In yet another sign of changing times within the firearms industry, an anonymous source contacted TFB with the news that Howell Munitions & Technology laid off an unknown number of employees for a temporary two-week period. Apparently employees were also given the “option” to find employment elsewhere.

After years of around-the-clock production schedules to keep up with overwhelming demand, companies are starting to feel the effects of a stabilizing ammunition and component market. For everyone involved, let’s hope the industry’s softness is short-lived and has minimal impact on companies and employees alike. Consumers may be hoping for lower prices but may eventually face sacrifices in new product releases as research and design funding gets funneled towards daily operations and expenses.

Temporary Layoffs at Howell Munitions & Technology:

LEWISTON, ID – An unknown number of employees at Howell Munitions & Technology have been affected by a “temporary two week shutdown.” According to a letter written yesterday to those employees who are affected, the shutdown will run from today through March 13th due to a “softening market.”

“You will be contacted by your supervisor with exact details regarding your return,” President Jansen Jones says in the letter.

Jones added that if the laid off employee wishes to terminate their employment or find other employment, they are to “contact us so we can end your employment relationship at that time.”

According to its website, Howell Munitions & Technology specializes in the development of ammunition, components, loading machinery, and Original Equipment Manufacturer production.

Attempts to contact company officials were unsuccessful.

From the Howell Munitions & Technology Site:

Howell Munitions & Technology specializes in the development of ammunition, components, loading machinery and Original Equipment Manufacturer production. Using state of the art processes developed in Lewiston, Idaho, Howell Munitions & Technology and its brands achieve success by a commitment to quality, personalized service and a dedication that is unmatched in the shooting industry.

Companies owned by Howell:

As evidence of changing times, an article published three years ago showed the strength of the industry as Howell expanded it’s manufacturing capabilities.

That’s just one of the trends fueling demand for guns, ammunition and accessories — products that are an increasingly strong part of north central Idaho’s manufacturing sector, said Dan Dorman, a Lewiston-Clarkston Valley banker-turned-bullet-maker.