[Pud]

Hi folks,
I only buy ammo occasionally....and then get what I think I'll need.
Started looking first online at some of the retailers I have bought from in the past, Midway, Ammo To Go, Sportsmans, etc..
I cannot find ANYONE who is even carrying stuff I want right now!:eek:
Shopping for some .380, .45acp, .44 mag--I CAN find some 9mm, but the prices went through the roof!:barf:
I don't read/post much on here either, but did something MAJOR happen that I missed?:confused:

What is going on??
I'm almost afraid to go to my nearest Wally mart or Ganders, Sticker shock for whatever they DO have in stock my do me in!
Pud

[tank mechanic]

I am guessing you have not been on for the last six months.

Obama was elected and it kicked off an ammo buying frenzy with people hoarding ammo.

Don't worry, credit cards will be maxed out soon and the ammo companies will be able to catch up.

[Schofield3]

I remember the day’s of ammunition…..… mythical things nowadays

[tank mechanic]

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=445586

The above thread will tell you everything you want to know about the ammo shortage.

[Pud]

Thanks Tank...
Yup, I have not been on here for a while...:uhoh:
Sheesh!
Pud

[jad0110]

I'm almost afraid to go to my nearest Wally mart or Ganders, Sticker shock for whatever they DO have in stock my do me in!

WM is pretty wiped out, usually. But it is probably because they are one of the few retailers that generally has not increased prices. Most prices at WM are about the same as they were last summer.

[BP Hunter]

Here in SE Washington, we seem to have a good supply of ammo. Last week I was desperate in purchasing 9mm ammo and tried buying them from Cabelas but they slapped me with 10% tax. Now, I have bought a few hundred rounds of 9mm and .38 special. The 9mm by Magtech were selling only for $13.99/50. The local gun show last weekend were selling Winchester 9mm for $30/100.

[HoosierQ]

Man you should have stayed on Gilligan's island. You could probably find more ammo there than on the mainland.

Huge run on ammo. Some say because of ban, tax, or microstamping fears, others just because there are so many new guns being purchased. Probably a little of both.

Prior to the run on ammo, last summer let's say, the price of metals was sky high which started us all out on a bad footing.

The combination of high metals prices last summer and the buying spree over the winter and into this spring has left a lot of shelves empty of handgun ammo. And just forget about trying to find 00 buckshot.

They seem to have 30-30, 30-06, .243, .270 etc coming out their ears wherever I go.

[Bushwacker1962]

We competitive shooters don't need those calibers. That's why there plentyful.

[chuckusaret]

I just left Gander, 40 cal(50 rnds) FMJ WWB====$59.00, yes $59.00.

[mrtoren]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING. I'm so sick of people hording hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'LL USE. I've been searching for 9mm ammo for weeks in the Chicagoland area. Its either completely sold out with no expected shipment dates or double the price.

The Apocalypse is not on the horizon! Obama isn't going to ban handguns! No crazy taxes are coming! SO CHILL OUT. Take a deep breath and calm down. This is ridiculous..act like mature, level-headed adults and stop hording ammo. Normal people like me cant find anything because of these crazed right wing psychopaths. I'm a conservative, but I don't buy into the fear mongering that has gripped the far right and paralyzed the ammo industry.

In fact, maybe as a measure of good faith, Obama passed a resolution allowing guns into all national parks today. So he's not the big, bad boogieman everyone initially portrayed him as.

Lets get back to normal, slow down the buying.

[Big Daddy Grim]

Sad but I hope it ends very very soon

[orionengnr]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING.

News flash, sport--some of us go through a hundred (or several hundred) rounds several times per month. So I should stop buying ammo because you say so?

There are only about a hundred threads open at any given time on ammo and different peoples' definition of "hoarding".

That said, I have not bought any centerfire ammo since I started reloading about two years ago. Should I stop buying components, too? :rolleyes:

[poker88]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING.

100 rds? really? gotta be a typo, a 100 rds won't even cover a good day at the range.

[mrtoren]

News flash, sport--some of us go through a hundred (or several hundred) rounds several times per month. So I should stop buying ammo because you say so?

Components are fine, champ. Your average, recreational shooter doesn't reload. High volume shooters should follow your example though.

You shouldn't stop buying ammo because I say so, you should limit buying ammo because the industry is saying so. Barren shelves plague every walmart and sporting goods store in at least a 30 mile radius around me. Stop being selfish for once and think about other shooters. Shooters who go to the range once or twice a month and don't find it economical to reload. I didn't know snobs were becoming the norm. I thought experienced shooters encouraged new ones to get involved.

