Unwilling to stock up? Wont or cant buy ammo by the case?

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CDW4ME

CDW4ME

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Pre-panic, before all this started.
I see a lot of posts about ammo availability at the local store.
I realize there are places where you cant have ammo delivered to your door, my sympathy.
I'd be interested to read reasons why people didnt (or dont) buy ammo by the case.
Why not stock up?
 
A few reasons I see...chief among them is complacency. Why drop hundreds of dollars at one time to buy a stock of ammo that I can buy onesie twosie at the range or local Walmart? (Answer: Winter is Coming) Second, for some there is sometimes a stigma associated with large stockpiles of ammo...tell someone here "I have 1500 rounds of 9mm in reserve" and you'll hear "well that's a good start" Tell someone at work and you may get some sideward glances. And for the majority of folks that are caught short now, I think a lack of historical perspective is operative. Many, many new, and even not so new gun owners weren't around for the '08 election shortage, or the Sandy Hook drought, or the '94 AWB, so never considered a time when $500 AR's, $9 9mm (or any pistol ammo at Walmart) would not be the norm. So, I try not to be too hard on those who are new and caught flat footed, they don't know what those of us who have been around a while have seen time and again....Winter is Coming. For arms and ammo, winter is always coming, in the form of economic recessions, political uncertainty, international conflict, supply chain disruptions, environmental activism, and all sorts of other reasons. And the droughts seem to get deeper and longer each time. So my stance and advice is to help the new folks as much as is reasonable, educate them on the past, and prepare them for the future because....Winter is Coming
 
Not everyone is a bulk shooter. While I enjoy collecting firearms, shooting firearms, and carry a firearm, they are probably about 4th or 5th on the list of what i enjoy doing. When it comes to spending money on a lot of ammo that i don't need at the moment, i generally won't do that. Since shooting is a hobby and not a lifestyle for me, buying a case of ammo is like renting all 7 seasons of a TV series when I will only be able to watch an episode every other week due to work/life.

I have accumulated enough guns that I NEED, so the shelves being bare doesn't bother me much on hardware. When it comes to ammo, I have been squirreling away a couple hundred rounds here and there for 3 or 4 guns i find crucial to feed for personal and home defense (.38/.357, .45 acp, 12g). If ammo for these guns isn't available in large quantities for the next 10 months, ill just buy what I find when I feel like shooting...or just won't shoot.

Firearms aren't enough of my personal lifestyle to worry about stocking up for the long haul. I dont have time and space to shoot as much as some here, and $5000 worth of ammo could be $5000 spent on redoing my kitchen or paying down on my car or a nice vacation. Hell, $500 of ammo is a nice TV. I much rather enjoy a good high def movie with the family than I do shooting. Like I said, I love to shoot, but my personal preference is mostly buy what I am going to shoot today and stock a bit for a bug out emergency. Not a long term shortage, just a bit extra just in case.

I understand this is outlier thinking on THR as this place obviously revolves around guns and shooting, but i would guess that a vast majority of gun owners probably don't have more than a box on hand to feed their investment. I think the people that hurt most in an ammo drought are the middle of roaders (i count myself close to that). These are the shooters that enjoy shooting but don't have the means to stock up and are forced to buy what they can when they can if ammp starts to dry up. I am in a similar situation, but I have just decided to go do something else while pickings are slim.
 
CDW4ME said:
I'd be interested to read reasons why people didnt (or dont) buy ammo by the case.
Click to expand...

Among other reasone is the need to put beanies and weenies on a table, make mortgage payments and utility payments. Before my kids were grown with kids of their own it was a matter of priorities. Now I stay very well stocked but life wasn't always this good.

Ron
 
Fiv3r said:
Not everyone is a bulk shooter. While I enjoy collecting firearms, shooting firearms, and carry a firearm, they are probably about 4th or 5th on the list of what i enjoy doing. When it comes to spending money on a lot of ammo that i don't need at the moment, i generally won't do that. Since shooting is a hobby and not a lifestyle for me, buying a case of ammo is like renting all 7 seasons of a TV series when I will only be able to watch an episode every other week due to work/life.

I have accumulated enough guns that I NEED, so the shelves being bare doesn't bother me much on hardware. When it comes to ammo, I have been squirreling away a couple hundred rounds here and there for 3 or 4 guns i find crucial to feed for personal and home defense (.38/.357, .45 acp, 12g). If ammo for these guns isn't available in large quantities for the next 10 months, ill just buy what I find when I feel like shooting...or just won't shoot.

