I learned from shortages past to buy as much as you think you can shoot then double or triple it in the good times. With that in mind I have no ammo concerns. Once I had the commercial ammo, I started in on the reloading supplies, primers, then powder and bullets. So, if I need to make my own I can do that too. When all this calms down I will begin buying again and will purchase what I need for the remainder of my shooting days when retired.
What Happened to The Ammo
- Thread starter cherrypointmarine
- Start date
As will I, with reloading supplies at the top of the list.
AJ
US Veteran
Is that all?
Jack Flash
Member
I don't think they are doing anything illegal, but it may be close. When you work to create a shortage and then seek to profit from it, that seems at least unethical to me. It reminds me of ticket scalpers buying up concert tickets, superbowl tickets, etc. Legal or not, I prefer not to deal with that type. But that's all been thoroughly debated in several other threads on this forum so I will bow out of the back and forth on that aspect of that discussion.
I learned from the last couple of shortages to stock up on what you want when ammo is plentiful and prices are reasonable. There are a few cartridges I would like to buy a couple of boxes of but will just wait till the panic ends.
Last edited:
"Someone who's seen lean times and prepares for when they come again, (as they always do), is thinking ahead, not hoarding."
Only those who have failed to adhere to this principle would call those of us who have "hoarders."
Only those who have failed to adhere to this principle would call those of us who have "hoarders."
LVSteve
Member
The only comment I can make to the OP is to ask where he has been over the last couple of months. Ammo supply got tight at least that far back.
COVID-19 and the local climate fixed any ammo shortage that might occur at my house. I'm not going to any indoor ranges right now with the slack attitude of many out there to masks etc, and I'm damned sure I'm not going out into the desert to shoot when it's 110°F or more. I don't have to go shooting, but I get the vibe from some that this "not shooting" idea doesn't sit well with them.
COVID-19 and the local climate fixed any ammo shortage that might occur at my house. I'm not going to any indoor ranges right now with the slack attitude of many out there to masks etc, and I'm damned sure I'm not going out into the desert to shoot when it's 110°F or more. I don't have to go shooting, but I get the vibe from some that this "not shooting" idea doesn't sit well with them.
Last edited:
Puller
Member
The capitalist invest their money in things like ammo when prices are low and re-sell it when prices are higher due to supply and demand to make a profit.
The so called hoarders buy ammo when times are not so turbulent so that when cultural anomalies occur which cause panic buying and supplies dry up, they have an adequate supply already on hand. The so called hoarders don't typically sell their ammo, for profit or otherwise.
The people who complain about "capitalist" and "hoarders" are the ones who didn't prepare when times were good.
The so called hoarders buy ammo when times are not so turbulent so that when cultural anomalies occur which cause panic buying and supplies dry up, they have an adequate supply already on hand. The so called hoarders don't typically sell their ammo, for profit or otherwise.
The people who complain about "capitalist" and "hoarders" are the ones who didn't prepare when times were good.
OP
cherrypointmarine
Member
I too don't think it's hoarding . If I spent my money and put the ammo away for when it was needed , what's wrong with that ? Some of mine has been around a while , I go through spurts of shooting one caliber , right now it's .45 . I shoot every week , so if I wasn't prepared I'd be in a hurt locker right about now .
And yes , I remember times past when we went through this . Still remember when Obama got in and AR15's were going for 3-4 times what they were normally going for , so I guess ultimately it's the law of supply and demand .
And yes , I remember times past when we went through this . Still remember when Obama got in and AR15's were going for 3-4 times what they were normally going for , so I guess ultimately it's the law of supply and demand .
AJ
US Veteran
ACP or Colt? I shoot both.
Jack Flash
Member
For a while, it was only semi-auto cartridges that were unobtainable. Revolver cartridges like the .44 Mag and .45 Colt were still plentiful. Heck, I think you could still easily find .38 Special and .357 Mag just a couple of months ago.
Made me kind of smug as a (mainly) revolver shooter. Sadly, now everything is "Out of Stock / No Back Order".
Enjoyed reading all the replys. Im sure first time buyers, guy like us trying to get a jump on ammo. My safe is well stocked. I was lucky enought to come across some fella's selling at a great price. Not that I needed much, but knowing what I see on GB, 49.99 for box 9mm and yes its selling. I bought 500 rds of 10mm for 20.00 a box. 500 rds of 9mm for 11.00 a box and 1000 rds of 45ACP for 17.00 a box. Nice to see there are fellow shooters out there willing to help out other shooters.
I don't think this will let up for awhile. All my go to places are completely out. Hang in there Fella's
Brian
I don't think this will let up for awhile. All my go to places are completely out. Hang in there Fella's
Brian
I go back to when primers disappeared during the Clinton administration. I've been buying components and ammunition on a slow but steady basis ever since. I had a "Holy Smoke" moment when I finally picked everything off the floor in my house and put it in proper shelves and cabinets, but now I'm glad I did what I did.
31FordA
Member
At the beginning of the year I took stock of my ammo and figured out what I needed to stock up on by the end of summer with the election coming. I figured I had nine months to buy what I wanted. After living thru 2008 and 2013 I was not getting caught short again.
