Increased Production

[MJClark]

This morning my wife and I were talking about how hard it is to get most of the handguns in the US. I had spend the past month in search of a Ruger LC9, but that changed after talking to a guy who was looking for a 9mm shield the other day. Now I am in the same boat as hundreds of you.

When I went to a LGS this morning and they said that since the shield came out, they had only gotten two in. It amazes me that some of you have been able to find much of anything given the demand right now.

It made me wonder if S&W and other companies are increasing production at all to meet the current demand. I have not seen any reports of that happening yet. What are your thoughts?

 

[MichiganScott]

One of the guys posted that he called S&W customer service and they said that they were running at max capacity already.

From a business standpoint, it doesn't make good sense to plan on new factories with the investment in both capital and manpower until you have some idea what the future may bring. Assuming that no new laws are passed, demand will eventually return to pre-December levels. Unless they were planning on building new factories prior to that, increased production is unlikely. It's better to sell every unit you manufacture as soon as you manufacture it than to have to warehouse product.

 

[grif684]

This didn't just start after the mass shootings and pending federal firearms action.....certain handguns have been so in demand, the supply can't keep up, especially the Shield and LC9....

 

[James&theGiant1911]

same for Colt's or any other high end firearms

 

[MJClark]

One of the guys posted that he called S&W customer service and they said that they were running at max capacity already.

From a business standpoint, it doesn't make good sense to plan on new factories with the investment in both capital and manpower until you have some idea what the future may bring. Assuming that no new laws are passed, demand will eventually return to pre-December levels. Unless they were planning on building new factories prior to that, increased production is unlikely. It's better to sell every unit you manufacture as soon as you manufacture it than to have to warehouse product.

I Agee with the idea of nothing that would require new infrastructure, but running a plant 24 - 7 would make sense right now. People are not going to wait for ever and other companies will come out with compatible guns for compatible prices and tap into that market.

 

[josywales]

I Agee with the idea of nothing that would require new infrastructure, but running a plant 24 - 7 would make sense right now. People are not going to wait for ever and other companies will come out with compatible guns for compatible prices and tap into that market.

Yes, but if they pay overtime, the cost of the gun goes up and they could price themselves out of the market anyway. Shields were selling for $335. Most pre-panic prices I saw around here were $447. I can't see paying any more than that, even if I have to wait a year...or as you say, just grab another Glock, Nano, etc.

 

[MJClark]

Yes, but if they pay overtime, the cost of the gun goes up and they could price themselves out of the market anyway. Shields were selling for $335. Most pre-panic prices I saw around here were $447. I can't see paying any more than that, even if I have to wait a year...or as you say, just grab another Glock, Nano, etc.

I guess I am thinking along the lines of strike while the iron is hot. Right people want them right now, but in 6 months to a year, people will have either bought something else to meet that need, or will buy the latest and greatest thing at that moment.

I checked on another forum and they are now running 24 - 7 in an attempt to meet the demand.

 

[josywales]

I guess I am thinking along the lines of strike while the iron is hot. Right people want them right now, but in 6 months to a year, people will have either bought something else to meet that need, or will buy the latest and greatest thing at that moment.

I checked on another forum and they are now running 24 - 7 in an attempt to meet the demand.

I have 4 on order. 2 each, from different shops. one shop guaranteed me the $447 price, as long as the guns arrive in a certain timeframe. They have a price freeze with S&W within that timeframe. If the guns come in after that, then they are at S&W's mercy. I tell you this now.

If S&W raises the price to those dealers, they might lose this customer forever. And I really like some of their models, so that's not an easy decision for me.

 

[HotRoderX]

Its all good in theory to say increase production but its not that simple. The tooling required to produce the guns has to be made first and the machines cost upwards of millions of dollars and months to make. About the only short term thing they can do is run the factory's 24-7 which I am sure there doing. Also they make guns in batches they might produce semi auto's Mon-Tues, AR's Wed - Thur, revolvers Friday, etc. Plus like others mentioned investing millions into tooling for a surge in the market today does not make since this surge could end at any time then manufactures are left with millions and millions invested with no way to make the money back.