Buying a box here and there isn't whats hurting us. Its buying cases and pallets that is. All I'm asking is that you reduce your buying so the new shooters who don't have ANY ammo can get some.

100 rds? really? gotta be a typo, a 100 rds won't even cover a good day at the range.

Darn, you mean you might have to shoot only a hundred rounds? Well I'm so sympathetic. The new shortages are a reality. You can choose to be a part of the problem and continue to blow through hundreds of rounds in a fun day at the range or you can help be a part of the solution and limit how much and how often you shoot. In a few months, when we're beyond this ammo drought, you can shoot all you want. Until then, don't be selfish. Conserve and help the recreational guys out.

[Rodentman]

Speaking for myself, I've passed up .380, 9mm, and other calibers on shelves because I feel I have enough, which for me is several hundred rounds of each.

I reload so I don't buy much ammo anymore. I COULD use a few thou SP primers, however. Just a few. I pause for the laughter to subside.

[rgwalt]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING. I'm so sick of people hording hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'LL USE. I've been searching for 9mm ammo for weeks in the Chicagoland area. Its either completely sold out with no expected shipment dates or double the price.


Guns aren't allowed in "Chicagoland", theres your problem! :neener: (I lived in downtown until recently, so I know your pain).

I ended up buying up 500 rnds of 9mm and 500 rdns of .45 ACP. The local Academy had plenty when I was there, but barren shelves are more the norm. I'll use it up over several visits to the range, I just don't want to have to hunt it down a box at a time whenever I want to go shooting. If that makes me a crazy, right-wing "hoarder" then I guess I'm guilty.

[sacp81170a]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING. I'm so sick of people hording hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'LL USE.

I use more than 100 rounds every time I go to the range. Sorry, I'm gonna buy what I can when I can. Save your anger for the scalpers who don't even intend to use it but to sell it for a higher price. If you waited too late to stock up it ain't my fault.

[HippieMagic]

I have 200 rnds in my house I guess I am a horder... I also have 100rnds of .40 S&W and god knows how much .17hmr and .22LR... 100rnds of ammo is hardly any ammo at all. I mean 50rnds takes about an hour to shoot lol seriously now it isn't the people with 100 rounds it is the people spending $2,000 at wal mart to buy up all the ammo they see.

The local wal mart here has .44mag for $35 per 100 and .40S&W for $30 per 100. 9mm is usually $11 per 50 or $20 per 100.

[sacp81170a]

I ended up buying up 500 rnds of 9mm and 500 rdns of .45 ACP. The local Academy had plenty when I was there, but barren shelves are more the norm. I'll use it up over several visits to the range, I just don't want to have to hunt it down a box at a time whenever I want to go shooting. If that makes me a crazy, right-wing "hoarder" then I guess I'm guilty.

Exactly. If I run across 500 or a 1,000 rounds and it doesn't hurt the budget, I'll buy it so I don't have to scrounge when I want to go to the range. The worst problem I usually run into is when people can't find enough to take our CCW class. Then I'll sell them a box at the price I bought it for so they can at least qualify that day. I can do that for everyone except those who have .380's, which ammunition is presently being lovingly handcrafted one round at a time by blind, arthritic gnomes out of unobtanium and then shipped around the Horn on a slow boat from China. For those unfortunates who listened to the gun store dude and bought a .380 as "the perfect gun for you, little lady" I will also loan them a 9mm or 40 cal. to qualify with.

[mrtoren]

I have 200 rnds in my house I guess I am a horder...

Actually, what you are is illiterate. As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds. Buying more than 100 rounds at a time right now is just selfish..if that makes you feel any better.

[HippieMagic]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING.

I have 200... I just bought 100... I am fairly literate thank you... The problem isn't the people buying 100rnds it is people buying thousands each day they can. 200 rounds is a common purchase at any time.

[David E]

I'm supposed to only buy 100 rds because some selfish lazy idjit with misdirected anger thinks 100 rds is enough?

Hell, the matches I shoot take more than 100 rds!

I don't know when I'll be able to find/buy some, so if I buy it when I see it for when I need it down the road, that makes good sense.

Waiting to buy ammo until the day I need it, as he implies, is extremely short-sighted and naive.

I bet he won't buy a fire extringuisher until he smells smoke, either.

