America's Firearm and Ammo Supply Chain Safe?

Well considering that toilet paper and hand sanitizer seem to be horded and as hard to get as primers and powders were in the Obama years, I'm not dismissing the possibility of a shortage due to supply chain interruptions and hoarding. I don't think so though since many of us have a decent stockpile already.

Just don't be the guy that goes out and orders 10K rounds out of fear. You'll start getting everyone to feel that way and then there will be a run on ammo and there will be shortages. Most of us here lived through that During Obama.

If a smokeless powder is from "elsewhere"these days it usually seems to be Australia. Other than that we have steel, iron ore, copper, etc. here in the states.
I'm not going to sweat it...

Most smokeless powder is made outside the US.

No less a worry than any other product; it is made, moved, sold and bought by people - every product will have some level of stress based upon demand variables. There is plenty of firearms/ supplies available as long as society doesn’t go off the deep end however, Katrina was our first look into how quickly a seemingly organized society can fall into utter chaos - much faster than most can adapt.

Steve S. said:

No less a worry than any other product; it is made, moved, sold and bought by people - every product will have some level of stress based upon demand variables. There is plenty of firearms/ supplies available as long as society doesn’t go off the deep end however, Katrina was our first look into how quickly a seemingly organized society can fall into utter chaos - much faster than most can adapt.

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I was ~13 at the time. Only time I've ever known my father to carry a handgun was during those few weeks.

All else fails you can make holy black yourself...

1KPerDay said:

All else fails you can make holy black yourself...

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75 saltpeter, 10 sulfur, 15 charcoal; isn't it ?

Dash of Tabasco...

Mr. Mosin said:

75 saltpeter, 10 sulfur, 15 charcoal; isn't it ?

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Yes, but try to combine those in a way that actually produces a useful propellant. I tried years ago, and all I got was a smokey sputter.

Well mine is......I mean my supply chain involves a flight of stairs and a decision of how much of that crap I want to lug back up.

One, China and SK are actually beginning to spool back up. Anything from Euro land is going to be problematic in the near future so your brie supply might not be ok and you might have to drink Napa valley wine. Australia seems to be weathering the storm pretty well so far.

Steve S. said:

No less a worry than any other product; it is made, moved, sold and bought by people - every product will have some level of stress based upon demand variables. There is plenty of firearms/ supplies available as long as society doesn’t go off the deep end however, Katrina was our first look into how quickly a seemingly organized society can fall into utter chaos - much faster than most can adapt.

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Go watch 'How It Ends'..not a predictor of today but a look at how fragile civilized society is...

BUT, not a bad idea to be prepared...

Now lets everyone run around telling everyone to stock up on ammo and reloading stuff and then those of us who actually need the stuff wont be able to find it. Went to Walmart and another chain last night and no milk, bread, meats, water, eggs, lunch meat, etc. So sick of the whole worlds gonna end crap. Ammo isn't going anywhere but I'm sure a few hundred people who check this forum will rush right out and empty a savings account because of a virus.

I wasn't inconvenienced during the Obama shortage when I was shooting 12 to 15K per year and I won't be now. You do reload and keep components on hand don't you?

Hartkopf said:

Don't confuse people who warn about fragile supply chains with goof ball toilet paper hoarders. Ammo might be way down the list of importance but I'm not so sure it's a safe industry.

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I'll take toilet paper any day over a box of 9mm. I have enough to protect myself and my family. If I have to change my range habits from once a week to once ever few months than so be it. I have multiple hobbies so if shooting dries up like it did a few years ago its not the end of the world.

If panic buying along the scale of 2012-13 kicks in, things could get a little tight, IMO.
Adding an additional brick of .22s and and couple boxes of 9s (or your preference) to the otherwise regular LGS or big box trip might not be a bad practice, but I certainly don't see any need to drain any bank accounts or fill up a cart.
Even during that '12-13 fiasco -- brought on by consumer behavior, not true supply shortages, IMO -- there was plenty of shotgun ammo, wheelgun ammo and centerfire rifle ammo in calibers other than 5.56 and 7.52 x 39 on shelves.
In any case, I kind of doubt regulars here would be among the people truly impacted.

ohihunter2014 said:

Now lets everyone run around telling everyone to stock up on ammo and reloading stuff and then those of us who actually need the stuff wont be able to find it. Went to Walmart and another chain last night and no milk, bread, meats, water, eggs, lunch meat, etc. So sick of the whole worlds gonna end crap. Ammo isn't going anywhere but I'm sure a few hundred people who check this forum will rush right out and empty a savings account because of a virus.

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Couldn't agree more.

I'm sure panic buyers will assume the ammo they buy is the last chance they will ever have to buy ammo. For those of us with some sense, we've been buying all along while prices were decent.

I have enough powder and primers on hand to not have a problem for some time.

Was this directed at me? If so, yes and yes.

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No, not directed at anyone. Just a comment to the general tone of this thread.

We gave up our manufacturing base for corporate profits based on the labor costs elsewhere. I note that the rich elites in NY are fleeing to the Hamptons. The working folks have to lose paychecks or take the crowded subways to work when sick. Family in the NW tells me that sick folk have to go be a barista as they have no benefits or sick time.

I read that 75% of our drugs come from China or India. We don't make respirators. That's annoying for this crisis. Imagine a war with China, if you want to posture about such. Hello, China - we will fight a perfect war against you with fire and fury. Oh, you aren't going to send the drugs and supplies our soldiers need during the war?

Oops.

Hartkopf said:

After reading that over 90% of America's antibiotics (or raw ingredients) come from China, I was wondering if anybody knows how safe our firearms and ammunition supply chain is?

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Like toilet paper, people are hoarding. Had several calls about ammo. One even wanted to know how much ammo I recommended stockpiling for the virus.

Does he think you can shoot the little buggers? People are going nuts.