War's demand for ammunition causes up to year-long backlog in U.S., 1.5 billion rounds used by Army in 2006

Above: Iraqi police officers shoot their rifles during training at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul this month

Ammunition shipments to local gun shops and police departments are being delayed for months because the Army has more than tripled its demand for small caliber ammunition.

Ammunition plants have dramatically ratcheted up production, but company officials acknowledge delays to police and retailers of up to a year...

The Army's demand for small caliber ammunition has soared from 426 million rounds in 2001 to 1.5 billion rounds in 2006, according to the Joint Munitions Command at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.

Read the rest at the Houston Chronicle

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