03-15-2020, 12:22 PM
IMHO......it's a little of both. Of course the 6.5 Grendel isn't a mainstream cartridge like the 270 Win or now the 6.5 CM. But it is gaining some popularity. (A "niche" if you will). The ammunition now available for it is staggering compared to just 5 years ago. There are more manufacturers producing parts such as barrels and BCG's and many are making complete uppers and whole purpose built guns. But these manufacturers don't want items in their inventory long so they don't make many. Most will build guns or parts off orders so they don't have to eat profits if an item doesn't sell.
Ammo is made in large batch lots so manufacturers produce a batch and wait for stocks to dwindle before producing more so you see a sine-wave graph of plentiful to bare on a lot of ammunition that isn't mainstream. I have bought 6.5 Grendel Hornaday Black and some Federal Premium Berger 130 Hybrids from different online and local stores over a year apart and most had the same lot numbers on them so you know they produce large lots to satisfy the demand but not too much that they have to eat profits to lose inventory. And reloading supplies for the Grendel are mostly available due to many Grendel users reloading their own ammo for the platform. This includes virgin brass which was not plentiful years ago.
Ammo is made in large batch lots so manufacturers produce a batch and wait for stocks to dwindle before producing more so you see a sine-wave graph of plentiful to bare on a lot of ammunition that isn't mainstream. I have bought 6.5 Grendel Hornaday Black and some Federal Premium Berger 130 Hybrids from different online and local stores over a year apart and most had the same lot numbers on them so you know they produce large lots to satisfy the demand but not too much that they have to eat profits to lose inventory. And reloading supplies for the Grendel are mostly available due to many Grendel users reloading their own ammo for the platform. This includes virgin brass which was not plentiful years ago.