For the last five years, there has been an ammunition shortage in the U.S. The shortage is most acute in inexpensive rimfire-type ammunition, particularly .22-caliber, which is preferred by competitive and recreational shooters (i.e. biathletes). Coaches from several U.S. biathlon clubs weigh in on whether they've experienced issues with obtaining team ammo.
Biathlon is about to get a lot more interesting with IBU's incorporation of a new "Stand Your Ground" format, in which relay anchors can take aim at competitors who outshoot them in the range. "If you have a reasonable belief that another team is going to beat your team, of course you are going to do everything you can to stand up to them," IBU's Ulrich Untersee says. "Usually this has just meant skiing fast or playing head games. We’re putting more tools on the table."