The high-profile debate for gun owners in the One Big Beautiful Bill was the House-passed proposal to remove suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns from the National Firearms Act.
Gun owners had hoped the Hearing Protection Act would make suppressors easier to own and the SHORT Act would simplify short-barreled rifle rules, but those didn’t pass. Instead, the OBBB delivered a $0.00 tax stamp fee for suppressors, and short-barreled rifles, removing the $200 ATF tax – not everything we wanted but still a big win in the battle to fully exercise the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
Now, here’s the part no one is talking about: The OBBB could create a huge increase in the supply of small arms ammo and keep prices low.
As our friends at Ammoland Shooting Sports News observed, the real game-changer for gun owners might be the ammo provisions, which could make range days cheaper and easier by boosting ammunition manufacturing and supply. While the OBBB is too new to change prices yet, it could kick-start a golden age for ammo.
In Title III (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026), according to Ammoland’s analysis four parts could ramp up small arms ammo production—like 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 BMG—and send more to gun stores. Here’s what they are, what they do, and why they matter.
On page 111 of the pdf version of the bill $100,000,000 is appropriated “for the production of small and medium ammunition;”
As the editors of Ammoland pointed out, this part gives $100 million to make more “small and medium ammunition,” like .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. Places like Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri, the biggest maker of small arms ammo for the U.S. military, will likely get some of this cash. Lake City makes 1.4–1.6 billion rounds a year, with half sold to civilians, covering ~30% of the 5.56mm market. This $100 million could add 200–333 million rounds a year, with 50–100 million going to stores.
Economics 101 teaches us more supply equals lower prices.
The OBBB doesn’t limit Lake City’s commercial sales, which Democrats have done in the past, so brands like Federal, Winchester, and Hornady (which sell Lake City ammo) could have more stock. This is a quick boost, so shelves might see more rounds by late 2025 or 2026.
And, long-term there’s more good news.
$1 billion was also appropriated for high-tech ammo factories. On that same page 111 of the bill $1,000,000,000 was set aside for the creation of next-generation automated munitions production factories.
What it means according to Ammoland is, “This drops $1 billion to build new, high-tech ammo factories with robots and smart tech. ‘Munitions’ is a broad word, but it likely includes small arms ammo since the bill focuses on military needs. These factories could upgrade Lake City or start new plants, making more rounds.”
High-tech factories can produce ammo faster and cheaper. If they make 5.56mm or .223, extra rounds could hit the civilian market, like Lake City does now. This takes years to build, but it could mean a future with tons of cheap ammo. Think 1000-round cases of M193 for under $300 hoped the writers at Ammoland.
And there’s more.
Two further appropriations in the bill portend good news for long-term ammo prices and supply.
Two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) was appropriated for additional activities to improve the United States stockpile of critical minerals through the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund, authorized by subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 50, United States Code;” (also on page 111 of the pdf.)
With steady materials, Ammoland noted factories like Lake City, Winchester, or Sig Sauer can keep making ammo without delays. This supports the $100 million and $1 billion parts by giving them what they need to produce more. It means more ammo in stores and lower prices!
Finally, there was a $10 million for more ammo plant workers.
That $10 million hires more people, and likely ones to manage ammo production, like planners and quality checkers. They’ll keep places like Lake City running smoothly and make sure the other parts ($100 million, $1 billion, $2 billion) work well.
As Ammoland pointed out, more workers mean fewer delays at ammo plants, so more rounds get made. It’s a small piece, but it helps the bigger parts deliver. If Lake City can make an extra million rounds a day, that’s more for our rifles.
CHQ Editor George Rasley is a Glock ® certified pistol armorer, firearms instructor, range safety officer and a veteran of over 300 political campaigns, including every Republican presidential campaign from 1976 to 2008. He served as lead advance representative for Governor Sarah Palin in 2008 and has served as a staff member, consultant, or advance representative for some of America's most recognized conservative Republican political figures, including President Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp. A member of American MENSA, he served in policy and communications positions on the House and Senate staff, and during the George H.W. Bush administration he served on the White House staff of Vice President Dan Quayle. He is a member of Gun Owners for Trump.
- Trump Big Beautiful Bill
- H.R. 1
- Gun owners
- gun rights
- Second Amendment
- Tax cuts
- National Firearms act
- suppressors
- short-barreled rifles
- shotguns
- tax stamp fee
- Small arms ammunition manufacturing
- ammunition supply
- gun manufacturing
- gun stores
- Lake City Army Ammunition Plant
- High-tech ammo factories
- Critical minerals stockpile
