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

I reload for all my rifle and pistol ammo needs. Including regular practice and training courses. But I found that shotshell reloading wasn't cost effective and gave away all my reloading gear and supplies for shotshells.

Come this panic and slugs and reasonably-priced 00 buck have disappeared.

I've saved up enough buck and slugs to do a training class, but my daughter has told me that she'd like to do a defensive shotgun class with me this fall, and I think I might not have enough for the two of us.

I don't like that feeling.

CDW4ME said:

Why not stock up?

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In my opinion, many new buyers don’t realize how much ammunition they will go through.
Once they know their new pistol comes with three magazines that hold seventeen, one box isn’t going to cut it.

In fact, what we are experiencing now is humans stocking up. (Supply, demand, blah, blah, blah...)

In as much as many new gun owners only need a few boxes anyway, a necessary purchase at inflated prices is not prohibitive.

In mental health speaking, the strong placebo effect of having one, just in case, whether gun, ammo, tent, toilet paper or toothpaste, is enough. And since so many new owners are out there, there is a huge demand.

In case something untoward happens, we’re all stocking up!

10,000 is not many at a few hundred a trip.
What father can say no to an 8year old, “Just one more magazine, Dadi”?

I don’t go through a lot of ammo at each range session. 50 rounds of 22 to warm up, then 50 or so rounds of whatever center fire hand guns I bring that day. I reload for my center fire handguns so I have a good supply.
During “normal” times I fill in when the need arises on components and rim fire. This keeps me well supplied for my purposes.
I refuse to pay $85.00 for 500 22’s when I have an ample supply.
Might be a good idea to only buy what you need and let this panic pass.

Some of us don't live in jurisdictions where we are allowed to stockpile ammo.

mcb said:

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.

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I will disagree with the Term "Panic Buying". More people feel a need for a new product does not mean they are in a Panic to get that product. I increased my Home Security even more than it presently is. Does not mean I panicked. A new awareness to present events dictates action not panic.

For me, I try to have at least a 100 rounds for each of my firearms. 22. lr, I have the most for, but its cheaper and easier to find at a good price.

9mm, 45 acp, been spendy for a while now.

Lots of 12 gauge shot gun shells though. For now, its magazines I need, more then ammo.

Most people dont shoot their guns. That applies to a lot of people on this board.

If you don’t shoot often I don’t understand why youd have more ammo that you can carry.

HB said:

Most people dont shoot their guns. That applies to a lot of people on this board.

If you don’t shoot often I don’t understand why youd have more ammo that you can carry.

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Very true. And for many of us, shooting was and I say again was our hobby and we shot often. A minimum of once a week myself. And I am trying to accept the fact that the Sport and Hobby I have love for years is over.
Tomorrow is Sunday, a day I always spend on the Outdoor range. I will still be going, but will not be taking any Powder Burners. I will be loading up my vehicle with Air Rifles. Sometimes you just have to adjust.
Heck, will not be watching any Professional sports either.

Mk VII said:

Some of us don't live in jurisdictions where we are allowed to stockpile ammo.

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Are there really parts of USA (or are you abroad relative to USA?) that prevents one from storing certain amounts of cartridges?

edit : now I see you are in England.

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?

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Can’t afford to drop multiple hundreds on ammo at any one time.

Texas10mm said:

Some people, in fact many people, simply don't have the money.

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I’d say that’s probably the #1 reason.

Never mind

Fiv3r said:

$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

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$5000 could be a year or more worth of property taxes on the land that allows me to enjoy my other hobbies too.

HB said:

Most people dont shoot their guns. That applies to a lot of people on this board.

If you don’t shoot often I don’t understand why youd have more ammo that you can carry.

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some guys collect cars, others collect baseball cards or fine wine. Some even collect the most expensive hobby of all...women!

It's just another thing we collect. At least guns have several uses (I suppose women do too..but that one is just too expensive to have more than one...lol)

I'm in my slowest shooting season right now. It's just too hot to be fun to shoot right now. The other nine months of the year I can easily burn 400-500 rounds of centerfire handgun ammo per range trip. I manage to get out at least once a week if not twice.