 

[josywales]

Its all good in theory to say increase production but its not that simple. The tooling required to produce the guns has to be made first and the machines cost upwards of millions of dollars and months to make. About the only short term thing they can do is run the factory's 24-7 which I am sure there doing. Also they make guns in batches they might produce semi auto's Mon-Tues, AR's Wed - Thur, revolvers Friday, etc. Plus like others mentioned investing millions into tooling for a surge in the market today does not make since this surge could end at any time then manufactures are left with millions and millions invested with no way to make the money back.

Increasing production was never the answer, IMO. Initially producing enough to meet demand was what I was thinking. I guess I assume they didn't not produce as many as they could of, pre-release. heck, my brother went to a S&W day at a LGS. S&W brought in a trailer and allow shooters to borrow guns and test them at the range. Very nice, except one thing. Neither the shop, nor the S&W reps had any of the guns for sale?!?!?! If that's not a charlie foxtrot I don't know what it is.

 

[tkdguy]

This morning my wife and I were talking about how hard it is to get most of the handguns in the US. I had spend the past month in search of a Ruger LC9, but that changed after talking to a guy who was looking for a 9mm shield the other day. Now I am in the same boat as hundreds of you.

When I went to a LGS this morning and they said that since the shield came out, they had only gotten two in. It amazes me that some of you have been able to find much of anything given the demand right now.

It made me wonder if S&W and other companies are increasing production at all to meet the current demand. I have not seen any reports of that happening yet. What are your thoughts?

1994 GUN BAN IN RETROSPECT: I recall that when this happened back in 1994 the gun manufactures and magazine manufactures were running at full capacity.

 

[hAkron]

We are in something like month 30 of increased month over month demand on handguns. Remember the middle of last year when Glock was 500,000 units behind in production orders? Ruger stopped taking orders last year sometime in the early to middle part of the year. It's not just the recent panic buying. There has been a small run on guns really since the 2008 election.

 

[josywales]

1994 GUN BAN IN RETROSPECT: I recall that when this happened back in 1994 the gun manufactures and magazine manufactures were running at full capacity.

That's not true. If it were, S&W would have projected higher sales of the Shield and met production. So...I guess YOU must be wrong ; )

 

[beemerphile]

These are very skilled jobs. If they were to hire new people and double the output, you wouldn't want to buy what came out the other end. The Colt boards are full of discussions about lousy quality from "the strike years". Like BC and AD they talk about "pre-strike" and "post-strike" guns.

Sometimes it is like making a baby. You can't speed it up just by putting more men on the job.

 

[josywales]

These are very skilled jobs. If they were to hire new people and double the output, you wouldn't want to buy what came out the other end. The Colt boards are full of discussions about lousy quality from "the strike years". Like BC and AD they talk about "pre-strike" and "post-strike" guns.

Sometimes it is like making a baby. You can't speed it up just by putting more men on the job.

No doubt. That horse left the bar.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

All of the posts are making contributions towards describing what is actual happening today. I just spoke with S&W CS on Friday to order one plate screw replacement for my Model 29-10. I was told that they were way behind and it would be about two weeks before I received it.

Early last summer my LGS reps were discussing these same issues. I had waited about 90 days for a S&W M&P. They acknowledged the huge capital outlays that are required for production expansion and the time delay from drawing board to actual production. Obviously there are significant tax reduction benefits too. Progress was delayed pending the outcome of the national elections in November. It is acknowledged that the party in office is not nearly as pro-business as the party that did not win the election.

Further complicating the problems is the hoarding and panic buying that started the day after the elections. Then in December the demand went non-linear after the tragedy in Connecticut.

I'm not sure about the other forum members elsewhere, but it is impossible to buy FMJ ammo of almost any caliber for the range in this area. Gun stores shelves have been cleared of almost all firearms. No one is projecting an end to it soon.

 

[HotRoderX]

Increasing production was never the answer, IMO. Initially producing enough to meet demand was what I was thinking. I guess I assume they didn't not produce as many as they could of, pre-release. heck, my brother went to a S&W day at a LGS. S&W brought in a trailer and allow shooters to borrow guns and test them at the range. Very nice, except one thing. Neither the shop, nor the S&W reps had any of the guns for sale?!?!?! If that's not a charlie foxtrot I don't know what it is.

Thats hit in miss how do you know whats going to be a major hit and whats going to flop. I guess there is some kinda warning but still its a huge risk to produce lets say 15k shields not knowing if it will be successful or not.