Lessons learned from the recent Guns/Ammo Shortage

[LostintheOzone]

I wont fault anyone for having a 22LR.
However, holding one in any sort of vital role is an act of a fool.
it was, is, and will again be, the single most vexing thing to keep fed. It belongs in your safe while something else fills this position.

I went without a 22 rifle for about 15 years and never felt a need to own another. Recently I've had the opportunity to take a teenager to the range and teach her about firearms. Her mother highly endorsed it and has nobody in her life to get her started. Very satisfying for me and her.

I stocked up on 22 just in case we go backwards again. The new ones are better than I remember.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Buy some ammo every time you go and now and then in bulk - Stock up. I can feed my guns for a long time without reloading or resupply. I still have 9mm that I bought at $3.99 for 50. and 45 ACP at $9.99 for 50rounds.Make a friend and buy regularly from your LGS owner or manager. Many is the time when I got a price or supply break on getting ammo or accessories because they new I had consistently bought guns from them. I standardized my calibers for easy magazine build up: 22lr, 9mm, 45 ACP, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 7.62 x 54R, and 308.

 

[LittleCooner]

I have learned that you can not:
Have Too much fun, too much money, too much gunpowder and too many bullet or too many primers

 

[BaaBaa]

I recommend listing out what you have, it's purpose, etc. It's a great way to evaluate your situation and create a strategy.

Sound advice. In my case I've decided that I need a variety of choices so my goal is to have at least one handgun in every major self defense caliber that I like and can shoot well and ammo for it. Also guns and ammo for small and large game and birds. So far I've got .357, 9mm, .40 and .45 for handgun and 22 for small game. A bit light on the large game and bird, only 2 big game rifles, one I hate to shoot because it hurts and I get max 1 shot and can't even shoot it enough to sight it in well and one that doesn't fit me at all. On the shotguns only 1 that I can shoot acceptably well but it too hurts after a short while and I'm not at all good with it either. I keep looking but need to find someone knowledgable to help me figure out what is the problem with fit and then help me find a good replacement.

I've finally discovered what I am sure you all already know. A gun that appears to fit well when you hold it in the store may not work at all well for you when you actually fire it. I just wish I could find more folks with a variety of long guns that would take me to the range and let me try them out. I've found folks with handguns willing to do that and that's aided my quest for a nice stable of them but not for the other stuff.

 

[BaaBaa]

The one thing I didn't see mentioned is food supply. Having all the firearms and ammunition necessary isn't going to do you much good if you're out of food and hungry. I am told that the typical household has at most a 3 day supply of food on hand. If we have a major political or economic disruption one of the first things that will be affected is the food supply. I have at present a six month supply on hand and plan on taking that to a full year as finances permit.

The advantage of living on a farm is that even if food deliveries don't come to the grocery store you've got a larder at your doorstep. A lot of our food storage is in the freezer and that is problematic but we do have backup power. But the real key is we have an entire flock of meat on the hoof and rather plentiful small game in the area. Later on we have larger game like deer and elk. Fruit trees, gardens and even grain fields mean that we've got access to a pretty balanced diet that should suffice.

Now my prepper hoarding for food is coffee! and a hand grinder since I store whole beans.

 

[Arik]

At the start of WWII,,, my father purchased three 55 gallon barrels,,,
he then filled them with gas when he could buy a few extra gallons.

Soon, he realized, if he used the gas, he would not have it.

At the end of WWII,,, he had to pay a guy to haul the bad gas away.

Ammo, is similar. If times get tough,,, move the old ammo out for sale,,,
except for what you REALLY need.
Who realistically need 15K rounds of anything??

I realistically need,,, Hmmmmm,,,, maybe 20 rounds a year,,,,??

Ammo doesn't go bad. I'm shooting surplus ammo made in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Realistically? I do! I shoot an avg of 500 - 1000 rounds a month. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Last week I shot 400 rounds of 40s&w. This isn't counting taking rifle or handgun courses where you can shoot 500 - 1000 rounds in a day.

2nd. Even if I realistically don't need that many why should I pay double the price tomorrow or next week or next year. For a long time I was not interested in 308. By the time it cough my attention ammo went from 20 cents a round to 50 cents a round! When I got into firearms 9mm was $5 a box. I could buy a case of $7.62x39 for $100. Now 9mm is $10 and 7.62x39 is $225. Unfortunately back then I thought one box was enough. And when I say "back then" it's only about 10 - 15 years ago. So it makes financial sense as well. If 20 rounds last you a year then buy 1 case of 1000 rounds for $230 and it will last you 50 years

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[Frank237]

I buy the ammo /components I use when I see a bargain price. Have done that for years.

Still shooting some 12 cents a rd 5.56 from a dozen years back. Using powder I bought in bulk ten years back for $6 a pound.

