Ammo shortage?

[Beejabbers]

With all the worry about new Second Ammendment chalenges, does anyone see a problem finding their favorite ammunition? As I remember there was panic buying in 2008 that created some real problems.

[Steve in Vermont]

Please, let's not go there again. Thanks.

[Arik]

Not really. Some stuff is a little more pricy but everything is available at ALL my LGSs

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[ACP230]

The local Dunhams had a pile of ammo last weekend.
Much of it on sale.

I did have trouble getting the advertised Remington Game Loads in
20 gauge and six shot this summer. Got two boxes when I planned to
get more. There was a lot of target ammo with eight shot then, however.
Lots of sixes available this weekend so I stocked up a bit.

[jlrhiner]

Not at my house.

Remember, if you need it and have to go get it, well, that's bad.

Buy a couple of boxes every month or so and put them up. When I was shooting regularly, I'd buy 2 and shoot 1. You'd be amazed how fast it stacks up.

Also, the ammo shortage was mostly at large retail outlets. Cabela's wanted $32.00 for 500 .22's and would only put out a little at a time. My LGS was never low and always had it on the shelf for $26.00 for 500. I guess most of the folks that got scared didn't feel comfortable going into a gun store and stayed at the big stores.

[BigBill]

I purchased the 5,250rd case of cci blazer 22lr ammo.

Go to; gun-deals.com - User-Submitted Gun & Ammunition Deals then click on ammo-deals and click on the ammo your looking for. The best prices will come up too.

[Smokester653]

Somehow I knew that a thread like this was going to rear its ugly head. In my opinion it's the chicken littles that cause the ammo shortage. Now i am not saying don't buy ammo I buy a box or two every chance I get and keep a nice little "stash" for just in case. Be smart buy here and buy there. No reason to go crazy a wipe the shelves clean.

[Beejabbers]

Originally Posted by Beejabbers

With all the worry about new Second Ammendment chalenges, does anyone see a problem finding their favorite ammunition? As I remember there was panic buying in 2008 that created some real problems.

Sorry, I didn't do a very good job of explaing my intention in asking the question. I should have said up front, I have found every item I wanted in local stores or on the internet. My intent was to confirm that this was so everywhere. It seems if there is extra buying, the dealers and manufacturers are very prepared to meet the demand.

[Cajje]

Beejabbers - For what it's worth: Yesterday I went to the local Walmart for 22lr ... Nothing available - Salesman told me that even the regional warehouse had zero stock.

Today I visited two local gun shops, inventory was low. I picked up 300 RDs.

[DeeBee]

Originally Posted by BigBill

I purchased the 5,250rd case of cci blazer 22lr ammo.

Go to; gun-deals.com - User-Submitted Gun & Ammunition Deals then click on ammo-deals and click on the ammo your looking for. The best prices will come up too.

Great link!

[KJM]

Originally Posted by jlrhiner

Not at my house.

Remember, if you need it and have to go get it, well, that's bad.

Buy a couple of boxes every month or so and put them up. When I was shooting regularly, I'd buy 2 and shoot 1. You'd be amazed how fast it stacks up.

Also, the ammo shortage was mostly at large retail outlets. Cabela's wanted $32.00 for 500 .22's and would only put out a little at a time. My LGS was never low and always had it on the shelf for $26.00 for 500. I guess most of the folks that got scared didn't feel comfortable going into a gun store and stayed at the big stores.

Uh........no. Every gun store in the STATE here had NOTHING.
The smaller the store, the worse it was.
WAL MART had NOTHING.
Cabelas had NOTHING.

And it started AFTER the election, not before.
Stay tuned.....

[longranger]

I have not relied on factory ammo for 30 years,very little of it is as good as what I can make myself or cheaper.I have stocked up for everything I need for a very long time,primers,brass,bullets.I had no reduction in shooting ever for any reason.

[jlrhiner]

Originally Posted by KJM

Uh........no. Every gun store in the STATE here had NOTHING.
The smaller the store, the worse it was.
WAL MART had NOTHING.
Cabelas had NOTHING.

And it started AFTER the election, not before.
Stay tuned.....

That definitely was not the case here.

[smith17]

One caliber that has gone into hiding is brass milsurp .308 for a reasonable price. I'm not talking 75 cents per round but down around 40-45.

[nipster]

There is no ammo shortage. Can we make that a sticky?

