Time to stock up?

[Bill Lear]

Ammo hoarding is what started the ammo shortage. Used to be people bought a few boxes, then suddenly a few started cleaning the store out, leaving empty shelves for the rest. But hey, I get it, this is "Merica" where first come with plenty of disposable cash wills out, but the fact is, when the market is adjusted to 10 people buying one box each, and suddenly ONE person starts buying 10 boxes, on just that tiny scale, suddenly the shelves are cleaned out! This is precisely why the government makes price gouging and hoarding illegal during a crisis - well, they used to. Then everybody jumps on their favorite forum to complain about the ammo makers not ramping up production to meet demand caused by hoarders, yet why should they? They're making the same or more money than they were with the same production thanks to the ability to raise their prices, and they have no intention of being slammed with excess inventory and production when the consumer craze runs its course and suddenly ammo prices plummet as now CRATES of ammo sit on shelves because even the most prolific of hoarders eventually runs out of money or storage space.

The so-called ammo shortage is no different than was the toilet paper shortage during Covid - the few rushing the store to buy cartons of the stuff, leaving almost none on the shelf, prompting everyone else to panic and suddenly there was a run on toilet paper! There wasn't a sudden rise in the number of people going, or wiping, the shortage was purely consumer driven.

 

[pharmer]

During the last part of the 20th century the "non military" ammo production was around 3 billion .22 rimfire and 300 million centerfire cartridges. Data for 2020 was 5 billion rimfire and 4 billion centerfire (including shotshells). Minus the military 1.7 billion (can't imaging them making a dent in the rimfire pile) We were about triple. There's been an increase since 2020 so numbers are probably much larger now. Hopefully "overcapacity" will rear it's ugly head and ammo will be cheap again. One can hope. Joe

 

[twodog max]

I just today ordered a case of 22 ammo. I have plenty on hand but I do not see prices getting any lower soon. I got it for far less than the LGS sell it for even less than Wally World.
I do not consider it to be hoarding because with the current world and national situation the ammo and guns status is subject to knee jerk reactions.

 

[Grayfox]

Its been time to stock up since the first ammo shortages back in the 1990s. I learned my lesson and always keep a good supply on hand.
Right now the serious shortages seem to be reloading supplies. Especially primers. Therefore, when I find a good price on factory ammo, I buy some of that.
I'm shooting less these days because I don't know if I can resupply at a decent price.
If you're not already stocked up, you're running way behind.

 

[austintexas]

hoarding

I buy if the price suits me. 20 years ago I went to a San Antonio gunshow and a gentleman was selling 4064 1 lb cans of power $5.00, I bought 20 cans and I'm still using it. I attended a Dallas show another gentleman was selling primers for $12 a brick, I bought 15,000 assorted and still have some. In 1980 I decided to use up all my 44 mag components and loaded up 500 rounds. I still have 100 rounds left. I have 2500 of 9mm reloads , 3000 rounds of 38 special, and 3000 rounds of .45 acp. I don't know how much 308 and 30-06 I have but it's a lot. Loaded up 100 rounds of 30-30 in the early 80s and still have half of it left. I don't reload much now, too much inventory. I just do the odd stuff, 32-20, 380, 32 long, etc. BUT if a bargain comes along I pick it up. I lately picked up primers for $30 a brick in an old established gunshop in the country that was old stock that had not been marked up to current prices.
SWCA 892

 

[BSA1]

Ammo hoarding is what started the ammo shortage. Used to be people bought a few boxes, then suddenly a few started cleaning the store out, leaving empty shelves for the rest.

So what you are saying is fat people buying groceries is what causes food shortages. If they would be more considerate and go on a diet there will be more food available for the rest of us.

suddenly ammo prices plummet as now CRATES of ammo sit on shelves because even the most prolific of hoarders eventually runs out of money or storage space.

Please post when and where you see CRATES of ammo sitting on shelves at pre-COVID prices. I would like to contribute in my own small way with recreating a ammo shortage again.

The so-called ammo shortage is no different than was the toilet paper shortage during Covid - the few rushing the store to buy cartons of the stuff, leaving almost none on the shelf, prompting everyone else to panic and suddenly there was a run on toilet paper! There wasn't a sudden rise in the number of people going, or wiping, the shortage was purely consumer driven.

