The Ammo Shortage. What is the real truth. Questions.

[Lost Lake]

Heads up:

Save your .22 brass!!

The shortage has prompted several manufacturers to develop .22 reloading equipment. This equipment should be up and running by January.



The preceding announcement is an internet rumor. Feel free to share with your cousin who works at Winchester Ammunition.

.

 

[blujax01]

You had me going for a minute.

Who was that comedian? - Judy Tenuta - who sarcastically said:

"HEY - IT COULD HAPPEN!"

 

[Nitrous SSC]

You know some people actually went out and found ammo while others sat on their back side, called people names like you are doing now. So why are you dumping on a fellow shooter? Is it because he has been fortunate enough to get ammo and you weren't?

There has been a lot of people looking down on others, calling them names and casting aspersions on their character simply because they put the work in and secured ammo for themselves. You know what some people shoot more than a box or two a month of ammo.

Speaking frankly whose business is it anyway if he or anyone else is reselling the ammo they have bought or if they are building a stash to avoid experiencing this situation again. No one has any right to be calling them names.


Mods please lock this thread I started. Its become redundant.

"secured" You make it sound like there is impeding disaster? It becomes everyone's business when you brag about it on a public forum. Also, I shoot around 3-4k of ammo a year.

 

[Tennreb]

Hoarding is not the answer and I wish it were.

Hoarding is the answer and I wish it wasn't, however it's defined. Its the reality of not depending on retailers for supply when needed (or should I say wanted.)

It has changed everything in the past year. Most of us who have shot all our lives were prepared for the center fire. Thus, after the panic, center fire has stabilized and is available. .22 lr is a different story... Yeah, the lowely .22. A couple of boxes around the house was enough for many. Now its different. Thousands of rounds are prefered. We are our own warehouse now for what was once a readily available commodity.

Just hope this lesson has sunk in on some more vital commodities as well.

Wait till a real shortage of something really needed happens for a long term.

Then you WILL need the ammunition.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

Then you WILL need the ammunition.

I would think people would stock up on more useful ammo for SHTF. 9mm, .40, .45, .223. I don't think a .22 will be super effective against a zombie, Russian tank, or whatever the he hell people freak out about. Besides. You'll be dead before you can get through 10k of ammo if SHTF regardless of caliber.

I need to ask my wife where she hid my aluminum foil hat.

 

[suckersrus]

Large companies (as well as the government) sees the published disposable income that every citizen is supposed to have. And they all want it.

But how to get it out of the clutches of the working man?

Well, raise prices, of course, and do it in large steps.

Some years ago, the oil companies discovered they could not raise gas prices more than a few cents per gallon without raising the suspicions of American citizens which would prompt government investigations.

So, oil companies created a phony shortage then cranked up the prices (after a suitable period of stockpiling gas).

They have done this more than once using any excuse from wars to storms.

So when the government ordered tons of ammo to stockpile for the "upcoming revolution" they know they are pushing the citizens into, the ammo companies took advantage of the situation to turn all resources to filling the government orders (manufacturing 22 ammo was put on hold). After satisfying the government they filled their own warehouses in preparation of price increases.

Hoarders and scalpers went ballistic (pun intended) and bought everything they could get their hands on at any price, adding to the shortage and panic.
Rumors also add to the confusion. Such as the last American smelter closing their doors. Lead from China is much cheaper, not more expensive!

Now, a year later, ammo is coming back on the market. The very best deal I have found is a 50% mark-up over last year's prices. Some prices are 200% to 300% higher.

It is Greed! Pure and simple, Greed!
Shortly, shelves will be full at the new prices.


Every word I speak is the truth.

 

[Warren Sear]

...So, oil companies created a phony shortage then cranked up the prices (after a suitable period of stockpiling gas)...

If you are referring to the oil shortages of the 1970's, there was no conspiracy by the oil companies. OPEC decided to cut production to increase demand.

Once again, no grassy knoll, and NO CONSPIRACY!!! Give it up. already.

 

[smokindog]

The shelves in the Walmart stores around here are full once again, except for 22. Prices are higher (10-30%) than a year go and I believe the last price hike is the new "normal". Unfortunately, "normal" is going to be a much shorter cycle from now on (IMHO)!

Same at our Cabelas with their prices typically about 10% more than Walmart.

As I and others have said in many threads, buy what you can and buy when you see a decent price because it is not going to get cheaper. Ammo is now like gas FINALLY crossing 50 cents a gallon, jumping to 52 cents in 73ish; we knew it would never retreat!!!

 

[smokindog]

100 rd Federal 115gr 9mm is 23.97 + tax at WMT. In my part of TX that's <26 cents per round. Just 3-4 mos ago it was $21.37/100 rd box at WMT.

It's still higher than 2012 but not double, at least not in the DFW area. However, the shelves are once again full.

