Police Can't Get Ammo

[CQB27]

You are 100% spot on. My department has had exactly the same thing happen to us.

We purchase about 2.4 million rounds a year for a cost of about $720K and even with that type of contract the receipt of shipments is very, very slow. Also, when we negotiate our next annual contract I am sure prices will reflect the market.

Unless we had that crystal ball there was little to nothing we could have done.

Edited to add: Our old armorer and I had worked out a system where we kept about 20% of our annual allotment "on deck" in case of emergencies or other issues. When he retired this was cancelled and we went back to only ordering what we needed with no reserve on deck.

We do the "on deck" thing with duty ammo. I just call it our "basic load", a reference to my military days. We have enough duty ammo in every caliber to last about 3 years. It's the training ammo that is getting critical. We basically have about 18 months on hand at the beginning of each year and by years end we have a 6 month supply when the next annual allotment arrives. Well we just rolled into the 3rd month of the 6 month cushion. We can make it another 6 months with the scaled down op tempo we are currently running. After that things are going to have to get real creative on the training side and of the house.

 

[Magnum629]

Plenty of ammo is available. On gunbroker.com. Pages and pages of ammo, but at a secondary market premium. We have gone this route to stock up. More expensive, but available. All supply and demand.

 

[RCL-09]

We do the "on deck" thing with duty ammo. I just call it our "basic load", a reference to my military days. We have enough duty ammo in every caliber to last about 3 years. It's the training ammo that is getting critical. We basically have about 18 months on hand at the beginning of each year and by years end we have a 6 month supply when the next annual allotment arrives. Well we just rolled into the 3rd month of the 6 month cushion. We can make it another 6 months with the scaled down op tempo we are currently running. After that things are going to have to get real creative on the training side and of the house.

With us it is a budget issue. Don't buy it unless you need it and no stockpiling. So in the past (up until 2007-08) we had a 3-4 month on deck supply we now have virtually nothing, maybe a month.

 

[PaPow]

Gonna suck for anyone without ammo. Especially when you need it most.

 

[PaPow]

I`m all set

 

[Sistema1927]

I wonder if that's a reverse-rifling-compatible bullet for that left-handed revolver...

I wondered how long it would take for someone to notice. I thought about reversing the photo, but.....nah

 

[majick47]

For LE most are locked into budgets with limited freedom in purchasing when faced by unexpected events. Without a rainy day stockpile you are screwed. Police departments having their budget cut wont get much support for emergency funds to purchase ammo. Even with expanded production this year I don't see prices falling much. Increased cost of fuel and higher taxes will be passed on by ammo mfgs to both LE and civilian buyers.

 

[Rudi]

I'd really like to put in my opinion but can't. Don't need any more trouble.

 

[31FordA]

I look after ammunition for my little agency. Back in December I got management to let me buy our 2021 ammo early, so we are in good shape. Since there was no ball ammo available I just bought more hollow point to use for training. Cost a little more, but I didn't catch any flack. It's nice when management tells you "just do what you need to". The price per case was the same we paid in March 2020 before everything went nuts, so that helped.

Several other agencies I'm familiar with have had problems getting ammo. One had to reduce the number of times they qualify, another is putting off a switch from .45 to 9mm. Others have stopped handing out practice ammo on demand to officers.

 

[robertrwalsh]

CA requires qualification 4 times per year, plus whatever a department would burn up on specialized training, new recruits if they run their own academy, etc. Small departments are probably getting squeezed pretty good right now if they didn't plan ahead.

 

[STORM2]

Well here's a thought. Borrowing the terms "pre & post Covid" prices, perhaps some could pay their pre-Covid property/school taxes with post-Covid valued ammo.

 

[Telecaster]

With Remington back in production, things should ease.

 

[cmj8591]

information that might be of interest:


I doubt that finding sufficient ammunition for training is at the top of the priorities list in many cities, counties, or states at this point in time.

So true. Firearms training and training in general are the first victims when budgets get slashed and times get tough. Like now, for example. There were times when I went a couple of years without seeing a qualification range. Lack of training is at the root of a lot of the Police issues we are seeing now.

 

[Nick B]

LE can't get ammo but a LGS just got in 2 pallets of 9mm and 2 pallets of
5.56 . There's a problem somewhere in the supply pipeline.

 

[Ranger514]

I always operated with a cushion factor of having 1,000 rounds of duty handgun and .223 ammo, and about half that in 12 gauge available for each of our direct unit's 12 officers. Our agency required a minimum of two full qualifications per year with handgun, shotgun, and AR-15. In addition, I would set up and administer training courses during annual Refreshers, as well as provide officers with practice ammo for use on our range.

Up until around 2005, I had no problem acquiring ammo, since we were allowed to collect spent brass from a local military base that we then traded in for factory loads with a local manufacturer. That ended, however, when an agency unit in another region went rogue, using free military spent brass to trade for equipment other than fresh ammo. In a classic beauracratic move, rather than simply penalizing them for their misdeeds, the upper echelon decided to end that program agency wide. Following that, we had to cut down on the number of live fire practice and training sessions, and other units in our region underwent similar cutbacks. Ordering from major contractors became a PITB because of spotty, partial deliveries. We compensated on the ammo issues by purchasing a computer run simulator system, and using Simunitions scenario training for our officers.

 

[ddixie884]

One bullet was enough for Barney.

Yeah but he used a colt............

 

[rwsmith]

The departments should invest.....

The departments should invest in a Dillon for practice ammo. And stock up on primers, powder and bullets. I'd use coated or plated bullets for training.

 

[Miami_JBT]

*Looks around and smiles*

Not my problem anymore!

Only qual I worry about is LEOSA and I'm good until September. I have enough ammo for it.

 

[ddixie884]

The departments should invest in a Dillon for practice ammo. And stock up on primers, powder and bullets. I'd use coated or plated bullets for training.

If they can find primers..........

 

[smoothshooter]

Are match competitions in your area being cancelled or scaled back because of ammo shortages and prices?