Ammo Shortage?

[lpfist]

I'm waiting on the arrival the SW99 40 I just purchased and started to look around for some FMJ ammo so I could get used to the new gun. The last handgun I bought was a SW Model 19-3 more than 30 years ago and I haven't fired it since about the time I retired from the Army.

I checked some of the web vendors I'd seen mentioned on this and other forums found that most were showing their ball ammo as out of stock. Checked the local Wal-Mart today and was told they haven't had any 40 cal for some time and have no idea when it will be in. Guy said, "we've been having trouble getting ammo since the new administration came in". What's up with that? Has there been some change in federal regs, a spike in demand, a slowdown in production?

 

[lpfist]

I'm waiting on the arrival the SW99 40 I just purchased and started to look around for some FMJ ammo so I could get used to the new gun. The last handgun I bought was a SW Model 19-3 more than 30 years ago and I haven't fired it since about the time I retired from the Army.

I checked some of the web vendors I'd seen mentioned on this and other forums found that most were showing their ball ammo as out of stock. Checked the local Wal-Mart today and was told they haven't had any 40 cal for some time and have no idea when it will be in. Guy said, "we've been having trouble getting ammo since the new administration came in". What's up with that? Has there been some change in federal regs, a spike in demand, a slowdown in production?

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

Everyone is hoarding ammo and reloading supplies anticipating a weapon/ammo ban.

 

[EvelMe]

There was an election that scared most gun owners (I said MOST). Stockpiling, panic buying when there is any ammo in stock, BIG spike in demand and BIG spike in price in some retailers.

 

[10mm Sonny]

They are replacing guns & ammo with Kool Aid.

 

[CG2]

I've had a hard time finding .40 as well. A few boxes of 9mm pop up every now and then but thats it.

 

[bkp3gen]

Wally World has been about the best source here in the midwest. They run out from time to time but always seem to get more in the next week. Prices on the .40 cal has been around $12.49 a box and 9mm has held at $19.99 for Winchester 100 rd white box. You might give them a try if one is close to you.

 

[bkp3gen]

Reloading supplies in the midwest have been taking a beating. All of the popular calibers are sold out and the stores say they can't locate any to get in. One told me the major suppliers said they are even sitting on backorder from their suppliers.

 

[S&W247]

Welcome to the forum lpfist. You must not watch much TV news...and are probably a better person for it. The new president isn't too keen on guns. If he didn't have everyone riding him to fix the economy, we'd probably have already had more attempts to regulate our guns than we have. I hope its all talk and news media propaganda but who knows. Again, welcome to the forum.

 

[DiggerDog]

Everytime I go to Walmart I buy a box of 40 ammo. As of now I have 7 boxes.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The economic situation also plays a part. Some calibers were hard to get even before the election of course, particularly 5.56mm. Production capacity was already having some problems.

These days one is left to try to scrounge up what they can or else get a bucket of war rocks ready.

 

[lpfist]

With everything else on his plate, I doubt he is in a big hurry to pick a fight with gun owners and the NRA. From what I've been seeing the Democrats in general and Obama in particular have not been making a lot of noise about gun control.

That said, I'm still having trouble finding cheap ball ammo here in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Checked with several local Wally Worlds and a local chain called Joe's without success. Also checked a couple of local gun shops and all I find on the shelves is hot/pricey defense loads.

Hell of a thing to buy my first new pistol in 30+ years then not be able to find bullets. I'll be damned if I want burn $30/box ammo just to put enough rounds downrange to feel comfortable with the weapon.

 

[MattB]

This must be a regional thing. I've never had trouble finding .40 practice ammo in Northern VA.

 

[firecaptain]

Are you kidding? Have you tried to buy primers or any other reloading supplies. Virtually non existant. I wonder how many of the people who are hoarding the supplies voted for our crappy president? Of course, non of those people will admit it. Mad, heck ya. We all saw the writing on the wall before Nov. Oh, but Obama will save the world!!! Why has the stock market fallen 25% since he has taken office? Anybody that voted for him should be ashamed.

 

[Joel Jacobs]

I voted for him and I'm not ashamed. You blame the financial debacle on an administration that has been in office fewer than 60 days? You're the one who should be ashamed for your lack of critical thinking ability.

And before you crawl my *** I spent 22 years on active duty, 14 of them in SE Asia. Gun owner, reloader, hunter, shooter for more than 60 years.

Flame suit on....

 

[SmithNut]

Flame suit on....

You can take your suit off. This is the semi-auto forum and we'll keep the discussion to that.

To All:
Take the politics to our Political Forum, it was added so folks could get this stuff off their chest there.

Thanks all for your help on this. Let's keep the discussion on topic and civil please.

 

[Joel Jacobs]

Thanks... works for me...

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by bkp3gen:
Wally World has been about the best source here in the midwest. They run out from time to time but always seem to get more in the next week. Prices on the .40 cal has been around $12.49 a box and 9mm has held at $19.99 for Winchester 100 rd white box. You might give them a try if one is close to you.

Where is this ammo shortage? Apparently it hasn't made it to Connecticut. In the last month, including yesterday, I've purchased 8 boxes of Winchester White Box .40 S&W at $28.97 a box of 100 at Wally World, myself. My local gun stores don't seem short anything. 7.62x39 is available at the East Windsor gun store and both Newington gun stores, but most internet dealers are out. Go figure.

 

[c.marsh]

Originally posted by lpfist:
With everything else on his plate, I doubt he is in a big hurry to pick a fight with gun owners and the NRA. From what I've been seeing the Democrats in general and Obama in particular have not been making a lot of noise about gun control.

That said, I'm still having trouble finding cheap ball ammo here in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Checked with several local Wally Worlds and a local chain called Joe's without success. Also checked a couple of local gun shops and all I find on the shelves is hot/pricey defense loads.

Hell of a thing to buy my first new pistol in 30+ years then not be able to find bullets. I'll be damned if I want burn $30/box ammo just to put enough rounds downrange to feel comfortable with the weapon.

,,,,,,have you checked (georgiaarms.com&ammotogo.com)....'"I WOULD RATHER BE JUDGED BY 12 THAN CARRIED BY 6'"

 

[safearm]

The ammo shortage has been sporatic. For the last couple of months, it has been impossible to find any of the 100 packs of 9mm ammo at the three Wal-Marts between work and home. Last week, the "best" of the three had a shipment of 10 boxes of WWB FMJ 100 packs and surprisingly 20 boxes of Remington 115 gr JHP 100 packs. I reduced their inventory of the Remingtons immediately.