So this is an amusing thread and from a different perspective. I notice that almost all posters here are new to the forum and it seems like shooting. Add young on top of it and we get the expected results. There is a different view. We've had ammo shortages and component shortages for years. They come and go, but about the only real common element is they reoccur.
For some background, back in the early 70s we had gasoline rationing caused by the "Arab oil embargo". The then liberal congress felt the fair way to solve it was to just allow everyone to buy a small amount and keep the price "reasonable." What happened was everyone found a way to cheat or they just didn't have enough. Some folks, like retirees or the unemployed actually had more than they needed. Others like those who drove long distances didn't have enough.
The current system seems better for ammo. If you want ammo, you can get it. Might not be at a price you want, but its out there. I have a friend who had 300 gallons of Shell's finest in his barn. He had connections and he used them.
I'm even amused at the guy who thinks 10,000 rounds is a bit much. Once you've been through this, you won't think that at all and you'll have that much as a "safety stock". I do, but I'm considering selling it because there are guys who want to shoot so badly they'll pay $100 a brick. But if they're building a supply at that kind of pricing, they'll be taking a huge loss. Sooner or later we can pretty accurately predict things will sort of return to normal. Meaning the Walmarts will all have their 550 packs for anyone who wants them. Sure, they'll cost more than the $13.42 I was paying 5 years ago. But keep in mind all prices are going up. You can't run trillion dollar deficits without igniting some inflation. I don't look at government numbers, I look at the price of a burger and fries. It keeps going up.
So what happens to the guy with 100,000 rounds who paid $100 a brick?
He'll have to shoot it because he can't sell it for anything like his cost.
Another interesting parallel comes up with components. Todays price for a "brick" of primers, 1,000 of them, is about $37-40. Depends on the brand and seller. In my ancient stock I've still got some that were around $7. I was incensed when they doubled to $14. When supplies stabilized and I saw some at $9 I bought a bunch. Then I stopped buying because I had enough. Then in the early 1980s (when most of you weren't even born) I got another rude awakening. Primers had slipped up above $20. Then when Clinton showed up, they went to nearly $30. Things were OK for a while and they remained just under $30. Now suddenly they've taken another jump and some of the much maligned hoarders are dumping them at $50 and above if they find a buyer. Yes, I still have some of the $7 ones.
Better still I have a few hundred from my father that he bought in the 1950s (you can tell because they have wooden trays.)
If you're upset, its OK with me. Consider it a lesson in being prepared. If you're not, either find another hobby or tough it out. The most sound economic policy for those without ammo or anything else is to buy as little as you can survive without. We're all telling you the same thing. In the past every single shortage has been relieved by the free market system. Sure, there will be a higher "new normal", but it won't be nearly as high as us scalpers demand. Its foolish to attempt to buy a multi-year supply at the high rates. But remember there will be another a few years out. Learn from your mistakes.
The Japanese introduced a model of just-in-time. For shooting that means stop at Wallyworld on your way to the range and pick up a box of ammo. Works great until a few guys decide they want more than the single day's supply. Then what you see is what we currently have. Doesn't work so well. The marketplace is populated by guys who feel 100 rounds is plenty and then old coots like me who feel 50,000 is a good round number. All we can say with any certainty is that the guys with 100 rounds won't be shooting much an will spend a lot of time visiting WalMart trying to find more. Gasoline to get there, too. We also can say with a pretty good certainty that I'll still be shooting for a while.
