The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

A shortage of guns and ammunition in the US has spread to Australian shores, causing problems for farmers, security contractors and sporting shooters across the country.

Domestic importers say the shortage is being driven by the current gun debate in America.

The managing director of Nioa, Australia's biggest wholesaler of firearms and ammunition, says the situation reached crisis point at the end of last year.

"The current situation came about immediately after the last US election where Barack Obama was re-elected," managing director Robert Nioa said.

"The American shooting population felt that in his second term he would be likely to introduce more restrictions on firearms and ammunition and they all have started buying up in expectation of those changes."

Mr Nioa says the company has been forced to wait up to three years for some of its American stock to arrive, leaving customers to make do with existing products.