[edprof]

Ammo life: Not long ago I fired both some centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition that I had hand-loaded in the early 1980s, 30 years ago. The humidity & other conditions at the time of the reloading were not at all ideal. But all of the ammunition I attempted to fire went right off just like it was supposed to. I have high confidence in the ammunition the factories make. Yes, in our area, the supply of ammunication seems to fluctuate. It's most noticeable in the popular calibers.

[BigBill]

I purchased the 22lr ammo because i now have three new CCW / shooters in the family. My wife and my two sons are going for the ccw license. They all passed the test / requirements and now they need to get there paperwork done. I figure having many rounds of 22lr on hand means less reloading of the bigger bore stuff for now while they practice.

If you store the ammo in a cool dry place in sealed air and moisture tight 50cal ammo cans it should last for ever. My reloads from 1978 all still go bang. My surplus 8mm turkish ammo from 1937 still goes bang too.

[nipster]

Originally Posted by edprof

Ammo life: Not long ago I fired both some centerfire pistol and rifle ammunition that I had hand-loaded in the early 1980s, 30 years ago. The humidity & other conditions at the time of the reloading were not at all ideal. But all of the ammunition I attempted to fire went right off just like it was supposed to. I have high confidence in the ammunition the factories make. Yes, in our area, the supply of ammunication seems to fluctuate. It's most noticeable in the popular calibers.

It's most likely because where you shop, the sporting goods department manager does not keep up with inventory, or the store purposely keeps limited supplies of ammo.

I KNOW for fact that WalMart's do this. AND most of them have sporting goods staff / managers that ammo / guns are not high priorities.

Not aiming this at you, but to people in general: trying to blame it on politics or some imaginary anti-gun boogey man or conspiracy is just silly.

Since the "9mm scare" of a few years ago, I have not had any trouble getting ammo of any caliber I want at gun stores or online. Whether or not WalMart or some of the "big box" sporting goods stores has it in stock is not a good way to justify saying there is an ammo shortage.

[BigBill]

The local walmart sporting goods guy told me they don't stock or offer military calibers when i asked about buying some 8mm mauser soft point hunting ammo. Right infront of me was stacks of the 7,62x39 ammo I guess thats not military in his eyes.. I went to maine on vacation soon after and the walmart up there had plenty of 8mm mauser ammo. The lady who waited on me even knew about guns and she hunts too. Finally a store with knowledgable people behind the counter. She was fun to talk with.

[bp231986]

The problem is not the ammo but rather I WISH I HAD MORE MONEY TO BUY LOTS MORE!!!!!

[kennyb]

Originally Posted by bp231986

The problem is not the ammo but rather I WISH I HAD MORE MONEY TO BUY LOTS MORE!!!!!

reload...save a ton

[Smokester653]

Originally Posted by KJM

Uh........no. Every gun store in the STATE here had NOTHING.
The smaller the store, the worse it was.
WAL MART had NOTHING.
Cabelas had NOTHING.

And it started AFTER the election, not before.
Stay tuned.....

Not the case here either. Ammo is plentiful and the shelves are full. As for the Wal-Marts stocking certain brands and calibers one of the posters is exactly right it's up to the "sporting goods manager" for a lack of better term to order what he/she wants. I had an employee tell me that straight up not to long ago.

[bp231986]

Originally Posted by kennyb

reload...save a ton

Option being considered and researched

[Oldschoolcop]

Ihave found in the last 3 weeks a shortage of CCI 22lr for my M&P. Walmart - none. Local retailer- none.... another guy looking for same could find none. I buy a few boxes at a time. Just sort of weird, especially for 22lr. I find that the CCI brand works well, so I'm sticking with that. Now just have to find some around the Asheville area.

[Beejabbers]

I received an email today from Cheaper Than Dirt, that lists several several varieties of 22lr. The .22 LR CCI Pistol Match LRN 40 Grain 50 Round Box is $6.79 per box. Unfortunately, on a small order the freight is a killer.

[KJM]

Originally Posted by Smokester653

Not the case here either. Ammo is plentiful and the shelves are full. As for the Wal-Marts stocking certain brands and calibers one of the posters is exactly right it's up to the "sporting goods manager" for a lack of better term to order what he/she wants. I had an employee tell me that straight up not to long ago.

My post was talking about back in '08, not now.
Now, everything seems to be around. We'll see after the elections in a month if there is a repeat of '08.

