So you say it’s not a conspiracy

[s&wchad]

I've been around long enough to have seen multiple shortages of .22 LR, .380, 9mm, ,45 ACP and 5.56/7.62 NATO over the years. I've also seen primer and powder shortages. Like the Great Depression, people who lived through it learned to stock up.

Last year was a perfect storm for shortages. It included everything from toilet paper, disinfectants and alcohol to shooting supplies. People didn't drive, so gasoline futures actually reached negative numbers. The COVID lockdowns, the unchecked looting/rioting and the potential threats to our 2A rights cause people to stock up on goods they thought they might need.

It also prompted around 6 million Americans who never owned a gun to buy one. If they each bought only 100 rounds of ammo, we're talking about an additional 600,000,000 rounds of ammo. To make matters worse, Remington's bankruptcy, COVID lockdowns in the USA and in foreign countries that produce ammo for our market decreased the supply.

If history is an indicator, things will get better. I don't see any conspiracy, so stay calm. I'd guess there's trillions of rounds of ammunition in American homes and warehouses. If a trillion sounds like a lot, you need to realize that's only 3000 rounds per American. I can't speak for other members, but I've got enough to cover a good chunk of my neighbors!

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Conspiracy theories are very simple ways of explaining very complex issues.

Current ammo scarcity is simple supply and demand economics.

 

[Ackley1952]

Remember the ostrich eggs from the late 1980's. Supply and demand works. The United States government is not smart enough to create a conspiracy.

 

[germansheperd]

OP's attachment say Winchester won contract for U.S. Army as second choice for small arms ammunition. Who is first choice?

It is Lake City

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

buying

Probably the best thing to do is to wait it out. Once things return to "normal", then buy in small quantities and buy on a regular basis. Maybe every time you go some place that has ammo at a reasonable price, buy a couple of boxes. One box for shooting and one to stash.

Exactly-- I went to shows for years and ALWAYS bought something, needed at the time or not. Good deals always surface when funds are tight. I always kept supplies up and with the current lean times a am in good shape. That isnt hording folks, it is staying prepared. JMHO.Those that havent, shame on you.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Probably the best thing to do is to wait it out. Once things return to "normal", then buy in small quantities and buy on a regular basis. Maybe every time you go some place that has ammo at a reasonable price, buy a couple of boxes. One box for shooting and one to stash.

This is good advice, only I didn't wait until today to take it. When the early nineties AWB was in the works, I bought a few normal-cap mags and started what AJ recommends. Didn't have much extra money then, started with defensive ammo and eventually started stacking up factory range ammo and components for the few cartridges I reload. Two or three general ammo shortages between then and now slowed me down, but never depleted me. I'll wait this one out, too, and pick it up again.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[tom2]

How about the oddball calibers? Surely if it was panic buyers and new gunnies, the oddballs would still be quite available in bulk. And in calibers of no use to the government or military.

 

[Culina]

There is plenty of ammo available, check out ammoseek dot com the other place ammo and primers end up is on gunbroker. If you don't have time to wait in line at your local ammo dealer, these places are options but you are going to pay for it.

Now that Remington ammo plant is up and running, the situation "should" slowly get better. Yes they managed to go out of business during the greatest demand and prices for ammo in our lifetimes.

 

[AJ]

How about the oddball calibers? Surely if it was panic buyers and new gunnies, the oddballs would still be quite available in bulk. And in calibers of no use to the government or military.

No such thing as oddball calibers during a run on ammunition. Just "slow sellers".

 

[LostintheOzone]

Many things aren't available, yet the factories claim they're running as hard as they can. I've looked at rototillers and generators of late and the supply is thin at best. Something doesn't add up.

It isn't just ammo as you say. Go to a Toyota or Ford dealer and try to find a new truck. I was at my Toyota dealer last week. The lots were bare of all trucks, 4R's and Highlanders. Not a single one. Micro processor shortage has them 4 months out on any delivery. Ford, same deal.

 

[rockquarry]

How about the oddball calibers? Surely if it was panic buyers and new gunnies, the oddballs would still be quite available in bulk. And in calibers of no use to the government or military.

The oddballs are only made on an irregular basis as there is not much demand for it. Some of it, brass as well as loaded ammo is only made every few years. I doubt the general shortage situation we are currently experiencing has much to do with it.

 

[RCL-09]

So, by revealing the conspiracy that makes 2,897,312 in on it plus those that have read this thread?

No, a conspiracy makes no sense.

 

[AlHunt]

It isn't just ammo as you say. Go to a Toyota or Ford dealer and try to find a new truck. I was at my Toyota dealer last week. The lots were bare of all trucks, 4R's and Highlanders. Not a single one. Micro processor shortage has them 4 months out on any delivery. Ford, same deal.

Try to find a canning jar lid. Zip, zero, none,

And it's not even canning season.

 

[Peak53]

This too shall pass ... again. Buy low, sell high. Right now I am stocking up on Beanie Babies for a fraction of what they were worth 20 years ago. And if you throw 'em hard enough they make a pretty good defensive weapon. You can carry a full load of eight in a jacket pocket and make it through any metal detector.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

When I see a caliber at the new regular price that I shoot -
I buy some. Usually limited to 2 boxes.
Like the two boxes of 9mm that I bought yesterday.
Just bought that Glock 9 Thrill-o- meter, it needs ammo.
I'm not selling any, I do pass Ammo to my Son and SIL.

 

[Muss Muggins]

It's not . . .

 

[Krogen]

Try to find a canning jar lid. Zip, zero, none,

And it's not even canning season.

A buddy and his wife are building a home North of here. The current price of OSB is $80 a sheet! And they will be waiting until October for a dishwasher to be available.

Yeah, shortages and extreme prices abound. I don't often buy OSB or dishwashers so I had no idea. Nor do I keep a stock of OSB or dishwashers. I do keep a stock of gun stuff, so although I have what I need, the current situation with components and ammo has been quite visible.

 

[llowry61]

Think about this logically. The demand is the highest it has ever been, right ? Do you think that there are folks who want to supply that demand ? Do you think if they could meet demand they would ? If you were an ammo manufacturer would you produce everything you could right now.

Now, I think we all know the answers to those questions. There are supply chain issues, work force issues etc. So, believe me that the shortages will not continue because American risk takers are doing EVERYTHING they can to grab that almighty dollar that is waiting to buy their product. The one thing they understand is that this demand won't be around forever, so they will only produce to their maximum capacity because any other investment in capability will go idle when the demand returns to normal.

Anyone ever heard of the concept of elasticity ? There is a point that consumers will change their behavior based on the price of the product. Think gasoline. 4.00 a gallon, people drive less then guess what - prices decline as demand plummets.

Things will moderate. Patience patience patience. Remember supply and demand works both ways - the pendulum will swing. When it does make sure you capitalize.

 

[Telecaster]

Are there supply chain issues? Workforce issues? I hear reliable employees are almost impossible to find, and that involves supply chain employees, but everywhere I look trucks are rolling, warehouses are warehousing, deliverers are delivering.

 

[Warren Sear]

When I see a caliber at the new regular price that I shoot -
I buy some. Usually limited to 2 boxes.
Like the two boxes of 9mm that I bought yesterday.
Just bought that Glock 9 Thrill-o- meter, it needs ammo.
I'm not selling any, I do pass Ammo to my Son and SIL.

That explains it right there.