Your comparisons are of no value. Out of context and time.

Lets look at 2012 prices.

From the same caliber,brand ,bullet,same dealer and same time period.

9mm prices

2012-18 cents a round
2013- 34 cents a round

A near doubling in price.

Whats even worse is the cheap stuff from foreign sources are within a dollar of the American made ammo.

 

[HorizontalMike]

If you are referring to the oil shortages of the 1970's, there was no conspiracy by the oil companies. OPEC decided to cut production to increase demand.

NOT so. I was stationed on an Oiler in the Navy in Alameda in the 1970s during this "oil crisis". I can tell you with certainty that out in SF Bay during this time, I saw at least 8 commercial tankers (fully loaded and low in the water) anchored out in the bay. They were NOT, and did NOT off-load their oil. They stayed at anchor during this entire so called "crisis".

 

[Warren Sear]

NOT so. I was stationed on an Oiler in the Navy in Alameda in the 1970s during this "oil crisis". I can tell you with certainty that out in SF Bay during this time, I saw at least 8 commercial tankers (fully loaded and low in the water) anchored out in the bay. They were NOT, and did NOT off-load their oil. They stayed at anchor during this entire so called "crisis".

OK... and...???

 

[HorizontalMike]

The supply was sitting right in the middle of SF Bay, and the demand was in the long lines I stood in waiting to pump gas. IOW, there were bigger players at work, more than just a simple "supply and demand" explanation can account for.

 

[Whitens Moss]

Seems to me it's back door gun control. As ammo supply dries up so will demand for guns. I don't mean for this to be a political statement but I believe there is truth to the notion that the government can and does control ammo purchases in the civilian market by various means. If you follow the supply chain from manufacturer to end sellers, it does not make sense that production is at an all-time high while there is so little product on the store shelves. The LGS and big-box stores point their figures at the distributors, which in turn point theirs at the ammo makers, which in turn say they're working 24/7 to meet demand.
Lots of questions, very few answers. Until my theory is disproven, I'll stick with it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[the ringo kid]

WMs here are still much more miss than hit. I go in at least 5 times a week since they are on my walking route. True more 9mm is arriving but--not 22. I go by anyway figuring all the goodies are already sold. Usually when I go with a negative feeling of what to expect, I find bulk boxes of what I want. Go figure.

 

[smokindog]

If you've got a way to skip refining and distribution you're sitting on a figurative "black gold" mine.

Do you know if that oil was some of the first Alaskan oil? Was production ramped to handle the new supply? What time of year was it? Was this in the middle of the switch from leaded gasoline? Was there refining capacity offline? There are so many things to consider. Also, 8 tankers wasn't the difference in the problem. Someone else said it. Most cars are, on average, less than half full. If everyone goes out and starts running full tanks and then tries to KEEP them full, that puts a short term doubling of demand into the system and then maintains a "daily" stress on the supply chain. Don't get me wrong, I do agree that there are back room things that impact all of us but I do not believe these nitwits in DC can actually orchestrate anything long term.

So back to ammo. I know I've increased my on hand supply in multiple ways (new calibers, more of everything) and everyone I know has done the same. An incredible stress was placed on the supply chain AND there were/are political forces but ... I'll save my tin foil cap for something else!

The supply was sitting right in the middle of SF Bay, and the demand was in the long lines I stood in waiting to pump gas. IOW, there were bigger players at work, more than just a simple "supply and demand" explanation can account for.

 

[HorizontalMike]

If you've got a way to skip refining and distribution you're sitting on a figurative "black gold" mine.

Do you know if that oil was some of the first Alaskan oil? Was production ramped to handle the new supply? What time of year was it? Was this in the middle of the switch from leaded gasoline? Was there refining capacity offline? There are so many things to consider. Also, 8 tankers wasn't the difference in the problem. Someone else said it. Most cars are, on average, less than half full. If everyone goes out and starts running full tanks and then tries to KEEP them full, that puts a short term doubling of demand into the system and then maintains a "daily" stress on the supply chain. Don't get me wrong, I do agree that there are back room things that impact all of us but I do not believe these nitwits in DC can actually orchestrate anything long term.

So back to ammo. I know I've increased my on hand supply in multiple ways (new calibers, more of everything) and everyone I know has done the same. An incredible stress was placed on the supply chain AND there were/are political forces but ... I'll save my tin foil cap for something else!

Wow. You really think that I can recall in detail ALL of the facts and ALL of the reasoning behind as "ship"-load of oilers anchored in the middle of SF Bay for a few weeks roughly 50-years ago...

In the mean time, could I interest you in some prime real estate in south Florida? It is dry at least 7-months out of the year and would be great for development for a retirement home... All for under a cool million $$$ and worth all kinds of profit for the future... Honest...

 

[ditrina]

OP requested this thread closed