more guns or ammo??

[old fart]

i am asking this question so i may show a friend the answers. this has been a tough year on my household. at the beginning of this year i had 14 guns total from 22 lr rifles to 12 gauge shotguns and 308 rifles and 357 handguns and 22lr handguns. i now have 1 handgun 22 lr, a deer shotgun, and a turkey shotgun and 1 22lr rifle. i sold most to pay bills and with any money left over i bought ammo. i have been buying ammo for several months, my idea is that if obama gets elected ammo will be the first thing attacked. and if romney wins i can save for another gun. my friend has been buying guns, as many as his money allows. he has 18 guns now total, he only had 6 a few months ago. he says guns will one day be unbuyable and ammo can wait. he has less than 2 boxes of 12 gauge ammo but has 4 guns, he has less than one box of 357 but 2 handguns he has 1 box of 30-30 but 4 guns, he has about 200rds of 22lr but has 8 guns from long to hand. i do want to plan on getting some of my guns back again if things get better but for now i'm gonna buy ammo for what i have. he says that ammo can wait and says there is time to get ammo. so what would ya'll do is this situation?, my and his income at this time gives us about $50-75 a week to spend. thanks

 

[tyeo098]

 

[captain awesome]

To be honest I don't think you need to worry about it. Obama has said he is interested in renewing the Assault Weapons Ban (which is more of just limiting magazine capacity than anything else is my understanding), but it wont be for quite a while, and that is only if he can get congressional support, which he likely wont.

Now, what the American public does, is a different thing entirely. I personally hope we have learned our lesson and aren't going to create another panic buy on ammo and components if Obama gets reelected, but that will remain to be seen. In their scared rush they allowed price gouging to happen to us and now we pay unreasonable prices for everything having to do with ammo, and unfortunately things will never be the same. We have hurt ourselves far more than Obama has.

So, by all means, stock up, but stock up on what you personally feel is necessary for you and your family, just don't get crazy with it.


On another note, wouldn't it be something if NO ONE bought any ammo or components for a couple weeks to a month? I bet you would see prices drop to what they were before the 2008/2009 shortages very quickly. To bad the shooting public will never combine forces to do this. If the NRA organized it we might have a shot, but they never will.

 

[silicosys4]

Start stocking up on reloading supplies, if you are truly worried about availability of ammo in the future.

Ebay and gunshows are a great resource for cheap reloading supplies.

 

[ArmisteadArmory]

I think it depends on your time horizon. I have my grandpa's 22lr, built in 1947, and it still shoots flawlessly. I wouldn't think ammo that old would be so reliable regardless of how well it was kept. So if you're thinking about things that may be banned in the near future, I'd have to think about assault rifles and high cap magazines. Five years from now who knows what the ammo market may look like, but silicosys4 is right reloading is always something you can take advantage of.

 

[Apachedriver]

Obama has said he is interested in renewing the Assault Weapons Ban (which is more of just limiting magazine capacity than anything else is my understanding), but it wont be for quite a while, and that is only if he can get congressional support, which he likely wont.

The last AWB, and the ones attempted since, restricted a lot more than just magazine capacity. I don't have the links handy but a quick internet search should pull it up easily.

Also, if Congress passed Obamacare while advertising "you must pass it to know what's in it", I don't have a lot of confidence in their willingness to prevent another AWB in the future.

Also, there's been (what might be perceived as) an ongoing attack on ammunition from many other directions than just mag cap limiting, i.e. the EPA, et al.

I certainly hope we don't get a panic going again in the market. It wouldn't happen if people would just quit waiting until the perceived "end" to buy things they feel the need.

 

[hso]

A firearm without ammunition is just a paperweight.

Once you have a couple of boxes set back for every caliber it becomes a question of why you're buying ammunition.

If you shoot a lot then having a case saves running to the store every time you go to the range.

If you're worried about ammunition availability then you need to save enough to purchase a case so that you can get the lowest per round price.

If you think there's going to be some sort of ban, relax.

 

[mgmorden]

I'd stock up on guns if you're worried. Realistically, ammo prices might go up some, but ammo itself will still be available well into the future in just about any chambering you want. Ammo bans if they ever come to pass are at least a decade or more in the future.

