Ammo Shortage merged threads, aka UberUltraMasterAmmoThreadOfPower

[TexasRedneck]

The conversion kits are a hoot! Have a Kimber on one of my old Series 70's. Of course, that meant I hadta find another Model 70.......or two.

 

[Justin]

If you're buying ammo with no actual intention of shooting it, please stop. Those of us who actually do go to the range with any regularity would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[TexasRedneck]

If you're buying ammo with no actual intention of shooting it, please stop. Those of us who actually do go to the range with any regularity would appreciate it.

You're probably right. While we're on the subject - if you own more than one gun or car, please stop.

With all due respect, why is it ANYone's business as to what someone intends to do with something that THEY buy and pay for?!?!? It flies in the face of the very thing we take to heart - that this is a FREE country, where we are free to pursue our hearts and dreams?!??

If you want to buy and hold a million rounds of ammo, all I ask is that I be named in your Will - but I would NEVER presume to tell someone they should stop buying anything that they can legally do.

 

[Niel4]

If I see ammo I buy it.

Mostly at Wally World, first thing when they open. I pass 3 stores on the way to work and I call them to see what they got in. I buy from other places from time to time but at much higher prices. Wish I had some of M2 Carbine's $4.38 / 100 boxes of 9mm. I bought some Federal 9mm today at WalMart....50 rds for $9.47. I bought 4 boxes (all they got in).

I feel I need to keep at least 1000 rounds for each caliber as my base (2,000 for 22 lr). I shoot about 3 times per month so i replenish when i can. Sometimes it takes 3 weeks just to find / buy 100 rounds.

Even when / if the current shortage goes away, it seems whenever there is some kind of "event" ammo dries up.

Good thing my wife does not know.....

 

[chuckusaret]

I felt so stupid being caught almost dry when the ammo shortage hit, now I can't walk past it. I'm in trouble with the wife. I buy it when I see it, and now I can't shoot it. I have this compulsion to leave a bigger and flatter impression in the carpet in my closet.

I also had a very large supply of ammo prior to December 08, but I still buy ammo to allow me to continue shooting and to rotate my supply. I just bought some Federal Hydra Shok .380 and .40 today at an outrageous price but I could not help but say to myself, but what if the SHTF.

I use to think that way, the more the better, back in the 80's when I went to Hill AFB, I'd bring one suitecase full of assorted booze.

 

[justashooter in pa]

700 rounds of 30 AK ammo isn't hoarding. that's just a decent afternoon. call me when you have 40,000, and we can talk about hoarding.

 

[longbeard48]

A friend of mine did an inventory of his ammo the other day and he says he has $18,000 worth of ammo at todays prices!

 

[huntsman]

I felt so stupid being caught almost dry when the ammo shortage hit, now I can't walk past it. I'm in trouble with the wife. I buy it when I see it, and now I can't shoot it. I have this compulsion to leave a bigger and flatter impression in the carpet in my closet. I find myself walking by ammo cans at the surplus store, I buy a few for storage, and then I get disappointed when I have one left only partially full. I found some .30 Carbine today at Smith and Edwards, and I was weeping openly.

Then I DON'T WANT TO SHOOT IT. Because if I take out the SKS and crank off a couple of mags, I'll only have 660 rounds left instead of an even 700. I cannot do that.

A. Has this happened to anyone else,

And B. How much is a good cushion where you feel ok to shoot some of it and not feel......bereft?

Welcome to the club.

Don'tcha know shooting is more fun when your ammo cost half the current going rate.

I just shot a box of .380acp with a price tag of $8.99

Buy when cheap and stack deep.

 

[nwilliams]

I hoard certain ammo. Some ammo I save because it's rare, some because it's very expensive and some of it I save for defensive use.

For example I have a several hundred rounds of 8x56r ammo on stripper clips that I'd rather just hang on to and not use up because it would be difficult and expensive to replace.

I also have a few hundred rounds of .380 and .45ACP that I'm saving just because it's so hard to find right now.

However most of the ammo I stock up on is meant to be shot rather quickly. I just ordered 1k rounds of 5.7x28 that I'm sure I'll go through pretty quick with my PS90. Today I picked up four boxes of 9mm Federal for $9.47 a box that I plan to use up this weekend at the range. Whenever I see ammo for a good price I usually buy as much as I can afford at the time. I'll stop by Wally World a few times a week and check their ammo stock, if they have some in stock for a decent price I'll usually buy a few boxes of it.

I think one of the big problems is that we are just now coming out of a nationwide ammo shortage and I personally I need time to adjust. For the most part ammo is back on the shelves and the price seems to be dropping. Mentally however I'm still in the state of mind that I was a few months ago when it seemed like ammo was in short supply and what you could find was way overpriced. I don't think we're out of the hole yet but things are certainly getting better and my ammo stockpile is growing again. However no matter how large my ammo stockpile is the purpose for having it is to shoot it.

 

[mljdeckard]

Justin, I certainly INTEND to shoot it. I've just become stingy.

