Lessons learned from the recent Guns/Ammo Shortage

[Gunsnwater]

I learned that all the advice on what calibers to own written up in gun mags since I started reading them in the 1970's were full of hogwash. Government cals used for hunting, the 30-30 and 22lr and 12ga were all supposed to still be around. I figured out what the difference is nobody imagined. Its called "just in time" its an industry catch word for the idea to boost short term profits by eliminating warehousing of inventory at every step. This virus has spread to every business from raw materials to retail vendors. Just go the store and try to stock up on anything and you will see. I needed rolls of gauze for a surgery wound for 1 time a day for several weeks I can only get 6 at the most. Sever dry eye salve only four on the shelf if they have it. Joint juce 6 at the most. Ammo is the canary in the mine. Open your eyes.

 

[rwsmith]

What I've learned

Cast bullets are your friend.

Don't part willingly with anything having to do with guns. It may be irreplaceable.

Always buy more than you think you need.

 

[EQGuy]

I checked my supplies and discovered that I was down to one case of Federal 900 Gold Medal Match. I have a good supply of plinking ammo but needed some more match ammo as I am taking up small bore metallic silhouette competition again. I also shoot in a small bore indoor winter league and need match ammo for that. i decided to stock up on more match ammo and have bought several bricks of Eley ammo at a cost of $7.00 to $18.00 per box of 50. Unfortunately my match rifle really likes the $18.00 per box 10X but it shoots OK with the $10.00 per box Eley Edge of which I bought a case. I did order another brick of 10X at $188.00 delivered to have for any important match where I want to shoot the best but you better believe I will not be shooting very much of it. The thing is that the Eley ammo has not increased in price like the cheap stuff. Of course it is getting to be difficult to find any of it other than 10X now also. I just wish I could afford to buy a case of the 10X.

 

[durango]

I learned that I could make do with substitutes to keep me in practice with basics without spending lots of money every time I turned around.

For less than $100 I bought some decent spring-powered Airsoft pistols (don't laugh) and a bunch of splatter targets. For $20 I bought 10,000 .20 bbs at Walmart.

Airsoft isn't the same as a real gun, but it is pretty similar to shooting a .22 target pistol. I practice aiming techniques with different grips & stances, and I work on keeping my grip steady and how I present the weapon. It's pretty satisfying and affordable. I can shoot airsoft in my own home and cleanup is done with a vacuum cleaner.

Rather than spending lots of money on a variety of real guns that I've never tried before, I get different models of Airsoft versions to try to get a better sense of how they feel and what the sight picture on each is like.

(I know, Airsoft isn't real. I'm a big believer in practicing though and the costs of ammo have been prohibitive.)

 

[Dezfan]

I learned that the comfort level of my on hand supply get's less comfortable as time goes on.

I've learned, that I need to be the warehouse as the modern business model seems to have killed off the warehouse.

I've learned that I need to diversify my collection.

I've learned that many people in our Nation are clueless to the meaning of the term personal responcibility.

I've learned to find ways set aside a little extra money every month in addition to my allotted monthly budget and place it toward future ammo purchases.

 

[LVSteve]

Interesting how many of you mentioned the "just in time" business model (AKA just too late) as an issue. I believe this malaise in the modern business model is often the result of peculiar taxation practices. Living in this city at the end of most supply chains I have seen its effects in many areas.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I learned that my habit of buying a few bricks of .22LR when on sale was a good decision. I also think that the price of ammo will not go back to previous levels because the insane printing of money by our government makes what we have worth less and it will take more of it to buy what we bought a year ago.

I am glad that I reload. I have bought ammo in the past that is now selling for 2-3 times what I paid for it, sometimes more.

I found a box of White Box 9mm that had a sticker on it of $3.99. I have had that one for a while.

Guns are a good hedge against inflation. The 03 Springfield that I have cost me $60 40+ years ago. I paid $350 for a 98% 17-4 in 2004. I paid my brother $100 for a 19 40+ years ago.

 

[gwgw60]

I learned to diversify the firearm calibers I am able to use. I was focused pretty much on 9mm and 22LR to keep the logistics simple. Now I have added 38 Spl/357 mag, 40 S&W and 45 ACP to my inventory. When it becomes available again, I plan to add a 357 SIG barrel for my 40 frame. At some point I may even get a 380. I want to be able to shoot whatever caliber is available at the time.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Good input so far, guys - keep them coming.

A few other lessons I learned:

1. Learn to really evaluate a used gun, especially one not familiar to you. As an example, becoming familiar with foreign made semi-autos when you've only familiarized yourself with American made semi-autos, as you can miss some good deals this way.

2. If you haven't learned to negotiate or barter, now is a great time to learn. I've acquired some pretty nice firearms through trading and deal making. Sometimes, the other person may not understand your proposal, and you need to work at it a bit. But as long as your patient, and sincere, and honest, a mutually beneficial deal can usually be made.

