Now that the ammo/components shortage is showing signs of abating, do you have a plan for not getting caught short the next time this happens?

There was a similar scare, although not nearly as severe nor prolonged as this one, back in the first Clinton years. They were going to put something in primers to make them have a limited shelf life. Primers jumped from less than $10/1000 to $12/$15 very quickly.

I started buying a few primers. A thousand here, two thousand there, etc. I was appalled at having to pay $11.50 for a brick, but I just did it. If I intended to load 1000 rounds, I would try to buy 2000 primers and put a thousand back. I never shot in competition, so I don't burn copious amounts of ammo, but I would/will shoot up a couple thousand rounds of centerfire pistol each year. Now, I chuckle when I break open one of those bricks with $10.95, or even $12.50 price tags. If you put back 1000 per year for 10 years, you wind up with a "stash." Not for competitive shooters, I know, but pretty good for the average guy who gets to the range a couple of times per month. Just remember to date the primers, so you are rotating out the oldest first.

Same thing with ammo. If I thought I would need two boxes of twenty gauge no 8s for a dove shoot, I would buy four. If Wally had the promo shells on sale, I would buy extra. I will probably not have to buy and dove loads ever again. I use them now mostly to weight my safes down. I don't reload .45acp, so I decided to "stock up." I have some 500 round cases in my safes, UMC hardball, most dated early and middle 90s, with prices like $89.95 on them. When I bought this ammo, I was not making nearly as much money, and I really didn't have extra to buy much ammo. Most of my cases of loaded ammo are dated in January of various years. What I did was to take the money my in-laws and brothers and others gave me for Christmas and bought ammo. I later bought steel-cased Wolf .45acp at gun shows a good bit cheaper. Never had any issues with it. I have a few cases of .357 I bought like this, but I do load .38/357 and .45 Colt.

As I started making better money, I started buying more ammo and components. I decided to just use Unique (mostly) and a little Bullseye. I bought it in one lb cans, and a few larger, I think 4lb cans. Didn't take long to get "stocked up" on powder. I even ordered .45 Colt unprimed brass from Starline. When this mess got started, I had a couple thousand 10 grain Unique/255 grain SWC loaded, and when I got to checking, I had two one-thousand piece cases of new Starline brass. I cranked up the Lee Progressive and turned out another couple thousand, except I backed off to 9 grains of Unique. Oh, yeah, rather than get into casting, I would buy lead bullets, 500 at the time of .357 wadcutters and .45 SWC at gunshows two or three times per year. I had a good bit of .38 brass, and I started buying more in early 2008.

I also started buying more .22 rimfire early last year. I had probably 4-6 thousand on hand, but I decided it would be prudent to go ahead and stock up. I had shoulder surgery in late 2007, and went to Columbus, GA for therapy for 7-8 months, once a week. Each time, my wife would want to stop at Wally's. She would get her stuff, and I would get a couple of 550 round bulk boxes. Shooting 500 per month, and stashing 1500 per month soon gets you an accumulation.

I don't shoot much centerfire rifle, just a couple boxes per year deer hunting and sighting in. Actually, one box per year would do it. I buy two boxes per year. I have had an SKS for nearly 20 years or so, and I decided in the middle/late 90s to "put back" a few rounds. If I am not badly mistaken, I paid less than $100 per thousand-round case of Wolf, Barnaul, and S&B ammo in the late 90s.

I usually concentrate on accumulating a particular caliber. For a while, it was .22 magnum. If I intended to shoot 50 rounds in a weekend, I would buy 100 rounds. One year, I took my Christmas cash and bought .22 mag ammo. I haven't been able to find .22 lr bricks at Wally's since early in the year, but I don't leave empty-handed. I started picking up a 15-pack of 12 gauge slugs or buckshot every time I go. Just don't leave empty-handed. Buy a little ammo for something you shoot.

Buying ammo and components has been part of my retirement plan. I intend to retire after this school year, and I won't have the income to spend a lot on shooting. I hope to have enough on hand to last a long time, with just a few purchases here and there.

The point of all this is that I have accumulated a good amount of ammo without spending an awful lot of money at one time. It is sort of like a savings account. If you put a little away each month, over the years, it will build up. Too bad the ammo doesn't draw interest.

One more thing. Every time you trade guns, try to get a little ammo thrown into the deal. I bought another SKS just before the election last year. I really wouldn't have been too interested, but a good SKS with 650 rounds of Wolf ammo for $275 was hard to pass up. Same with a good Model 60 Smith I bought a couple of months back. It was just a fair deal at $375 otd, but the box of factory swc ammo made it a pretty good deal.

Have a plan. Buy a little ammo every month, or every week if that's your pay period. If you come into a little extra cash, spend it on ammo. Be ready when the next frenzy comes along.

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Georgia On My Mind

Yes, I too didn't feel the "crunch" as others have, as I try to learn from the ant- harvest in time of plenty to get through the lean times.

