
