Ammo shortage/availability

[cmj8591]

If your a shooter and you didn't stock up after what we just went through, you deserve to run out. If you went looking for a gun after the emergency was declared, then you deserve to be without one. I'm not a prepper by any stretch but it's just common sense to keep a stock of non perishable food and stuff like toilet paper and cleaning things. I'm not saying you have to have a bunker loaded up to it's roof, but do like the people living on farms do and have a stocked pantry.

 

[686-380]

I guess I'll be the "Doom & Gloom" guy in this thread. True, we've weathered numerous threats to humanity's existence. We've got much better technology now too. However, if too many dominoes fall, it COULD possibly trigger: financial collapse, war, uncontrolled pandemic, etc.

Personally, I think keeping our collective cool is the best strategy. Even if excrement encounters the rotating blades it doesn't help to make things worse. This situation is unprecedented in modern times...and we get to stay home and watch Netflix! 'course, with a trusty firearm by our sides...

 

[swsig]

Here's one scenario: The ranges get shut down, so folks don't have anywhere to shoot. They then stop buying ammo, supplies build up again, and prices come down.

I'd prefer that the ranges stay open because I have enough ammo, but I wouldn't mind it if they didn't as long as ammo prices and availability improved.

 

[Green Frog]

As various states go into mandatory shut downs with only "vital" businesses allowed to open, I fear the firearms (and ammunition) industries may begin to be regarded as "non-vital" and be forced to close down... a gun-haters dream come true. Since we are allowed to go to grocery stores even in shut down status, maybe we can go to Wally World for groceries and then stop by Sporting Goods to see whether they have anything we can use. It's a shame they already bailed on handgun ammo though.

I fear that what we have now is going to be what we will have for a while, so I for one plan to use my ammo sparingly and keep an eye out for potential sources of resupply. Glad I was on the upper end of a buying cycle when this all started.

Froggie

 

[typetwelve]

All it takes is a spark to get the panic driven folks in a frenzy. I felt this was coming when the virus issue grew legs about a month or so ago.

At this point, the gougers come out, the panic driven goofballs begin to hoard, and the newbs freak out. Those of us that are long time shooters and have gone through this time and time again have what we need.

I hate these now commonplace panic events...I really do. People that cause this are idiots...or scumbags...take your pick.

...and if I have to read the words "supply and demand" on more time...


Moving on...We'll see what the market looks like around July/Aug...if everything is still sold out and the prices are high, I'll do what I did last time this happened, greatly curb my shooting and wait it out.

 

[Mad_Max]

Academy had 500 rounds of 9mm 115g Federal Brass FMJ in a bulk container for appx $0.19 a round. Limited to a max of 3. $5 flat for shippingFederal Premium Champion 9mm Luger 115-Grain Pistol Ammunition | Academy so I ordered 3. They showed up today.

What I dont like is that Target Sports USA has been out of 9mm target ammo for awhile now... and I paid the extra hundo to get their free shipping.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I've heard that many of the gun and ammo buyers are first time buyers. The good news is that the anti-2A crowd may be much smaller when this is all said and done!

That would be nice.......I won't hold my breath.....

==========================================


My third wife (long gone) taught me to buy in bulk. I never could quite understand what she thought she was going to do with gallon jars of every kind of pasta but that was her thing. However, one aspect of bulk buying that I appreciated was bulk purchase of paper goods and certain canned goods. A variety of beans, sardines and other canned fish, canned fruit, even coffee, just to name a few items. But the concept of having large quantities of paper goods always seemed right to me so if I find myself with what looks like a week's worth of certain paper goods off I go to stock up. No panic. Just reasonable planning, especially after seeing so many situations, as mentioned above, that so many of us have lived through.

Ammunition is the same. If you plan to shoot a lot then stock up on the caliber(s) that you plan to shoot a lot. Running to a big box store or your LGS on the day you decide to pop a few hundred caps of this or that caliber is not a good plan. You don't have to be a full blown prepper to be a full blown prepared adult human.

Anyway, I'm preaching to the choir, I understand, but I am bored sitting at home and this was a nice way to vent and burn off some steam. Thanks....

 

[otis24]

The upside of gun stores closing down, if things get more desperate and can't get firearms, that will push them more solidly into the pro-gun camp.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

These things don't bother me. I can cast a bullet for EVERY centerfire gun I own. I make my own #8 shot. I have always kept lots of powder & primers on hand. Today I shot 100 rds on my skeet field. 50 20ga 50 410. One hour later the 410's were reloaded and ready to go again. "You'se gotta be prepared" to support your habit.......And shooting is mine. I shoot little to no factory ammunition.

