strategies for dealing with the next shortage...

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I know, reloading has to be at the top of the list. But like everything else, that requires purchasing stuff, stuff we currently can't find.

Here's a few things I did this year, and it seemed like I was able to get ahead of the wave.

  1. When people start panic-buying anything, buy ammo. I stepped it up as soon as the toilet paper craze hit, and ammo wasn't yet crazy. I was able to probably double what I had at least.
  2. Don't be a snob. When the pinch started, there was still plenty of Tula, Wolf etc steel cartridges around, and for decent prices. I've shot some, you know what? They shoot fine and my guns didn't break.
  3. Buy what you can find, when it is a good price. I already had plenty of 7.62x39 laying around, and just pump it through a couple SKS's. I didn't need more, but when things started climbing in July, cases of Tula 7.62 were still around at $210. I also have a few 9x18 Makarov pistols, not my primary shooters but they work fine. Again, when I saw a case available for under $200, despite already having plenty, I added that.
  4. Don't fret the "back order" options. Early on, when things got scarce but there were still some decent prices, I picked up a couple cases of 9mm on Cabela/Bass Pro. Like, sub-$200 for brass fmj. People were hating on them because of delayed shipping; fine. Mine all came in, and for a good price. And they were running free shipping. Those who posted stuff online about never buying from them... I wonder, in retrospect, would they have liked to have added a few cases at those prices, evne if it took a month or so to receive?
  5. Expand your searching online, and don't rely on just search engines. This can't be said enough. When wikiarms posts a deal, you might have 1 minute to buy it. I've bought some stuff online that never showed on the searches. One resource I used was a collector's site, they had surplus ammo. Wasn't the cheapest, at first. I found them fixing up a Mauser. Well, they kept those not-so-cheap prices level, and being obscure, I was able to get some stuff I otherwise wouldn't.
  6. Speaking of obscure... lots of folks say "pick one pistol caliber and stock it". Fine, until that one caliber vanishes. Meantime, I had 2 9mm pistols that could, in theory, do barrel swaps and use less-common ammo. A quick search showed me: those calibers were still available! And with barrels ALSO available at a good price, I then could invest a little, and add more ammo (like about 3k more) to the mix. 7.62 Tok, and 9mm Largo. It was fun to shoot the old/new guns, and in a pinch they, like 9x18, were military cartridges.
  7. Don't fear the remanufacturers in a panic. I previously used Freedom and it was ok, as was LAX. In the early panic period, I got Defender and Fenix stuff, and... they shoot. 9 and 45, when everyone was looking for it. They hadn't upped their prices yet.

I recently backordered some stuff on another site, a decent price for some steel in 9mm, 308, and 223. Not the greatest, but still maybe comparable to early panic... probably pre-panic price for brass. In other words, cheap compared to now. They say shipping would be "when available", keeps rolling forward. If/when it comes, I suspect it will be cheaper than you will find on the shelves. I figure, they don't charge until it ships, why not put in a request "just in case".

Anyone else have some tips on things, going forward?
 
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Pre-pandemic, I couldn't really afford to buy large cases of ammo, so I'd pick up a few boxes here and there when I could. I have a pretty good stock of 9mm and a decent supply of .38 Special. If I'd known I'd be getting back into .45ACP, I would have done the same with that caliber, so that's the one I'm lacking now. So when ammo starts becoming more widely available again, I plan on continuing that practice.

I've also cut back on range time and focused more on dry fire practice. In my experience, if you've got a decent base of training and familiarity, dry fire practice can go a long way towards maintaining your skills when you can't get to the range as often. In the past I've taken several years off and when I returned to the range I found I could still shoot reasonably well, at least well enough for self defense purposes.

And when I do go to the range, I focus on quality over quantity. I try to have a plan with specific things I want to work on.
 
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I’m retired and on the dreaded “fixed income” so I have to stretch my shooting budget just like my main budget. I used the same strategy as ContinentalOp of buying modest amounts of what I could find, when I could find it at cheap prices. I also tried to balance factory ammo purchases with the guns I use most but reload for least, while making sure I kept a heavy backlog of reloading supplies. So far I’m OK and was even able to swap a sleeve of pistol primers to one of my long-time FFLs!

Froggie
 
I learned my lesson after the Clinton ban in 94.
We went to a couple of gun stores on a Friday and everything was gone the next Monday.
 
This shortage/price rise will come to an end. When prices go back to a sane level (say, 5 cents a round for .22 LR and 20 cents a round for 9 mm) stock up as you can.

Sadly, it may take years to do so but it will happen. I will bookmark myself for advice to future questioners. :)
 
I'm in my mid-60's. In January/February 2020 I took stock of three things:
1) Ammo prices were as good as I'd seen the past 10 years years
2) I wanted a stash of ammo to shoot in my retirement
3) The state where I live, New Jersey, was taking steps to make online ammo purchases difficult or impossible.