On the other hand, a new AWB will likely fix the "holes" in the previous legislation. For one, all previously reintroduced versions have not attacked guns based on features like the prior one did - it do so by both features and names. So while you could get a flat-top AR15 with 10-round mags during the previous ban, I'd expect AR15's to simply be banned by name - completely - if a new ones passes. If it does you'll likely see prices on those weapons gravitate ever upwards.

Also, I'd wager that if they do get another one through, it will almost certainly NOT have a sunset clause. The next one will be permanent, so standard capacity mags (because I refuse to call them "high" capacity when almost all handguns have 14-17 rounds as their standard capacity) may have the same fate.

 

[W.E.G.]

Most people have only a modest supply of ammo.

Some people have an AMAZING supply of ammo (and components, and tools, and shooting-related paraphernalia).

One day you will have to move.
Ask yourself whether you REALLY want to move 300 cans of ammo, and all the other assorted stuff.
Wanting more, and the ability to get more, does not necessarily mean that ACQUIRING more makes any rational sense.

Oh, and the commercial movers will NOT move your guns and ammo collection.

 

[Halal Pork]

If I have guns and no ammo, and I have to choose between buying some ammo or more guns, I'd go with ammo. At current prices, I don't think it is a great idea to back the truck up though. You ought to add ammo here and there until you think you have a basic supply built up. The quantity is going to depend on what you determine you need as I don't think there is any good rule of thumb on this. At least have enough, whatever "enough" is for you.

 

[Warp]

I would be more than happy to have to move a lot of ammo. It means I have it.

And I have moved, and had to move a decent amount of ammo. (well, decent depending on whose standards you use, a drop in the bucket compared to some)

At first I would want 1 reliable handgun with at least 100 rounds that it was proven reliable with. Then spare parts for the handgun, or a backup/spare handgun.

Then I would want 1 reliable rifle and at least 100 rounds that it was proven reliable with. Then spare parts, backup, etc to the rifle.

Then I would want at least a case of ammo for each.

Rinse and repeat, but with more ammo each time.

 

[bannockburn]

In the near future, if a certain someone is reelected, I could see some sort of bill being passed that would limit ammunition sales and/or its components. They could use any number of reasons; anti-terrorism, health concerns, environmental issues, etc., to get something like that through while skirting the issue of the 2nd Amendment. It would probably be more likely to pass than a prolonged fight over another assault weapon ban.

I would say stock up on ammo and/or reloading components and supplies as you are best able to with your financial situation. Having a gun with no ammo for it is like owning a car with no gas in it.

 

[holdencm9]

Here is a formula I just made up now, that you can use to determine how many rounds you should have stored for rainy days.

Total Rounds = 100n + 500p + 3m(n+p)(1+2*sqrt(C/100))

m = monthly round count, you shoot, on average, per gun
n = number of non-.22 cal guns you have
p = number of .22 cal "plinkers" you have
C = Concern Coefficient, in percent...100 if you are sure something bad and world-changing is about to happen any day now, 0 if you have absolutely no concerns about the state of the world whatsoever. This is THR so I'll leave it at that.

The factors are saying that, for any gun, you should have a bare minimum of 100 rounds, unless it is a .22, in which case the bare minimum is 500. My thought process is that you can easily burn through that amount of ammo in one or two range trips. The rest is basically, 3 months' supply of what you usually shoot, set aside for hard times, multiplied by a factor that varies from 1 to 3, depending on your concerns on the socio-political landscape. Enjoy!

 

[22-rimfire]

Sorry to hear about your bad year. I think having some ammunition for the firearms you own is a good thing. How much depends on how much you shoot. So the amount depends on your situation. I'd start with a couple boxes of each caliber/gauge and see how it goes from there.

Can't see the future no matter who wins the presidency. I don't think you will see another AWB anytime soon as that requires support from Congress in two houses.

 

[HoosierQ]

Well what's going to happen is this. Everybody on this board hates the current administration and is afraid it will get re-elected and ban everything except whatever. Others think the contender has a record of banning stuff (which he does) so, bottom line, IF...and I do mean IF...people here are any indication of the gun owning public in general, probably at some point maybe somebody is going to panic. If they do panic, access to ammo will be more acutely affected than firearms themselves. Some people hoard ammo not because they think the end if near but simply want to stay in the game when those that do fear the end buy it all up out from under them. A vicious circle...perfectly rational people hoarding so as not to be impacted by hoarders.

