How does this ammo shortage work?

[TTSH]

The range is 14 miles away and 25 rounds is about all my hand will take. I figure the total cost of bullets, gas and range fee is $37 per visit or $1.50 per shot. Almost $150 per month.

Oh, believe me, I get it. This is not an inexpensive hobby. And an airweight J-Frame is not the most fun handgun with which to shoot 100 rounds at a time. Ask me how I know that.

I guess I'd just suggest bringing a more practical range gun (or guns) with you to make those visits worth your invested time and money. Both of my local indoor ranges charge by the hour, so I make damn sure I have a good hour's worth of artillery and ammo with me every time. .22's are still fun for me, easy on these old hands and still reasonably cheap to shoot.

And as jc2721 said, dry-firing can do a lot for you in these crazy times of super-expensive, hard-to-find ammo.

 

[vintage40s]

... 3. Presidential elections coming up in November. People want to get guns and ammo before its banned....

I think regulated is the word -- "well regulated".

 

[HorizontalMike]

Reloading Can Eliminate Ammo Shortages - Revolvers and all

Not here I do as I please and NO permission is needed. After 54 years, it works for us. As for the above- I'd say having the ability to load same is just as good.

In addition to selecting reloading calibers, I chose my handguns and rifles specifically for interoperability, as in:

* .38cal, 38+P, .357Mag. All can use same bullet choice/type/weight.

* 9mm Luger in both pistol and carbine. Same as above.

* Both .222Rem and .223Rem since bullets, powder, primers all match. Only need different brass.

All of the above sure makes reloading choices and efforts EASY. As for powders, all of my handguns use either N105 or HS6, and my long rifles use H322.

Keeping reloading choices SIMPLE, also makes the chore of reloading simple as well...

 

[Drm50]

I was at sale past weekend in rural Ohio. There was plenty of 9mm, 223 ect and not at prices I see on line. They may get here but not yet. There was a guy looking for 38sp. There was none, plenty 357. I never thought about it because I shoot 38sp but it's not that popular anymore. New people are plastic or magnum.

 

[Troutscout]

If you want your skills to improve--dryfire a lot. It'll smooth out the action and you'll build muscle memory and grip strength. Take it seriously--put up the right sized target on your wall (I use a penny) make absolutely sure your piece is unloaded and there's no ammo whatsoever anywhere near you when you're practicing, and make every shot count.

I have to dry fire in the closet because my wife is still scared at the sight of a revolver.

 

[vintage40s]

I have to dry fire in the closet because my wife is still scared at the sight of a revolver.

Ha! My little 642 center fills the top drawer of a dresser, and my wife won't stay in the room when I dry fire or pack it all up for a range trip. Yet it was her idea that we get a gun.

 

[RGNewell]

Back in the mid 70s over my back fence live a Dr from Cuba. He said his wife couldn't sleep if there were a gun in the house.
I told him my wife couldn't sleep if there wasn't one.


Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[cmj8591]

Exactly! Irrational panic. People worry about being caught in some dystopian social and political environment so they need 5000 rounds of ammo, 480 rolls of TP, and a milk cow.

"Dystopian social and political environment". Sort of like Portland or Seattle I guess. Tell the good people living there that their panic is irrational.

 

[Troutscout]

Someone needs to start a thread on guns and spouses!

 

[TTSH]

Ha! My little 642 center fills the top drawer of a dresser, and my wife won't stay in the room when I dry fire or pack it all up for a range trip. Yet it was her idea that we get a gun.

Back in the mid 70s over my back fence live a Dr from Cuba. He said his wife couldn't sleep if there were a gun in the house. I told him my wife couldn't sleep if there wasn't one.

LOL!!! Different strokes for different folks.

When my good wife went for her LTC, she earned a key to the gun room. Only downside is that she now thinks it is her room!

 

[Peak53]

You can always eat the cow

 

[HorizontalMike]

With all the talk about dry firing, I haven't noticed anyone bringing up adding a Crimson Trace, or equivalent laser to their J-Frame. I have and have found that absolutely necessary for determining how one's tendency to jerk/pull to the side/up-down when pulling the DA trigger. I even added a CT to one of my L-Frames.

It doesn't take much time at all to actually pay for the CT-laser, by counting just how many rounds have "NOT" been shot. And the bottom line is that you can remove the CT-laser grip after you perfect your trigger pull. After all, it isn't like tattooing a big 'ole "L" on your forehead...

 

[JS Esq.]

So I was thinking. Due to the hard recoil and scarce expensive .38 ammo for my 642, how about a nice SW22 Victory for the range? But .22 rimfire is also scarce.

My SW22 Victory is my favorite range gun. 22LR tends to be significantly less scarce than .38.

 

[vintage40s]

With all the talk about dry firing, I haven't noticed anyone bringing up adding a Crimson Trace, or equivalent laser to their J-Frame. I have and have found that absolutely necessary for determining how one's tendency to jerk/pull to the side/up-down when pulling the DA trigger...
It doesn't take much time at all to actually pay for the CT-laser, by counting just how many rounds have "NOT" been shot...

I have a 642 CT, and do think dry firing with the laser saves scarce and expensive ammo.
Dry firing with an easy and smooth Apex trigger kit installed, I pull the trigger back until the tip of the finger touches the opposing thumb, and then pause. With the trigger on a "hair", and both the sights and the laser on the target, the laser shows if the aim wiggles when the trigger releases.
The muscle memory transfers to the range where accuracy improves with fewer shots. I find the laser distracting there and prefer sights only.

 

[seldon14]

My SW22 Victory is my favorite range gun. 22LR tends to be significantly less scarce than .38.

Check out Mantis X. Needs some creativity to mount on a j frame though.

 

[nedlate]

Second, due to the pandemic, manufacturers have cut hours or the number of people working each shift, so production of most things has fallen.

Now is the time to make more; create more jobs, run those machines 24/7, etc.

I see no reduction in workers or hours worked locally.

Ed

 

[Dave.357]

Go big

Buy a bigger house now while
Interest is low you will need it.

 

[vintage40s]

It was at Sportsmans Outdoors Superstore.

The boxes of 500 .38 Special are still available their site at
Federal 38 Special 130 gr Full Metal Jacket American Eagle 500 Rounds | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore
Price has increased a lot since I ordered a box on Sep 7. It was $320 then and is now $400. Delivery took 2 weeks.

 

[TTSH]

The boxes of 500 .38 Special are still available their site at
Federal 38 Special 130 gr Full Metal Jacket American Eagle 500 Rounds | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore
Price has increased at lot since I ordered a box on Sep 7. It was $320 then and is now $400. Delivery took 2 weeks.

My God. 80¢/round. And to think that I turned down a ton of 130 Gr FMJ during the Great Walmart Evil Ammo Sell-off at half of Walmart's then current everyday price.

 

[duman444]

side effect

Side effect of no ammo, shooting range is a lot less crowded and most people there are aiming fire, not mag dumping spray and pray. Lot fewer magnums and AR's, AK's. Makes it easier to shoot between loud booms right next to you.