[EvilBetty]

I buy a lot of Federal Bulk in all calibers except 7.62x39. Wal-Mart is my place of choice for 9mm and 45acp 100pk's, when they are in stock. I'm sure everyone is doing like me and buying it when they see it. Problem is they never have more than 1000 rounds in stock, and that doesn't last long if you happen to come in the day after it was stocked, it's likely gone.

I've heard every rumor and speculation under the sun for Wal-Mart's lack of sufficient stock. That they don't want to be on the news for selling 1000 rounds of ammo to mass murderer, that they have a special contract with Federal that gives them the ability to lock prices for the next 3 years but only at certain quantities. That resellers are getting inside information and coming in and buying it all up when it's stocked. That preparedness persons are buying it all up... I'm sure there's a sliver of truth to most of that.

All I know is that prices have been slowly crawling up. 100pks of 45acp went from 24.99 to 27.99. Federal AE .223 went from 5.99 to 6.49, etc.

Cabelas prices haven't been real great this year either. Last year I was finding Federal AE .223 for 5.49 a box and with their coupons I was getting that down to just under $5.00 a box. Glad I bought a couple thousand rounds when I did but now that's mostly shot up.

Was finding Sellior-Bellot 9mm for $9.00 a box for a while too but now it's always 10.99-12.99 for any sale they have on 9mm.

[dereksfl]

This forum reminds me of the time Johnny Carson on the Late Show caused the "toilet paper shortage"!

[Shinny]

Originally Posted by bp231986

The problem is not the ammo but rather I WISH I HAD MORE MONEY TO BUY LOTS MORE!!!!!

me too

[Old cop]

The only hard-to-find ammo is .32 ACP for me, and I'm going to wind up at Cheaper Than Dirt to get some for my KelTec.

[Steve in Vermont]

Originally Posted by dereksfl

This forum reminds me of the time Johnny Carson on the Late Show caused the "toilet paper shortage"!

Remember it well (in the 70's). Laughed when he said it, until I went to the store and noticed the empty shelves. Or the long gas lines (in 74 if I remember correctly), and limits of 10 gallons per vehicle. There was plenty of gas but no-one was letting their gas gauge go below 1/2 so they sat in lines waiting to "top off", hence the "shortage" (along with hoarding - sales of gas cans went through the roof, if you could find one).

[mkk41]

Ammo makers say they're cranking it out to capacity 24/7.

Military and Federal/State/Local LEO contracts eat up a good bit of production capacity. Firearms training , once lacking , is now more of a priority.

What does make it to civillian market is being bought up as fast as it hits the shelves.

Despite the politics involved , civillian firearms ownership is on the rise , so is recreational shooting.

BUT , for better or worse , most guns being sold are semi-autos , and it seems that most new shooters seem to show up at the range and unload as many 20-30 round (or more) mags as fast as they can pull the trigger.

Good for ammo sales I suppose.

What strikes me is the lack of variety of ammo. Ya used to be able to find a dozen or more bullet types and weights in common calibers like .38 Special , .308 , 30-06 etc.

Now all ya seem to find is military-type (tactical?) FMJ or $1+ a round hi-tech hollow-point 'Zombie' loads.

Can't recall the last time I saw a box of 148gr .38 Special wadcutters or 185gr FMJ-SWC .45 ACP target loads.

[smith17]

Originally Posted by mkk41

Can't recall the last time I saw a box of 148gr .38 Special wadcutters or 185gr FMJ-SWC .45 ACP target loads.

Fewer and fewer folks recognize these loads anymore. I had 3 boxes of 1960s Match wadcutters on my table this weekend and had guys open one and mutter that they must be reloads since they had never seen a bullet like that. I even put a $12 a box price on them on Sunday and didn't move them. Even had a bunch of the Speer short barrel .38 special load in boxes of 50 for $20 and didn't move a single box.

[rromeo]

Originally Posted by smith17

Fewer and fewer folks recognize these loads anymore. I had 3 boxes of 1960s Match wadcutters on my table this weekend and had guys open one and mutter that they must be reloads since they had never seen a bullet like that. I even put a $12 a box price on them on Sunday and didn't move them. Even had a bunch of the Speer short barrel .38 special load in boxes of 50 for $20 and didn't move a single box.

I need to go to the gun shows where you are.

[steamloco76]

Well, darn it, I made the trek to the two largest gun and supply stores in W.PA today and found plenty of ammo but not one single solitary small pistol primer!! Magnum primers out the wazoo, but no regular small pistol primers. All my local outlets have none either, except for a few boxes of expensive Federal Match Pistol primers.