So, in times like these, if you gotta buy something, buy ammo.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I don't think there's any reason for a panic on guns or ammo this election cycle. The House is unlikely to pass anything restricting guns or ammo. The Senate is pretty well split even if there are no changes. The President, whoever that ends up being wont be able to change much without working both sides of the fence. A buying frenzy isn't warranted in my honest opinion. But I'm also slowly saving up to purchase reloading components in very high quantities, but mainly just because it will drop the cost of reloading even further for me.

 

[pharmer]

It's prudent to be prepared. If there is a re-election, I don't think you can adequately prepare for the consequences. If there is a Romney administration you can figure everything staying the same, maybe higher prices. Not as a political consequence but as an ever increasing price reality, like gasoline. Joe

 

[Elmer]

The "panic" is already in full swing. In talking to people in the industry, ammunition is backordered for a good year or so on some loads. A lot of the distributors have stocked up, so it'll be interesting to see what the next couple of months bring.

I think most of us that got caught short, or without everything we wanted during the last bans, or even panics, aren't taking any chances. When I look and see what I paid for the cases of ammo sitting on the shelves in the garage, I smile all the way to the range.

 

[Elmer]

I don't think there's any reason for a panic on guns or ammo this election cycle. The House is unlikely to pass anything restricting guns or ammo. The Senate is pretty well split even if there are no changes. The President, whoever that ends up being wont be able to change much without working both sides of the fence.

A lot of folks felt the same way in 1994. Turned out a little differently.

 

[Warp]

ammunition is backordered for a good year or so on some loads.

Like what?

 

[orionengnr]

Obama has said he is interested in renewing the Assault Weapons Ban (which is more of just limiting magazine capacity than anything else is my understanding), but it wont be for quite a while, and that is only if he can get congressional support, which he likely wont.

I think you are overlooking a "certain someone's" penchant for Executive Orders...thereby bypassing Congress entirely.

It's not as if he would need to fear the wrath of the electorate...

 

[Fishslayer]

If you think there's going to be some sort of ban, relax.

There may not be an outright ban, but we've already seen where they're going here in The People's Republik. They tried to ban internet ammo sales, require thumbprint for handgun ammo, EPA tried to outlaw lead... any of those would have significantly increased the price of ammo. Stores like Walmart may have stopped selling it altogether.

Thankfully they got overturned in the courts.... this time. They are working on it again. There is also talk of "bullet taxes." For the chi'drin, of course.

They're on the right track with their agenda. Make ammo too expensive to buy and you have a law abiding populace armed with paperweights. A nifty way to get around that pesky ol' Constitution.

 

[Susanna]

Using Holden's Formula ( i LOVE that, thanks!) I would stock sufficient ammo in the calibers you have first, then increase your firearms holdings -and- subsequentially your ammo holdings... The only reason to get arms when you're short ammo is (1) you don't have a caliber or firearm you or your family consider essential, or (2) you fear or know that an arm you need for your personal armory will soon cease to be available...

Along this line... ANY detachable magazine fed firearm needs to have a priority not only in AMMO but MAGAZINES... what good is that cherry Garand if you are missing the clips to use it to make your kitten purr? Remember, SOME states have already banned some mags that THEY deem you don't need that many rounds... Even a "throwaway" like a S&W 915 (please don't be offended, I have one of these workhorse smiths!) is only as good as 10 in California... move to CA for a while, and see if you like short-load mags forced on you... MY bet is they will kill all mags, then EVERYTHING is a single shot. Something to think about... hopefully while you can still choose...

 

[old fart]

with all the shootings going on in this country in the past few months, no matter who is elected they will face pressure to do something. and with the senate and congress elections soon they too will be facing pressure to do something. i will continue to buy ammo but may put a little back for a gun in the future, ammo isn't protected and that will be the first thing the anti's will go after. thanks

 

[Fishslayer]

MY bet is they will kill all mags, then EVERYTHING is a single shot. Something to think about... hopefully while you can still choose...

This actually affected my selection when picking my semiauto centerfire rifle platform. Detachable mag rifles with a pistol grip require a mag lock here. (Google "bullet button."). And 10 round maximimum.

I went SKS with strippers.