Decided to Stop Chasing Ammo

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VaTom

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During the current shortage I have picked up some small amounts of 9mm and 22lr by chance of being at a particular store at the right time while doing other shopping. Yesterday I decided to be more focused since Wednesdays seems to be the day that "the truck" comes to the two stores in my area. Got to Sportsmans Warehouse 15 minutes before opening at 9am and there were about 8 people already waiting in cold for store to open. At 9 everyone headed to gun department. "No ammo on truck today!" from clerk. Decided to stop by Gander Mtn on way home. " Truck hasn't gotten here yet, don't know if it will have ammo, come back after12:30" meantime phone was ringing constantly asking about ammo. Felt bad for the young clerk.

decided then and there no more wasting time and gas chasing it. Too old for that nonsense. Have a few hundred rounds of everything caliber I shoot so just be content with what I have!!
 
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Lately, I've just bought what falls into my lap, and only if it was something that I was low on and the price wasn't beyond the pale. I've been taking the last couple months, when ammo finally dried up around here to nothing, to inventory, rearrange, and decide what I could get rid of . . .
 
Buyer Surprise

Just bought a Shield EZ 9mm. I did my homework as to what gun would be best for both my wife and me to use for target shooting and home protection. The price was higher than some sites had been quoting last year. I assumed that was because of the election outcome. What I failed to do my homework on was how available the ammo was for this gun. Quite an eye-opener after the purchase. Finally found 50 rounds at $.93/round (Includes S&H and Tax)on line. Hope the price comes down or we won't be target shooting as much as we planned.
 
I've reached that point myself. While I don't "need" any ammo, I could certainly use some for range trips, but I'm at the point where I won't pay the outlandish prices that some folks will these days. And I just assume the LGSs around here are swamped with ppl and empty of ammo.
 
Just like the four other shortages here's what to do .
Production will catch up with demand ... at some time maybe a year .
Dealers will be awash in ammo , primers and powders that no one wants to pay high prices for ... maybe 2 or 2 1/2 years .
The dealer's will start having sales... they can't afford to have all this unsold inventory just sitting around ...trust me I've seen it happen time and again !
During the sales , when prices are somewhat normal , stock up ...
Stock high , wide and deep ...because during the next election , 4 years from now , it's going to happen all over again ... So put your Scout hat on and be prepared for it ...
My crystal ball doesn't lie ... You been warned... next presidential election ... trust me !
Gary
 
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I haven't been to a LGS in almost a year since Covid started.
I still have to grocery shop for my wife and I, and for my homebound mother. I typically go to Walmart, so I always go by the sporting goods dept. and see what's there (or not). I have been pleasantly surprised on a few occasions; not so much the past few months.

My new concern is being able to keep what I have, with all the buzz about HR 127 on the internet.
 
My auto "repair shop" called asking if I needed any ammo. (He's also the only FFL within 30 miles) He had just received an assortment of what he described as "most anything one would want". But......Wow those prices. First ammo he has had in months. I suppose I should feel privileged that he called me first. I did buy several boxes, didn't really need them, but want to remain at the top of his list.
 
I did see that line at Cabelas.
Realized it was Ammo line for a stash of ammo behind the counter.
So I lined up and when it was my turn, asked what you got left?
Got some 22.
Do i need 22?
Not really. But I do shoot a fair amount of it and I pass it down to my Son and SIL.
 
I only visit one LGS and a couple of farm stores that used to be good ammo sources and then only when I have other business there. The LGS has proved to be the source of some "fall into my lap" deals this year: Shelf worn factory rifle ammo in calibers I shoot for $5-$10 per box; .22 LR for $0.50 per box (when was the last time CCI used a cardboard box?); plated 9mm bullets at pre-panic prices. One of the farm stores (regional chain) is closing all their stores and clearing the warehouse. Shipments are irregular, but I haven't found any ammo there for 2 weeks. If I wanted Tokarev pistols or Carcano carbines they'd have been the place. No discount on guns.
 
Over the past couple months I have posted pics of ammo found on my LGS shelves.
To the 380 guy, this was a couple of weeks ago at Scheels MN,
380.jpg


This was yesterday,
45.jpg

22.jpg


The point is, you have to be lucky or you planned ahead and purchased a year ago when a case of 9mm was $140.
 
The only ammo I've been short on is .45ACP. I've got one 50-round box of HST that my carry ammo came from. I thought I was low on hardball, maybe one 50-round box. I've been looking online and considering going around to gun shops in the area to see if I could luck out and find some at a relatively reasonable price.

I did some re-organizing of my ammo storage yesterday and discovered I actually have three 50-round boxes of hardball. Yay! It was like finding a forgotten $20 bill in a pocket when doing laundry.

Still not a lot, but I could probably stretch that out to a few range trips over the next year if need be. I'll probably still be on the lookout for ammo. Would like to get more HST, but I'm not holding my breath for that.
 
gwpercle said:
Just like the four other shortages here's what to do .
Production will catch up with demand ... at some time maybe a year .
Dealers will be awash in ammo , primers and powders that no one wants to pay high prices for ... maybe 2 or 2 1/2 years .
The dealer's will start having sales... they can't afford to have all this unsold inventory just sitting around ...trust me I've seen it happen time and again !
During the sales , when prices are somewhat normal , stock up ...
Stock high , wide and deep ...because during the next election , 4 years from now , it's going to happen all over again ... So put your Scout hat on and be prepared for it ...
My crystal ball doesn't lie ... You been warned... next presidential election ... trust me !
Gary
Click to expand...

^What he said^
 
I did the same thing back in 2013 (concerning factory ammo) and have now done the same thing with reloading supplies. I have no want to drive around all over creation looking for limited and over priced supplies.

Back in 2013, I didn't have much ammo so I simply stopped shooting altogether. I didn't pick it back up until late 2014, after things began to simmer down a bit.

Now, I'm much better stocked and I reload, so I'm in better shape for 2021 shooting.

With that said, I'm not going to waste my time looking for a random, unwanted type of powder sitting on the shelf for 1.5x the asking price that it was this time last year.
 
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