No other commodity is in short supply except ammo.

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I should have been more clear. Some things other than ammo are a little patchy to find, but you can find them, and the prices are not inflated. If the grocery store doesn't have Charmin in stock, they probably have another brand.

Many calibers of ammo are just not available, and if you do find them, they are for a few dollars a round. 357 Magnum is a current example of this.
 
Balrog said:
I should have been more clear. Some things other than ammo are a little patchy to find, but you can find them, and the prices are not inflated. If the grocery store doesn't have Charmin in stock, they probably have another brand.

Many calibers of ammo are just not available, and if you do find them, they are for a few dollars a round. 357 Magnum is a current example of this.
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What is your explanation then? Other than the ones given by many different folks already? Did you add recently a new caliber gun that you had not previously owned and now need ammo for it? That is understandable, nobody buys ammo for a gun they do not have (well, some might ;) ) but if you did not stock up in the good years with an eye on the lean times you are going to just have to dig and scramble for it. I wish we could clap our hands and wish for good things and they would happen but so far, this mess, all of it, just seems to be here to stay for a while. And the election just now and all of that fuss is not helping things. Crazy times. I am not a prepper and believe in the end all good things will come to pass and everything will be okay, I pray for that anyways, but it makes sense to have some basic supplies put away and ammo is one of them.
 
3Crows said:
What is your explanation then? Other than the ones given by many different folks already? Did you add recently a new caliber gun that you had not previously owned and now need ammo for it? That is understandable, nobody buys ammo for a gun they do not have (well, some might ;) ) but if you did not stock up in the good years with an eye on the lean times you are going to just have to dig and scramble for it. I wish we could clap our hands and wish for good things and they would happen but so far, this mess, all of it, just seems to be here to stay for a while. And the election just now and all of that fuss is not helping things. Crazy times. I am not a prepper and believe in the end all good things will come to pass and everything will be okay, I pray for that anyways, but it makes sense to have some basic supplies put away and ammo is one of them.
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I like to keep a supply on hand, and replace what I shoot. I can't do that right now.

Maybe its all a supply and demand thing like others have said. Or maybe it isn't.
 
Balrog said:
not sure I am still buying the narrative provided
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It has been explained clearly and concisely that production is at capacity.
No one is going to invest in new equipment or facilities to increase production capacity for a bubble demand regardless of how much we wish they would. The first challenge is primers. Where do they get those? Invest in more production capacity? More bullets, more brass? Invest in machines and facilities to produce those? Ammunition manufacturers then would have to invest in machines and facilities to produce the ammunition we're crying for. By the time everything were in place to start cranking out more primers, bullets, brass, then the ammunition ... the bubble may have burst (like it did last time). That would leave the manufacturers that invested all that money sitting on debt, not product.

A friend that is a small ammunition maker can barely find primers to limp along serving the local indoor range market. It isn't that no one is trying, it is that there's no one that will risk the millions of dollars to invest in new equipment and facilities.
 
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Maybe I am missing something but every time I go to my range, it is almost full. Pistol shooting not seeming to notice a lack of supply. I only shoot what I load anymore, factory ammo is stored for long term. So I go once a week, shoot 100 or so, spend an hour punching paper. There is always someone at the counter buying a gun, ammo or other. Are people really dropping $100 per range visit for factory ammo, plus the range fee. The stores limit to 2 boxes of whatever caliber if they have it. Either people have more money than I realize or I am missing something. I still have ammo from when 5.56 was 7 cents a round. I cannot find brass for less than .50 a piece.
 
My local gun range has 9mm ammo from a regional maker; new ammo is $32/50 and no limit as they can buy it by the pallet. No idea whose bullets, primers or powder they're using, but it IS available. They also have 22 subsonic from Aguila, plus 40, 38, 45, etc. It is there, but it isn't at 2018 prices.
 
Being a very late-bloomer with Krav Maga (Israeli) self-defense classes nearby --began over year ago, and I'm 65o_O -- another shortage surprised me.

There is only gentle physical contact (in extremely Stark contrast to many demo videos and movies), other than hitting kicking/"punch" shields and pads, but it can help to have a pair of shin guards for low-energy free sparring now and then.