[David E]

And if I lived in Chicago-land, I'd make sure I hit every store 5 minutes ahead of you and buy all their ammo !!

:D :D :D

[HippieMagic]

I like to keep 100rnds on hand just in case I can't find any and if I see it cheap I buy 1-2 boxes. I don't horde but I keep it on hand.

[David E]

There is a fundamental difference between some shooters:

Some think 100 rds on hand is sufficient.

Some think that a gun load (6-20 rds) is sufficient, and buying 100 rds for practice later that day works out great.

I have 600 rds of 9mm Blazer Brass and am extremely concerned about it. It used to be 1000, but I shot two major matches with it and have not been able to replenish it yet.

"Sufficient" means different things to different people.

[sacp81170a]

As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds.

:rolleyes:

You don't shoot much, do you? A two day defensive pistol class is usually set up for at least 1,000 rounds. A three day class means each shooter should bring 1500 rounds. So far, I've been finding a way. What's your excuse?

[MIgunguy]

This was a fun read but me thinks it will soon be closed.:banghead:

[HippieMagic]

I have been able to find ammo any time I go out. Wal Mart almost always has .357 Magnum, .357 SIG, .40S&W, and .44 Magnum. They have .45 GAP/ACP sometimes and have 9mm from time to time. I generally just go to pawn shops for 9mm ammo... pawn or small gun shops they generally have it for around $13 a box which isn't enough to make me care. I have notices lately the ammo companies seem to be keeping things in stock a little more. I even saw .223 ammo in stock at wal-mart.

[BigGuy52]

Well, I live in the Chicago area, not the dreaded Cook County, but close enough. I've found that Gander, Dick's, Cabela's, the big sporting stores, are very limited to the inventory of ammunition they carry. Plus, the stuff they do have is way, way overpriced.
I buy all my ammo at the range. They sell factory reloads and some new stuff. The brands are quality like Federal, American Eagle, Winchester, Remington, and even some Wolf ammo. The average 9mm Winchester FMJ costs around $15.00 for a box of 50.
As far as hoarding; I try to keep 400 rounds of every caliber, guage I have.

When I shoot at the range, I average 150 rounds per gun I bring.

Talk about shortages? Try finding any dealer that has a AR in stock, they are all gone!

[Clarence]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING. I'm so sick of people hording hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'LL USE.

You're joking right?

[otter]

I gave up trying to find ammo, stopped at my mom's house and grabbed all my dad's reloading equipment, (he died 2 years ago and she ain't using any) so I go to reload and notice I have 300 small pistol primers but absolutely no large pistol primers, I check several websites and all primers are on back order tilll July. I remember growing up as a kid I always used my allowance money to buy my dad a brick of primers for Christmas and another for his birthday. A couple thousand rounds a year wasn't alot for him, he was on a couple handgun leagues and then another day/week was spent in practice shooting so yeah I guess 300-500 rounds each week x 52 weeks would be 15,000 to 26,000 rounds per year. Right now I have at least a 1,000 rounds in the house divided between 45 Long Colt, 45acp, 357 mag, 38 spl, 380, 9mm, 32, 25, 22. Man that shelf looks naked! Lost my job last week so it will be hard to shop for ammo now, hate to see the price go up as I am a cheap person anyway. The thing that scares me the most though is the thought that 2 of my guns are registered, that means Obama knows I have them, next year when the gun confiscation and recycling starts I might ony be able to keep 3 hidden, I suppose they will use some retrained drug sniffing dogs and go door to door. Sorry if I have a negative attitude but WI is a gun hating state even though it is a hunter's paradise. An off duty cop was stopped in West Allis a little while ago, he was not from West Allis and he had his side arm on him, they confiscated the gun, searched his car, confiscated a second gun that was locked in a case in the trunk and destroyed both weapons. If they do that to off duty law enforcement officer what rights do average citizens have. The right to keep and bear arms is a thing of the past, our Declaration, and Bill of Rights don't mean anything to our new gov't.

[STARR15]

A 100 rds is not a lot to practice with every 2 weeks. I am not a hoarder of ammo I assure you Mr. Brady. Prices has sky-rocketed and I have cut down my practice time to once a month.

[BCC]

Over the past couple of years I've often tried to replace ammo shot at the range 2 to 1. I've got 5 thousand or so rounds total, obviously in the calibers I use. But since it's gotten so difficult to find replacement ammo, I've cut way back on practice since I'm not even close to replacing 1 to 1.