There we have it folks. Wipe less often to avoid running out of toilet paper.

I thought that the increase of the number of firearms purchased in 2019 from 13.5 million to 21.6 million in 2020 followed by 18.8 million in 2021 and 16.8 million in 2022 is the major driver of ammunition being in short supply.

 

[oddshooter]

Trends

The world is always trying to analyze yesterday and today to predict tomorrow. It doesn't matter if it's ammo, cars, or the stock market.

Maybe, the markets will go down to prior levels when fear is gone.
Maybe, the markets have/will go up with continued inflation.

I have spent a considerable amount of my life trying to chart today to find statistical trends for tomorrow.

At this point in my life, with the new abnormal society that we now have; I have NO clue what's about to happen. Flip a coin.

I do know that we are becoming more polarized each day, like in the 60's. That's usually not a good thing.

I watched the 4th of July fireworks that were the biggest and loudest I've ever seen. I told my lady that there sure was a lot of pent up rage being released.


Prescut

 

[CH4]

Definitely more out of ritual than need, I stopped by the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Kelso, WA. With help from a few willing customers, I picked up 1100 SPP (combo of Remington and Fiocchi) and a pound of Bullseye. The primers were about $5.50 per hundred and Bullseye was $45/lb. I already have a few pounds, but this was the first I’ve found in 3 years, so I grabbed another pound.
In today’s market, $55/K is a good price; $45 per pound for Bulleye is a little high, but…

* Prices include 5% vet discount.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Find somewhere or go to your "place" and practice. I like shooting away from the crowd. My show-off days are over. It helps keep a check on your ammo needs, too. Let's go shooting (paper).

 

[Paul in Nevada]

As long as gun owners resist buying ammo and primers simple market forces will continue to drive prices down.

You just go ahead and resist and see how far the prices fall.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I am pretty well fixed on the calibers I use. Have been for years. But I wonder what most of you are buying. Are you getting FMJ for practice? Or HP for defense? Personally I have approximately 60% practice and 40% premium HP's. I don't spend as much time as I used to searching for online deals. But generally buy in case lots, even for the expensive stuff.

 

[llowry61]

Four stages of ammo shortage - Denial, Anger, Depression, Acceptance.

 

[Skeet 028]

With the problems coming in the future it may very well be time to stock up on both ammunition and reloading supplies. Fill the shelves DEEP!

 

[Model19man]

I am not in the stock up mode. I was afraid there might be a President Dukakis and I stocked up then. Turns out it was a great decision. However if you don't already own a lifetime supply of reloading components now might be a wise time to invest in it. It's only going to be more expensive in the future.

 

[PhilT]

I've been buying better grouping .22's each time I can. I stock up on junk bulk for close up pistol practice and election consequences. Been buying 9mm. by the case but sadly .38 wadcutters are still way over priced. I did just buy enough of my favorite wads to shoot required qualifications till I'm dead. But sure would like enough for steady practice. So I'm shooting more 9mm than ever. Too bad, I'm a revolver guy.

short barrel, but 986 PC will use up some of those 9mm cartridges!

 

[Skeet 028]

I do not reload 9mm. Have a friend who used my Dillon 550C to load a bunch and I got a 1000. Bought 2000 rounds when Scheel's had 9s on sale at 9.99 and 10.99 I don't really keep a close watch on store prices...but they haven't run those prices since...Can't find 38s anywhere near those prices so I am in the process of loading a few 1000. couple 1000 wadcutters and then a couple 1000 jacketed and the same SWC lead. I may have nuff loaded then. I am thinking it may be time to buy more primers. I just traded a 1000 SRP tor a 1000 LRPs so am good to go for 4-5000 Large Rifle cases. I am going to try to buy as many SPPs and SRPs to replace what I use now...then go hunt a burrow for a few years. If I have too many loaded then the grandkids can shoot 'em up. I honestly thought we would be coming back at close to the old normal...but it ain't happening guys...time to buy every chance you get JMHO

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I voted no. Not because I ever stop looking, but I'm waiting to see how this next election shakes out. With the right person in the White House, we could see a completely different economic environment similar to what we had right before the plandemic. The policies of the current administration have trashed the buying power of the dollar. I'm cautiously optimistic that we may see improvement soon, so while I may buy a pound of powder or a couple hundred primers here and there, I'm making no major purchases.