This is wishful thinking at best and being a sheep
at worst. If you care about stopping Russia 
so much then why only ban ammo? This isn't an anti Russia ban it's an anti gun owners ban.
Russian Ammo BANNED
- Thread starter Rudi
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This is wishful thinking at best and being a sheep
at worst. If you care about stopping Russia so much then why only ban ammo? This isn't an anti Russia ban it's an anti gun owners ban.- Joined
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From reading these posts, it appears there are very few handloaders among those who use the imported ammo. No doubt components are hard to come by now, but occasionally some are available so the situation is very slowly improving. It seems like more would be interested in learning the handloading process. It's one more defense against shortages and a safeguard to a steady ammo supply.
This present situation will likely subside just as the other four or five shortage situations have in the last twenty-five years, then there will probably be another one. Stock up during the interims when all is plentiful. Your own ammo can be of better quality than the imported stuff and far more accurate.
This present situation will likely subside just as the other four or five shortage situations have in the last twenty-five years, then there will probably be another one. Stock up during the interims when all is plentiful. Your own ammo can be of better quality than the imported stuff and far more accurate.
AJ
US Veteran
My friends (and I) have learned from the times of famine and stocked up on reloading components. We have enough to ride out this lack of components. When the pipeline begins to put out the things we need at reasonable prices, we will restock.
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Me, too, but my point wasn't directed to long-time handloaders. I realize handloaders are in a definite minority among those who shoot, but it seems like more would take an interest in it during lean times like now rather than arguing about things like the percentages of ammo produced by other countries and purchased by US consumers.
AJ
US Veteran
I too, realize that handloaders are in the minority. That may be changing as things progress. Most people will take the easy route and just buy over the counter ammo. For some it is lack of knowledge of hand loading, other due to lack of space, some because they just don't want to do it and some because it is the easy road to follow. Nowadays the prices for equipment and components has gone crazy and it is to expensive to do reloading.
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The people most affected by ammo shortages are those that live in the present. Unless reloading solves their problem immediately they will not see any reason to start handloading.
Long term the only advantage reloading has over buying in bulk is that it is less expensive to stock up on primers, bullets and powder than to buy bulk factory ammo.
scoobysnacker
Member
It seems apparent that some folks shoot more than others.
I see reloaders say, sometimes smugly, "I have 5k primers, I'm good".
Ok, you have 5k rounds you can make. Run out of primers, you run out of ammo.
I have more than 5k in ammo. Have that in several calibers. Currently wish like heck I'd have grabbed more 7.62x39, but didn't because IT WAS ALWAYS THERE. Only through dumb luck and a little impatience, did I add a case for $270 right before the bottom fell out. "Prudence" was to wait, since prices were dropping, and it was going back to around $200 a case soon.
*Note to self: don't ignore the impulse buy urge! Had I waited, it would have been twice as much, perhaps forever.*
If they can jack around the supply of primers, the reloading guys are SOL. It's got to be on someone's memo somewhere, so you might want to get what you can, while you can. If it's returning to normal, get it and don't wait.
As many have stated, this isn't a shot at Russia, it's an excuse to limit US. They will do that again.
I see reloaders say, sometimes smugly, "I have 5k primers, I'm good".
Ok, you have 5k rounds you can make. Run out of primers, you run out of ammo.
I have more than 5k in ammo. Have that in several calibers. Currently wish like heck I'd have grabbed more 7.62x39, but didn't because IT WAS ALWAYS THERE. Only through dumb luck and a little impatience, did I add a case for $270 right before the bottom fell out. "Prudence" was to wait, since prices were dropping, and it was going back to around $200 a case soon.
*Note to self: don't ignore the impulse buy urge! Had I waited, it would have been twice as much, perhaps forever.*
If they can jack around the supply of primers, the reloading guys are SOL. It's got to be on someone's memo somewhere, so you might want to get what you can, while you can. If it's returning to normal, get it and don't wait.
As many have stated, this isn't a shot at Russia, it's an excuse to limit US. They will do that again.
AJ
US Veteran
I shoot three days a week for 2-3 hours at a time.
I reload and have enough components to shoot for six years. Have even more loaded ammo.
When supplies catch up and the prices are reasonable, I will purchase more.
People talking about how they stockpiled or can simply reload are missing the point entirely… I am super happy you are prepared for shortages, I really am, but that is so far from the point it's baffling.
The point is that this is a targeted ban specifically designed to affect gun owners. This has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with punishing Russia (which last I checked isn't dependent on ammo to keep its economy going) and has ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING with banning the ammo for certain firearms the Biden Administration doesn't like. If you can't see this, you have your head in the sand…
If it was truly about punishing Russia, we would stop their pipelines, stop importing their rare earth minerals and metals. Of course none of that is happening because this ban is not to hurt Russia, it's to hurt owners of the supposedly scary guns liberals can't stand. If you can't read between the lines and see that, you are simply a fool… There isn't a nice way to put it, because it's so obvious anybody should see this for what it is, a restriction of ammo types the current administration doesn't like… that's all this is…
The point is that this is a targeted ban specifically designed to affect gun owners. This has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with punishing Russia (which last I checked isn't dependent on ammo to keep its economy going) and has ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING with banning the ammo for certain firearms the Biden Administration doesn't like. If you can't see this, you have your head in the sand…
If it was truly about punishing Russia, we would stop their pipelines, stop importing their rare earth minerals and metals. Of course none of that is happening because this ban is not to hurt Russia, it's to hurt owners of the supposedly scary guns liberals can't stand. If you can't read between the lines and see that, you are simply a fool… There isn't a nice way to put it, because it's so obvious anybody should see this for what it is, a restriction of ammo types the current administration doesn't like… that's all this is…
scoobysnacker
Member
I have enough ammo to maintain a pace like that, too. I am not currently shooting at that pace.