I'm going to look into reloading this weekend. Even though I've never been a fan of picking up my spent brass and I've got too many darn hobbies already..

Argh.

[rdhood]

A 100 rds is not a lot to practice with every 2 weeks. I am not a hoarder of ammo I assure you Mr. Brady. Prices has sky-rocketed and I have cut down my practice time to once a month.

I have been shooting 420 rounds a week. 100 rounds .45acp, 100 rounds .40S&W, 100 rounds 9mm, 20 rounds 7.62x39, 150 rounds .22lr. IN OTHER WORDS, I have shot 2k rounds this month alone.

Statements like this:

As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds.

are ignorant (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorant).

[SharpsDressedMan]

Huh!!! I think I'm gonna go out and buy a .45GAP pistol since there is so much ammo sitting on the shelf! Really now, I'm not snatching the ammo off the shelf. Can't afford it. Anyone here realize they should be cating bullets & loading their own yet? The current going price for 1000 primers is less than a lot of boxes of 50 rounds of ammo for some guns out there......

[Vonderek]

Actually, what you are is illiterate.
mrtoren, you're not getting off to a good start here.

[Kindrox]

Why is it that when I was buying THOUSANDS of rounds per caliber 2 years ago or so, there was plenty of ammo to go around?

I have enough ammo and I'll wait out the crisis. Either demand will fall, or supply will rise. Maybe not as fast as we would like, but it will happen.

[captain N8]

Yes Gander's prices are ridiculous right now. I saw a box of 50 9mm 147 gr. Remmy for 49 bucks! Come on now, that's just crazy!

[Davek1977]

I'm sorry, but I like to shoot. Limiting myself to a hundred rounds...even a thousand of small calibers, would leave me ammoless in a period of weeks....and like you said, theres no more to be had at the moment. I'm not running myself out of ammo becasue someone wasn't inteliigent enough to see this coming. The rising prices across the board got my attention before any ammo shortages did. I bought what I could buy cheaply last fall, when ammo was only starting to get spendy, not impossible to find. Yet, I don't understand the logic of not buying more to insure having some on hand at all times. I'm sorry that there is no ammo out there for some, but does your lack of planning constitute emergency rationing on my part? Do I feel bad spending my money on ammo I know I'll use? Not at all....in fact, I think its dumb not to buy cheap ammo if you need it and come across some. I don't havbe millions of rounds in a warehouse somehwhere, but I have several thousand rounds for my .22lrs (which I shoot more than anything else) and well over the "100 rounds" quota you set for in a few other calibers. Lack of preperation on your part, however, does NOT constitute an emergency on mine. Ever hear of the early bird getting the worm? If you wanted ammo, maybe you should have pondered that possibility last october, or even earlier.




In fact, maybe as a measure of good faith, Obama passed a resolution allowing guns into all national parks today. So he's not the big, bad boogieman everyone initially portrayed him as.

I find this laughable. Obama signed a credit card reform bill, that consequently included a provsion allowing concealed carry. He in no way drafted it or passed it...he SIGNED it, no more no less. He certainly didn't cahmpion it through or really have the least bit to do with it passing...he wanted credit card reform, and that was merely a tradeoff he had to make. To act as though this was him turning over a new leaf or offering "gunnies" an olive branch is simply funny. His pet credit card reform was in danger of not passing without the provsion, so he may have signed it, but there was ab it opf arm twisting involved I'm sure

[mcdonl]

I just wasnt to brag... a guy bought the wrong caliber (haha... that happens a lot lately....) so I got 150 rounds of .40 S&W for $30.

I shoot, on an average... not counting .22's about 200 rounds every other weekend... add about 500 rounds of .22's to that.

Leroy

[novalty]

I only shoot about 500 rounds or so of 9mm a year, and maybe about 200 rounds of .223. Managed to snag some 9mm last week at Wally World, guessing I got lucky and got it when a shipment came in. Bought the 6 box limit of the 9 boxes they had, felt lucky since I had none left, and have been searching for the past 3 months or so with no success. Can't believe actual shooters would complain about other shooter buying supplies for their hobby. The biggest complaint should be with the people buying it to try and make a few bucks selling on GunBroker and other sites for sometimes double the price, then add in UPS Ground shipping for a hazardous item. Take a quick look at the number of people selling WWB 9mm or Blazer Brass in the 6 box limits that Wally World sets. What is scary is the number of people paying the ridiculous prices. One auction that really infuriated me was for 300 rounds of WWB 9mm that someone bid $129.99 for and the reserve wasn't met, but could Buy Now for $159. By the time you add shipping in that's about $60 a box. :what:

[harmon rabb]

To anyone with over 100 rounds of ANY caliber..STOP BUYING. I'm so sick of people hording hundreds or thousands of rounds of ammunition. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'LL USE. I've been searching for 9mm ammo for weeks in the Chicagoland area. Its either completely sold out with no expected shipment dates or double the price.

