The US ammunition production is state owned, by run by private companies lol. And the private companies bid on who produces it, so the quality varies. Like Winchester makes okay NATO spec ammo, but I would never trust a self defense gun with its white box.

Meanwhile the ammo companies just increase prices every time there’s a panic and never invest in creating more primer

I remember reading that China produces most of the lead and primer that the US uses for ammo. Not sure if this is (still) true or just fudd lore.

There’s barely even enough capacity for the panic buying of ammunition and components that happens every 4 years when people think the next election will decide between if they can buy guns or not

I believe that they prioritize military contracts first. Then civilians get whatever is left over or whatever they have enough time for. It’s why they don’t give a shit about “the second amendment” in actuality because government contracts can keep them afloat if guns are ever banned, which they won’t be.

I mean why would you invest in primer/ammo production capacity when you just said demand only spikes temporarily and for no good reason?