The best way to lower ammo prices is to stop buying.

Status
Not open for further replies.
"Don't buy ammo" is easier said than done. I suspect there's still remnants of first time gun owners from this spring and summer that are still just trying to buy enough to practise with, or at the very least fill up a couple magazines. You can't really expect them to hold off, because right now they have nothing and will gladly pay high prices just to get a couple boxes.

Past that there's all levels of gun owners, from the preppers worried that the election will bring TEOTWAWKI, to those that just want to hit the range every week, to those that are competing at some level. The rules of supply and demand still hold, and many of them are still willing to pay the elevated prices to get ammo.

It's easy for some of use to say "The rest of YOU should stop buying ammo" because we might be well stocked up, or reload and are flush with components. But that's not the case for everybody.
 
bikerdoc said:
When did wash your hand and stay out of crowds become let us hoard toilet paper and ammo?
Click to expand...
I don't know about hoarding ammo, but the toilet paper shortage started in the Walmart in Possum Grape, Arkansas.

Two guys were in Walmart, and one of them said, "I think I've got the Corona virus."

The other guy said, "That's the $hits!" and the stampede was on!
 
bikerdoc said:
When did wash your hand and stay out of crowds become let us hoard toilet paper and ammo?
Click to expand...

If that were all that was happening there would be some truth to what you say.

But, as everyone can see it is plainly more complicated than that.

We are presently in what one could describe as a "cascade failure." It's not just one problem, but a series of them. Each new one compounds and amplifies the earlier problems. The degree to which it is happening this year is worse than any other time I can think of in recent history.

We go through presidential election cycles every four years. Always causes an increase in sales to some degree or other. But this time we now have a disease pandemic unlike any we have experienced for about a century. One interacts with the other. NOW let us add in the rioting and general lawlessness on top of the first two. Rioting which is still ongoing. We haven't even reached the election yet.

I'm inclined to believe we'll weather this. Things are tense right now, but we'll get past it.

Unless some new problem comes along to compound the entire thing. I have no idea about that.
 
TP shortage corrected itself pretty quickly- no problems sourcing raw materials, no widespread problems keeping plants from operating. As soon as the buying rush subsided (how many megapacks do you actually need?), good stockage generally returned. There are no major candidates and party platforms calling for limits on roll size, how many toilets you can have in your house, and often you can flush (at least not yet...)

Ammo demand is completely different, and is tied into an alternate different set of circumstances- immediate defense concerns, hedge against upcoming restrictions (potentially SOON), generational buying now for children and grandchildren's needs in the future, not just the perceived need to dump 500 rounds at the range every month. Whether or not you agree with these assessments, and think ammo will be back to pre-pandemic pricing/availability in X months is immaterial, because enough people do have those concerns to drive the market.
 
Last edited:
daniel craig said:
Stop buying if you want lower prices.
Click to expand...
Easy to say, for those of us who have been shooters for a long time, and learned from previous panics, as well as those of us who reload. About the only new ammo I've bought recently is Trap loads for the hulls, because I reload those too, and 5000 hulls is only a years supply.
The fence sitter who went out and bought whatever 9mm pistol he or she could find due to recent events? He or she will have to buy ammo.
 
I have mostly what I need but I dollar cost average and continued to buy. Up until range ammo got over 35 cents per round. I see 72 cents per round now. The higher prices worked perfectly because I stopped buying but there is still something available for the desperate.

I reload so primers are the only problem now but Midway has been coming through there.
 
I'm doing my part as well. For the most part, except for 22LR and a couple of screaming deals, I have not bought any factory ammo during this upheaval, or the one prior. Or, the time in between! I pretty much stopped buying factory ammo in September of 2012 and haven't looked back. The second to last shortage in 2009 taught me a bit. I wasn't caught flat footed, but many of my friends were.

So, there, I stopped buying, let someone else pick up my supply.

Oh, and regarding components, the 2013 Banic taught me about preparedness as well. I didn't run out of supplies then, and won't this time either. And now, I cast as well, so I don't have to wait for bullet suppliers to catch up. Have to hit the pot this weekend.
 