Firearms aren't enough of my personal lifestyle to worry about stocking up for the long haul. I dont have time and space to shoot as much as some here, and $5000 worth of ammo could be $5000 spent on redoing my kitchen or paying down on my car or a nice vacation. Hell, $500 of ammo is a nice TV. I much rather enjoy a good high def movie with the family than I do shooting. Like I said, I love to shoot, but my personal preference is mostly buy what I am going to shoot today and stock a bit for a bug out emergency. Not a long term shortage, just a bit extra just in case.

I understand this is outlier thinking on THR as this place obviously revolves around guns and shooting, but i would guess that a vast majority of gun owners probably don't have more than a box on hand to feed their investment. I think the people that hurt most in an ammo drought are the middle of roaders (i count myself close to that). These are the shooters that enjoy shooting but don't have the means to stock up and are forced to buy what they can when they can if ammp starts to dry up. I am in a similar situation, but I have just decided to go do something else while pickings are slim.
Click to expand...

Great honest post!
A refreshing change from the 'I got mine, and who cares about you' posts I've been seeing lately.

JT
 
It would be funny, if it wasn’t sad. People that are “broke” go out and buy ammo, guns and mags after the panic starts so they get less for more money and still are paying off credit cards well after it’s over and things have settled back down.

These are the people trying to sell a $600 AR 15 for $1000, because they payed $1500 for it.

That said, if they understood the concept of “buy low, sell high”, they would be a stock broker, not broke...
 
Because I reload :)

Though, I will say that this panic and an increased shooting spring has me starting to need to really limit my weekly shooting so I'll have enough to last through to next summer, since primers have finally gone on the hard to find list.

Mostly just small pistol, I've got plenty small rifle, large rifle, large pistol and my various magnums to keep me going for years.
 
Fiv3r said:
Not everyone is a bulk shooter. While I enjoy collecting firearms, shooting firearms, and carry a firearm, they are probably about 4th or 5th on the list of what i enjoy doing. When it comes to spending money on a lot of ammo that i don't need at the moment, i generally won't do that. Since shooting is a hobby and not a lifestyle for me, buying a case of ammo is like renting all 7 seasons of a TV series when I will only be able to watch an episode every other week due to work/life.

I have accumulated enough guns that I NEED, so the shelves being bare doesn't bother me much on hardware. When it comes to ammo, I have been squirreling away a couple hundred rounds here and there for 3 or 4 guns i find crucial to feed for personal and home defense (.38/.357, .45 acp, 12g). If ammo for these guns isn't available in large quantities for the next 10 months, ill just buy what I find when I feel like shooting...or just won't shoot.

Firearms aren't enough of my personal lifestyle to worry about stocking up for the long haul. I dont have time and space to shoot as much as some here, and $5000 worth of ammo could be $5000 spent on redoing my kitchen or paying down on my car or a nice vacation. Hell, $500 of ammo is a nice TV. I much rather enjoy a good high def movie with the family than I do shooting. Like I said, I love to shoot, but my personal preference is mostly buy what I am going to shoot today and stock a bit for a bug out emergency. Not a long term shortage, just a bit extra just in case.

I understand this is outlier thinking on THR as this place obviously revolves around guns and shooting, but i would guess that a vast majority of gun owners probably don't have more than a box on hand to feed their investment. I think the people that hurt most in an ammo drought are the middle of roaders (i count myself close to that). These are the shooters that enjoy shooting but don't have the means to stock up and are forced to buy what they can when they can if ammp starts to dry up. I am in a similar situation, but I have just decided to go do something else while pickings are slim.
Click to expand...
True.

Thats why so many casual gun owners at work are coming to me now asking for a box or two of 9mm.....:confused:
 
Buy when you can with cash. Buy till your comfortable with the amount you want. Don’t listen to the other guys. Buy sooner than later Remember in times of trouble the thugs that came to your door will have all your unshot ammo if you don’t survive and they do. Enough is enough and too much belongs to someone else.
 
jmorris said:
It would be funny, if it wasn’t sad. People that are “broke” go out and buy ammo, guns and mags after the panic starts so they get less for more money and still are paying off credit cards well after it’s over and things have settled back down.

These are the people trying to sell a $600 AR 15 for $1000, because they payed $1500 for it.

