By By Yukio Strachan Jun 9, 2013 in World Gun owners in the United States are stockpiling ammunition at such a high rate that Australia is expecting one of the biggest ammo shortages in recent history. While eight main firearm wholesalers is based in Australia, 80 per cent of their stock is imported from manufacturers in the United States, Yahoo!7 As a result, some of the most popular bullets will soon be unavailable in Australia and New Zealand and will not be restocked for about another six months, "There's only so much they can produce," Cleaver told ABC. "There's only 24 hours in a day." The solution? "We've been stockpiling ammunition in a sense so we don't run out," he added. What's going on in the U.S. "For gun enthusiasts here and across the country, the shortage is the worst they've ever seen," Tampa Bay Times in Florida I never thought I would see the day in America when stores could not keep .22 ammo on the shelves,” an employee of Blue Ridge Arsenal range, who wished not to be named, The National Rifle Association said Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammo a year, the The uptick in sales coincided with the election of President Barack Obama, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The organization said the country’s firearms owners are afraid that the Obama administration will impose tougher laws restricting the ability to buy firearms, according to the "Basically the American community is consuming the ammunition and the ammunition manufacturers can't keep up," firearm importer Jade Cleaver told ABC.While eight main firearm wholesalers is based in Australia, 80 per cent of their stock is imported from manufacturers in the United States, Yahoo!7 reported As a result, some of the most popular bullets will soon be unavailable in Australia and New Zealand and will not be restocked for about another six months, ABC news service said Thursday."There's only so much they can produce," Cleaver told ABC. "There's only 24 hours in a day."The solution? "We've been stockpiling ammunition in a sense so we don't run out," he added."For gun enthusiasts here and across the country, the shortage is the worst they've ever seen," Tampa Bay Times in Florida reported Saturday. Gun ranges in the United States, for example, are being forced to implement rationing policies.I never thought I would see the day in America when stores could not keep .22 ammo on the shelves,” an employee of Blue Ridge Arsenal range, who wished not to be named, told The Daily Caller in May. “I have never seen anything like this.”The National Rifle Association said Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammo a year, the AP writes. However, in the past year the NRA said Americans bought three billion more bullets than usual.The uptick in sales coincided with the election of President Barack Obama, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The organization said the country’s firearms owners are afraid that the Obama administration will impose tougher laws restricting the ability to buy firearms, according to the Associated Press More about ammo shortage, Gun sales, weapons stockpiles More news from ammo shortage Gun sales weapons stockpiles