In February I started noticing business picking up in gun stores. Clueless people buying shotguns they didn't know how to load, etc, all talking about a virus. I thought they were nuts, but concluded nuts or not they were likely to start buying everything up. After I saw a guy buy 5,000 rounds of 9 & 45 at one time I decided I better start filling my list. I managed to get 75% of it by the time things shut down. I started filling the rest in May, and then the riots hit. I'm glad I got what I did, because there just ain't much left out there to buy. The stuff I didn't get all of was stuff I never expected to run out, mainly .38 Spl and .45 Colt.
I can keep shooting at my usual pace for several years before I have to get nervous. Hopefully things will level off before that happens.
In February I started noticing business picking up in gun stores. Clueless people buying shotguns they didn't know how to load, etc, all talking about a virus. I thought they were nuts, but concluded nuts or not they were likely to start buying everything up. After I saw a guy buy 5,000 rounds of 9 & 45 at one time I decided I better start filling my list. I managed to get 75% of it by the time things shut down. I started filling the rest in May, and then the riots hit. I'm glad I got what I did, because there just ain't much left out there to buy. The stuff I didn't get all of was stuff I never expected to run out, mainly .38 Spl and .45 Colt.
I can keep shooting at my usual pace for several years before I have to get nervous. Hopefully things will level off before that happens.
jrm53
Member
Ammo shortage
Like goldollar said a couple of posts above about primers, let me tell you about Jan 1 1993, I attended a gunshow in Springdale Ar it was wall to wall people you could not hardly get around in there at the time I had an FFL and I was buying primers for my own use from Gil Hebard and I have not bought primers in 25 years. I cast all my own bullets for pistols and some rifles I'm pretty old now I have enough to last me out. Back to the show they were buying every thing in sight, guns, ammo, componets and bullets. I could understand this here in Arkansas but I never thought it would be like that across the country. The only thing I might be weak on is powder. But i believe you could have sold about any thing that day. I will not shoot any 22's now, I just save them. I have been closed in by towns and I seldom shoot any more, just have plenty of every thing you need, waste not want not. Jeff
Like goldollar said a couple of posts above about primers, let me tell you about Jan 1 1993, I attended a gunshow in Springdale Ar it was wall to wall people you could not hardly get around in there at the time I had an FFL and I was buying primers for my own use from Gil Hebard and I have not bought primers in 25 years. I cast all my own bullets for pistols and some rifles I'm pretty old now I have enough to last me out. Back to the show they were buying every thing in sight, guns, ammo, componets and bullets. I could understand this here in Arkansas but I never thought it would be like that across the country. The only thing I might be weak on is powder. But i believe you could have sold about any thing that day. I will not shoot any 22's now, I just save them. I have been closed in by towns and I seldom shoot any more, just have plenty of every thing you need, waste not want not. Jeff
Honestly, I think a lot of guys buy a bunch then sell some to offset the amount they have into it. Buy 2k rounds, panic hits sell 500 and you have 1500 for little or nothing. I am not sure I am opposed to that approach and considered it myself at times, I am just not that worried about the money and would rather have the ammo, but if I were younger and in a different place you can bet that is what I would do.
The shortage is way to wide spread for that. What you are talking about would take a millions of dollars and acres of storage to buy the nation into a shortage so they could sell it at higher prices. Much more likely that demand outran supply. Sure some may have spent a few thousand to resell but that was not a conspiracy that caused a national shortage of ammo.
LVSteve
Member
I just cannot get my head around that a non-business owning individual. I have stuff because I like stuff. I never think "what I have in it" except for maybe the house.
The truth be known, I am a net seller of ammo right now.
Two reasons for that: 1) I need the money to buy other different pistol ammo for guns recently bought... and, 2) We will be moving before year's end so some reduction in the size/weight of the reserve ammo stash does make practical sense. 
I've also found that I prefer 124 Gr 9mm ammo to 115 Gr 9mm ammo so this is an opportunity to decrease the 115's and eventually increase the 124's. That assumes, of course, that this madness will come to an end someday. Yes, that is something of a gamble.
In my defense as a "flipper", I'm selling at the same price within pennies that TSUSA is selling it for (if/when 9mm is available) and I don't charge shipping or sales tax. I even deliver.
My buyers are thrilled to get it and I get to search out the similarly-expensive ammo that I need. It's a "Win-Win"... just as long as this craziness doesn't get even worse.
Last edited:
LVSteve
Member
I think you might have that bass-ackwards.
Cdog
Member
The only ammo I purchase is .22 rimfire. I haven't bought any .22 ammo in at least 6 or 7 years.
I've been through many cycles including the primer scare of the early 90's. This time it's different.
Seems to be a lot more fear from the non enthusiast.
People aren't hoarding, the average Joe is scared.
I've been through many cycles including the primer scare of the early 90's. This time it's different.
Seems to be a lot more fear from the non enthusiast.
People aren't hoarding, the average Joe is scared.