The flaw in the ointment with your point of view, is assuming supplies will catch up and prices will drop.
And to be fair, I held that point of view too, until this move.
Supply was returning, prices were dropping. The Panic had ended. We are seeing increased domestic production, and a restoration of the European brands (S&B, Fiocchi, PPU etc) that have always been a major part of the market.
This EO happened at a time that was very potent to destabilize the US market, but was totally weird with the reason it's listed; the event with the dissident was in 2020.
When the primer market starts to shake out, there will very likely be another such occurrence, and will screw that supply chain up again. I am past trusting that this is all an unfortunate series of events unhappily affecting my hobby; this is active.
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I made that mistake with 22 LR in 2013. Live and learn. And I did learn. Made a big buy of 22 in 2019.
Eddie Southgate
Member
I don't use it so won't miss it . I'm more concerned about the 59 year old ban on Cuban cigars .
AJ
US Veteran
There has been a pattern of shortages over the last few years. What can the average individual do about it but complain and try to ride it out.
I see more components at gun shows lately, but the prices are still high. So when (and if) the prices come down I will buy some more and stockpile what I can.
That is so shortsighted it's beyond me. That's like saying "I don't use an AR style rifle so it's ok if they ban them…" I don't own an AR but I would still be very concerned as a gun owner if they banned them. Once you start accepting these things it just gets worse. We have to oppose bans, even the ones that don't effect us personally, lest they eventually ban an ammo you DO use. How you can't see this is simply astounding and quite frankly selfish. A threat to one type of ammo should be opposed by ALL of us.
As a historian and history teacher your sentiments remind me of a famous poem:
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
- Martin Niemoller
They may come for the Russian ammo first, but if we don't dig our feet in now there will come a day when they DO come for the ammo you use. Make no mistake about it.
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@RCL-09 I think I like your version of the poem better 
I am astonished by how many members of a gun forum are sanguine about this… it shocks me.
I am astonished by how many members of a gun forum are sanguine about this… it shocks me.
scoobysnacker
Member
I have espoused this approach over the years, and it's why I have a good supply at hand now.
I have never advocated buying in panic, or when prices are high. If you glance at my post history here, I have always maintained the position of "wait it out". Don't buy overpriced ammo, wait until things settle down.
I admit to buying Tula 7.62x39 at $270 a case a couple weeks before this EO, and admit it really wasn't the price I had preset in my "buy/don't buy" range. Did the same thing with steel 223, at $350 (and it even dropped to $325 a day later
). I did these out of a "oh, why wait" move; the product wasn't in high demand, was within $50 of a reasonable price, and I live in a state where we're getting hit bad with the new Covid variant. I had the money, wanted to pick some more up, and was worried the new wave of infections would drive a new panic.
Where I bought it, there was free shipping, so the price WAS the price, not "plus shipping". That made it close enough for me.
I mentioned it to some folks I know, most of who said "nah, I'm good for now, I'll wait another couple months and the price will be down $50 a case lower". And that made 100% sense to me.
In retrospect, those folks got burned.
Through dumb luck, I've topped off the tank (so to speak), and have now relegated these guns to a different shooting rotation. The x39 AR is no longer a cheap blaster. It runs great, and I have it for long-term.
I'll say this again, there's no rhyme or reason to make this move now, other than to hinder the US firearm owners. This isn't a panic shortage, it's an intentional cut-off. That's a different ballgame.
If you value components and come across them, and the price is remotely reasonable- I think it's wise to consider that they might be next on the hit list, and get them while you can. I didn't say that 2 months ago, but things feel weird. I won't be shocked if we see some Cali-type restrictions nationally, in the near future.
@RCL-09 I think I like your version of the poem better
I am astonished by how many members of a gun forum are sanguine about this… it shocks me.
Sad, but they have fallen to the divide and conquer tactic way to easily...
scoobysnacker
Member
We need to just ignore the "it's Russian" part of the equation.
That's just a smokescreen.
The issue at hand, and what separates it from past ammo shortages, is this:
- It's NOT due to panic-buying and excessive demands
- it IS an intentional restriction placed on the market, by the federal government, and is bypassing Congress in the process
- you CAN'T ride out an import ban. There is no shortage of Russian ammo being made... supply won't "catch up". It just won't come here anymore, after everything takes effect.
I mean, we're just talking about different issues here. I was never concerned that Blazer Brass was never going to be available in 9mm again, during prior shortages. If I had enough to wait, I did.
You can't wait out Tula x39, because after 2023, it's gone.
I'm going to sell all of my Commie Bloc rifles into a falling market for half of what I paid for them.
I'm just kidding. I don't own any Commie Bloc rifles.
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