Last spring I ordered shin guards when classes resumed, and they still haven't arrived. Luckily all of the students have perfect self-control, can simulate anything without giving you more than a very light bruise-at most.
Easy to forget about this, but This shortage keeps almost anything from being much of a surprise.

Lots of these first-time gun owners might want three or four boxes of ammo?
Demand might be far worse for those with their first "Ramadi (Iraq) scenario" or Red Dawn "self-defense" AR or AKM.
 
This horse is well on its way to glue, but I wanted to just chime in and say it’s absolutely not just ammo, though ammo has an abundance of reasons to be in short supply. There are all kinds of weird things on back order in my profession. Global supply chains are going to take a fair bit of time to straighten out.
 
My buddy ran/owned a dental lab for 27-28 years---he's closing up shop this month----at first there was no business because the dentists weren't seeing patients ---- now he can't get teeth for the dentures----he's paying rent on a place that's not making any money now the lease is up and he's closing up. He's doing ok only from a large divorce settlement with his dentist wife.

Back to ammo---there's only one place getting any around here---you basically have to go in there everyday and buy your 2 boxes if you have a gun that takes that caliber----might be .22 and next .308 then some 9mm etc...you get the point.
 
Since I have more personal guns than my distributors have in inventory, I would have to include them as a shortage.. I tried to find some Leupold Freedoms for customers. No luck. Oh, there are some out there if you want to pay retail. Can't find brass and bullets for any of my rifles, unless I want to pay 2X retail for bullets I don't like.
 
cslinger said:
Why is there always some kind of conspiracy theory etc. ...
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'Cause facts are difficult and often contradict one's world view.
Why take into account that which one finds displeasing when there's a conspiracy theory always near at hand?
Dang, man, don't you know it's pedo baby eaters/blood drinkers, lizard people, etc. who are making us buy all the ammo?
Get with it.
 
armoredman said:
Ackshully...the US population birth rate in 2020 was .09%. The population is listed as 328.2 million. So, that means we had over 29 million new toilet users...well, they will eventually be using the toilet....
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You “ackshully” neglected to factor in mortality.
The birth rate is declining , I’m pretty sure , and I have little doubt that the paper industry factors in census and demographics.

The bottom line is (ha ha) - I can walk into any store and buy t.p. at a normal price , but 9mm is going for over $1 per round on GunBroker.

Or maybe I'm just full of crap.
 
Mark1964 said:
'Cause facts are difficult and often contradict one's world view.
Why take into account that which one finds displeasing when there's a conspiracy theory always near at hand?
Dang, man, don't you know it's pedo baby eaters/blood drinkers, lizard people, etc. who are making us buy all the ammo?
Get with it.
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Grays man......grays.

:p
 
Balrog said:
But now everything except ammo seems to be available.
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I was in Publix yesterday, paper towel isle is wiped out, been looking for a Vortex Spitfire 3x is on backorder right now. Many car parts are on backorder. All due to COVID. Ammo isn't the only thing but a triple whammy of riots and election situation made it even worse.
 
3Crows said:
Did you add recently a new caliber gun that you had not previously owned and now need ammo for it? That is understandable, nobody buys ammo for a gun they do not have (well, some might
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I did buy a gun this year without ammo a 243 win. Was given 20 rounds of reloaded ammo and was able to buy 3 boxes of factory ammunition plus a fellow high road member shipped me 50 253 cases. Now understand that I did previously own a 243 win but my loving wife sold it thinking it was a rifle I had bought for her. I subsequently gave away all the supplies that I had for 243 yo her nephew for his rifle as well as his nephews rifle seeing that the recipient of said supplies reloaded for both rifles. So basically I had to start over again with this caliber.
 
stillquietvoice said:
I did buy a gun this year without ammo a 243 win. Was given 20 rounds of reloaded ammo and was able to buy 3 boxes of factory ammunition plus a fellow high road member shipped me 50 253 cases. Now understand that I did previously own a 243 win but my loving wife sold it thinking it was a rifle I had bought for her. I subsequently gave away all the supplies that I had for 243 yo her nephew for his rifle as well as his nephews rifle seeing that the recipient of said supplies reloaded for both rifles. So basically I had to start over again with this caliber.
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Hunting season is a long ways off, for the next season. The point being that I imagine the ammo factories will be pumping out the high demand calibers first since most people have supplied themselves with hunting rifle ammo long ago for this years rifle seasons. I feel your pain, I too acquired a .243 and am pretty sparse on ammo for it. :(
 
3Crows said:
Hunting season is a long ways off, for the next season. The point being that I imagine the ammo factories will be pumping out the high demand calibers first since most people have supplied themselves with hunting rifle ammo long ago for this years rifle seasons. I feel your pain, I too acquired a .243 and am pretty sparse on ammo for it. :(
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Picked it up in early June 2020, bought my first reloading supplies online this year to feed my Cf rifles, managed to work up several loads and did take it hunting this past season. Saw one buck but didn't have a good shot. Been looking for supplies off and on for months.
 