Umm. I go shooting at least one a weekly, and generally shoot 200-300 rounds per session. You must never shoot if you think 100 rounds is enough. :uhoh:

[Just One Shot]

ROCK

Living Here?

:neener:

[ojibweindian]

Actually, what you are is illiterate. As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds. Buying more than 100 rounds at a time right now is just selfish..if that makes you feel any better.

To whom it may concern; a failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Your lack of foresight is your problem, not mine. I will continue to buy as much ammo, and components, as I can afford and can find.

[DammitBoy]

Actually, what you are is illiterate. As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds. Buying more than 100 rounds at a time right now is just selfish..if that makes you feel any better.

I may be a selfish bastard, but I've got plenty of ammo stored. Several thousand rounds of several different calibers.

I shoot a couple 100 rounds each week and buy what I need to do that so I don't cut into my reserve. I haven't had any problem finding ammo at the 7 gunshows I've gone to this year.

Failing to plan is planning to fail, little feller...

[HoosierQ]

Of course the problem we've got today IS real. Only a small percentage of these so called hoarders are doing so out of paranoia...but there are just enough of them. Then you get Rush L types fanning the flames which is not helping. So rational shooters, all 40 million of us are thinking "well I don't know about this political thing or that but I want to keep shooting so I am going to buy a little extra". Then the shelves are even more bare and then it perpetuates.

Here's the deal though...this is America...we're in a recession...there is money to be made honestly. Winchester...put on a third shift of American's and make WWB in .380, 9mm. .40. and .45...you'll make a mint of money without having to raise prices because metals are coming down! S&W has seen its stock go way up over the last 6 months because their sales are so high. There's money to be made in ammo people. Let people hoard...it is money in other Americans' pockets...make enough so that if folks want to buy 5000 rounds at a time...they can.

I mean it's really only "hoarding" if a) you'll never shoot it, or b) you're going to resell it at much higher prices...gouging. No shame in a little honest, decent, reasonable profit-taking...again...this is America.

Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll start making so much we can't buy it all and then the price will come down...I get to dream right?

[Ben86]

The people that suffer the most from ammo hoarding are new shooters. A few weeks ago I agreed to train a girl from work on the use of a pistol, but alas we could not find any ammo. So, I let her have a box of 50 round blazer brass from my meager stash. However, if ammo was in stock like it was last summer she could have bought more and got much better training.

Ammo hoarding is such an injustice to new shooters. I feel this bubble will burst soon though. People are going to get tired of buying ammo that they are not shooting.

[KBintheSLC]

I don't read/post much on here either, but did something MAJOR happen that I missed?

Yes... you missed something major. Some searches ought to answer your questions. There are many threads.

[sgt127]

Years ago...there was s cheesy little "Police Supply" store in downtown Dallas that catered more to security guards than cops. I remember being in there when the owner sold a newly commisioned security guard an RG-38. The guy mentioned that he didn't have any ammo for it, so, the owner sold him 6 rounds out of a partial box he kept behind the counter for customers just like him. I think it was 30 cents a round...

If you don't plan on shooting it, it only requires six rounds, right?

I don't "hoard" ammo. Yet, for years, everytime I saw a good deal on ammo, I bought several times more than I needed. Going to the range, find a good deal on 9mm. Buy four boxes, shoot two, two went into storage. Been doing that for years. For awhile, every time I went shooting, I would replace the rounds fired with new stock. Now, I can't replace what I am shooting and, dipping into the "stockpile". So, if I find a deal on ammo, I'll buy enough to shoot AND replace what I already had stored and have already shot up.

But now, I have an imaginary number in my mind. Say 1000 rounds of 9mm in stock. If I can't find a replacement for the 200 rounds I will shoot this weekend, I won't shoot the 9mm anymore as I do not know when I can replace it at a reasonable cost. Bottom line, I buy as much as I can afford whenever I can, restock any shortages and shoot up the rest. 200-300 rounds in one trip to the range is nothing for me.

