Is it now time to stock up on ammo?

[bushmaster1313]

In December 2019, just before Covid hit, it seemed a good time to stock up. Prices were low and all my favorite ammo was available.

Fast forward 5 years. Ammo prices are down from their panic buying high, although still pricey, much of my favorite ammo is again available.

Seems to me like a good time to stock up.

 

[AJ]

Do what you think is best for you. Prices rise and fall all the time. Will they get lower? Maybe..... Will they go up? Maybe........... The election will probably have some influence on the prices. Probably in an upward trend.

 

[ken158]

Set your watch price and buy when your price is met. Online sales and gun shows are the only place I buy ammo.

 

[pharmer]

I have 10 years worth if I use 2-3K rimfire, 1-1.5K centerfire handgun rounds annually, I'm a "hobby shooter" for the last 20 years. I probably have enough centerfire rifle ammo for the same time frame. I'll be 81 then and will re-evaluate according to availability/legal/political conditions then. Hard to say what life will look like in 10 years. Joe

 

[hdfinder47]

Yes.

Yes. I believe that it is.

 

[armadillo]

Going back more than 10 years there have been at least 3 times the ammo shelves were emptied. There was no warning - I didn't know anything was going on until I went to the store and there was nothing to buy.

So I now think I have enough that I will not have to stand in line for 2 hours to get 100 rounds of 22LR. In other words, buy it now - it lasts a long time.

 

[djohns6]

Keep enough on hand so that you never have to ask yourself this question again .

 

[Bald1]

I keep 50-60 rds on hand per hunting rifle (3boxes). 1000 tds 9mm and 38. Couple hundred tds 12ga and 44mag. I have a “thing” for 44mag rifles and revolvers. When I see things cheap I buy it. I never panic buy.

 

[AJ]

Set your watch price and buy when your price is met. Online sales and gun shows are the only place I buy ammo.

If you are looking for .22, we can buy it cheaper at Wally World than a gunshow. Since I do not buy commercial ammo generally, can speak for that.

 

[DUSTYDOGDAN]

X2 On--> Yes. I believe that it is.

 

[Rob613]

If you need something, yes. There’s a black swan coming.

 

[Empe]

I keep 50-60 rds on hand per hunting rifle (3boxes). 1000 tds 9mm and 38. Couple hundred tds 12ga and 44mag. I have a “thing” for 44mag rifles and revolvers. When I see things cheap I buy it. I never panic buy.

Hmmm....sounds like about enough for about one or two weekends worth of shooting .

 

[cololab]

Keep enough on hand so that you never have to ask yourself this question again .

My response to anyone who is pondering the question.

 

[RM Vivas]

It is never NOT time to stock up on ammo.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[reddog81]

Hmmm....sounds like about enough for about one or two weekends worth of shooting .

Those quantities would last me about a month of shooting. I’d be buying many cases of ammo if I was that low.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

When it’s available, probably not getting any cheaper, you got the money, an election is straight ahead?
Hell Yes!
I’m buying. Probably 22 and 9 mm.
38 Special if I can find a deal.

 

[pharmer]

......38 Special if I can find a deal.

Prvi Partizan 38 Special Ammo 158 Gr Semi-Wadcutter HP - Ammo Deals
Don't know if this qualifies. A case of 10 boxes/50 is $225+tax and about $2 for an "overbox." I have shot a case and have 4 more on hand. It is basically "FBI load" but not marked +P. Joe

 

[don5]

Going back more than 10 years there have been at least 3 times the ammo shelves were emptied. There was no warning - I didn't know anything was going on until I went to the store and there was nothing to buy.

So I now think I have enough that I will not have to stand in line for 2 hours to get 100 rounds of 22LR. In other words, buy it now - it lasts a long time.

I was in Dunhams the night before the first big scare. They had plenty of ammo and guns. The next day I took my son and his best friend up there with me. Before we stepped out of the truck I told both of them. You are going to see a lot of scared people when we go in. Don't be scared. I want you both to see this and never forget it. I am prepared and not worried in the slightest. These kids were 10. They saw all the people lined up at the gun counter. There were no AR 15s , ammo was wiped out. Guy told me 40 minute wait on background checks. The kids were amazed. I told them " now you know why I reload and have the ammo I have. Let this be a lesson to both of you. Don't ever get in this position. Always be prepared." Those boys learned a life lesson that day.

 

[schutz5]

"Bird in hand is worth two in the bush". --- attributed to an unknown ammo hunter

 

[charlie sherrill]

I bought a 525 count brick of .22 ammo and a 350 round pack of CCI brass 115 grain 9 mm ammo at an estate sale this afternoon...because it was there, for less than a hundred. There is something going on with Russia and China right now. They control around 55% of one of the main ingredients of gunpowder. I don't remember what this is, ask Louisiana Joe, he's the one that told me about this. The US controls about 30% of the same stuff. Russia and China just banned selling the stuff to the US. This probably means reloading powder and new US produced ammo is probably going to go up a lot. I'll try to get Joe to send you a link to this as I obviously don't know enough. Right now, the easiest thing for me to buy is 9 mm. When I find it in the $9-10 a box range I'll buy another 1,000 rounds just to have some practice stuff. I've got about 1500 rounds of Ranger carry stuff, so I'm good there. I try to keep at least 5,000 rounds of .38 special, .357, .40, .45 ACP, and 9 mm practice ammo and a few hundred rounds of carry ammo. My good friend and fellow forum member Leland passed away from the covid monster four years ago. He left me with over 30,000 rounds of .38/.357 rounds of his very good target reloads, so I'm good there for a while. Bottom line is stock on on your favorite caliber/gauges and reloading components while you can, even if you have to pay a little more for it. We don't know what the future holds.