So I bought enough pistol, rifle and shotgun ammo so I could shoot all my guns with my favorite range ammo for the next 10 years.

Thread started February 6, 2020

Selection and price are not good here in New Jersey.
Online selection is unbeatable and price after shipping is excellent.
I expect New Jersey to soon restrict or abolish online ammo purchases.
This makes it a good time to stock up with my favorites.
Click to expand...

Thread started March 8, 2020

From my perspective, given the current prices and the continued onslaught against online ammo purchases --
now is a good time to stock up on your favorite range ammo.
Click to expand...


So here is my strategy, when prices are as good as they have been in the last 10 years buy enough ammo for the next 10 years
 
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I think the absolute best way to deal with an ammo shortage is to bypass it entirely by amassing a decent supply of ammunition in advance of a shortage.

Basically, just buy a box or two of ammunition every time you have the petty cash to do so and visit a location where ammo is sold, then once a shortage hits you can completely avoid all the madness, all the stress, and all of the inflated prices because you've already got more than enough ammo to see you through until it's over.
Plus, since you aren't buying in bulk, you'll never find yourself in that awkward situation in which you've purchased more ammo than you have allocated storage space for and thus have to clear space for the ammo because you purchased it gradually one box at a time.

Granted, this strategy only works once everything has returned to normal and ammo once again becomes widely available at stable prices, but just keep it in mind so that in maybe a year or so everything has returned to normal.
 
Alternate calibers can fit into a plan. I looked into .380 but it’s a dollar a round now, so that’s out. .22 Magnum currently seems like a good deal, if you can find it.
 
The strategy for dealing with the next shortage is little different from what we're doing now. Buy as much as you can, whenever you can, when it's more than you need for the present. Put it in safe storage and keep adding to it. I buy very little factory ammo; which is to say maybe a 20 round box for every 750-1000 rounds I reload. Reloading components are what I focus on hoarding; that's what it is, so why call it anything else.
 
I only buy factory ammo. I buy my range ammo by the case and SD ammo by the box. I reorder when I get down to a half-case or half-box.

In 2020, I cut back on range time and planned my round counts lower for each outing. I did not buy a new gun in 2020 so that saved a couple boxes of ammo.

I'm confident my skill sets have not suffered. I haven't bought ammo this year and may not have to buy more next year if prices remain high.
 
bushmaster1313 said:
I'm in my mid-60's. In January/February 2020 I took stock of three things:
1) Ammo prices were as good as I'd seen the past 10 years years
2) I wanted a stash of ammo to shoot in my retirement
3) The state where I live, New Jersey, was taking steps to make online ammo purchases difficult or impossible.

So I bought enough pistol, rifle and shotgun ammo so I could shoot all my guns with my favorite range ammo for the next 10 years.

Thread started February 6, 2020



Thread started March 8, 2020




So here is my strategy, when prices are as good as they have been in the last 10 years buy enough ammo for the next 10 years
Click to expand...

Interesting and telling how few people responded to those threads...
 
Telecaster said:
Factory ammo helps keep your brass supply up. :)
Click to expand...
Unless you are buying that steel cased stuff that is more suitable for Eastern Block* firearms. Yes, that makes me an ammo snob.:D

* Wonder how many people in the future will even know what the Eastern Block was? How many today know what it was?
 
The strategy is buy at a good price when you can and stack it deep. That goes for components and ammo. Steady buying over time is the easiest, most painless method to stockpile.

I learned from the past. I'm in decent shape on most things, but several of my go-to fav bullets are now backordered for months and will run out in a couple of months. Got complacent and let stock on hand dwindle too low. Just clickety click click and USPS brings more bullets. Nope, not for awhile.
Might be back to shooting up the old stock of lubed lead I shunned in favor of coated & jacketed.

Not looking like the supply-demand imbalance will resolve even into 2021. Plenty of profits to be made by expanding production, but producers are reticent to make capital investments that may not be supported 3-5 years out once this imbalance corrects.
 
I’ve never been one who burns large quantities of ammo compared to some of the shooting tails I read about here: my focus has always been skill development and maintenance rather than ammo dumps.

A trip to the range rarely consumes more than 100 rounds total of 22 lr, center fire pistol and rifle ammo. I’ll usually also shoot a round of sporting clays or a few rounds of skeet or trap each month. Of course, I don’t own or shoot black guns: just not of interest to me.

I probably dry fire more ‘rounds’ than I touch off in live ammo. My focus is always on skill development and maintenance.

I buy relatively little factory ammo since I reload. I keep my eyes open for ammo I might use, but have never gotten caught up in panic buying.

Even in these times, I routinely find a few boxes of ammo at good prices in my wandering among LGSs. I don’t buy ammo on the internet.
 
If you were smart you would already have a lifetime supply of lead, and a lifetime supply of brass.

When the next panic hits, buy up all the .22 ammo you can find and stock up on primers and powder.

I personally don't buy any other ammo. Its much easier to make it as you go, plus requires a lot less storage room.
 
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