ammo shortage to continue?

[Maddog 521]

There are a few smaller gun shops around here that have stopped ordering primers, powder and other stuff. I have been in there several times since early summer asking about primers. He finally told me "we stopped ordering last spring because of the backorders". They said they would start ordering again after the first of the year. They stopped trying I guess. That sure is an unusual way to run a business.

 

[redlevel]

I think all the people who have been buying up all the ammo have finally got enough

Not me. I am going to buy some ammo of some kind every week or two. I have been hoarding since 1994 and I ain't going to quit now.

 

[David Sinko]

I was just at the local Army Navy store today. They had CASES of .223, .308, .40 S&W, .38 Special and even the recently impossible to find .380 ACP. They even allowed me to buy 1000 CCI Small Rifle Primers. I usually don't buy components here, but I have learned to not pass up these primers when I find them. They even had a few Colts, a Les Baer and LWRC AR type rifles in stock on the shelves. And a Springfield M1A! Not to mention the guy who was there picking up his Microtec AUG clone. Things were looking pretty good. Buy it all while you still can.

Dave Sinko

 

[max]

I went to a gunshow this weekend and saw lower prices for ammo and black rifles. Still not a lot of primers though.

 

[robotoid]

Only in the past week have I been able to find any .38spl ammo, and I paid more than I wanted to for it ($19/50). It was the first I have seen in probably 9 months of looking once every week. 40 S&W has become readily available at alll the local WM's though.

 

[Texasflyboy]

After returning from a local gunshow, we hit seven local stores that carry ammunition on an informal "state of the ammo shortage".

First, the gunshow report.

There were at least four vendors at the gunshow that were selling hundreds of cases of commercial and surplus ammunition. There was no shortage of commercial or surplus ammo at the gunshow.

All seven local gunstores had ample supplies of rifle, pistol and shotgun ammunition. Plenty of rimfire ammunition. Every single store had full shelves and cases stacked up in front of the shelves.

One of the stores had more than 30,000 rounds of commercial 55gr. ball ammo in 1,000 round cases sitting on the floor behind the counter.

I pray this continues. At the rate stores are stocking shelves, and at the rate manufacturers are oversupplying, there is going to be a helleva sale after Christmas during the annual spring dead zone for guns and ammo.

At the gunshow there was plenty of ammo. What was curious is that I spent all day Saturday sitting at a table with a buddy across from one of the largest ammo dealers and he had come prepared. There were no less than 5 employees behind his table (it's usually just him and his son) and he had a register dedicated to just case sales with a big sign that said "FORM LINE HERE FOR CASE SALES".

There was no line. Ever.

3 of the 5 employees looked bored. I counted less than 15 case sales when I was paying attention. Lots of 100 and 200 round sales. Hardly anyone was selling cases. Normally at the gunshow you see folks who have bought cases of ammo borrowing those carts to haul it to the front of the show to the curb. Didn't see one of those all day Saturday.

Fatigue is setting in. Or else folks are saving up for Christmas.

 

[Texasflyboy]

Only in the past week have I been able to find any .38spl ammo, and I paid more than I wanted to for it ($19/50).

At the Dick's Sporting Goods in Fairfax VA I saw at least 25 cases of UMC .38 Special in the yellow boxes sitting behind the counter. All the stores I visited today had .38 Special in one variety or another.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Dick's and Sportsman Warehouse in Chattanooga-- shelves are stacked high.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Ah...

Now we see the change in the ammunition shortage.

It was:
"Ammunition shortage"

Now it's:
"Ammunition shortage at market sustainable prices."

The dealers that have high-priced ammunition are going to have to come off of it to get rid of those stacks of it before inventory tax time! It was a sellers market and dealers were making more margin on ammunition than they have since 1994...but that is quickly changing as ammunition isn't selling as briskly as it had.

I'm not purchasing ammunition until the dealers get "right" on their margins again and it becomes a buyers market.

 

[jframe]

Ah...

Now we see the change in the ammunition shortage.

It was:
"Ammunition shortage"

Now it's:
"Ammunition shortage at market sustainable prices."

The dealers that have high-priced ammunition are going to have to come off of it to get rid of those stacks of it before inventory tax time! It was a sellers market and dealers were making more margin on ammunition than they have since 1994...but that is quickly changing as ammunition isn't selling as briskly as it had.

I'm not purchasing ammunition until the dealers get "right" on their margins again and it becomes a buyers market.

I agree. Now the price needs to return to normal. There is no reason that .38 Special FMJ rounds should be twenty bucks a box. I refuse to pay it, and I know several others who refuse as well. I've got enough for defensive purposes, and until the prices get back right again, it's going to stay that way.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

What I was surprised to see is .32 auto. It has been near impossible to find (practice ammo) for a long time. Now it's on the shelves gain.

 

[perrazi]

was at a scheels in dsm,ia last week. all kinds of ammo,good supply of powder, lots of primers except federal. prices were about what they were last summer when supply was a lot shorter. at the new bass pro just about 10miles away they had almost nothing in reloading supplies, no 22lr, and only a little rifle and handgun ammo in stock. lots of shotgun shells everywhere though.

 

[dixie_flyer]

I agree. Now the price needs to return to normal. There is no reason that .38 Special FMJ rounds should be twenty bucks a box. I refuse to pay it, and I know several others who refuse as well. I've got enough for defensive purposes, and until the prices get back right again, it's going to stay that way.

Wallyworld around here has had a fair amount of 100 round, WWB, .38 special here lately for $30.97

 

[Texasflyboy]

There is no reason that .38 Special FMJ rounds should be twenty bucks a box. I refuse to pay it,

I am done with buying jacketed .45ACP bullets, either FMJ or Hollow Points. Forever.

.03 per bullet:

In a week or two I will get back a Lyman 358311 and a Hensley & Gibbs #51GC from Erik over at hollow point molds.com and I will be set for .38/.357 mag hollowpoints.

 

[flop-shank]

I am done with buying jacketed .45ACP bullets, either FMJ or Hollow Points. Forever.

.03 per bullet:

In a week or two I will get back a Lyman 358311 and a Hensley & Gibbs #51GC from Erik over at hollow point molds.com and I will be set for .38/.357 mag hollowpoints.

Good for you. It's time that the makers of overpriced, non nickel cased, defective ammo and the price scalper stores reap their true reward, lost business.

 

[Rodrockinoff]

Wallyworld around here has had a fair amount of 100 round, WWB, .38 special here lately for $30.97

Man, that's strange... that same ammo is $22.97 at my Wally World (Texas)!