Is it time to fortify your ammo cache

[dekibg]

With ammo of all types avaliable and at a pretty darn good price. Do my fellow gunners believe in filling the larder to door busting levels? The reason I ask is there is an election in 16 months. And you never know what may happen. I am at the over full level myself. But I still buy a box of 22 or 9mm here and there. All other calibers I reload.
Do you think a run on ammo will happen again? Even without another mass shooting?

OMG, are we going to start another cycle of "Obama is coming to take your your guns (and ammo)" style panic ? Even 16 months before elections ?
At the same time, yes , I would love to see idiots paying $25 for 100 Mini-mags at guns shows again.
Also, go ahead and buy 4-5 AR's that you don't need so you can "resell them for double later"

 

[sota]

I hear that, but consider Sam Gabbert (the owner of SGAmmo). He's still clearing stock from the last banic (just had a sale on the last few cases of a special Barnaul load he had made), much of it below cost. I hope they make it, they're nice folks.

I wouldn't want to wager my retirement on timing a market as volatile as Arms. Too many people who do this for a living get caught out on the short end.

What I am happy to wager is that I'll still be shooting, one way or another, 6 or 8 cases of primers from now.

Which is why when I buy ammo during this Memorial Day sales, I'm buying from him. He seems to be the type of people we should want to support, and even if he's a couple bucks more expensive I'd rather my funds went his way.

 

[sota]

Squirreling things away has to be tempered somewhere future need and paranoia. Still not sure what that point is.

A debate I had both internally and externally, trying to determine what the balance is. Since I'm a Metrics kind of guy, and track everything as accurately as I can, I settled on keeping a 4-5 year supply on hand of whatever I shoot, based on 90 day moving average, 356 day moving average, and lifetime average. Which means i'm buying .22lr, 9mm, and 45acp soon.

 

[CapnMac]

I was brought up with the adage "The bargain is in the buy."
If you find ammo at a better than fair price (or even just a fair price), then buy it.

Is it possible to have too much ammo?
Yes. If it either, A, threatens the structural integrity of your lodgings, B, hazards your health in some way, or, C, cuases you to go hungry or without meds to have.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I belong to the club "Target Sports". I have ammo coming in on a regular basis each week. Sometimes a thousands rounds, sometimes a 1 box. I do not have to pay any shipping, so just keep ordering. I have a good surplus. Just thought of something. Have to check out the weekend deals. I know there is something I want. Will have a order within a hour.

 

[Riomouse911]

Ammo is a consumable, not an investment. I would not squirrel away more than I could ever use, just as a speculation against a future panic. At some point, storage becomes a problem. And even a future panic is likely to be temporary. Ammo is not something that can be effectively banned by legislation.

Don’t kid yourself, access to future ammo purchases sure can be banned.

In Ca, now we can’t order loaded ammo via mail without going through a FFL to receive it and hand it to you. That’s an extra fee, and hassle, every time you want to order.

If you buy it out if state and bring it into the state it’s a crime.

Starting soon; ammo purchase background checks, with criminal sanctions for straw purchases.

Any criminal sanction would inevitably include the forfeiture if your rights to own/ possess/ use guns or ammo for some period of time. When the court orders the liquidation of your stuff, things suck big time.

Don’t think for a minute gun banners in your state aren’t planning to try the same crap where you live...it may not fly now or in the foreseeable future... but if one more loser a-hole shoots up a school you just never know.

Stay safe.

 

[alsaqr]

Ammo shortages and inflated gun/ammo prices are created entirely by panic buying by paranoia and herd mentality from the gun crowd. It's not policy driven, it is a self fulfilling prophecy. Every single time.

Yep, it's herd mentality aided by the ammo sellers and guns shops. i heard their mantra during the Clinton administration: "Bill Clinton" will outlaw reloading". Still have primers bought during that panic. Then came the "Obama will take your guns" panic".

 

[redneck2]

Uhhhh....just because it didn’t happen before doesn’t mean it won’t.

You’re obviously not old enough to remember the ‘68 GCA

The Aussies thought they’d never lose most of their gun rights either

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

May I remind you -

 

[357smallbore]

Just like precious metals - Buy Low / Sell High is my strategy . Even during the recent panic there were some deals around. Midway had Remington 7 1/2 BR primers for $24 / 1000, everyone else was asking $30 - $36. Needless to say I stocked up . If you are able it wouldn't hurt to stock up on items you will use. Prices are probably as low as you will see them now. Heck, I remember when a brick of 22 was $5, the lowest I've seen recently was around $12.

I remember the lowest for 22or was $8.96 for a brick. 100 rds of CCI cost $1.99

 

[kozak6]

Yep, it's herd mentality aided by the ammo sellers and guns shops. i heard their mantra during the Clinton administration: "Bill Clinton" will outlaw reloading". Still have primers bought during that panic. Then came the "Obama will take your guns" panic".

To a degree, sure. The recent rimfire shortage is a good example.

However, consider the '94 AWB, Chinese firearm and import bans, Russian firearm import bans, the 7N6 ban, and the attempted ban on SS109/M855. I think we're lucky to be getting in Russian ammo still.