If I go to a gun show and do NOT end up buying a Smith I usually buy at least some components, if I find a good deal. I'm still using WW primers from ten yrs back that were well under $100 for 5K boxes.

Had a great opportunity years back to buy 5.45x39 ammo BEFORE the AK74's were imported in as parts kits. Wooden cases with TWO , 1000+ rd tins of ammo. We paid $90 per case. Now the tins are selling for $300 each at shows. Still have five full cases...though going through it slowly.

WAITING until you are OUT, or there's a shortage....Penny wise...Dollar foolish.

See a bargain make use of it. You can always sell it down the road or use it for trading stock.

 

[zzclancy]

After the sixties you could see where this was headed. JFK, Robert, Martin, Riots, Kent State and Chicago 68. Both parties seek to infringe on the U.S. Constitution. "We the People" have lost control of our Republic. It's about Control. The First, Second, and the Fourth Amendment under constant attack.

You can never have to many firearms or ammo. It will be the currency of the free (black) market to come.

 

[the ringo kid]

I'm still trying to figure out a reasonable method of determining just how much is enough and at what point the missus will think I've started to lose it.

(It was a lot easier before I retired from the job and just had to walk downstairs and ask our range officer for training ammo since we trained and qualified with duty ammo.)

I have enough of each caliber, (rifle, shotgun, handgun), to last me for a pretty good while but nothing compared to many of the old hands around here.

Me too but, I dont think ill have enough of anything for at least ten years.

 

[blues7]

Me too but, I dont think ill have enough of anything for at least ten years.

I hear ya. I'm gonna wait and see what's coming up on sale and make a tactical choice or two.

Of course, the vendors are probably thinking they don't have to offer free shipping or other inducements what with the number of folks getting all wide eyed and frantic.

Time will tell.

 

[the ringo kid]

I went without a 22 rifle for about 15 years and never felt a need to own another. Recently I've had the opportunity to take a teenager to the range and teach her about firearms. Her mother highly endorsed it and has nobody in her life to get her started. Very satisfying for me and her.

I stocked up on 22 just in case we go backwards again. The new ones are better than I remember.

They are especially when they look like these:

 

[Warren Sear]

I am going to wait another month or two and then start selling at scalper (AKA someone who has thought ahead) prices. It will soon be time to sell, not buy.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I went without a 22 rifle for about 15 years and never felt a need to own another. Recently I've had the opportunity to take a teenager to the range and teach her about firearms. Her mother highly endorsed it and has nobody in her life to get her started. Very satisfying for me and her.

I stocked up on 22 just in case we go backwards again. The new ones are better than I remember.

I've never been without a .22, but in the last 5-6 years my shooting has changed from the .22 being about 10% of my recreational shooting to about 90%.

A calm summer evening shooting on the 300yd range... to plinking at soda cans. The .22 is as relaxing as it is fun to shoot.

 

[dld]

Buy a little at a time but often. Each time you walk into a LGS buy a mag or a box of ammo. It adds up

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this is what I did, every week I would buy around $20 worth of ammo, either 22,38.357 or 45. This went on for many years. I have not bought any ammo in the last five years.


Looks like we are going have a rough ride for a while

 

[Muss Muggins]

My ammunition stock is always a work in process. I buy when I see a good price, and lately, I buy more than I shoot. Haven't really felt any effects of the shortage, with the exception of .22 LR, but that's been getting much better lately.

 

[Jessie]

I've got mine but you have to figure practice.
Just two 50 round boxes a month adds up to 1200 rds a year. And that's probably a minimum for most people.
When you look at it that way, its hard to have too much.

 

[TTSH]

My ammunition stock is always a work in process. I buy when I see a good price, and lately, I buy more than I shoot. Haven't really felt any effects of the shortage, with the exception of .22 LR, but that's been getting much better lately.

My local Cabela's was out of .22 LR on Tuesday. I didn't mind that so much but they were also out of the centerfire pistol ammo that I went there for. Could have just been a bad day for me or it could be a sign of rougher waters ahead. Who knows?

 

[Muddyboot]

Fox Business News is reporting AR sales are again heating up, no real surprise considering the recent political debate concerning the evil black rifle....

 

[blues7]

I'm surprised that there's any inventory to speak of.
(Maybe Obama's really just a shill for the firearms industry. )

 

[bountyhunter]

Just curious, but what lessons have you learned from the recent guns and ammo shortage?

How easily people can panic and stampede into a brain dead hoarde over non existent threats. And believe me.... if you think it was bad before, wait until the next election. When the oval office goes dem and they start whining about gun control (and the fearmongers start into panic mode again) guns and ammo will be so scarce that prices will skyrocket.

Watch the price of SW stock in the next couple of years.....