Ammo shortage?
- Thread starter skwchock
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If you had asked me a year ago (when I was still buying 9mm for 15-17¢) if anything even remotely close to the post-Sandy Hook ammo shortage insanity would ever happen again in my lifetime, I would have said "Impossible"! 
And yet were are again... this time made even worse (for many) by Walmart getting out of the business. 
No, don't fret about me. I am all set times ten. But watching it happen all over again just 7 years later is fascinating. I am in awe at what 9mm bulk range ammo is selling for today... if you can find it at all. I should be selling rather than buying.
And God bless the reloaders, but that's not for me. I dumped that lunacy 40 years ago... not going back. It's obviously great for some who have the time and inclination, but I have neither. Besides, brass chasing is not allowed where I shoot and I have no free source of lead. I'd save nothing for my time.
Right now, I'm worried most about the small dealers who depend heavily on ammo sales to pay the rent, but can't find any to sell. As I've said before, these are very strange times we live in.
And yet were are again... this time made even worse (for many) by Walmart getting out of the business. No, don't fret about me. I am all set times ten. But watching it happen all over again just 7 years later is fascinating. I am in awe at what 9mm bulk range ammo is selling for today... if you can find it at all. I should be selling rather than buying.
And God bless the reloaders, but that's not for me. I dumped that lunacy 40 years ago... not going back. It's obviously great for some who have the time and inclination, but I have neither. Besides, brass chasing is not allowed where I shoot and I have no free source of lead. I'd save nothing for my time.
Right now, I'm worried most about the small dealers who depend heavily on ammo sales to pay the rent, but can't find any to sell. As I've said before, these are very strange times we live in.
Buy cheap, stack deep is how we have been doing it every year since Sandy Hook if not before. Every year buy a case of something, whatever it is. At least one case of something. I don't think there is a caliber we use regularly without having 1,000 and typically more of on hand. Wendy admits where we have our ammo stored that 12 gauge buckshot and 5.56 cases are stacked up to her butt level with most buying done when plentiful and less expensive.
Near me in south-central PA, ammo pickins are slim. LGS has no .45 ACP, 9MM, or .22 on the shelf. Their remaining supply, which is small, has gone to the back room so that one box of ammunition will be available for customers that purchase a handgun. And the way handguns are selling, they anticipate running out by the end of the month. Their suppliers are unable to ship popular calibers. When they do find some the price is two or three times what it was last month. Went to the store last night and overall sales were brisk.
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johnt671
US Veteran
I just bought an American Classic .45 Commander, and had a hard time finding .45 rounds for it. Two local stores and Dunhams were out. Midway is out. I drove a half hour to another gun store who had around 800 rounds in stock. I grabbed 300 of them and may go back next week for more I hope.
MyDads38
Member
Just went to the Cabela's in Noblesville, IN yesterday afternoon. The Gun Library was closed, due to "not enough employees to man". The used guns were moved out into the new gun cases. This store usually has a huge stock of guns of all kinds, along with shelves stocked with all calibers of ammo; not now! Used handguns took up 1 small display case, new handguns in 2 cases and spread out. Maybe 12-18 new long guns, about 7-8 used. Handgun ammo took up an end cap and was 50% empty; no 9mm and only a few boxes of 40 & 45. Rifle ammo was better, but no 223/5.56. Now if you want shotshells, they had it stocked on shelves and on the floor!
Reloading supplies were GONE! Plenty of reloading accessories but didn't see any presses. I remember the first time I ever stepped foot into this store, I was amazed. Yesterday I was amazed again, but not in a good way. I'm glad I have what I have, ammo and reloading components and equipment. You'd be hard pressed to get started in these times! :-(
Reloading supplies were GONE! Plenty of reloading accessories but didn't see any presses. I remember the first time I ever stepped foot into this store, I was amazed. Yesterday I was amazed again, but not in a good way. I'm glad I have what I have, ammo and reloading components and equipment. You'd be hard pressed to get started in these times! :-(
orangehole
Member
Ever get shot in the chest with a few rounds of 22lr? It might not be the best but it will get the job done
I've been shooting more with my .22 Compact at the range vs my Shield or G26 to ration 9mm. I still practice with them both but maybe 50 rounds a trip vs 200 before.
