TL; DR
President Trump is planning to impose a 50% tariff on copper, effective August 1 — though the key word here is planning. This may drive up costs that will inevitably be passed along to consumers. This is problematic for ammunition manufacturers, as copper is a critical material used in bullet jackets and casings.
Ammo prices have stabilized but are unlikely to return to pre-COVID levels — those days are behind us. Now, we may be facing another round of price increases due to potential new tariffs. Of course, no one can predict the future.
Recent Copper Tariffs
President Trump’s recent announcement of a 50% tariff on copper, set to take effect on August 1, 2025, could have major implications for ammunition prices. Copper is essential to both military and civilian ammo production, making this policy particularly significant for the industry.
As one of the world’s most widely used metals, copper is critical to many industries — and with the United States importing about half of its copper supply, the impact of this tariff will likely have a ripple effect.
What does the U.S. use copper for?
Copper is employed for numerous use cases, including semi-conductors, aircrafts, ships, data centers, lithium-ion batteries used in items like smartphones and electric vehicles, hypersonic weapons, ammunition, and more.
While the proposed tariff is a contribution to a larger goal of bringing production “home” to the United States, the effects are undetermined but have potential to be unfavorable in the short term.
How is copper used for ammo production?
Copper is used for bullet jackets, which is the thin layer around the lead core often on full metal jacket, or FMJ rounds. It is also used for brass casings, and projectiles in lead-free ammo. So, knowing this, it is simple to determine that an increase on costs related to copper will directly affect ammo production, especially on FMJ rounds and high-quality precision or hunting bullets.
What can you do?
So, should you buy it now or wait? The answer depends on your circumstances: you’ll need to decide what makes sense for your budget. Given the uncertainty surrounding future ammo prices and tariffs, the best approach is to do what makes sense to you. We can’t — and won’t — offer advice.
And remember, we also don’t know what additional tariffs might be imposed down the road, adding further uncertainty to future pricing.
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