[Col. Plink]

I'd always heard that any new weapon should be purchased with 1000 rounds to keep on hand and buy what you need to practice with or replace what you shoot 1 for 1. Seems a good policy to me.

We have a lot of new owners who likely stocked up AND are trying to buy for the training and practice they need for their new property. Consider that many are taking CC classes to get into the sport, and it's no wonder what's going on with the run on pistol ammo.

Now, add to that an uncertain political climate where all Constitutional rights are under attack and people who buy guns and lots of ammo are smeared as "extremists" who need to be watched and possibly raided and robbed as potential terrorists and the whole thing becomes that much more crystal clear.

Buy up, Americans! Spur supply to follow demand! Load your own and sell sell sell! Start new ammo companies! Compete! Where's the entrepreneurship for this soaring new demand? Why are Americans whining about this instead of making it work for them? What's happened to us? Get with it, America!

[Gryffydd]

I find this laughable. Obama signed a credit card reform bill, that consequently included a provsion allowing concealed carry.
Psst....the provision does not "allow concealed carry." It simply says land managed by the NPS will follow state rules. If you're in a state that doesn't allow concealed or open carry, you still can't carry. If you live in a state that allows both you'll be able to do both.

[psyopspec]

You can choose to be a part of the problem and continue to blow through hundreds of rounds in a fun day at the range or you can help be a part of the solution and limit how much and how often you shoot.

I think I'll take the fun day at the range. Several of them, actually. I'm sorry if you didn't see the writing on the wall; I really am. I know it's harder than normal to obtain ammo, but there are still solutions to procuring it. I got friendly with my Wal-Mart sporting goods supervisor and I call every couple days to find out when ammo's hitting the shelves. You might try the same thing - just be careful not to go over your self-described 'psychopath's 100 round limit.'

[musick]

Using a few hundred rounds of each caliber is a typical day at the range for me. I dont think buying a few hundred at a time is "contributing to the problem".

Except for financial reasons, I really dont understand buying a box or three of ammo...just costs way too much that way. Its not like ammo goes bad if stored correctly. Guess Im lucky when I stocked up years ago when 762x39 was 8 cents a round and 9mm was at 7 cents. Like the above poster said, the writing was on the wall for a long time. Fortunate I am that I got into this hobby 10 years ago.

[sacp81170a]

The people that suffer the most from ammo hoarding are new shooters. A few weeks ago I agreed to train a girl from work on the use of a pistol, but alas we could not find any ammo. So, I let her have a box of 50 round blazer brass from my meager stash. However, if ammo was in stock like it was last summer she could have bought more and got much better training.

The flip side of that argument is that now I'm seeing far fewer idiots at the range step up to the line and blow through a full mag in 10 seconds, maybe hitting the target twice out of 15 shots or so. I usually load my mags with no more than 6 rounds for most practice, 1 or 2 if I'm practicing mag changes. You can get a lot of quality practice with one or two rounds at a time, if the range allows you to holster and draw between shots. When ammo is precious, you tend not to waste it. That's a plus. I know I've been slowing down a little and paying more attention to detail so I can get the most out of every round and I find that my marksmanship has improved. Funny how that works. There's actually a lot of training to be had out of a box of 50 rounds if you do it right.

Except for financial reasons, I really dont understand buying a box or three of ammo...just costs way too much that way.

Even now, if you can find bulk ammo to purchase it's usually cheaper that way. That usually requires purchase of at least a case (1000) at a time, but it still helps. It's just harder to find ammo in case lots any more.

[John Parker]

I'd like to go live in the cave that you've obviously just vacated. Not hearing the news is much better!

[Average Joe]

I am working on a ray gun that shoots beams instead of ammo.

[chuckusaret]

How can a person stay proficient with different weapons shooting less than a 100 rounds a month. On a bad day at the range I shoot a minimum of 50rounds per weapon. I normally take 4 or 5 pistols and a long gun to the range.

[rscalzo]

I read an interesting article two days ago.

Seems the military hasn't purchased small arms handgun ammo in larger amounts for the past few years. They got behind the curve and have found themselves low causing contracts to go out. now Winchester has been awarded a massive contract for 9mm. I would guess production will either be used to fill the voids or to fulfill the contract. Now add on larger than normal civilian purchases and here we are...