The only think I can say that I was short on was .22 Magnum, but since I hardly shoot it anyway, it was of mild concern.

I'm going to pick up some more primers when they become reasonable ($15. per brick or less), which actually should happen, at least with the imported primers. I'll be happy with Winchesters when they get below $20. I have enough to sit out until that happens.

I am compiling a shopping list and will obtain those items when the prices gravitate back to the amount I want to pay. Until then, money stays in pocket.

I'm good for another couple of years without buying a round...may not be what I "prefer," but I have enough.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

I thought it might be a good time to revive this one.

I have to say, my plan is working out pretty well. I can shoot a hundred rounds of .45ACP, 200-300 rounds of .22lr, 100 rounds of .38/.357 etc. per week without going near an ammo store or firing up a computer to order online. Also, I am about to complete a trade that would probably have required $100-$150 boot from me, except that I am going to be able to substitute .22lr ammo I paid less than $50 for a few years back. happy-happy-happy!!

If you ain't got a plan, you better get one! This is one part of my retirement I have prepared well for. I can do a lot of shooting with only minimal ammo/component purchases. In reality, whoever inherits all my shooting stuff will probably get to shoot a lot of my ammo.

Don't let anyone tell you different--hoarding is a good thing!

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Georgia On My Mind

Have never been affected by all this as I am like the little pig who built his house of bricks. I have ALWAYS planned ahead, and now ahead is here. Will be interested in seeing how all this plays out. Have had some people literally BEG me to load some .380, etc. for them. Just is not worth the trouble it can bring. We had a guy one county over did this big time, then someone turned him in. Now he has a real snoot full of trouble. Don't be tempted. JMHO.

I wonder if old Andy is still holding out for those $15 primers?

Good remix and a timely reminder that when one clown is done with public office, he or she will no doubt be replaced with another, different clown. We must always be prepared for lean times. IMO, keep the larder packed for at least two year's worth if not more before the stash gets into the red zone.

I just bought a lever rifle chambered in 45-70 Gumment and at $2/round it took about one nanosecond for me to realize I would be reloading for this sucker. Despite the so-called shortages I was able to get dies, powder, bullets and primers within days of my initial purchase. The powder cost about $20 per pound, the bullets $40 per hundred and the primers $36 per thousand.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

i've only had hand guns since 2011 and my wife was not crazy about me buying a lot of ammo for it. it was purchased a s home defense gun and we are both proficient with it, although we each need to practice more. with that being said, i did not have nearly as much as i would have liked to have, but luckily i have been able to purchase a 2nd handgun in the last month and get ammo anytime i want to shoot. the wife has also seen the light and "allows" me purchase more than i want to shoot and do it more often.

i do have to say that she never actually said no, but i respect her opinion, even if it's wrong...lol

I learned during the Clinton administration. My primer purchases went from 100 to 1000 per order. Powder went from one to two pounds. In 2008, I increased that to 5-8lbs., depending on how it's packaged. I've always bought commonly used bullets in bulk if possible and brass by the 500 count for new caliber rifles and 1000 count for pistols.

I started buying .22LR by the case. Buying centerfire ammunition that I don't reload for (SD or 9mm) has also increased to buy two, shoot one.

The only thing that I will change is that my primer purchases will now be by the case. My wife, daughters, and son-in-laws all shoot. If we all get together at once, 1000 rds downrange during an afternoon is not unheard of.

One thing we have to remember is this stuff is not getting any cheaper. I could sell all the full, unopened cans of powder, bags of brass, and boxes of primers for a decent profit without being accused of profiteering.

I will continue with my original plan, which is working fine. I need to focus more attention on storing food, since we're seeing incredible increases in prices with every visit to the store. Many of my favorite brands are not being carried by my local "big" grocery stores anymore, and are being replaced by brands that I feel are less desireable. At least availability is still good at this point.

Also glad this post was revived. I'm not going to talk about what I've done in this area, but I will say that I don't wait until Christmas to give someone a present, nor do I wait until Thanksgiving weekend (with all the travel delays) to visit my family.

I have been working on my plan since Jimmy Carter was elected. So far, so good!

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U.S. Navy - U.S. Army, ret

I'm glad the situation is getting better near you but around
here--(central Indiana)-- i have not seen any signs yet of
the ammo/component situation getting better.
Anytime a "Blue State" president gets elected, start laying some
extras back for your shooting/hunting activities.
I have done this for Clinton, B.O. and it has worked for me.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

.....Er.... I, ah, actually didn't get caught short this time around.
I wasn't short when the Klinton/Brady thing created a run back in the early '90s either.
Steady as she goes boys. Walk don't run, she'll still be burnin' when we get there.....

During the Christmas season of 2011 into 2012 Cabelas would have sales on Federal Bulk .22 ammo with free shipping on orders over $ 100. The holidays, with free S&H, use to be a good time to stock up on supplies. I doubt we'll see those days again for some time.

Me either. I got burned on Carters election, singed with Clintons first election, and haven't been even mildly inconvenienced since then.