The small pistol primer has been the tough item to get in PA for nearly 18 months. I try to buy a replacement brick every time one is used, but that has been impossible since the end of August.
Magnum and rifle primers of both sizes are plentiful.

I did notice the local Walmarts are low on .22 LR all the time, but the gun stores have plenty.

[Pa.Bill]

This morning I ordered 420 Lake City 5.56
No problem.
I'll be going to a gun show this weekend.
will be buying other calibers but not in bulk.
I don't know where, who starts these rumors but
the only reason would be to upset people.

[firecontrol123]

Plenty of ammo in the Boston area. Here we don't have many large retailers but we do have lots of small mom and pop gun shops that are pretty well stocked. Back in 2008 I don't think the ammo companies were prepared for what was to come. But now I think their ready for anything.

[BlueOvalBandit]

Originally Posted by bp231986

Option being considered and researched

saving money reloading is a myth.... as soon as you get a progressive you'll be like WOW I can make 100's or rounds an hour. Then you'll go out and start shooting USPSA/IDPA/Steel Challenge more often or go out and shoot the **** out of everything since you have all this extra ammo to use up (cause we all know it goes stale after a few weeks). Then you go through it all over again once you realize you shot nearly everything you made.

Then at the end of the month you wonder why I have less money then before I started reloading

[sharpshooterassassin]

Up here in Alaska, the price of 9mm ammo is already high. For example, CCI Blazer 115gr. 50 round are between $18.00 and $22.00 per box. High prices due in part to shipping ammo up here.

[bp231986]

Originally Posted by BlueOvalBandit

saving money reloading is a myth.... as soon as you get a progressive you'll be like WOW I can make 100's or rounds an hour. Then you'll go out and start shooting USPSA/IDPA/Steel Challenge more often or go out and shoot the **** out of everything since you have all this extra ammo to use up (cause we all know it goes stale after a few weeks). Then you go through it all over again once you realize you shot nearly everything you made.

Then at the end of the month you wonder why I have less money then before I started reloading

LOL!! i could see myself doing that!! Cus your right it would go stale after a few weeks, cant be waisting it!!!

[bustedmp]

I drive by and stop in my local shop everyother friday on my way home from work and walk out with either a brick of 22lr, or more reloading supplies. Just this past friday, I walked out with a down payment on an M&P 9 and a few boxes of 45acp. He always keeps a good stock of the common stuff. I am getting ready to put the progressive press that either my wife is getting me for christmas to work, or I may need to buy it myself ater, but I'm getting ready for it.

[Oscarflytyer]

Not for me. Cast and reload for all my revolvers and autos, sans 22s. And probably close to 400 lbs of lead. Should be ok for a week or two - lol

[walnutred]

I did my panic buying this past summer by stocking up on the primers I use. Though I did recently add some bulk 7.62x54R to my stash to feed a T53 I picked up.

[Simmer down]

I reload and buy compoents only when they are on sale, even if I don't need them at the moment. I've had more than a cushion for a long time and I pay the least amount possible. As for shortages, I think a lot of it is just poor planning by the stores. No hidden meanings, just the highs and lows of keeping stores stocked.

[redlevel]

I have it from a very large retailer that black rifles and the popular calibers used in them and in handguns is already being rationed by the wholesalers.

I guess I don't need any more. My house is slowly sinking into the ground s it is. I will probably buy some, though. Just 'cause.

[W.E.G.]

I resized 1000 cases and trimmed 300 more today.

My shoulder and wrist hurt.

[BlueOvalBandit]

Sounds like you need a dillon 1050 with a trimmer on it Just tell the missus it's for health reasons and you won't be lying.

[Engineer1911]

The HazMat fee is a real bummer, so I just ordered 3 cases of large pistol primers and a Lee 6-cavity 45 acp SWC mold. This is my third Obama primer order after using up the last of my Clinton primers last week. I don't think there is a shortage at my house.

Have empty brass must reload!

[bigt5150]

Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be a repeat of 2008. I ordered a case of 9mm on tuesday(election day), the inventory of my online retailer had quite a bit of ammo in stock. I went to the site today and everything is pretty much sold out. Except for the expensive self defense ammo i.e. Fed. HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester SXT etc. Hang on folks, it looks to be another bumpy 4 year ride.

[luangtom]

A smaller ammo company not too far of a drive away is already up on their web-site saying there is a 3 to 4 week wait for most ammo now. Imagine that....