Ammo Shortage merged threads, aka UberUltraMasterAmmoThreadOfPower

Would you join in stopping high demand ammo purchases?


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I've been a hoarder all of my life, so it's nothing new to me. I usually load up 500 rds. at a time on my old 3 hole Lee press. I am way ahead of getting caught short. Load some and then go shoot some. What a cycle. I am happy. Does anyone need some old cast iron cookware? Yep I hoard that too.
 
In my area, 380 ACP and 25 ACP disappeared first due to increased interest in both those calibers for pocket carry. 357/38spl disappeared next for the same reason except that most don't pocket carry 357 revolvers. 9mm and 40 S&W disappeared slowly due to the high inventory at suppliers. But once it was gone, it was very difficult to see any new ammo on the shelf. 223 and 7.62x39 disappeared next.

22 LR shells disappeared rather quickly right after the election. Supplies are beginning to come back now.

All of this means nothing unless you buy ammo for resale or own firearms (and shoot them) in the calibers that are in short supply.

I was in a country hardware store the other day and noticed they had a case of Remington 44 mag ammo on the shelf priced at $24 or $25/box. Good price, but I don't own a 44 mag now. I suggested they check to see what 44 mag is selling for and adjust their prices to allow for resupply.
 
I'm having a hard time keeping any of my guns fed. I'm going to the range tomorrow with 100 rounds of .45, 50 rounds of 9mm and 50 rounds of .380. That constitutes the majority of my ammunition stash :( Guess it's time to get into reloading, but I don't have any kind of space suitable for generating the amount of ammo I would like to have.
 
I have about 40lbs of powder, 20,000 primers, 7-10,000 bullets,and brass enough for several generations on hand. That's not counting what I have loaded over the last twenty or so years. I use a single stage press. I'm 58. I'll be dead before I can run out of ammo.
 
I don't buy ammo anymore unless I shoot. For several years I meant to stock up on each caliber I shoot just to have a cushion for SHTF, but never did. Everytime I got the money together to buy several cases of ammo, I bought another gun instead. When the panic hit, I was pretty dry of ammo. Right now I have a good cushion in all the calibers I shoot, so I don't buy anymore these days unless I plan on going shooting.
 
I've just started reloading and plan to stock up in that manner instead. If it comes down to it, I'll get 10,000 primers (the limit) and get buckets of wheel weights.

Where do you live that 10k primers is all you can have? I'm sitting on more than that now.
 
It seems what Wal-Mart tended to have most often (meaning nobody wanted) was 357 SIG. First to reappear seems to be .40 S&W. Hardest to find seems to be .380.

On one trip I stopped at probably 6 Wal-Marts, and all I found anywhere was 357 SIG (in about half of them).

Of course, there always seemed to be plenty of shotgun shells.
 
I had nearly this same conversation. I was told something different though. They told me that their shipment comes in on so and so days, and sits in the back until it is stocked. Waht I gather, is that the gun stores come to the store the day of the shipment, asks to see the manager, then asks if any ammo came in - then buy what they want.
 
One of my LGS stated that Wal Mart employees can buy all they want.
Just not on the clock..
They (and their buds) know when it's coming and they buy it all. Resale at the gun shows or to other friends.
There are four Super Wal Marts around me and there hasn't been any pistol caliber for months. Nothing, nada! Sucks.

Now at the LGS you can get some home rolled stuff from Alabama for range work (at WWB or Remington Green box prices) and the PD is available in one major brand or another. Still the prices are high due to commodity prices.

I found some Remington FMJ a few weeks back at Bass Pro and picked up a couple boxes.

The .380 situation is ridiculous. Lucky I had a stash well before.
 
LGS

Guy told me that the employees and their friends know when the stuff arrives.
Off the clock they can then buy all they want. Resell at the gun shows.

There hasn't been any handgun ammo at the four Super Wal Marts in E. TN for 8 months.

When I stop and ask at the Lenoir City store the counter man is the biggest pr*** in the world and acts like I am out of my mind even asking.

I mostly avoid Wal Mart any more at every opportunity. Target gets my discount business.

I am going to Florida on a drive trip. Interesting to see what is on the shelves at my old haunts.
 
22-rimfire said:
I was in a country hardware store the other day and noticed they had a case of Remington 44 mag ammo on the shelf priced at $24 or $25/box. Good price, but I don't own a 44 mag now. I suggested they check to see what 44 mag is selling for and adjust their prices to allow for resupply.

:what:
 
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The fun of shooting is falling fast...

