Ammo shortage...Out of hand

[george minze]

I went into my regular gun shop, they had just received a case of FMJ 9mm. Before I could get there the shop had sold the whole case to one person. I did score (drug term) two boxes 20 round a piece of Cor-Bon in another state (Power Ball). Every body is under stress that is in the business. They can sell every gun they get but with no ammo for them. what the heck is going on?

 

[george minze]

I went into my regular gun shop, they had just received a case of FMJ 9mm. Before I could get there the shop had sold the whole case to one person. I did score (drug term) two boxes 20 round a piece of Cor-Bon in another state (Power Ball). Every body is under stress that is in the business. They can sell every gun they get but with no ammo for them. what the heck is going on?

 

[red14]

I don't know George. It seems to be regional. I mostly shoot 32 longs, can't find 32 mags. Plenty of 22 lrs. Wife can't find 380s. Some stores are packed some are empty. We just call around before we leave the house.

 

[spearcrow]

I was standing behind another guy in line to buy some ammo at the gun shop the other day. I stopped by to get some 357 mags, and it just so happened that the guy checking out in front of me was buying the exact same thing. I watched as he was charged $28 dollars for a box of 20. I thought this was highway robbery, but as I needed them I was gonna pony up the green. It came my turn and he said, that'll be $14.50. I was like, are you sure...you just charged that other guy twice that. He said to me, "ya, but I can smell a democrat as easily as I can smell sausage and biscuits." I payed up, thanked the man, and told him I'd see him again soon. Pardon me for the use of the 'D' word in the lounge.

 

[Rule3]

Where has all the 380 auto ammo gone??
Same with 22lr. Around here, the shelves are striped clean just like when we have a huricane warning. No bottle water, no batteries, bread etc.
Spoke with a sales person at Wally Mart and she said they get ammo everyday but someone will buy it all first thing in the morning. They will not set any limits like 5 boxes per person etc.
Look on line at the big companies, they are out of stock on most everything.
Good thing I reload but am afraid to shoot it for fear of not being able to obtain one of the components. It's really sad to have brass, bullets, powder but no primers or anyone of the four.
I'm selling all my guns at really inflated prices and getting a crossbow.

And the sad thing about it, is we (gun owners) have done it to ourselves! Our new Hope and Change Leader has not actually passed any new requlations to cause this (yet) This is all based on fear, panic, anticipation etc.

 

[keith44spl]

Originally posted by spearcrow:
I was like, are you sure...you just charged that other guy twice that. He said to me, "ya, but I can smell a democrat as easily as I can smell sausage and biscuits." I payed up, thanked the man, and told him I'd see him again soon.

ROTF & LMAO, Gees, Crow, now that there's funny!


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[zercool]

Originally posted by OCD1:
Where has all the 380 auto ammo gone??

.380 has never had the volume following of the 9mm and .45, or even to an extent .38/.357. Sure, it's been around forever, but people would buy their pocket gun and a box of range ammo, make sure the thing worked, load it up with a box of defensive ammo, and set it aside.

Now they're thinking it might be limited ... so they're buying a case of range ammo and a half case of defensive ammo at a time.

Hopefully, eventually, supply will catch up.

 

[Nicksterdemus]

George, I'm glad you scored, yet wish to inform you that there are other definitions rated before the drug reference...

2score
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): scored; scor·ing
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 a: to keep a record or account of by or as if by notches on a tally : record b: to enter in a record c: to mark with significant lines or notches (as in keeping account)
2: to mark with lines, grooves, scratches, or notches
3: berate , scold ; also : denounce
4 a (1): to make (a score) in a game or contest, scored a touchdown, scored three points (2): to enable (a base runner) to make a score (3): to have as a value in a game or contest : count a touchdown scores six points b (1): achieve, attain, scored a dazzling success (2): acquire, help a traveler score local drugs — Poitor Koper (3): win 1, scored free tickets over the radio
5: to determine the merit of : grade
6 a: to write or arrange (music) for a specific performance medium b: to make an orchestration of c: to compose a score for (a movie)
intransitive verb
1: to keep score in a game or contest
2: to make a score in a game or contest
3 a: to gain or have the advantage b: to be successful: as (1): to succeed in having sexual intercourse (2): to manage to obtain illicit drugs c: 3rate

 

[Bat Guano]

I'm about 80% finished with my late-winter bullet casting. I started doing it about 40 years ago when I couldn't remotely afford factory ammo. I suspect that there is going to be a slight resurgence of casting again now. I can get along without a credit card but I've got to have lead...

