Is it now time to stock up on ammo?

Way back when President Obama was elected, ammo got hard to find. I couldn't even find .22 LR for my daughters to go plinking. So, I started buying bricks of .22 LR when I saw it available at a decent price. Did the same w/ 9mm once it again became available. This has served me very well in the several times since when post election cycle contractions of ammo led to similar circumstances as occurred in 2008. I expect the same thing to happen in 2024 if the Demokrats gain control. Do not expect a mere repeat of the 1995 crime bill. There will be no sunset provision. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.
 
FWIW, went to a gun show today and, for the first time I recall, a number of tables has cans and cans of powder sitting out… plus stacks of primers. All priced at $38-45 for powder and around $80/brick primers. A lot of numbered powders I didn’t know. Nobody much looking or buying that I saw.
 
I'm not concerned with ammo prices going up ...the cost of everything has been going up ...gasoline, clothes , groceries etc. so it should come as no surprise that ammunition costs rise as well .
I am more concerned with ammunition being unavailable for a period of time like it was a few years ago.
I very much enjoy shooting and was very limited in how often I could go and how much I could shoot when I did go.
If there is another ammo shortage ...this time I am prepared and it would have to be a very long shortage before it would affect in any way.
 
Over my history at times like now I’d get my basic pile started. Get enough bought to get you going for a medium time frame. Get that done, then you can start buying when you find a “good deal.” Build up your stash that way. I have a comfortable pile now. Never let it get really run down. If you HAVE to top it off from time to time, do so. Take a good deal when they come up. I’ve never regretted doing it that way. If you end up with too much (haha) you can sell some off when you get old. If you have a decent stash, you can comfortably top it off. Not so easy when it gets down to the desperate sized pile.
 
armadillo said:
There used to be an antimony smelter along the railroad between Laredo and Eagle Pass, TX. It was put there during WWII and most of the ore came from Mexico. I guess we could restart it if we need to.
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They are reopening a mine they closed back in the early 2000’s but they say it’ll take years to get it rolling enough to get the 63% that China was selling us.
 
Empe said:
I'm not concerned with ammo prices going up ...the cost of everything has been going up ...gasoline, clothes , groceries etc. so it should come as no surprise that ammunition costs rise as well .
I am more concerned with ammunition being unavailable for a period of time like it was a few years ago.
I very much enjoy shooting and was very limited in how often I could go and how much I could shoot when I did go.
If there is another ammo shortage ...this time I am prepared and it would have to be a very long shortage before it would affect in any way.
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Well I’d plan on a long shortage.

China's New Export Restriction Choke Hold on Critical U.S. Ammunition Components, Are You Prepared?
 
I have 50 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense for every gun I own except the .22s. Other than that, I keep 2000 rounds or so of Herters .22 on hand for our most shot pistol, revolver and lever rifle. If I see a sale I buy extra, if prices are about normal, I wait until I get near 1000 to stock back up.
 
ken158 said:
Set your watch price and buy when your price is met. Online sales and gun shows are the only place I buy ammo.
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I find a lot at estate sales, especially if the deceased was a gun person. Friday I picked up a 350 case of CCI 9 mm 115 gr. brass and a 525 brick of ,22's for less than half of retail. It was in a remote part of the house and I asked one of the sales people if they had ammo and he showed it to me in a closet. Of course I asked about the guns and he said family members got them before the sale. I have found some nice guns at estate sales, often old, but they are usually gone before the sale starts or they want some stupid price. "When you don't sell it at that price call me" has worked a couple of times.
 
Not wanting to leave anything up to change, I ordered 10 "High Capacity" 30 round Lancer AWM Magazines and bulk IMI 5.56 M193 last week which arrived a few days ago, so I should be all set.
 

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Personally I think it is past time to be purchasing ammo. I have been seeing prices averaging a little higher now than a few months back...except for maybe SPPs and SRPs...which may have come down slightly..but they aren't ammo. Might want to hit the ammo sales before we get closer to November...Just my take on things. For me I think I am set
 
bushmaster1313 said:
In December 2019, just before Covid hit, it seemed a good time to stock up. Prices were low and all my favorite ammo was available.

Fast forward 5 years. Ammo prices are down from their panic buying high, although still pricey, much of my favorite ammo is again available.

Seems to me like a good time to stock up.
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As I've said on the forum a dozen times, the time to stock up on ammo is always. Buy all you can afford and have room to store.
 
In a nutshell, yes.

Like many of you, I have weathered shortages of ammo and reloading components over the years. The days of buying a box of this, a pound of that to try are long gone. It's become more about buying what you can when you can. I buy ammo and components in bulk these days. More than I immediately need, but there's zero assurance it will be available any time I want it.

Call me a hoarder, and you'd probably be right. My actions probably contribute to tightened supplies, but if I don't buy it somebody else will. Such are the times of short supplies. I'm grateful that all this nonsense isn't about essentials like food, water and shelter (short for a stash of defensive materiel). But I'm also grateful that I can buy in bulk.

So again - yes - buy now.
 
I'd say yes. You have to be a contrarian when it comes to the ammo market/reloading market.

I think we're close. Today's Powder Valley flyer had a primer "sale" (I know, I know). The prices were lower than they have been, and more importantly they had all variations, and some had multiple brands per type.

I'm back up to a three year supply of powder and primers after running down my pre-covid stash. I could stretch it to four years if I ration. I'm getting reacquainted with bullet casting.

Higher prices are one thing. Being unavailable at any price is worse.
 
fordson said:
Defensive Hoarding, …… defined as buying now because if you don’t, then others will, leaving you high and dry……totally understandable
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It's also a "me" compulsion, one that's apparently not easily controllable by the participant, like a tail-gating bully.
 
rockquarry said:
It's also a "me" compulsion, one that's apparently not easily controllable by the participant, like a tail-gating bully.
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No kidding. During a previous ammo shortage I suggested one member here might consider shooting less. His reaction would leave you to believe I had asked for something very kinky from his favorite underage niece and I kicked his dog while asking. I assume that they and some others here have the control gene switched up to 11, and the concept of adapting their life to the available supply of materials is totally abhorrent to them.
 
Go for it.

I was in a local place when a middle aged guy brought in a list of ammo his recently deceased father had stashed in his basement. Well over 100,000 rounds in a variety of calibers.

The guy said his Dad never took him shooting, and probably never went shooting himself.

The store bought it for about 10 cents on the dollar and I bought lots of it from the store for 40 cents on the dollar. I’m shooting it up fast, but I’m not worried. There will be more coming along.

I plan to croak with one box max of ammo per gun.
 
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