3. Undue haste makes waste, but he who hesitates is lost. I've also lost out on some pretty good deals because I wanted to check just one more thing, and by the time I was ready, the deal was gone to someone else.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Brian41]

I stocked up last year just because I was unsure what the election would bring and wanted to be able to shoot. Messed up my back and haven't been able to shoot but have ammo if I do.
I learned it is wise to follow my gut instincts as it paid off. I tried to warn some buddies they needed to stock up and they didn't listen very well. They haven't been shooting much either.

 

[ladyT]

Was talking with someone this morning and the conservation turned to the ammo shortage. He thought it was fine to pay $49.99 for a 50 round box of 9mm. I told him he was overpaying and he defended his postion. So I offered to sell him some for 75 cents a round. Now thats 4,000 x .75=. I like to shoot but I'd be carzy not to sell it.

 

[wyccad915]

well I have accumulated a decent supply of ammo during the shortage by standing in lines. But I have noticed the lines becoming shorter and the supply is a little better, so I do not stand in the lines anymore, but I still have been buying whenever I can. I go to Academy sports and it's a 1 box per caliber (up to 3 different calibers) limit, so it's not as if I can just go and stock up.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I bought a salad shooter.

 

[venomballistics]

Early on I developed a philosophy about ammo quotas.
Take your heaviest shooting day and multiply the round count by two.
if, for whatever reason you cannot fully restock you'd still have the volume on hand to do it again next time, and probably still have some left over.
now as the good times give way to hard times, as we've seen of late, you should already have a very healthy stock from which you can practice and remain proficient.
This has worked out rather well for me.
stock on hand never dwindled below the 70% mark for any caliber to present day where Ive finally gotten around to replenishing.
Until Very recently, Ive been able to afford to stay out of the ammo scrounging game, maintain proficiency, and avoid all frustration.
only in the past few weeks have I even bothered to hit the market for reloading supplies and most calibers on hand are in surplus to the 2X minimum quota.

after the first week of the crunch, I simply decided to focus my efforts on music. Working out new riffs, learning some songs, and delving into the wonderful world of multi track recording which took away a lot from my ammo consumption rate.

I really learned very little beyond what I already knew where ammo and shooting goes, but far more about other things while I just let the smoke clear a bit.

 

[blujax01]

Was talking with someone this morning and the conservation turned to the ammo shortage. He thought it was fine to pay $49.99 for a 50 round box of 9mm. I told him he was overpaying and he defended his postion. So I offered to sell him some for 75 cents a round. Now thats 4,000 x .75=. I like to shoot but I'd be carzy not to sell it.

In his mind, he gets a deal.

In your mind, you make a healthy profit.

Willing buyer + willing seller = capitalism at it's finest.

You gouging, profiteering, no-account, flipping, scrounging, thieving, hoarding, (have I left anything out?) prepper!

 

[the ringo kid]

well I have accumulated a decent supply of ammo during the shortage by standing in lines. But I have noticed the lines becoming shorter and the supply is a little better, so I do not stand in the lines anymore, but I still have been buying whenever I can. I go to Academy sports and it's a 1 box per caliber (up to 3 different calibers) limit, so it's not as if I can just go and stock up.

Ive pulled a "fast one" at Academy a few times which resulted in getting more than one box of 9MM and sometimes .22 cal. Ill leave it at that though. The latest "fast one" was just last week.

 

[joeintexas]

I was actually in pretty good shape ammo wise when this all hit, I still pick up a box or two when I see it at a decent price and I did learn that ammo I wouldn't think of shooting a few months ago actually fire quite good and clean up just fine too! I also learned that it is just as much fun shooting at the gun club when no one else is around as it is when there were 40 people waiting in line to shoot. I don't feel like I was ever hoarding ammo, I plan on shooting every round I have ever bought.

 

[ladyT]

In his mind, he gets a deal.

In your mind, you make a healthy profit.

Willing buyer + willing seller = capitalism at it's finest.

You gouging, profiteering, no-account, flipping, scrounging, thieving, hoarding, (have I left anything out?) prepper!

Thing is I told him I would be happy to gouge him at 75 cents a round. I did learn one thing from him and it may apply to many more. He said he was willing to pay $1 so he didn't have to stand in line.

 

[semperfi71]

I learned that if you weren't paying attention when GCA'68 occurred, you weren't paying attention when Brady Bill hit, and most likely you weren't paying attention when the Assault Weapons ban hit.

I seem to remember the "Ant and the Grasshopper" story? If you do not prepare then do not complain.

As for those who do not have the finances, I can sympathize. However I learned along time ago, when buying a "new caliber", buy the "lifetime" of components as well. You may not be buying a lot of guns but you will always be shooting the ones you have.

 

[Fishslayer]

He said he was willing to pay $1 so he didn't have to stand in line.

A lot of people just don't seem to understand that there are people in this world for whom $100/bulk pack of .22 (or $1/rd 9mm) is no big deal if they can click a mouse & have it show up at their door. More power to 'em. Kinda wish they'd stop though so the flippers would have to move on to something else...

...or get jobs.