Combination of factors. There are millions of new gun owners. They all need to feed their new guns. Then there are the "returning alumni" (like people here who have been doing this for a hot minute). Factor in unrest and violence due to plannedemic, social ills both real and perceived, escalation of crime due to multiple reasons, uncertainty in the future of the 2A (and in the direction the country will go in general) and its unsurprising that the demand has quickly outpaced the supply. Toss in restrictions surrounding the rona effecting things like importation and a little general purpose panic, and you have the perfect storm. Not the first time we have seen this foolishness, but the worst I have personally seen. US manufacturers and those who bring in ammunition from overseas are in the business business. That is, they like to make $. Everyone wants their products. Why would a business intentionally try to prevent their customers from purchasing their products (whether they manufacture the product themselves in the US, or bring it in from another location)? If another entity was interfering with the abilities of these businesses to sell their products, we would know. I have a hard time thinking that American companies like Hornady, Federal, Winchester, Black Hills, etc. would "go along quietly" with some nefarious conspiracy that results in them being unable to prosper. Also, remember that manufacture of bulk ammunition is serious business. In order to increase production capability, a manufacturer will need to obtain more machinery, facilities, trained staff, and materials- just to start. And don't forget that we are dealing with some pretty dangerous stuff- like large amounts of gun powder, primers, etc. So safety is always a huge consideration. I wouldn't want to work in an ammo plant. Or a bomb factory.
Here's what I am curious about: 1- Who is making the price of everything universally sky rocket on the rare occasions that ammunition can be found for sale? I assume it is speculation and price gouging by opportunists- the distributors, retailers, and everyone else down the line "wetting their beak". I don't think it is on the part of manufacturers- I believe it is occurring further down the distro chain. 2- In Fl and many other states, price gouging is illegal during times of emergency. Wouldn't it be great if ammunition price gouging got the same level of "attention" as price gouging on things like bottled water, generators, and plywood immediately before and after a hurricane- or the speculation in items like toilet paper, bleach, and hand sanitizer we have seen as of late?
 
Balrog said:
I have read the explanation of the current ammo shortage, and not sure I still believe it. No doubt COVID, shipping delays, political turmoil, etc, led to panic buying and temporary shortages, just like there were toilet paper shortages. But now everything except ammo seems to be available.

I am not sure what is going on, but I am not sure I am still buying the narrative provided.
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It is all available just go to gunbroker or better yet wait until people quit bidding against each other so the ammo will find its way off auction and back into the stores
 
armoredman said:
There were MANY instances of people hoarding and scalping toilet paper and hand sanitizer when that insanity started - don't forget the guys who went state to state buying out every Dollar General they could find. They ended up getting hammered pretty good on that one.QUOTE]
They both live around 10 miles from me and their "hammered pretty good" was they had to donate the items to charity and take the financial hit. I also believe they were shunned from the subdivision they lived in and had to move.

Bill
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i just hope the quality of ammo doesn't go down 'these factories will be running 24 hrs with lots of new employee's I am going to do without until things settle down. the next big problem is going to be taxes and regulations that are probably on the way from government
 
Balrog said:
I have read the explanation of the current ammo shortage, and not sure I still believe it. No doubt COVID, shipping delays, political turmoil, etc, led to panic buying and temporary shortages, just like there were toilet paper shortages. But now everything except ammo seems to be available.

I am not sure what is going on, but I am not sure I am still buying the narrative provided.
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Not really true. I owned a bike shop for a long time and various 'consumables' for bikes and bicycles in general are in VERY short supply. In fact, some of the big company's are predicting shortages through this upcoming summer through next spring(2022)..Tires, tubes, small parts, groups, bicycles...etc.
 
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