Odds are, you're too late.......

I'm sitting here reading all these new threads about where to find components, suppliers raising prices and empty shelves. I just can't help but shake my head. Ain't trying to be a jerk, but if you didn't learn anything from the last coupla shortages, shame on you. If you are not desperate for components, yet running out and getting all you can find, you are the problem. If you are new to reloading, live and learn. If you are new to reloading, you probably are not going to be as heavily affected by this temporary, yet another scenario contributed to unfounded panic, situation. Like with toilet paper, be patient. There is more out there. As for those who did learn and have plenty, again, like toilet paper, consider helping out those with need.

jmorris said:

Me too. Then someone pointed out to me that some of the folks could be new and ignorant of what history has taught us. So, I’ll cut the new guys and gals some slack but if you have been around the firearms scene for even 4 years, you should know better. 7 years, shame on you.

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This is what my OP was all about. Even newbies, completely new to firearms within the last two years, unless they've had their head under a rock, should know the volatility of the ammo/reloading market. One could not be a member of a gun forum for a week without reading a thread about the past shortages and the odds are anything could make it happen again. Hard for me to believe that some guy/gal, that just went out and bought their first firearm last week, has the need for 10,000 rounds of ammo. Kinda like never riding a motorcycle, buying a new Harley and then immediately riding to the tip of South America. I'm not saying folks, even newbies, don't have the right/privilege to own all the ammo they can realistically afford. I'm just saying, if it ain't there at the last minute when you go looking, like the title of this thread, Odds are, you're too late.....

A few weeks back, our Card Club went out for Fish Fry. One of my friends there asked if I could polish some .22 ammo for him. Seems he bought 4 bricks of .22 LR when he found it during the last shortage. He had put it in his garage in the plastic bag he carried it out of the store with. Seems between the plastic bag and the humidity in his garage for two years or so, it had badly corroded. Said if it couldn't be saved, it was no big deal, since he had forgotten about it since the shortage and he never shoots .22 anyway. He didn't buy it 'cause he needed it, he bought it because everyone else was. He's a nice guy and a dear friend, but this is the exact same mindset I see here so commonly. While common, it's not really common sense.

Rule3 said:

The sad or troubling part of ammo buying/hoarding is that many buy it just to resell at a profit. Call it scalping or whatever you want.
Now is that greed or just American marketing?

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When it comes down to essential items like medicine, food or other staples during a major crisis, it is greed. In this scenario, I believe it is just a case of what the market will bear. The whole idea behind our capitalistic society is making a profit. Back in the early 2000s, when Harleys were in big demand and supplies low, folks paid above and beyond MSRP for bikes. While folks whined about it and claimed the dealers were greedy, no body actually needed a Harley to live or to stay healthy. So shame on those that paid the premium price. So can be said for ARs when the scare of them being banned came about. Nobody needed them, but everyone wanted one only because they thought it might be their last chance at one. Nowadays I know of folks that still have them unfired in the original box, and won't sell them because they can't get anything close to what they paid for them. Now, the BS about selling Insulin and EpiPens at ridiculously high prices, is greed.

Hartkopf said:

So what could be next event that shoots America in another extremity and causes more shortages?

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Again...kinda the just of my OP. Folks should have learned that almost any little thing could and has created panic buying of ammo, firearms and components. Thus they should always have on hand what they think they may need, not just for this week, but for several months. For some this is not economically feasible and I understand. One must keep their priorities. Feed the kids and then your guns. None of these scenarios has come around because we feel we are going to enter a "Mad Max" TEOTWAWKI situation. What the 'ell are we in for if that ever happens? That is why, things like canned food, bottled water, batteries and basic medical/hygiene supplies should always be stocked somewhere in our primary residence. Same goes for ammo. Have enough to get you thru for a while now, instead of rushing out at the last minute and getting all that Walmart has left. We are lucky this pandemic is seen to be just a temporary thing. One only has to look back in history at WWI and WWII to see where we could have scenarios where we need to make great sacrifices for years.