Election year, panic buying starting in Feb/March when the virus was really starting to kick off in the US, civil unrest, etc. Take your pick or all of the above, for why everyone is purchasing up everything. As for production and distribution, manufacturers are slower right now as companies are trying to make sure their employees are healthy and safe, by running the plants with fewer people for the time being. The virus and civil unrest are affecting distribution/shipping as well.

Sean, at the start of the pandemic, shotguns were the 1st to disappear followed by handguns and rifles. Demand still far exceeds supply especially with shotguns currently. You can still find a few : budsgunshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=415012241

they are sold out due to the panic buying and the virus has production of many guns slowed or shutdown so stock to resupply is very low