That said, if they understood the concept of “buy low, sell high”, they would be a stock broker, not broke...
Click to expand...

People do desperate things in desperate times. People are not all stupid, or were gun enthusiast in the past. This is not a cycle going on, it is real and maybe the high cost of purchasing a firearm now, might actually save their life or families life in the Future. God knows what the availablity of any firearms will be in the future. So even investing in a firearm today, could be considered buying LOW, that same $1,000 dollar AR might just be $2,000 in 6 months.
 
This is not a cycle going on,
Click to expand...

WWII was the longest shortage, I have read about.

The Cuban missile crisis was the next wave.

To your point, had you jumped into machineguns before May 19, 1986, you would have been a wise investor.

When Clinton signed the AWB, you could buy a Glock 20, sell the two mags and have the pistol for free. 10-22, 50 round mags also went for more than the rifle cost. Took 20 years for that cycle to end.

Anyone that’s not brand new to the game will remember Obama’s re-election and Sandyhook panic, when you could buy a $12 P mag for $80 or more.

A few years of everything anyone could want sitting on the shelves across the country just cause people to forget or not care. That’s fine and I don’t admonish the attitude, just keep it for a little while until the Covid panic passes.

I promise it will. If Biden wins in Nov, the news will tell us we are just fine by Christmas, if not before thanksgiving.

If you think having one before new rules are in place will save you today, it may be a foolish investment to jump into that $1000 AR. Our current POTUS has set the precedent of declaring something, that was legal, Illegal (with no new laws passed in the House or Senate) NOT grandfathered, so you are a criminal if you retain such a device, all with zero compensation. Might as well burn the money.

In any case, I am glad to see new firearm owners and lots of enthusiasm, foolish or not, it’s good for all gun owners and I welcome them. Actually 4 “new guys and gals” so far since this started, myself. Some actually feel guilty shooting my ammunition knowing how hard it is to come by today. Should be a good lesson once this run is over.
 
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jmorris said:
WWII was the longest shortage, I have read about.

The Cuban missile crisis was the next wave.

To your point, had you jumped into machineguns before May 19, 1986, you would have been a wise investor.

When Clinton signed the AWB, you could buy a Glock 20, sell the two mags and have the pistol for free. 10-22, 50 round mags also went for more than the rifle cost. Took 20 years for that cycle to end.

Anyone that’s not brand new to the game will remember Obama’s re-election and Sandyhook panic, when you could buy a $12 P mag for $80 or more.

A few years of everything anyone could want sitting on the shelves across the country just cause people to forget or not care. That’s fine and I don’t admonish the attitude, just keep it for a little while until the Covid panic passes.

I promise it will. If Biden wins in Nov, the news will tell us we are just fine by Christmas, if not before thanksgiving.

If you think having one before new rules are in place will save you today, it may be a foolish investment to jump into that $1000 AR. Our current POTUS has set the precedent of declaring something, that was legal, Illegal (with no new laws passed in a house or Senate) NOT grandfathered, so you are a criminal if you retain such a device, all with zero compensation. Might as well burn the money.

In any case, I am glad to see new firearm owners and lots of enthusiasm, foolish or not, it’s good for all gun owners and I welcome them. Actually 4 “new guys and gals” so far since this started, myself. Some actually feel guilty shooting my ammunition knowing how hard it is to come by today. Should be a good lesson once this run is over.
Click to expand...

Interesting that you compare the current crisis to WW2 as a cycle.I guess in that regards your are right. Fortunately we won the war. And of course that war lasted 6 years.
 
Interesting that you compare the current crisis to WW2 as a cycle.
Click to expand...

Why is that? I have read that certain things were not as easy to come by than before or after the event.

Same goes for the others I listed as well.

Brings up a good point though. What about COVID-19, a virus that has killed mostly elder or otherwise vulnerable people, is the cause of alarm? Do people think the old codgers that are left are going to start fleeing the nursing home’s and head their way?

If we have a dry year, the price of hay goes up. If we have some left over from last year, we don’t have to pay this years price.

It’s not a difficult concept to grasp but I will admit to throwing away a lot of candy as a kid that I had squirreled away and never utilized.
 
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Axis II said:
Cause most of us don’t shoot 10k rounds a year nore have the money to have $10k worth of ammo sitting in the basement. I make sure I have enough to hunt and shoot 10-15x year and defense.
Click to expand...