 

[bushmaster1313]

There is plenty of ammo for sale via online auction. Expensive but available. 5.56 that went for $.30/rd. Now sells for more than double.

To me, if you're out of ammo it makes perfect sense to buy 20 rounds of 5.56 for $15. But, to me, it makes no sense to buy 1000 rounds for $750.

 

[scattershot]

Sorry to say it, but if you don't reload or have a stockpile of ammo, it's gonna be a rough Road for awhile.

 

[mmb617]

We're going to the range later today but I've already told my son we won't be burning up 300-500 rounds like we usually do since what we will be shooting is 9mm and 223 and resupply on either looks dicey for a while.

 

[TTSH]

Stopped by my local Bass Pro for reasons unrelated to ammo, but I had to stop by and check. Well, the shelves were pretty much empty of all centerfire pistol & MSR ammo... except .40 S&W!

Man, that brings back memories of the post-Newtown days! Déjà vu all over again!

Sorry for the blurry photo, but the lights were off in the Bass Pro. They were only letting 50 people in at a time. You had to wait outside until someone left. They also encouraged you to get what you need and get out fast!

The big surprise for me was that .22 LR ammo was still available. No, I didn't buy any. I'm good for now!

 

[fmflorida]

A few local shops are out of some calibers, especially 9mm.

This is one reason Ive never been a fan....or understood, why people stick to one caliber. I have friends who sold off .40/45ACP guns to stick with 9mm guns......yet in times like these.....cant find 9mm ammo.....yet there is plenty of .40 and 45 in my area.

I get owning multiple calibers can get expensive however it never hurts to have them around especially when ammo is scarce.

 

[max]

I have plenty, but got on waiting lists at a couple of the big ammo sellers. I just came into some cash and will spend it if the price is right.

 

[Dave Lively]

This is one reason Ive never been a fan....or understood, why people stick to one caliber. I have friends who sold off .40/45ACP guns to stick with 9mm guns......yet in times like these.....cant find 9mm ammo.....yet there is plenty of .40 and 45 in my area.

Buying a few cases of 9mm to see you through shortages is less expensive than buying guns in multiple calibers hoping you can buy ammo for one of them.

While there is no logical reason for it I have found guns are like kids. You have to feed all of them all the time.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I have plenty, but got on waiting lists at a couple of the big ammo sellers. I just came into some cash and will spend it if the price is right.

IMHO, at today's inflated prices do not buy any more ammo than what you need to operate the guns you already have or will acquire in the near future.

I do not suggest taking advantage of another's misfortune. However, with the downturn in the economy many will be willing to take less in selling a gun than what they would have insisted on just a month ago. If you have gun money burning a hole in your pocket, take some of what you won't spend on overpriced ammo and get a good deal on a gun you might not have otherwise been able or willing to afford.

 

[jc2721]

My friend sold his home and moved to Phoenix a few years ago. He had a hard enough time transferring a hundred or so guns (it seemed like that amount) to the mainland so he asked me to help him out with his ammo.

I ended up buying something like 30K cartridges (a lot of .22s but more centerfire rounds by far), 50K primers and about 40 lbs of powder.

I've sold off a lot of that through the local gun shows and our local forum but I still had enough to where I recently sold some .308 and 5.56 at a tidy profit.

Just before the pandemic became serious I managed to pick up nearly 2K .38 rounds, 3K 9mm and 1+K of .308 and M2 Ball. The timing was perfect--I had cash and people I knew or just met had ammo they wanted to get rid of. I've yet to make a decision about selling some 9mm, the .38s I'm keeping to feed my new Smiths.

I probably have enough cartridges to last me 10 to 15 years but the thing is this--I decided long ago to be prepared to buy entire collections, accumulations, estates, whatever, with the goal of flipping most of it to fund other buyouts. I enjoy doing it, I know my local market very well and I treat people fairly and I deal honestly. I have repeat business from some guys, I get referrals from others and most of all I help people who sometimes get stuck with more stuff than they know what to do with.

I have fun doing it, I've picked up some very nice keepers along the way and I've managed to help more than a few people with their problems.

I don't resent the term "opportunist," I'm more of a problem solver.

 

[Green Frog]

Well the intersection of renewed interest in ammo and enforced confinement to my home has had an interesting result. I've been in the habit of picking up ammo as it becomes available at reasonable prices. What has happened when it arrives home, it seems to get stashed in random places and forgotten. The aforementioned result is that as I stumble across these random stashes, I'm finding I have more ammo than I thought... not just enough to defend my toilet paper stash and aquarium chemicals now, but I'm probably ready for the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!!
Organized people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Life is looking better all the time.
Froggie

 

[Triathloncoach]

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.......

It's the millions of people who are unemployed and broke that worry me.