Skip to main content

BREAKING NEWS: Biden Administration Bans Russian Ammunition

Late on August 20, 2021, the Biden State Department added new sanctions to the CBW Act of 1991, which will impact available ammo to firearm owners.

BREAKING NEWS: Biden Administration Bans Russian Ammunition

Barnaul is one of several Russian-made ammo brands that will be affected by the new CBW Act sanctions. (Guns & Ammo photo)

Ostensibly as a reprisal for the 2020 poisoning of Russian Dissident Aleksey Navalny, the State Department imposed two new sanctions under the CBW Act.

  1. Restrictions on the permanent imports of certain Russian firearms. New and pending permit applications for the permanent importation of firearms and ammunition manufactured or located in Russia will be subject to a policy of denial.
  2. Additional Department of Commerce export restrictions on nuclear and missile related goods and technology pursuant to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.

These latest sanctions are expected to take place on or about September 7, 2021, and will remain in place for a minimum of 12 months. After 12 months, the Executive Branch (the President) can remove the sanctions if Russia meets certain obligations under the CBW Act.

While not a total surprise, this will still have an overall negative effect on the unstable ammunition market. It will affect several brands familiar to our readers, brands like Wolf Ammunition, Tulammo, Barnaul, and Red Army Standard by Century Arms. Even for those that don’t use the Russian ammo, you can expect to feel some more pain at the cash register as the presence of relatively cheap and very reliable ammunition helps keep the price down on other segments of the ammunition industry.

There is still much uncertainty regarding the specifics of the sanctions, Importers are not yet sure if this only applies to new Form 6 applications. As we get clarity regarding this evolving news, we will continue to update our posts. Check back often and expect an in-depth exploration of the topic soon.

Editor's Note: Click here for the latest update to this developing story.




Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Rifles

Building The Legend: Gunmaker D'Arcy Echols

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Suppressors

SILENCER CENTRAL - BANISH 9K

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Industry

Guns & Ammo Buzz: The April '25 issue of Guns & Ammo Magazine

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Handguns

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Hamilton Bowen - Revolver Master

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Suppressors

2024 Guns & Ammo Suppressor of the Year Award: Silencer Central Banish Speed K

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Suppressors

Silencer Central Banish 9K

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Shotguns

Dickinson Plantation SxS Shotguns

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Videos - News - 2nd Amendment

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Handguns for those Under 21?

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Other

Guns & Ammo Buzz: Introducing Keith Wood

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Industry

Guns & Ammo Buzz: BEST OF THE 2025 SHOT SHOW

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Handguns

New Pistol for 2025: FN Reflex XL

Eric Poole reviews Armscor's new RIA-USA TAC Ultra Series and STK Series handguns in this engaging video. Discover the f...
Handguns

Double Take of Armscor's New RIA-USA TAC Ultra & STK Series

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Guns & Ammo App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use