Ammo shortage/availability

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otis24

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Ok, I asked this question a long time ago. Not that we are in the reality of an apocalypse and not just theory, what are ammo supplies looking like?

In the past, I reasoned that you might want something that is pretty popular, i.e. 9mm, because everyone stocks it. On the other hand, that means everyone WANTS it, and it sells out quickly.

The two calibers that I've always been a fan of are 9mm and .38/.357.

Does there seem to be a better availability of .38/..357 as opposed to 9mm or are the doomsdayers wiping out everything?
 
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Having been through a few of these things now, the 357 ammo is always the first to dissapear. Followed quickly by 380 and then 38s. After that it seems to go 9mm, 40, 45. Then you have the less mainstream calibers, the 357 Sig and 10mm go fast, the big bores like 41, 44 and 45 Colt bring up the tail end.
 
You're both right in your observances. When I went to my local Sportsmen's Warehouse the other day, I found out that it really doesn't matter what happens to be "popular." It was all gone. Yep. The 9mm ammo shelves were wiped clean! No 5.56mm either. Twelve gauge buckshot was gone, too. There happened to be a few boxes of .38 Special FMJ left along with a few oddball calibers. Oh...almost forgot. There were some boxes of .22 snakeshot, too.

Fortunately, I didn't need anything. I thought for sure that people would've learned from the previous .22 ammo shortage, but I guess they didn't. Perhaps they'll learn from this.:)
 
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Stopped at Rural King this week and they were down to a few boxes of 38 special on the shelve and a couple 22LR rifles on the rack. The last shortage is one thing that got me looking closely at 40 S&W. It was one of the last calibers to disappear from the shelves. That shortage is why I always pick up and save my 9mm brass even though it's not been economical to reload that caliber for years. Situations change.

I tend to use 22 mag for pest control around the house and that caliber also disappeared. As I shoot left handed I put together two identical rifle scope combos using left hand Savage rifles, on in 22 mag and one in 17 HMR. Seems I can always find one of the calibers and the magazines are interchangeable. This week at work I traded a box of 20 ga shells to a woman for a couple lbs of beef jerky. We both came away feeling like we got something we could use out of the deal.
 
It makes no sense to me. The Zombie Apocalypse is not upon us. Terrorists are not roaming the streets. The Wuhan virus doesn't cause diarrhea or crime. Water is available when I turn on the tap. It's just senseless.

However, I have told folks for years that if you want to stock up on precious metals as an investment remember that lead will be far more valuable than gold someday. I just don't think that day is here.......
 
walnutred said:
Talking to the guy behind the gun counter he said that most of the buyers seemed to be first time buyers.
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Got a call last week from my cousin's husband, asking how to buy a pistol in Florida.
Everytime they visit us in SC, we take them to the range, and every time he says he wants to get a pistol, but he never does.
Well, current events seem to be the extra push he needed. He ordered a PCR from Bud's.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk
 
Breakaway500 said:
Panic buying caused the last "shortage" and once again..history repeating itself.
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Whether you went through the post-Newtown fiasco over-stocked, adequately stocked or under-stocked... everyone should have figured out that being 100% well-prepared is the only way to fly. ;)

Newtown happened on December 14, 2012, just 7 years ago and change. Are there that many new folks entering the shooting sports who have no awareness or memory of the post-Newtown shortages? :confused: Or is this all brand new folks suddenly realizing for the first time that family and self-protection are really good ideas? :confused:

I don't have a good answer, but locally I am seeing a lot of folks who should have been very well-prepared already (and probably are) buying even more going into and during this panic. :eek:

It isn't all brand new "just realized the need" newbie folks. :cool:
 
I've had 7 years to build up a good stock of ammo since the Sandy Hook event. I got caught flat footed back then with barely a box of ammo per caliber. Not a good feeling at all. Folks should stock up during times of plenty, not when a shortage rears it's ugly head.

I feel sorry for those that have recently purchased their first firearm. Now they can't get ammo for it.
 
I learned a lesson from the last "shortage"! I'll never run out of powder in my lifetime, am pretty well stocked on bullets (made an order this week before things get any worse), plenty of brass but could use more primers. Problem this time, the gun shops in my area are all closed! Could've picked up the primers I needed, if the shops were open. Anyway, I can weather this one better than the last. Unless I find an outdoor range, the indoor range is closed as well. :-(
 
Even if you're well stocked on reloading components shooting isn't exactly fun when you can't replace what you're shooting. Of course I just started building a back yard range which will be a first for me then the pockylips started. Basically I'm Burgess meredith in the twilight Zone.
YouTube
I dont know no youtubes sharin'.
 
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Aimsurplus had loads of all calibers in stock on Friday morning. Their website shows almost everything, I didn't look at 8mm or 7.62x54R or the like, sold out.
 
otis24 said:
...[snip]...
The two calibers that I've always been a fan of are 9mm and .38/.357.

Does there seem to be a better availability of .38/..357 as opposed to 9mm or are the doomsdayers wiping out everything?
Click to expand...


Got both of mine! And enough to reload x2 or 3x exponentially... :D;)
 
MyDads38 said:
I learned a lesson from the last "shortage"! I'll never run out of powder in my lifetime, am pretty well stocked on bullets (made an order this week before things get any worse), plenty of brass but could use more primers. Problem this time, the gun shops in my area are all closed! Could've picked up the primers I needed, if the shops were open. Anyway, I can weather this one better than the last. Unless I find an outdoor range, the indoor range is closed as well. :-(
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Makes me so proud that I invested in a membership in a private range about 5-6 years ago. No problems going to the range last Wednesday and had a great time shooting a 1911, Beretta M9 and my 627 Pro. You need to check around and see if there is some kind of private organization around where you live that you can join up.
 
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