I know the ammo shortage discussion has been beaten to death and I don't intend to belabor that point here, but the impact on shooting enthusiasm has been profound. I recently bought a Ruger 10/22 to get back into cheap rifle shooting and quality ammo is, of course, difficult (not impossible) to find. The prices have risen to the point where the sport is becoming a real strain on the wallet. As for bigger calibers that I used to shoot a lot (and enjoy), I have pretty much shelved them. I'm lucky if I get in 500 rounds a year in some types (I used to shoot ~1,000/month).

While some of my local ranges are still doing okay business, some are veritable ghost towns. Sure, firearms sales are brisk, but this is due to fear of being locked out more than anything else. Gun dealers are making a killing for sure.

I'm slowing down my gun buying and shooting for the time being. My job is stressful and shooting helps me vent some frustrations, but I'm probably going to ramp up my golf game instead. Hitting those dimpled golf balls as hard as I can is a close second to shooting, and a round of golf is cheaper than a day at the range (at least where I live).
 
You probably expected the "start reloading" comment, so I'll spare you. For rifle, I went the 10/22 route, too. Between that and a Ruger MkIII, I can keep my proficiency up on the cheap.

My problem is I've got some training to go through away from home, and I don't have room for reloading equipment. I'm out of the hobby for a while, too. :(
 
My problem is I've got some training to go through away from home, and I don't have room for reloading equipment. I'm out of the hobby for a while, too.

Same here. No space for reloading. If I had the space, I would do it in a NY-minute...
 
Here is my current reloading bench:

DSC02752.jpg

It doesn't have to take up much space. If you've got three feet of bare wall anywhere, you've got room to reload... I started while I was renting a single bedroom at a friend's house.

I find that reloading can be almost as much fun as shooting. Getting started can cost some money up front, but now I do save a minimum 50% on just about any centerfire caliber I shoot, plus it is a lot of fun and very interesting in its own right.
 
+1 to reloading with a small startup in $ and equipment/space. I had a Black and Decker workmate bench too for my first reloading setup, and it worked fine. If you want to scale up an operation like the one in the picture, you can fasten some 3/4" plywood sheet to the top (C-clamps will work) and also weight down the legs with a cross board and whatever weights you have handy. There are some cool pictures somewhere on this board with photos of some very clever reloading setups the took up even less room and were totally functional. Consider it!
 
Ammo prices are comming down.(slowly).
Reloading does not take all that much room. I load for 4calibers and do it in A 5'x4' space
I hate to see fellow shooters leaving the sport over ammo issues.
And reloading relieves stress.
Keep shooting
 
went to Dick's on sat and they're stocked up. $89.00 for a 250 round box of .380Acp UMC. $54.00 for 100 rounds of .45Acp HP UMC.
 
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I agree with what is being said and have every intention of reloading myself... BUT... reload for availability issues not for savings as it will take thousands of rounds to equal any savings and that is a lot of money spent...

AND... it isnt just the ammunition that is difficult to find right now... it is reloading components as well... PRIMERS PRIMARILY...

when they come available again, I have every intention of reloading... not to save money...initially.... or even for availability issues...but because I would like to sustain my shooting without the aid of others.. and the prospect of developing some loads for my rifles is interesting...
 
OP noted that in his home town: ...local ranges are still doing okay business, some are veritable ghost towns.
All the ranges I frequent out west are busy. Even if each shooter cut down on ammo purchases, there are more shooters than ever before. USPSA and other shooting events remain full.
 
If I can talk the Mrs. into it, I may be able to set up a reloading bench in the spare bedroom. The problem is that my kids' sporting and music stuff has taken up so much room, but maybe with a little creativity I could possibly make it work.

I would never leave the sport over the costs, but I would consider a temporary hiatus until things calmed down a bit. I love to shoot and always will, but it just seems a bit too crazy right now. My beef is that these anti-RKBA fears are sucking the fun (and money) out of the sport. I suppose if people feared golf would be banned and golf clubs ballooned to $4K and up and no golf balls could be found anywhere (except at the bottom of a pond), then golfers might consider a similar "sabbatical".

One thing is for certain: I am holding on any additional firearms purchases for now. With Obama's approval rating hovering around the 50% mark, I think the fears of an EBR ban have long passed and prices will start to work their way back down. Not immediately, but soon...
 
There has been quite a turnout at the local IDPA matches here recently as well.

Components are scarce and patience is needed, but once you find them for the right price you can save a good bit of money reloading. I save about $12per 100 on my 9mm plinking ammo (for IDPA, etc), and it only goes up from there, in terms of cost savings per round...
 
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