A 20 year supply might be overdoing it. But considering current low prices, it might not be a bad idea to have at a few years supply at hand.

 

[Spats McGee]

With ammo of all types avaliable and at a pretty darn good price. Do my fellow gunners believe in filling the larder to door busting levels? The reason I ask is there is an election in 16 months. And you never know what may happen. I am at the over full level myself. But I still buy a box of 22 or 9mm here and there. All other calibers I reload.
Do you think a run on ammo will happen again? Even without another mass shooting?

It's always time to stock up on ammo. While I didn't really suffer during the Great .22LR Drought of the Early Twenty-Teens, I also didn't get to shoot as much .22 as I would have liked. TBH, I probably gave away more .22LR to friends that had none than I shot during that time. Now that I'm seeing reasonable prices on .22LR, I'm buying a few cases. Frankly, I'd like to keep a few cases of all of my calibers on hand. That reminds me that I need to check on .38Spl. prices...

Squirreling things away has to be tempered somewhere between future need and paranoia. Still not sure what that point is.

This is precisely the debate that Mrs. McGee and I have. I think it's planning for future need; she thinks it's paranoia.

 

[sota]

You're only paranoid when things don't go wrong.
And to be quite honest, I'd prefer to be paranoid than be right. However it's history that gets to make that call.

 

[BSA1]

May I remind you -
View attachment 843238

Be sure to stock up on shotshells. Remember Shotgun Joes advice;

"I said, 'Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony here, walk out and put that double-barrel shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house,'" Biden said.

"You don't need an AR-15—it's harder to aim," he added, "it's harder to use, and in fact you don't need 30 rounds to protect yourself. Buy a shotgun! Buy a shotgun!"

 

[BSA1]

This is precisely the debate that Mrs. McGee and I have. I think it's planning for future need; she thinks it's paranoia.

If it helps tell her you are helping your children by buying guns and ammo for them. After all diapers, baby food, clothes, day care is very expensive.

At least that is the argument I am using against myself to help me justify my gun addiction, er hobby.

 

[sota]

I don't honestly see prices getting much/any cheaper. ex:
.22lr CPHP for $0.03/rnd. Better stuff $0.06 to $0.10
9mm for $0.16 to $0.20/rnd for good quality plinking ammo. $0.50 or there about for defensive stuff (HST)
those are my 2 big stocking calibers. I see the biggest possible effects being inflation (money being worth less) but only if prices hold steady.

 

[RA40]

For those in states that have harsh and worsening views towards firearms we have to take the opportunities as much as we can. Just like the magazine capacity "freedom week" those of us in CA got to enjoy. There are few times to be at ease so get while the getting is good if your wallet allows.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

If you haven’t been stocking up on ammo already, then you’re already behind the curve. The problem is that ammo cost money and a lot of ammo cost a lot of money.
I never had a problem in the pass with the ammo shortages because, I have always kept a good supply on hand.
I recently moved my pistol ammo to the back bedroom closet.


The reason I moved the handgun ammo is because, needed more room for rifle ammo.
I have more in other places.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

What's that old expression about storing ammo? Goes something like "Stack It High...Stack It Deep"? That's what I think of when I see all of those ammo cans!

I'm also kind of figuring then that your house is built on a concrete slab!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny

What's that old expression about storing ammo? Goes something like "Stack It High...Stack It Deep"? That's what I think of when I see all of those ammo cans!

I'm also kind of figuring then that your house is built on a concrete slab!

Yes, the house is on a concrete slab. I have over 100 ammo cans now. I also have a few crates of ammo, 8mm, 7.62 NATO, 7.62x54r, and 7.62x25.
If the world we know ever goes to hell in a hand basket, you are welcome to come.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

If the world we know ever goes to hell in a hand basket, you are welcome to come.

Even if it doesn't thanks for the invite. I would certainly be honored to visit and get the tour of your homestead/arms and ammo storage facility!

 

[OneFreeTexan]

I have ammo for guns I haven’t bought yet.

 

[BobABQ]

I just picked up 3 cases of SK Standard Plus because I want to some on hand in case of another run on .22 LR ammo. I am also expecting to pick up another case this September at the Colorado State Small Bore Silhouette Championship.
I still need to stock up on primers and powder; that will be next.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Setting aside political mumbo-jumbo, I'd say it's always time to stock up on ammo!

 

[Ignition Override]

Walkalong: Simple questions don't always equate to high anxiety. The OP's question seems reasonable, despite some sarcastic responses by one or two smartass posters......
He seems fully aware that despite elections being unpredictable, the ever-present worst "wild card" scenario is that the timing of a mass shooting which initiates a wide-spread buying panic can never be anticipated.

It appears that he simply wants Confirmation of the need to plan ahead, and should buy what he can afford, anytime he has a little extra cash.

redneck: You mentioned that the Aussies were complacent, until the Hobarth massacre.

Switzerland just voted to allow the EU's gun rules to reduce the mag capacities and some types of guns they can own.
We didn't believe that would happen, but they traded some of their rights away in order to change some trade policies etc. A good fraction of Swiss male citizens never served in the Swiss military.