Ammo shortages started showing up in departental purchases in late 07 and early 08 when orders were not filled for weeks or months. The buying frenzy pushed it even higher.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A4044-2004Jul21?language=printerntent/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082701793_2.html

[NW JS]

A month ago i had a different view on ammo. I did not own a handgun until a month ago. And had only had shotguns for trap and hunting. 100 round was fine for a Sunday at the trap range. But now that i have found how hard it is to shoot accurately (AND HOW FUN) I find my self shooting 200 to 250 rnds when i go to the range. Even more if i go out to the woods with friends. I now get buy what you can when you can.

[will919]

Up until this last year I shot IDPA on a regular basis. I shot 1000-1200 rounds a month. Now that reasonably price ammo i.e, WM is scare, I am lucky to shot 100 rounds a month. I've been calling local Walmarts daily to get updates on available ammunition. So, the other day I called one of my local WM's and they said they had (4) 50 round boxes of 40 S&W. Needless to say I was out the door in minutes (btw it was a 30 mile drive). I get there and to my satisfaction 200 rounds are staring me in the face......maybe 20 seconds later while I am waiting for the clerk, another gentlemen looks around and spots it. Here's where I need forgiveness I bogarted all 200 rounds..lol. (he was bummed ar me) I felt justified due to all the hard work finding it and the drive. At the same time I feel ever so slightly a bit of guilt.
Inclosing, it will be nice once there is a adaquate amount of ammunition for all at a reasonable price.....My story and stickin to it!
Bill

[David E]

I found some .380 today at Academy. :eek: I'd not been there for awhile and was curious what they had. Answer: not much.

They had about 8 boxes of .380. A sign said there was a two box limit.

I bought ONE. Why? Because I only wanted one. (I didn't need one, as I have a mix of about 400 rds of factory and reloads at home.)

It was "Monarch" brand, loaded up in brass cases.

This .380 was the only pistol ammo they had.

I also bought a 20 rd box of Monarch .308 for $8.99 to check out.

.

[David E]

20 seconds later while I am waiting for the clerk, another gentlemen looks around and spots it. Here's where I need forgiveness I bogarted all 200 rounds..lol. (he was bummed ar me)

How I hope this was in the Chicago area !!! :D :D :D

.

[joe817]

I guess I'd have to classify myself as a "recreational shooter". I like to go to the gun range at least once per week, and shoot a box of 50 rounds.

I'd like to go more often, but it would then become an issue of economics. I simply cannot afford to spend $50 or $100 a week on shooting. I really wish I could, but I can't. I really admire all of you who CAN go to the range weekly and spend $100 or more on ammo to enjoy your hobby, but it's not in the cards for me.

With that said, I've found that by scrounging 2 boxes here and there, and ordering ammo online every month, I've wound up with a stockpile of 200 rounds of 9mm ammo, which is the only ammo I shoot. Plus I'm waiting to receive additional 200 rounds I ordered 2 weeks ago from Cabala's. Very reasonable at $11.99/box. I'll wait, and go shoot my 50 rounds and be satisfied.

The ammo shortage WILL end, and I am unanimous in my decision. Just when is hard to predict. Maybe by mid-summer? Perhaps by next Thanksgiving? Who knows. But I DO know ammo can be had. It just takes foraging for it, calling on the phone, and ordering it online.

[Old Fuff]

In fact, maybe as a measure of good faith, Obama passed a resolution allowing guns into all national parks today. So he's not the big, bad boogieman everyone initially portrayed him as.

Ah no... The boogieman didn't change his stripes. The only reason we have the right to carry guns in national parks is because it was made part of an unrelated bill that imposed controls over credit card issuers - something that the president strongly supported. If the gun part had come to his desk as a stand-alone bill it wouldn't have stood a chance.

The reason that people are buying large quantities of ammunition is because they don’t trust the president – or his party’s – intentions. In addition some are afraid of possible social upheaval during hard economic times. They may be right or wrong, only time will tell, but until they feel more secure panic buying ammunition and guns will continue.

[2075 RAMI]

Although the point has already been brought up, I too thought that handgun ownership in Chicago was banned. So, why would you need handgun ammo in Chicago? :confused:

In addition to what Old Fuff just stated, obama has appointed every gun grabber he can to fill his cabinet. Ever hear of HR 45?

[Sport45]

I have over 3000 rounds of 9mm 115gr FMJ in Blazer or WWB. Does that make me a hoarder? I bought it (and more) several years ago when Academy was selling it for $3.86 and $4.86 a box. I didn't figure I'd ever see prices like that again so I lined the bottom of one of my closets with cases of the stuff. There was plenty left at the store too.

[SaxonPig]

Supply and demand.

Free market system at work.

