Stock up.

Status
Not open for further replies.

wally

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2004
Messages
13,619
Location
Houston, Tx
No telling what the future holds, but gun and ammo, especially ammo prices haven't been this good since circa 2005.

My inbox is full of "specials" on ammo with prices only about 50% higher from those 12 years ago, including stuff that was almost unobtainable four short years ago. Except for the cheapest .22lr which is still about double what it was back then.

I'm retired and mostly enjoying shooting my retirement investment ammo and reloading supplies purchased circa 2005, but I never imagined .22lr being hard to find at decent prices, so I'm stocking up on .22lr and refreshing the stocks of reloading supplies and others I've been shooting the most (9mm, .308, 5.56, and 7.62x39.

If retirement in on your horizon and you plan to do more shooting instead of golfing, now might be a good time up update your portfolio :)
 
Well it is not just for retirememt! It is also a good policy to buy as a hedge against inflation. It also seems a distinct possibility that purchases of ammo could be taxed or highly regulated in the near future. So buying for anticipated future use just makes good sense.
 
Lots of sales and rebates out there. Vista Outdoors (the owners of CCI, Speer, Federal) are hurting because sales are way down. Federal has rebates on lots of stuff right now. I got an email for $12 boxes of .30-06 ammo after rebate earlier today.

Of course it's no fun to buy stuff when it can be found anywhere at any time... It's in our nature to wait until there's a panic and then people will go out and buy stuff they wouldn't otherwise consider because it might not be available tomorrow.

I stocked up on Federal and Winchester primers 2 months ago and powder late last year, all purchased on sale with rebates. Been buying 22lr regularly also.
 
People with initiative store extra ammo When there is No “good copy” in the media, Before a well-publicized mass tragedy.

Do many people still need to be reminded? It should be obvious that people frequently in financial straits are not included here.
 
Last edited:
I don't plan on stocking up. My shooting budget remains small as is my time available to go shooting. I just won't shoot a lot while all this goes on. I don't have guns that I am interested in that are on the radar for potential restriction. I have a couple of 15+ round 9mms and an Ar I haven't shot since Sandy Hook. I have 5 magazines for the Ar. That's plenty for me. Even if 30 round mags go on the ban list, I like the idea of the gun enough to be OK with 10 rounders if I am forced. Still, I haven't shot it in years. I might pick up another FN 509 magazine. They are expensive as it is. I would hate to spend $60 on a 10 rounder.

Currently, I pack .380s and revolvers for protection. I find .22 boring to shoot. If we have a panic, I'll shoot what I can. If 9mm is gone, I might pick up a .40 for cheap if I get the itch. If .380 and .38 special become hard to find, I'll just carry a .22 magnum and hope I don't die...worked so far.

I may get into shooting shotguns more. Maybe finally try my hand at busting clays. 12 gauge is always on the shelf. What's it matter if I am shooting it out of 590a1 instead of an Over and Under?

As a recreational shooter who is armed day to day for close up self defense, I'll just switch my hobbies like I did the last time. Archery and now shooting a sling shot are inexpensive ways to scratch the accuracy itch.

My concern is that it's going to turn into another self fulfilling prophecy again. For those of you investing in this stuff to stave off shortages due to actually shooting what you buy, good on you. I wish you well and hope you have many happy years of shooting. It's the buyers who snap up 40,000 rounds of .22 and either sit on it like it's going to become ballistic Bitcoin in the apocalyptic future or hope to flip it when prices hit their peak that drive me a little nuts.
 
Fiv3r: Like you, 22LR in general seemed pretty boring to shoot. Always using .22 before picking up a gun in larger chambering. The opposite sequence is never much fun.

Then I finally bought my first .22 handguns. These have replaced the vast majority of my 9mm shooting (CZ, Sig), using various metal gongs at Action Pistol ranges.

Do many THR people consider that they can choose to load just 5 rds. into a 20 or 30-rd. magazine, then pause a bit after 10 rds.? Even having plenty of reserve ammo stored, I seldom put more inside my Hungarian Tankers (20 rd. mags).
Can reduce consumption, heat, bore wear, noise......
 
Last edited:
Do many THR people consider that they can choose to load just 5 rds. into a 20 or 30-rd. magazine, then pause a bit after 10 rds.? Even having plenty of reserve ammo stored, I seldom put more inside my Hungarian Tankers (20 rd. mags).
Can reduce consumption, heat, bore wear, noise......

Eh, what can I say? I'm an ammo waster and that's that. Why shoot 10 when you can shoot 100 or 200? Ammo is cheap and shooting is fun. Yes guns wear, but no where near as quickly as some people would have you believe. Other than maintenance items, shotguns maybe need some springs or other parts after 10's of thousands of rounds. Rimfires and most decent auto pistols basically the same story. Centerfires rifles do lose some accuracy afters a few 1000 rounds, especially with rapid fire but your accuracy requirements can have large impact on what is acceptable. For shooting plates at 50 to 200 yards, dropping from 1-2 moa to 2-4 moa doesn't matter much, and new barrels are pretty cheap and relatively easy to replace in comparison to the ammo cost.

I say keep shooting all you like & take advantage of lower prices to introduce others to do the same!
 
It was a simple thread about buying while prices are good and just in case things went back up, and people could not resist getting political. I deleted all post that were political, but won't do it again, next time it gets locked. How hard is it to stay on topic and leave out the politics?
 
Prices have been great, if we haven't been taking advantage of it, within our budget restraints, over the last couple of years, it's on us.
Words of wisdom as we have gone through several shortages.

NOW is the time to stock up while prices are lowest in decades and items in stock. BUY BUY BUY!

For 22LR, when was the last time you seen copper plated 22LR for $15-$20/500? - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...15-20-500-shipped.853059/page-2#post-11187440

Yes, I am well stocked up on 22LR too and buying more when I see REALLY GOOD sales.

I have never stocked up. I suppose that makes me an optimist. :D
What did you tell yourself during the last several firearms/component shortages in past 20 years?

Or are you a teenager just learning to shoot?
 
Last edited:
Same here, except I only buy high during panics and sell low in the fat years. Hasn't worked so well for me so far but I'm sticking with my strategy.
Ha! We both must have been absent on the day they taught "buy low, sell high" in Economics class.:D
 
Words of wisdom as we have gone through several shortages.

NOW is the time to stock up while prices are lowest in decades and items in stock. BUY BUY BUY!

For 22LR, when was the last time you seen copper plated 22LR for $15-$20/500? - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...15-20-500-shipped.853059/page-2#post-11187440

Yes, I am well stocked up on 22LR too and buying more when I see REALLY GOOD sales.


What did you tell yourself during the last several firearms/component shortages in past 20 years?

Or are you a teenager just learning to shoot?

I am far removed from being a teenager. But still an optimist who has never stocked up.
That's me, take me or leave me! :D
 
The flyers make it so hard, and I just have to stay far, far away, from PSA, as every time I look at their deals, the money just has to be spent, on just one more great deal...
 
FYI - As of a few days ago, the local WallyWorld has the Winchester bulk .22 (555 rds.) for $19.97; Remington "Thunderduds" (500 rds.) AND Federal (550 rds.) for $19.94 each. Rem. Golden Sabers were $24.97 (don't remember quantity).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top