WVsig said:
I disagree. Most people buying now "need" the ammo to shoot. If they didn't they would not be paying the current prices. Why on earth would you buy at the height of the market to hoard.
Click to expand...

I said last 12 years. Not last 6 months. But I do see people looking for ammo that I personally know will never shoot it. Simply because they are being spurred by the media. Many have ammo going back to the 80s and have never stopped buying. And thats fine. Its human nature. I live in a farming community. People grow and Can food for a month only to dump out the oldest jars so they can buy lids and fill them up again. Many of the old folks I worked for as a kid saved every coffee can, bent nails, old rag, oatmeal cup.(i didn't actually drink out of a glass until I married. Everyone used those oatmeal cups..).everything. toilet paper shortage? They saved corn cobs for that. they always said they remembered the depression and firmly believed it would be again. And I won't argue but it didn't in their lives. So im a believer in being prepared. I was raised that way. but even I myself get a little carried away. I have a backup generator for my backup generator that backs up my main backup generator. No joke.

Buy all you want. What you think you may need. Buy truck loads i don't care. I have all we will need. Ive bought a good bit at estate auctions in the past though. It made me think about my own buying. But I personally know people who have reinforced floors to hold it...... it will be at estate auction someday.
 
The variety of cost increases are interesting:

When Midway got a bunch of 9mm FMJ last month, prices were pre-pandemic + $5 to $8 per box. Probably keeping the same margin as before, just showing the increased wholesale cost. Of course, they sold out in an hour or two.

Last night, SG had S&B 9mm 115 gr FMJ for $30 a box and Wolf 115 gr FMJ Steel Case for $26 a box. Are they maintaining the same margin as before, or increasing the margin? I don't know.

Then there is CTD, who operate in their own level of specialness, offering most 9mm FMJ loadings at $55 to $65 per box of 50.
 
Last edited:
My only question is just where people imagine the hypothetical firefights (with rifles) are to take place in November etc.

Otherwise, ammo to fill four magazines in an AR isn’t enough?

Too many Graphic tv images from last spring, along with “defund Dis’ , “Ain’t we so badass”.
These are the main causes of the hysteria and ammo shortage.
 
Ignition Override said:
My only question is just where people imagine the hypothetical firefights (with rifles) are to take place in November etc.

Otherwise, ammo to fill four magazines in an AR isn’t enough?
Click to expand...

IMHO its hysteria. Also if you think about it if you are actually involved in a longer duration firefight one of two things is going to happen. You are going to be shot and be out of the fight, most likely dead, or you are going to be picking up a lot of ammo off of dead people. o_O The idea that you are going to be making some sort of sustained Alamo style stand it absurd. I have told newer shooters buy a case of ammo. Check for function and do a little life fire training and then hold on to the rest. 99% of new gun owners won't use up the ammo before the prices go back down.
 
Also the last count i seen was 10-15 billion rounds. Per year in America sold. I dont remember if that took into account ammo produced offshore or if that was American manufacture. But 10-15 B-illion.

They estimate 5 million first time gun owners this year.... I can't fathom that we are shooting even half of that. Many places, ranges etc are closed due to covid. Doesnt affect me i shoot anywhere I like on my farm. But I'd be shocked if we are shooting 10-15 B-illion rounds. Lol I do my part, I promise you. But most people shoot far less than many of us on here do. I hope we are shooting that much though
 
Last edited:
.455_Hunter said:
TP shortage corrected itself pretty quickly- no problems sourcing raw materials, no widespread problems keeping plants from operating. As soon as the buying rush subsided (how many megapacks do you actually need?), good stockage generally returned. There are no major candidates and party platforms calling for limits on roll size, how many toilets you can have in your house, and often you can flush (at least not yet...)

Ammo demand is completely different, and is tied into an alternate different set of circumstances- immediate defense concerns, hedge against upcoming restrictions (potentially SOON), generational buying now for children and grandchildren's needs in the future, not just the perceived need to dump 500 rounds at the range every month. Whether or not you agree with these assessments, and think ammo will be back to pre-pandemic pricing/availability in X months is immaterial, because enough people do have those concerns to drive the market.
Click to expand...

