Cdog
Member
The biggest difference today, "the interweb".
Nothing spread then as it does now.
Nothing spread then as it does now.
Ammo shortage of 94?
- Thread starter bob1981
- Start date
Stevie
Member
At leas in my area...ammo wasn't an issue. There was a brief scare on reloading componants...but nothing like it is at the moment.
The only ammo I had real issues finding back then was .40S&W...forr some reason or other the fourtys were really hard for me to get hands on until later in the 1990's
The only ammo I had real issues finding back then was .40S&W...forr some reason or other the fourtys were really hard for me to get hands on until later in the 1990's
kwselke
Member
The primer shortage of 1994 hit at the height of my reloading. It was caused by fear of new gun regulations, the Brady Bill, and rumors of ridiculous laws. This occurred at the same time as a major primer supplier (CCI I believe) had to shut down in order to replace its packaging equipment.
Their primers had been packaged in quantities of 100 with ten rows of ten primers touching each other. The new packaging has a cell pocket for each of the individual primers.
Prior to the scare I would pay $12 to $14 per brick of 1,000 at gun shows. During the scare primers could not be found. After things settled down the prices were running in the $15 to $20 range.
Their primers had been packaged in quantities of 100 with ten rows of ten primers touching each other. The new packaging has a cell pocket for each of the individual primers.
Prior to the scare I would pay $12 to $14 per brick of 1,000 at gun shows. During the scare primers could not be found. After things settled down the prices were running in the $15 to $20 range.
rburg
Member
I've been a bad boy and kind of lazy (kind of?) During the economic problems of the early 1980s I bought primers. They weren't high and they were available. More so than the money to buy them. It kind of over did it back then and I've got a mix of brands (all American). Because of my primary usage of SPP and some LPP, I just figured I had plenty for the rest of my life. Who knew I'd get this old and nasty. Anyway when 1994 and the Klinton gun banners were going full steam, I decided I should just stuff primers in all the empty shells I had.
Then for whatever reason I began shooting 9mm and realized I was sorely short. My oldest and I both bought Berettas and I figured I needed an ammo splurge. I'd already loaded all the 9mm brass I had, so we went to a gun show up north. It was Dayton and one seller made me a deal (have I got a deal for you kind of thing.) He sold me 4,000 once fired for about $100 total. Did I mention I had a single stage press? So I fabricated a press mount out of an old chair. After that broke I mounted the press on a board and then the board to one of Momma's good stout dining room chairs. C clamps were the deal that saved my life. Anyway, sons were living at home during that period and we spent many nights pulling the handle. One step at a time! Ammo cans filled to the point they hurt to pick up. I have no idea how many fit in a .50 cal can. They worked real well in a succession of guns. First the Beretta, then the S&W M39s. Still fire just fine in my P210s.
Somewhere along the way I've bought a few thousand more primers. Not necessary because I still must have enough. And now I've got a minor shortage of LRP.
And I just looked at some notes that related to the cost of ammo/reloading. All of them use the $8 a thousand price for primers. Powder was cheaper then, too. I've never cast very much, but had the molds and handles. I gave away my Lee casting furnace. Son now mad because he's into casting. Even my wife loved casting but we didn't do much of it. At the big Louisville show I sprung $100 to buy my oldest a luber sizer (RCBS) and a Lyman 4 gang semi wadcutter mold with handles. I thought that was a bargain.
I guess the point to my rambling is being prepared isn't something you can do all at once. It takes years and years. Then we get creaky and die I guess.
Then for whatever reason I began shooting 9mm and realized I was sorely short. My oldest and I both bought Berettas and I figured I needed an ammo splurge. I'd already loaded all the 9mm brass I had, so we went to a gun show up north. It was Dayton and one seller made me a deal (have I got a deal for you kind of thing.) He sold me 4,000 once fired for about $100 total. Did I mention I had a single stage press? So I fabricated a press mount out of an old chair. After that broke I mounted the press on a board and then the board to one of Momma's good stout dining room chairs. C clamps were the deal that saved my life. Anyway, sons were living at home during that period and we spent many nights pulling the handle. One step at a time! Ammo cans filled to the point they hurt to pick up. I have no idea how many fit in a .50 cal can. They worked real well in a succession of guns. First the Beretta, then the S&W M39s. Still fire just fine in my P210s.
Somewhere along the way I've bought a few thousand more primers. Not necessary because I still must have enough. And now I've got a minor shortage of LRP.
And I just looked at some notes that related to the cost of ammo/reloading. All of them use the $8 a thousand price for primers. Powder was cheaper then, too. I've never cast very much, but had the molds and handles. I gave away my Lee casting furnace. Son now mad because he's into casting. Even my wife loved casting but we didn't do much of it. At the big Louisville show I sprung $100 to buy my oldest a luber sizer (RCBS) and a Lyman 4 gang semi wadcutter mold with handles. I thought that was a bargain.
I guess the point to my rambling is being prepared isn't something you can do all at once. It takes years and years. Then we get creaky and die I guess.
cpeblue
Member
If I remember the AWB took allot of us by surprise. At the time I was busy working and raising a family. Being a NRA member since 1974 you think I would have known but the American Rifleman was always full of doom and gloom, so I just put it on ignore. Now with the Internet and smart phones we have all this information at our fingertips. I don't think that the politicals ever thought they would get the resistance to there AWB that they are getting. On the down side it has caused quite a panic buy, but maybe that's good too as it sends the politicals another message.
Glad to see a 4 year old thread brought back to life.
R. G. Amos
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As I remember, it was '94 or about when it was proposed that anyone with ammo in excess of 500 rounds (I believe it was 500) would have to have an arsenal license.
kwselke
Member
Yes that was part of it. They were also proposing that primers should be made to self deactivate after three years. If the politicians think the reaction to the first AWB was bad, they have no idea of what the people will do this time around. I'm not referring to what guns will do, but what the votes will do. There is a reason why the original AWB was not extended another ten years. I always figured an assault weapon was one used in an assault, watching folks that learned about guns from Batman movies define an assault weapon... well I'll hold my words.
Cdog
Member
AWB revisited?
I wonder how many of the current politicaians can remember what hapened to the congressmen & senators who voted for that awful AWB law (in 1994) on the next election cycle? (Ask Bill Clinton, he remembers) Whammm.....Boom......GONE.......!
If it Does happen again, I can see history repeating itself.
Art
I wonder how many of the current politicaians can remember what hapened to the congressmen & senators who voted for that awful AWB law (in 1994) on the next election cycle? (Ask Bill Clinton, he remembers) Whammm.....Boom......GONE.......!
If it Does happen again, I can see history repeating itself.
Art
Teddydog
Member
The message is so timely, I hadn't even noticed that the first half or more is from 2009! Yikes.
I worked in a gun shop from 1993 to 1995 part time. The AWB didn't seem to hurt much, but the loss of Chinese 7.62x39 and AK/MAK 90s did. We'd get a truck full of ammo cases (1440 rounds?) and it'd be gone in two days. Even after it went from $69 or 99 a case to over $150.
Rob
I worked in a gun shop from 1993 to 1995 part time. The AWB didn't seem to hurt much, but the loss of Chinese 7.62x39 and AK/MAK 90s did. We'd get a truck full of ammo cases (1440 rounds?) and it'd be gone in two days. Even after it went from $69 or 99 a case to over $150.
Rob
Titan
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I'm in 'high cotton' as some say, re 22LR, but need more of just about all the calibers I stock (4 in total).
Watching this is painful, and it has caused me to lay off shooting in some calibers.
Watching this is painful, and it has caused me to lay off shooting in some calibers.
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