Any other questions?

[westtx28]

I am working on a ray gun that shoots beams instead of ammo.

Awesome

[alfack]

I don't know why some folks think you need to shoot x number of rounds per month to stay "proficient." I could go years w/o shooting and still be proficient. Even the military and police only qualify at the range a few times a year.

[sacp81170a]

I don't know why some folks think you need to shoot x number of rounds per month to stay "proficient." I could go years w/o shooting and still be proficient.

You're fooling yourself then.

Even the military and police only qualify at the range a few times a year.

That's true, but in order to qualify you need to practice more than twice a year. I've noticed lately an increase in the number of our officers who don't qualify the first time around, maybe by a few points and then qualify the second or third time. Universally this is being blamed on the fact that our officers aren't able to get enough practice in on their own and the department doesn't have funds to give them ammo to practice with. This is a very bad situation and I don't see anything good coming from it.

Police qualifications are pretty stringent and if you don't get plenty of practice you're not likely to qualify the first time "cold".

[alfack]

You're fooling yourself then.

Hardly.. There just isn't as much to pointing and squeezing a trigger as some folks make it out to be. It's like riding a bike. I took my dad to the range not too long ago. He hadn't shot for like 20 years and did just fine.

I think it's one of those things that once you learn, you don't soon forget.

If you haven't learned, by all means, practice until you do.

[Sam1911]

Police qualifications are pretty stringent

Surely you are joking? Please say you are joking...

I don't know why some folks think you need to shoot x number of rounds per month to stay "proficient." I could go years w/o shooting and still be proficient.

Now that's funny, right there, I don't care who you are!


proficient
–adjective
1. well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject; skilled: a proficient swimmer.
–noun
2. an expert.

I suppose everyone has a different definition of "expert" but after "years w/o shooting" I certainly wouldn't claim to be one.

My opinion... "proficient" is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

-Sam

[Walkalong]

Once you become proficient, it takes less rounds downrange to stay that way than it did to get that way, but you can get rusty pretty easily with no practice.

[subierex]

I'm to the point where I've ordered 102gr Rem Golden Sabre bullets to reload for CCW (ie. the BIG NO NO... carrying reloaded ammo! :what: ).

Gave up a while ago trying to find defensive ammo. Everything else I load myself anyway. In the very unfortunate event that I must use it, I'll just have to explain to the jury that it's the same as factory, probably weaker.

/sorry, tired of the ammo BS that's going on :evil:

edit: And, BTW, have been waiting a month for my .380 Rem GS bullets. Still not here.

[DammitBoy]

I bought 150 rounds of .45 acp and 50 rounds of .454 casull today.

[alfack]

I don't know why some folks think you need to shoot x number of rounds per month to stay "proficient." I could go years w/o shooting and still be proficient.

Now that's funny, right there, I don't care who you are!


Well, I must be amazingly talented then, since I had shot once a year on average (.22 rifle and pellet guns), if that, before joining the Army, yet still managed to qualify expert with the M16 and .45.

And you are right, I guess proficiency means different things to different folks.

[rhino57]

THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS SHORTAGE IS ALL THE NEW AMMO WILL BE FRESH.:cool:

[Gun Slinger]

I do not "hoard" ammunition, I "amass" it.

Been doing so for years.

Most of the 30,000+ rounds of 9mm that I have was bought just two or three years ago at $5.50-$6.00 per box which works out to about $3600.00

Same for all the .45ACP (about 7,500 rounds of it) that I have. All totalled, it set me back about $1,600.00 give or take $20.00

Stop buying ammo if I've already got a hundred rounds of the caliber? Nonsense!

Worry about the "other guy" that failed to plan and therefore planned to fail? Horse Hockey!

When I find a good deal, I grab it, "need" it or not. In times as uncertain as these, it is best to get what you can when you can 'cause you may not get the chance again.

[1858rem]

i see a lot of 17HMR.....and why is no one hoarding shotgun shells?

[flocker]

The gun makers are catching up, you see AR's and pistols back on the shelf soon you will see the ammo back.

About 2010 hopefully or 2012 there will be a flood of LNIB AR's, AK's and semi autos on the market as well as unlimited ammo for cheap as everyone will be selling.

[John Parker]

Actually, what you are is illiterate. As I clearly stated, hoarders are the ones stashing hundreds, if not thousands of rounds. Buying more than 100 rounds at a time right now is just selfish..if that makes you feel any better.

You sir, are not a polite person.