I have plenty of 9mm but don't want to pay prices right now to replace what I shoot. I have a lot more .22 on hand and it's easier to find right now.
I need to start reloading.
I shoot 10-20 times as much .22 as I do in larger rifle and pistol calibers. I can practice sight alignment and trigger pull with a .22 a lot cheaper than I can with a .357M and 30-06. Larry
Stopped by one of my LGS's yesterday. Did not see any ammo for sale and only 3-4 used handguns for sale. The new handgun cases were maybe 20% of normal. Like others I am well stocked. Did see one crazy person locally trying to sell Tul 9mm for $35 per box. Crazy times for sure.
peterdeb
Member
If needed, with a 15-22, one can put 25, 40grain rounds down range as fast as a trigger can be pulled and have 5 more mags ready to go. Small caliber but alot of firepower!
schutzen-jager
Member
accurate bullet placement no matter what caliber will always take precedent over amount of rounds fired - JMHO
J. R. WEEMS
Member
My analogy....
Person decides to renounce violence and throws his rifle deep into the brush. Everything is hunky dory for a while until a bear attacks. Boy did he scramble looking for that rifle.
Person decides to renounce violence and throws his rifle deep into the brush. Everything is hunky dory for a while until a bear attacks. Boy did he scramble looking for that rifle.
Green Frog
Member
It keeps coming around, but it seems these "emergencies" are coming more frequently. When the availability of primers and 22 ammo got tight in an unmentioned previous administration, I built up a working supply of both. In good times, when I use some, I try to replace it with twice as much if it is reasonably priced. My supply of everything is sufficient for at least one "emergency shortage" or a minor Zombie Apocalypse without worrying about running short. Like they taught me in the Boy Scouts, "Be Prepared."
Froggie
Froggie
Don't you wish we could go back to worrying about when large scaly things inevitably find a way to escape from Jurassic Park??
I concede that just about everyone here is more prepared, and more capable of repelling anything from locusts to Zombies, and a better shot, AND has a bigger stash of every possible calliber, canned water and etc...
However... I would still think that if you are watching your disposable cash climb in direct proportion to all the Friday nights you couldn't spend it at your local watering hole, you would buy more self-defence ammo. Or another shotgun (plenty of shells for those on the shelf where I live!)
A local LGS employee told me last weekend that the cheapest ammo in 9mm and .38spl is going first. He had NO 130 gr target ammo in .38 spl, but he DID have a pile of .38 hollow point, LRN, and somethuing I can't even pronounce that is guaranteed to kill zombies, lawnmowers, and disable small-ish Velociraptors... all without leaving the barrel of my gun.
So in summary, I suspect that new gun owners may be buying the cheapest ammo they can, because they just spent $500+ on a firearm.
Homesteader
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Prepped for Y2K and still have more than I can ever shoot. Had plenty to offer my SIL after he bought a new Glock in CA but couldn't get 9mm to load it let alone practice with it. He's good now and I'm still sitting on a pile. I guess I over did it a bit, but no regrets.
scoobysnacker
Member
What I find funny-
Even in the midst of this shortage, there are still some ammo snobs out there
I came across a deal for Tula (steel cased) 223, $250 a case plus shipping and tax. Shipping btw is $13, flat rate, so better than sgammo.
Same place has Tula 7.62x39 for $210 a case.
Total price for me buying 1 of each, $494 to the door.
I mentioned this on another forum, and got the "but... it's Tula junk" remarks.
I get it, I'd rather have brass too. But I've shot this exact stuff, and it runs in my gun. Just clean it afterwards. I'd rather have a case of Tula in reserve, instead of nothing.
Even in the midst of this shortage, there are still some ammo snobs out there
I came across a deal for Tula (steel cased) 223, $250 a case plus shipping and tax. Shipping btw is $13, flat rate, so better than sgammo.
Same place has Tula 7.62x39 for $210 a case.
Total price for me buying 1 of each, $494 to the door.
I mentioned this on another forum, and got the "but... it's Tula junk" remarks.
I get it, I'd rather have brass too. But I've shot this exact stuff, and it runs in my gun. Just clean it afterwards. I'd rather have a case of Tula in reserve, instead of nothing.
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