Texas10mm said:
Some people, in fact many people, simply don't have the money.
Click to expand...

^^^This and the fact that part of this shortage is due to folks new to firearms and the volatility of the ammo market the last 2 decades. This whole idea that one needs 10,000 rounds or more of ammo stockpiled or they don't have enough is a fairly new phenomenon, outside the parameters of old time Preppers. Used to be most folks made fun of them because, you know....who needs 10,000 rounds of ammo? Nobody did when you could walk into most any WalMart or LGS and buy all you wanted. Nowadays, with social media becoming so rampant, Someone posts on FB or a gun forum about the limited ammo of ammo on the shelves and all of a sudden there is a rush of folks attempting to get whatever is left. Look at reloading. Back during the first panic buying spree in 2008, there was no real shortage of components....til folks on social media told those whining about no ammo to reload their own.....then you never need to worry again. Now, components run out before factory 9mm. Someone posts about Midway having SP primers and immediately, you can hear keyboards clicking all over the country. It's those folks that don't live for social media that get caught with their pants down when ammo panic buying hits. It's those folks that soot only a few times a year and are only looking for a box or two that find nuttin' on the shelf. Look at the .22 ammo shortage of a few years back. What the 'ell was that all about? Most folks that hadn't had their rimfire out of the closet for 20 years were suddenly buying all the bricks they could find at inflated prices with the fear there was never going to be any more.

All I can do is shake my head at threads like this, cause they contribute more than anything else, to those empty shelves. Can you imagine what would have happened if Chicken Little would have had a Facebook account?:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
CDW4ME said:
Pre-panic, before all this started.
I see a lot of posts about ammo availability at the local store.
I realize there are places where you cant have ammo delivered to your door, my sympathy.
I'd be interested to read reasons why people didnt (or dont) buy ammo by the case.
Why not stock up?
Click to expand...
I have read that almost half of the gun buy of late are 1st time gun buyers. And many of those are women. Hopefully most of them will become strong 2A supporters.
And hopefully they will get it that you need to have a decent supply of ammo for times like this.
In the meantime, all we can do is be a guidance if they want.
I wonder how many thought they would wait till we get closer to the election before they would stock up. And got caught in the current events.
 
I understand that some do not have the money to buy large quantities and that is fine. The one's that puzzle me are the people that buy during the panic simply because of the panic whether they have the money or not, but especially the nots. If you didn't have the money before the panic you still don't during the panic yet some of those people hurt themselves financially panic buying. It one thing for a well to do person to squander some fun money buying high priced good during a panic but for those that don't have spare cash to do the same seems unwise to me.
 
jmorris said:
WWII was the longest shortage, I have read about.

The Cuban missile crisis was the next wave.

To your point, had you jumped into machineguns before May 19, 1986, you would have been a wise investor.

When Clinton signed the AWB, you could buy a Glock 20, sell the two mags and have the pistol for free. 10-22, 50 round mags also went for more than the rifle cost. Took 20 years for that cycle to end.

Anyone that’s not brand new to the game will remember Obama’s re-election and Sandyhook panic, when you could buy a $12 P mag for $80 or more.

A few years of everything anyone could want sitting on the shelves across the country just cause people to forget or not care. That’s fine and I don’t admonish the attitude, just keep it for a little while until the Covid panic passes.

I promise it will. If Biden wins in Nov, the news will tell us we are just fine by Christmas, if not before thanksgiving.

If you think having one before new rules are in place will save you today, it may be a foolish investment to jump into that $1000 AR. Our current POTUS has set the precedent of declaring something, that was legal, Illegal (with no new laws passed in the House or Senate) NOT grandfathered, so you are a criminal if you retain such a device, all with zero compensation. Might as well burn the money.

In any case, I am glad to see new firearm owners and lots of enthusiasm, foolish or not, it’s good for all gun owners and I welcome them. Actually 4 “new guys and gals” so far since this started, myself. Some actually feel guilty shooting my ammunition knowing how hard it is to come by today. Should be a good lesson once this run is over.
Click to expand...
Spot on.
Not to change the subject of hijack the thread...I'll say this and drop it...Trump banning Bump stocks by EO (basically, just told Sessions to find a way to ban them), was about the worst thing he could have done...hands down. He set the standard, and very dangerous one. Dont think he intended that, but there it is.

Sorry to side track..just not sure if all gun owners realize how bad that move was.
 
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