There is a shirtage of tactical toilet paper. Hardly any inventory and very hard to find any in stock:


upload_2020-10-8_12-51-8.png
 
crestoncowboy said:
I said last 12 years. Not last 6 months. But I do see people looking for ammo that I personally know will never shoot it. Simply because they are being spurred by the media. Many have ammo going back to the 80s and have never stopped buying. And thats fine. Its human nature. I live in a farming community. People grow and Can food for a month only to dump out the oldest jars so they can buy lids and fill them up again. Many of the old folks I worked for as a kid saved every coffee can, bent nails, old rag, oatmeal cup.(i didn't actually drink out of a glass until I married. Everyone used those oatmeal cups..).everything. toilet paper shortage? They saved corn cobs for that. they always said they remembered the depression and firmly believed it would be again. And I won't argue but it didn't in their lives. So im a believer in being prepared. I was raised that way. but even I myself get a little carried away. I have a backup generator for my backup generator that backs up my main backup generator. No joke.

Buy all you want. What you think you may need. Buy truck loads i don't care. I have all we will need. Ive bought a good bit at estate auctions in the past though. It made me think about my own buying. But I personally know people who have reinforced floors to hold it...... it will be at estate auction someday.
Click to expand...

I grew up similar to what you described. My mom picked cotton as a kid so I've seen first hand how old timers save everything and it's rubbed off on me.
Luckily my dad had the skills to work his way out of the poor house so not all of my childhood was dirt poor.

I agree that most of these pack rats will die before they need what they have but we never know for sure. It's good for people to be overly self sufficient IMO. Venezuela was once fairly rich and prosperous. After the implosion, a carton of eggs cost $144 there. Now a political party here in the US wants to copy the Venezuela model. (insanity says they expect a different result) I think I'm going to channel my cotton picking ancestors and save everything I have, including guns and ammo. I'm agreeing with your observation, it hasn't mattered yet, but we know it still might matter at any time.
 
I see that company Ammo Inc located in Scottsdale, AZ being sited in numerous articles. The owner is stating they are purchasing either 100's of thousands or millions in additional equipment to keep up with demand, depending on which article you are reading. If that company I never heard of is expanding what do you think the mid tier companies like Doubletap, Black Hills, Gerogia Arms, Pine Valley, etc. are doing. I have little doubt most if not all are figuring out how to increase capacity which I am sure includes new equipment, space and employees. In the long term we are likely to see a much larger domestic production capacity. Especially 9mm production.
 
CDW4ME said:
Easy to not buy if you have what you want / need, but in fact not everybody does.
Click to expand...
Too many seem to be shooting up ammo as fast or faster than they can get it. This is the time for conservation on the part of individuals. I do have a stockpile saved (various calibers) from past time and I'm waiting to buy any more until the current panic ceases and prices ease a bit.
 
Archie said:
Too many seem to be shooting up ammo as fast or faster than they can get it. This is the time for conservation on the part of individuals.
Click to expand...

+1000.

Now is the time for familiarization and basic skills maintenance ONLY.

Too many shooters want to be able to play Gun Game Special Operator, and can't process that not being viable for the foreseeable future.
 
Last edited:
Ammo makers do not have to turn things up to 11 for more to enter the market. There may be other supply that is simply being horded. At some point the price for it is greater than the need to horde. There are other makers outside the normal steam that might add to supply as well. But that's all a moot point because its all guessing at what the market will do. If I was good at that I would be a lot richer.

Supply and demand is what it is. It will not be denied it's existence. So like the OP said an decrease in demand and what I added an increase in supply are the only two ways that ammo prices will go down. In the mean time it's the price of doing business. In times of turmoil I might be willing to pay whatever to have what I need.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Metal vs. Ammo price
Replies
16
Views
784
daskro
D
C
  • Locked
Why you should continue to buy ammo
2
Replies
47
Views
2K
Sam1911
S
R
  • Locked
Stop calling it gouging.
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
132
Views
4K
Robert
Robert
Z
  • Locked
Copper, lead, and fuel prices plummet. Shouldn't ammo prices?
Replies
22
Views
1K
cornman
C
I
  • Locked
Buy your next gun, or ammo, components etc?
Replies
15
Views
506
x_wrench
x_wrench
Back
Top