We normally shoot water jugs and pumpkins the first Saturday after Halloween, but this year I'll be out of town for training, I think Halloween might have to come early this year.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Happened to me once. I got over it by buying a reloading press and some dies.

Since some of my guns were originally designed for black powder, and I have a formula for that. Now whenever I think "I could run out of ammo" I remember "But I can always make more".

I'm serious. Go buy a reloading press and dies for whatever it is you shoot. Go buy some powder, and some molds. If need be go buy some books on reloading.

You'll never worry about ammo again.

EDIT: Wow. Some of you guys have got waaaaaaay to much ammo. No wonder prices are going sky-high.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Define "too much ammo". With 30 .45's in my safe, and lots of friends that enjoy getting together at the range, it's easy to burn 1k rounds in a month - or take 3 months to burn 'em. Either way, it's my resources that are involved, so I really have a hard time seeing where ANYONE has any say in it. Oh, wait - they don't!!

 

[DasFriek]

I just got back into guns a few months back after 20 years of being away,and i came right at the point when NO ammo could be found.And if you did find it you needed a small home loan to buy just enough to kill a few hours at the range.
I tried stocking up a bit and keep at least 300 rounds of each caliber,but that was soon costing me $200+ just to replace all that after a day at the range and i wouldnt shoot all of it either.And took alot of fun out of it all.

You know what i found? That i can always buy ammo,it may be hard to find or expensive but it will always be there.One way or another that is despite the Gov.
But Ive found id rather spend my money on guns and just keep enough ammo for 1 range day.Buying guns are much more fun that buying ammo for them.
Now if you have enough guns then ok,buy that ammo.

I do like to keep .22LR on hand,its just too much fun to shoot and i dont want to run out of that ever.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Das, ah've got one word for ya: RELOAD. During all the shortages, I was able to continue shooting everything in my collection. I DID reduce my .380 consumption, but only for a few weeks while waiting on more bullets. No matter the price - I'm reloading at around 5.50-6.00/box 50 for my .45's.....ya'll go ahead an' buy that factory ammo!

 

[DasFriek]

I do have access to a reloading rig,my brother left it behind when he died a few years back.It was promised to another family member who is big into hunting,but he has never went to get it.
Im even saving my brass,just a small 1 gallon freezer bag full so far.
Problem is room at this point,i don't have a place for it.
But i will admit as i keep buying guns the more ammo ill need and saving money by reloading may be my way out.
Plus it would be nice to make my own SD and shoot it without paying $1-$2 a round.

 

[mljdeckard]

Like I say, my dad's is collecting dust. But particularly for .30 carbine, it makes all the difference with cast bullets.

 

[15guns]

Do you think you guys have enough ammo laying around yet? What are you stacking up for? World War 3? J/K

 

[nwilliams]

Das, ah've got one word for ya: RELOAD. During all the shortages, I was able to continue shooting everything in my collection. I DID reduce my .380 consumption, but only for a few weeks while waiting on more bullets. No matter the price - I'm reloading at around 5.50-6.00/box 50 for my .45's.....ya'll go ahead an' buy that factory ammo!

I hear people say this all the time but the problem is that reloading not always an option for some of us. I live in an apartment and even though it's a big apartment I don't really have the area needed to set up reloading equipment. If I had a garage then I would be reloading for sure.

 

[LoneStarWings]

I solve the problem by having "premium" ammo that I "save" should the situation arise that I need it (hollow points, ballistic tipped rifle ammo, good buckshot). I keep a set quantity of this on hand, but it's so rare to see in stores that I rarely have to deal with impulse buys for it. I only shoot a few boxes of this stuff per year and keep the rest on hand. FMJ/plinking ammo on the other hand, I shoot as much as I want/can afford.

 

[bigfatdave]

Do you think you guys have enough ammo laying around yet? What are you stacking up for? World War 3?

Personally, I'm stocking it myself so I don't have to spend 2 hours driving from shop to shop before I hit the range. And so I don't have to go to the indoor rental range and pay for that AND for their overpriced plinking ammo when I could be going to MY range, shooting as long as I like and burning the ammo I bought when the buying was good.
Think of an ammo hoard like the buffer in your checking account ... living paycheck-to-paycheck can be done, but there's less hassle if you're a few months ahead.

 

[9MMare]

I've been into this sport for less than 2 months and I'm already buying every box of 9mm I can find.

And I cant sit on it...I'm still learning to shoot and am trying to hit the range weekly.

(But I am ahead quite a few boxes )

 

[BHP FAN]

Next you need to learn to reload,but even if you don't save your brass.It makes great tradeing fodder,or as a gift to someone who will reload a few boxes for you.

 

[armoredman]

A friend had his press mounted on a piece of wood he would C clamp to the kitchen table when in use. Everything he used to load two calibers went into a toolbox, took up very little room. Now, after he went NUTs buying stuff, it spilled over a bit...

 

[bigfatdave]

9MMare, you need a .22 that mimics your 9mm

 

[Rembrandt]

Never thought about canning & pickling ammo.....may help preserve it longer. (heehee)