10,000 rounds doesn't last long at that rate.

Thankfully my children are grown and out of the house. I'm retired but making more than I ever have. If it weren't for the health problems my life would be great.

My wife has finally realized that it's not foolish to stockpile components. She told me she would not longer question why I wanted/needed more. I told her when/if the situation stabilizes that I'll be spending at least $1000 on primers for a few months.

It's just like any other commodity people need or want. If you have the means to buy in bulk you can save money when prices are amenable. I'm able to afford it so I have been able to buy in bulk over the years. Others don't have this level of economic freedom, it's just the way of things - food, clothing, shelter come first. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck and building a supply of extra canned goods, boxes of ammo, or setting aside a general emergency fund isn't always possible.

Ernie Bass said:

I will disagree with the Term "Panic Buying". More people feel a need for a new product does not mean they are in a Panic to get that product. I increased my Home Security even more than it presently is. Does not mean I panicked. A new awareness to present events dictates action not panic.

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Both are possible either together or separately. Buying a new security camera for you house due to current event might be a prudent buy not a panic buy despite increase prices. Buying a few boxes of good ammo cause you out, despite panic prices, might also be prudent and not a panic buy. Buying several cases of ammo at panic prices and being late on the mortgage payment due to the decision is panic and unwise even if you needed some ammo.

But if your wise and resourceful you already have most of what you need to weather the current unrest and panic price increases and can wait until the next time the market is slow and you can maximize you money when buying.

buck460XVR said:

Back during the first panic buying spree in 2008, there was no real shortage of components....

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I've got news for you amigo; 2008 was by no means the first panic buying spree.
I have been through politically driven component (and ammo) shortages since the Clinton Administration, when there was nary a primer to be had. Never mind the price of 30-round MSR magazines.

Texas10mm said:

when/if the situation stabilizes that I'll be spending at least $1000 on primers for a few months.

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I've said it before: nothing goes bang without a primer.
And, primers have always been the first component to disappear in the 30 years + that I have been reloading.

I am not short of primers, because I have been through this before. Several times.

CDW4ME said:

Why not stock up?

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The same reason folks don't put aside $$$ at every paycheck for unplanned household, medical, unemployment, etc expenses.
The same reason folks don't save for their kids college education.
The same reason folks that live on the Gulf Coast don't stock up on hurricane supplies until Al Roker is standing in the rain.
For some, ammunition is seen as a recreational expense only, not as something needed for personal protection.

It's easier to complain than save.

dogtown tom said:

The same reason folks don't put aside $$$ at every paycheck for unplanned household, medical, unemployment, etc expenses.
The same reason folks don't save for their kids college education.
The same reason folks that live on the Gulf Coast don't stock up on hurricane supplies until Al Roker is standing in the rain.
For some, ammunition is seen as a recreational expense only, not as something needed for personal protection.

It's easier to complain than save.

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Have an annual physical, brush their teeth, bathe...

I read that people panic bought TP because it gave them the feeling of control over uncertain times. I imagine ammo is similar.

I’ll just change my shooting habits if I need to. You can accomplish a lot with 50rnds of .22 and a rifle or pistol.

Plus dry fire/reload drill/drawing can all be done without firing a shot.

People always say they're broke. Then get caught buying something stupid.

I ignore helping those people.

Mk VII said:

Some of us don't live in jurisdictions where we are allowed to stockpile ammo.

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If you live in an area that won't allow you to stock up, if you have a family member in a different area. You could get into a joint purchase with the family member & store it at their house or get a bunch of others in your area to rent a storage unit outside your area to stash their ammo, large joint purchases can make it cheaper to buy ammo.
I reload most of the rounds I shoot & keep stocked up on reloading supplys.

And the rounds I can't reload I stock up on them when the price is low.
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Zerodefect said:

People always say they're broke. Then get caught buying something stupid.

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I suppose that was the point I was trying to cover. “Didn’t need it until things went crazy, now gotta have it.”