 

[David LaPell]

.380 is non existant in my part of the country. One of the big reasons is that all of the local shops were peddling Ruger LCPs and Kel Tecs in that caliber to no end. I know talking to a friend of mine who runs a shop, Ruger was giving dealers a free LCP if they bought ten other handguns regardless of caliber or model. No one has any ammo for them though, but the guns are selling fast. Myself, I could find .357 magnum ammo like I used to so I just reload for it now, but the brass is very hard to come by. .223 is gone, 7.62 x 39 is starting to dry up fast, and now I see 7.26 x 54 is getting scarce as a lot of guys are snagging those nagant carbines (had my eye on one myself the other day). Most guys went right to the local Wayyl World and Dicks Sporting goods and took all the 9mm and .45 ACP (Dicks wa giving out rain checks that now they even say cannot be filled until who knows when). Me, I have had no problems finding .45 colt, .44 Special, (brass is tricky so I just trim down .44 Magnum) and .44 Mag brass is still pretty plentiful. .38 Special brass is everywhere, and I have enough .41 Mag brass to last me a while, but am always looking for more. Powder is getting tough depending on what you like. No one here has IMR 4350, Unique is hit and miss, but everyone has Win 231. Large pistol primers are everywhere, small pistol primers are non existant as well. (I buy them as soon as I see them). I think its only going to get worse as people realize how bad it's getting, plus warm weather means more people go to the range and shooting sports start up again on the outdoor ranges.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by george minze:
I went into my regular gun shop, they had just received a case of FMJ 9mm. Before I could get there the shop had sold the whole case to one person.

OK, I need someone again to explain to me why we should patronize or show preference to the local gun shop. If he'd limited the first buyer to a more reasonable quantity, there might be a box or two left over. But the proprietor did just what Wally World does, he sold the product to the first guy who tendered the cash. Had that happened to me, I'd have been polite (as polite as I could muster), thanked the gentleman behind the counter, and muttered that I needed to check out WalMart on my way home. Then I'd have done it.

Just like employers in America have mostly stopped showing any loyalty to their employees, the employees need to look out for their own best interests. In the OPs drama, the gun shop simply engaged in free enterprise. The customer should do the same, except next cycle, he probably should stop at WalMart on the way.

For me, the ammo thing is just fun to watch and be a part of. I really don't think I'll be in a position to run out or even run low. Those suggesting prices will fall and those of us with a tiny stockpile (define tiny) will be sorry are probably in for a rude awakening.

What we saw at the gunshow 2 weekends ago was interesting. Gunshops with stale ammo supplies were dumping it. They were taking profits or at least liquidating what I consider enormous supplies of it. One seller not far from our table had a lot of it in boxes. My table pardner was in a buying mood. We both bought a bunch of antique or collectable ammo (SuperVel.)

I'm guessing someone just dumped the back room or bought out an estate. Prices were reasonable compared to what new stocks of ammo would be priced.

What amused me the most is I've been buying moldy old boxes of other peoples ammo for a few years now. The prices haven't really increased that much on old stocks of ammo.

Maybe you guys will get lucky some day and I'll die. Then you can pester my widow for anything the boys haven't stolen.

 

[Guest]

...If he'd limited the first buyer to a more reasonable quantity...

So just what is a "<span class="ev_code_RED">more reasonable quantity</span>" one box or one round, a box of 20 or a box of 50 or a carton of 500 or ???

You've already stated you've got all you want "<span class="ev_code_BLUE">...I really don't think I'll be in a position to run out or even run low...</span>" so now the Shop Owner is supposed to begin "rationing" his sales of ammo. Last time I looks this Country still worked on the Free Enterprise system of doing business and part of that means that a Shop Owner is free to do business anyway he likes and to sell as much ammo as he want to anyone he wants.

I think NOT!!!

 

[Rule3]

In the not so distant past, say about a year ago when the time shift came and it was light out longer, I used to go to the range after work.
I would throw my range bag and a pistol or two in the car in the morning. After work I would stop by the Wally Mart to grab some ammo. I never even thought of it not being there. Pick up a value pack of WWB 9mm or even one of the 250 boxes of Winchester in 9 or 40. It was maybe $7-9 box of 50. Even Blazer Brass in 45ACP.

