Ammo Supply Poll -- would you not purchase for a month?

[Jack Flash]

I think the shortage was definately driven by new buyers (or buyers who hadn't been in the market for a long time). Once ammo shelves began to look a little depleted, the feeding frenzy took off. Rumors of draconian new legislation, and rumors about imminent bans on everything under the sun, just made things worse.

From there, it is a short hop indeed to primers and other components.

 

[cmort666]

I don't buy ammunition. I have dies and reloading supplies for every centerfire handgun caliber I use.

I opted out of the "panic" before it started.

 

[tripledipper]

Recently, I will only shop and buy ammo at Walmart and check their stock a couple of times a week, which usually is slim to none. Did manage to build up a decent amount of .22lr bricks but have not seen anything in .38sp in months. When they get something in it's gone in a flash and I truly believe it is being bought by those who re-sell at higher prices. Will a boycott really accomplish anything?

 

[imashooter2]

I'll be happy to support.

I haven't bought factory ammo in years...

 

[toroflow1]

The only commercial ammo I buy is rimfire .22s. How anyone can afford to buy factory loaded ammo is beyond me!! I can reload and easily cut my per round costs in some cases down to 1/10th that of factory ammo costs!

 

[H Richard]

I hand load nearly everything I shoot. I may go several months between buying any factory ammo. Usually just .22's, and buy it by several bricks at a time.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by mstuhr:
I do wonder what would happen in the event of a epic scale war if our manufacturers cant keep up with civilian demand?

Do your history lessons. Read Professor S. Skelton and his works on the subject. During WWII, there was almost no civilian production of ammo. There were exceptions, but those were almost entirely agricultural. If you owned a working farm or ranch, you were given permission to purchase very modest quantities for pest control. And just like everything else in the war rationing game, it was abused. Much like gasoline ration books, ammo was purchased and then resold at huge profits to the few who could afford it.

But most of the shooting public did their hunting and whatever with supplies stored away in closets and attics. It wasn't nearly all shot up, either. Next gunshow, look at the tables covered with antique ammo. Just like the fine firearms from the 1920s and 30s, a lot survived even to the present day.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I only purchase 22 rimfire at this point as I load my own for everything else. So, no problem for me.

 

[ChinaSeaSailor]

why is it that if I buy ammo instead of going out barhopping and blowing money, it is considered hoarding? During the GAS shortage in the 1970's, I worked the Oil Patch - refineries were at their peak making GAS WITH NO PLACE FOR STORAGE - within 50 miles of my home were the largest refineries in the world - yet there was a shortage? give me a break - if I choose to spend my money on ammo so be it!! - I remember when the comedians caused a run on Toilet Paper!! I do not buy to turn a profit - I am 60 years old and do not want to run out - in my life I have seen too much instability out of our fearless leaders in D C - of all parties - they go there with good intentions and develop Patomac Fever - if one questions what I choose to buy do I not have the right to question things they buy or do? so to answer this poll not no but H>>> no

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Got Federal 22's at Wally World today, limit to 2 boxes per customer. Think I will go back tomorrow and get two more if they have it. They said they got 50 boxes of it last night.

 

[guntownuncle]

Originally posted by tripledipper:
Recently, I will only shop and buy ammo at Walmart and check their stock a couple of times a week, which usually is slim to none. Did manage to build up a decent amount of .22lr bricks but have not seen anything in .38sp in months. When they get something in it's gone in a flash and I truly believe it is being bought by those who re-sell at higher prices. Will a boycott really accomplish anything?

I went by Wal-mart after work today. Still no ammo, but they did have signs saying that they will only let you buy 6 boxes a day. If they had some.


.

 

[shovelwrench]

What about the...Yes, I only buy .22s anyway....answer

 

[gunsmith11]

Went to an Academy today to just see what ammo they had,,,some rifle but most oddball caliber, did over hear part of a customer and sales clerk conversation, he was trying to sell her a LCP 380 then she could not pull the slide back, then she said what about a .38 she could not pull the trigger, all the while he did not mention that he did not have ammo for either.

 

[Wickahoney]

How about, if you had enough ammo and components on hand this would be a moot point and I'm sorry but don't understand "shortage".

I probably have somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 loaded rounds anround the place and that does NOT include, 22LR, 223 or 308 which I have and always have cases of on hand.


I probably have powder, components and the like including new brass on hand to load another 10,000 at a minimum, probably more.

I load for and on occassion shoot 48 centerfire rifle cartridges for which I try and keep a minimum of 250 each on hand not counting the ability to load hundreds if not thousands more for each.

I shoot and load or 8 centerfire revolver cartridges and keep at least 500 up and ready for each caliber plus the ablility to reload , again probably in the thousands for each.

I keep 1000 loaded rounds plus components for the auto pistols I shoot, 9mm, and 45 ACP.


I don't get how you get caught short handed or have to depend on current purchases to feed the beast so I didn't vote. "Be prepaired" geez, weren't you guys Boy scouts??

Of course the only factory loaded stuff I've bought in years is old stuff for collector reasons. Last factory ammo I bought was a box of "Kleanbore" Remington 257 Roberts ammo with the 117 Round nose probably loaded in the late 40s early 50s. Oh and I bought a couple boxes of original 50s 44 Mag stuff a while back.

Ross W Thomas
Great Basin Ranch
Owyhee County, ID

Oh, while I've bought one or two new (to me) guns since January, none have been due to the scare or even need.

 

[ElToro]

you think finding .22s are a bitch, try finding 358 win ammo ! this may send me over the edge and finally start reloading. after buying my new 358 win rifle, i managed to scare up about 100 rounds of loaded old stock WW and norma ammo and about 100 pieces of never fired brass. none from my state. i have saved most of the revolver brass i have ever shot and try to save as much semi auto brass as i can. all for the future to reload when i have time and space.

lets get back to Wally though. they are a profit seeking company. whatever they have they will sell. last i heard they were the biggest retailer of guns and ammo in the USA. my local 20 year old gun (ammo and fishing, they dont sell guns in PRK wally's) dept manager has no incentive to lie to me when he says he checks the other 2 stores in his "district" every day for ammo they recieved. he also says he orders as much as they will let him and then they send him a case of 1 caliber. he tells me he has guys buying entire pallets of ammo when it comes in. he doesnt care. hes making a sale and then doesnt have to put it on the shelves or bring out more from the back room

eventually supply will catch up with demand.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by ElToro:
eventually supply will catch up with demand.

Let me point out that eventually, we'll all be dead.

Other than that tidbit, I agree with everything you've said.

Used to be I would say, "in the long run, we'll all be dead." Now I'm not so sure that's accurate. More like "in the mid term, most of us will be dying." The long run may be closer than you think.

And as for having too much ammo when we die, we have offspring. I still have a bunch of ammo that my dad hoarded. He was born in 1911 and worked on the family farm. By 1925 he'd bought a S&W .32 Regulation Police from the chief of Police in the nearest town. Yes, at 14. He still had ammo for that when he passed away, nearly 30 years ago. Anyone want to guess where it is right now?

Yes, in the powder magazine of an unrepentant hoarder.