When was the last ammunition shortage?

The 2008–2016 United States ammunition shortage was a shortage of civilian small arms ammunition in the United States that started in late 2008, and continued through most or all of 2010, with an additional shortage beginning in December 2012 and continuing throughout 2013.

What caused ammo shortage?

The shortage has been attributed to many factors, including pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, the bankruptcy of major supplier Remington in 2020, the massive amount of new gun owners in the last year, and the resulting surge in demand.

How many rounds does a soldier carry?

The US military carries 7 magazines (30 rounds per mag) for their M4 as the standard. The Austrian military tend to carry 5 magazines for their Aug and the German military also carries 5 mags for their G36. The point is that a soldier doesn’t need to carry much as he is never alone, soldiers tend to travel in groups.

What is replacing the 556mm in the US Army?

The current 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm rounds are due to be replaced by the new 6.8mm in the United States army. According to Colonel Geoffrey A. Norman, the Force Development Division Chief at Army Headquarters, the 7.62 has too much mass without enough propellant, while the 5.56 simply does not have the mass to penetrate through the body armor.

Is the US Army ditching the NATO caliber?

You may not have heard, but late last year it was decided that the United States army would be ditching the traditional 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO rounds for an entirely new caliber in the form of the 6.8mm.

Will the new US Army Carbine be a new weapon?

The Army wants both of the new weapons to fire the same 6.8mm ammunition, and also to accept the same magazines. The new carbine is said to share several features with the existing AR-15 /M4 platform, but will for the most part be a new weapon. This summer, several companies will submit prototypes of the new 6.8mm weapons to the army for testing.

Why is the M4 carbine being phased out?

The current standard issue M4 carbine will be phased out in favor of a new weapon to accommodate the 6.8mm round. The new 6.8mm ammunition will have a lot of roles to fill, because it will need to be used as both a close range and long range caliber.