Get to the range and shoot at least 100 rds or more, have a great time as noone was there around 5:30 to 6pm. Forget about work, drive home in a good mood, greet the wife and dog (not in that order

) Change clothes and all was well.

In less than a year, those days are gone.

 

[Guest]

In less than a year, those days are gone. Frowner

And, one Presidential Election; lets not forget that little item on recent History! He promised Change and we're getting it!!! In Spades!

 

[NFrameFred]

Well, never cared a lot for the .380, but I have a Colt Mustang I got years ago and I won't have a gun without the ability to load for it. So being an inveterate brass scrounger I've kept an eye to the ground for years. Where I shoot, several times a year I've managed to find an area on the ranges where someone brought their BUG or new purse toy and proceeded to wring it out with a couple of boxes of factory ammo. Few people that reload even load .380's, so I always snatched up all that once fired brass. I think I may have bought "a" box of .380's several years ago, but the dies paid for themselves the first 100 rounds I loaded of all that lovely free brass someone is now wishing they had picked up . . . .

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by KKG:

...If he'd limited the first buyer to a more reasonable quantity...

So just what is a "<span class="ev_code_RED">more reasonable quantity</span>" one box or one round, a box of 20 or a box of 50 or a carton of 500 or ???

The point I was trying to make is the gunshop owner made his decision to sell all he got to one preferred customer. His right. So then he no longer occupies the high moral ground when someone says "support your local gunshop." They can say it, but friendship and customer loyalty are a two way street. When he makes his decision, the customer is free to make his.

I'd even cut him some slack and suggest the OP, the customer here, should have maybe asked him if he'd give him a phone call next time some comes in, so he can buy some. Of course that probably won't happen. But when the shop owner padlocks the door due to no business, he needs to look to his one good customer for support, not the other customers.

The term reasonable is open to definition. I'd define it as limiting customers to less than my total shipment. He doesn't have to do that, but he can. If it makes the one guy who wants it all mad, so be it.

 

[Repellere]

Enjoy the free market while it lasts boys. So I hear you complaining about selling the entire case to one person . . . What if the shop owner doubled his prices on that case? Would you be screaming price gouging? What if by doubling the cost of the ammo, that person only bought half the case? Problem solved?

It's the same as a hurricane. When you allow government to set the cost of an item below it's demand price, then you will get people hoarding that item and buyin everyone they can get their hands on . . .

 

[Guest]

...I'd define it as limiting customers to less than my total shipment...

Doesn't make any sense to me; are you saying he should have kept one box out of the case for the next guy or only sold the 1st guy one box and kept the rest of the case for the next guy???

The Shop owner is in business to make money and feed his family too. So, if he does what you're suggesting then he makes an enemy of a long time customer - lose, lose for the shop owner. I noticed the OP didn't make any comment about asking the owner of "...my regular gun shop..." to put him on his list either before or after this happened. Maybe if he had taken the trouble to do this the Shop Owner might have been more than willing to split the case. I know I would have and I suspect most Owners would too.

We like Happy Customers but we also aren't going to start "rationing" just because!!! What's next on your Agenda??? I suppose you think the Wholesale Houses should start "rationing" how much ammo I can buy or how many guns I can purchase. Is that right??? Then I'm guessing you'll want the Distributors to do the same things. Only so many boxes to any one Wholesaler - is that your idea??? Then I guess the Factories will come next and then the people who supply the Factories with their raw materials - RIGHT??? Only so many rolls of brass will be allowed to Federal, Winchester and all the rest to make cases out of. And, lets not forget the lead suppliers because we certainly can't be having them sell all there lead to a single Factory!!!

You "ration" you and I'll "ration" me because "you" haven't got any Right to tell me or anyone else how to run their own business!!!

 

[BarbC]

The point of being in business is to keep your regular customers coming back. If you make one regular happy and leave 9 regulars unhappy, that's not going to be good for business in the long run.

 

[460v LAC du FLAMBEAU]

I purchase my ammo on-line for greater selection & price through MidwayUSA & Cheaper than Dirt. I placed my "quarterly" order last week with Midway and they were out of stock on most of my favorite range & CCW cartridges...had many substitutions! I doubled my order with backup supplier, Cheaper than Dirt. Guess this parallels what is happening to CCW handguns & AR15's...super tight availability.

S&W reported 3rd quarter earnings last week and their "current" backorders are $123 million versus $22 million 3 months ago. The $123 million backorders do not include the 2009 new items shipping later this year. Their new "22" version of the M&P15 will be in super HOT!!