The ammunition shortage is finally over!

[scottaschultz]

Like most of you, I make it a point to go through the sporting goods dept at Wal-Mart in the hopes of getting lucky. Today, May 5 2009, was one of those days! There was more, but here is what I bought:

Scott

 

[mississippi revolverman]

Will check the local wally world tonight hope I luck up like you did

 

[xopher88x]

Yum! I commend you for leaving some for the next person.

 

[silverfox3913]

Went by the local Walmart at lunch to pick up some things for work.

Saw the following in the ammo cabinet:
9MM Blazer Brass - 9 boxes
9MM WWB - 1 box
9MM Remington UMC - 2 boxes
40 Caliber Blazer Brass - 1 box
38 Special WWB JHP - 4 boxes
38 Special Remington UMC MC - 2 boxes
Some other calibers that I can't remember.

All the Walmarts in my area have a 6 box limit, so I got 6 boxes of 9MM Blazer Brass and came back to work a little happier.

 

[smith17]

I went by my local Walmart today and saw the following on the ammo shelves:



Ed

 

[caribouhunter]

I reload! What ammo shortage?

 

[cshoff]

I've been in two different Wal Mart stores over the past 3 days. One of them had 2 boxes of .44 Mag ammo, the other didn't have any handgun ammo of any kind.

 

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by caribouhunter:
I reload! What ammo shortage?

The grass is greener on this side of the fence.

 

[Andy Taylor]

I went by my local Walmart yesterday and saw the following on the ammo shelves:

NOTHING

 

[mississippi revolverman]

I checked out my Wal Mart last night shelves were "jammed" with 4 box of 32 auto nothing else

 

[animalmother]

If you can't find what you want at WM, I just got an email from Natchez about a new ammo "sale" they have. If you need 40 S&W, they have UMC 180gr FMJ:

Reg $44.86
Sale $41.99
Buy Now!

$42 a box. Now Natchez has joined Cheaper Than Dirt and Gander M.

 

[gunlovingirl]

My local WM has nothing. Dick's has nothing. Academy has nothing. Bass Pro has nothing. LGS has nothing. When I say nothing, I mean nothing I can use. And very little anyone else can use. Shotgun shells and rifle ammo. That's about it. I couldn't even find snap caps and speedloaders. Had to come home and order online. I don't see an end to the ammo shortage anytime soon.

 

[Guest]

The ammo shortage won't end any time soon unless we find a new source of raw materials. Or when we are willing to pay much higher prices that are being caused by the shortages of the raw materials.

 

[N_itis]

Originally posted by gunlovingirl:
When I say nothing, I mean nothing I can use. And very little anyone else can use. Shotgun shells and rifle ammo. That's about it.

Oh, won't the "Antis" be happy!

"Hunters" (the only "legitimate" firearm users...at least until they decide to target them too) can still get what they "need" but the evil handgun shooters cannot. And, best of all, it is nearly impossible to keep a .380 ACP "Saturday Night Special" stoked these days.

Of course, it is also not peak hunting season. Maybe we will see completely bare shelves by November.

 

[N_itis]

Originally posted by KKG:
The ammo shortage won't end any time soon unless we find a new source of raw materials. Or when we are willing to pay much higher prices that are being caused by the shortages of the raw materials.

The current shortage has more to do with an inelastic supply chain than material costs and availability. Traditionally, demand for loaded ammunition and components has been fairly perdictible. Right now, it is through the roof and there is no ready "backstock."

Yes, the availability of raw materials is an issue...as it has been for the last couple of years..., but it is not "the issue." The biggest issue right now is the lack of production capability at all levels. There was an almost unprecedented run on the existing supply. Production of every component...primers, powder, brass, and bullets...must be drastically increased to meet demand.

A bit of that may happen, but I suspect that the ammunition makers see this as a being a short lived "crisis" and will do little if anything to increase their production capability. Why invest in capital improvements such as additional machinery to increase production when the demand will probably drop off by the time the new lines are up and running? Just address the current demand as well as you can with existing equipment and employees and adjust down when it subsides that way you can reap the benefits of increased sales now without the burden of paying for unnecessary equipment down the road.

 

[bigcatonhd]

Wal-Mart in Spartanburg, SC just yesterday had 9MM WWB, $19.97 100 rd value box (at least 15 boxes) and .40 WWB value pack 100 rd $32.95 (at least 10 boxes). They had various other stuff too....38, .357, etc. Bought all I could afford.
bigcat

 

[Engineer1911]

Ammo shortage ended on election day! I have 75K + of primers, 50 + pounds of powder, and 20 assorted gallons of brass in necessary calibers along with 600 pounds of range scrap lead. During the hysteria, an RCBS Rockchucker press and powder measure (with a little rust) was offered for $30 and 2 weeks later I was offered a Dillion 550B complete without a set of dies for $200. One hour of time and a little elbow grease got both presses and powder measure looking like new.

I can now shoot, cast, and reload for 10 years. I did get lucky and buy a full case(5250 rounds) of Federal bulk pack 22 LR for $138 tax included.

 

[jsd30]

Went by my local WalMart today and they finally got some handgun ammo in for the first time in about 2 - 3 months .....saw 1 bx of WWB 357 Sig , and 2 bxs of Rem UMC 38 Spl 125 gr JHP.
Lots of shotgun shells and 270 & 30-06 rifle ammo, and a few assorted bxs of 22 LR. Other than that, nothing !

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

My Wal-Mart has had 38 special throughout, but I still have not seen a box of 357 mag under $30 for a long time.

 

[Smokester653]

The self created shortage is finally coming to a slow and grinding stop in my area. The area stores now have ammo on the shelves and it seems to be there for more than 30 seconds. Also most of the stores still have the 2 box per caliber per customer limit which has helped. However it won't take long if those that didn't/couldn't get "enough" ammo start mass purchasing before another shortage occurs (in my locale). Check out bigcats post.