Ammo Prices
- Thread starter Liddyfan
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After commodity prices of Copper, Brass and Lead all fell. A certain Presidential candidate started gaining steam and won the General election. Fear of what might be his agenda against the Firearms industry led to panic buying so that's why ammo is still high.
eventer289
Member
Last time I was at my local Wally World, ammo prices had dropped by about $1.
I've got an American idea - Why can't the shooters form-up and make a bullet manufacturing company?
Why not?
When we needed the suppliers the most they've proven to be untrustworthy opportunists. As a community we could hit them where it hurts - thier wallet.
Why not?
When we needed the suppliers the most they've proven to be untrustworthy opportunists. As a community we could hit them where it hurts - thier wallet.
shotgunjoel
Member
Hmm... a lot would go into making an ammo company. It would cost a ton to produce just one load. If you make shot shells you have to have a shot tower, make plastic shells, wads, etc. If you make centerfire ammo you have to spin brass, make bullets, whatever. I think that it is a great idea, but you can make your own personal ammo company, reload! Sure you still have to buy components but it's better than buying it assembled from Wally World.
solareclipse
Member
Its not a matter of price but of availability. If people didn't buy 10000 rounds of each caliber like inconsiderate prudes, we wouldn't be in this predicament now
Well, not really.
People could still have their 10K rounds if they had planned ahead and stocked up by buying when prices were LOW and we wouldn't be in this predicament now.
Most people apparently figure they have enough until the price starts to go up and then freak out and begin panic-buying in huge quantities. That drives demand up and causes shortages in some areas. THEN people are really panicked cause they can't buy huge quantities of ammunition at above market prices and even the dealers start to get worried cause they're having problems filling orders. So the dealers bump up their prices a bit which panicks people more. You guessed it--more panic, more price hikes, more shortages.
As I posted on another thread, the ammunition business has got to be a great one to be in. People hold off buying until the prices go HIGH and then slack off buying when the prices DROP.
I say: KEEP IT GOING! Jump on those high prices before they have a chance to drop. Buy another case or two now while the prices are still exorbitant. Let's see how long we can keep the cycle going.
I say "we" but that doesn't really include me. I'm a weirdo; I like to buy cheap ammunition so through the years I've been buying my ammunition when I see LOW prices. Now I'm stuck shooting ammo I bought back when the prices were low--and I'll be stuck in that predicament for a long time...
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You guys are a wealth of information, knowing a lot more than I do about the whole industry . And of course starting your own bullet manufacturing plant is a little silly but what is one to do? Be a mushroom or take a stand? And what stand and how? Wildcat strikes work that's why unions did it (it also ruined the unions) .
There's a lot of blustering about rights and how the government will have to pull thier firearm from thier cold dead hands - but what of "our friends" - the manufacturers?
Profit isn't a dirty word but oppurtunism..well...
There's a lot of blustering about rights and how the government will have to pull thier firearm from thier cold dead hands - but what of "our friends" - the manufacturers?
Profit isn't a dirty word but oppurtunism..well...
ThrottleJockey
member
I think there is probably a little more to this supply issue. There is NO WAY that we as a whole are buying it faster than they can make it. Personally I think that production and importation is being slowed and intentionally held back to prolong this whole "panic" and keep the prices high. Think about it, everyone is sold out, taking back orders....this can only serve to make us believe we MUST buy more as soon as we can find it. Have you ever seen a munitions plant? There's one near my home, Federal. This place supplied the military through many wars before it became Federal. There is absolutely no way we are buying it faster than our military blew it off in WWII,Korea,Nam......
sjohn26
Member
I work in the metals/minerals industry.
Worldwide inventories are up---prices are down. CapEx projects/expansions are all on hold...........you won't see a trickle down for 2-3 months to the manufacturer.(meaning now!)
Then its up to them to reflect prices......NewPrez pricing is another matter.
Worldwide inventories are up---prices are down. CapEx projects/expansions are all on hold...........you won't see a trickle down for 2-3 months to the manufacturer.(meaning now!)
Then its up to them to reflect prices......NewPrez pricing is another matter.
If the price had not risen with demand then the supply would have run out sooner.
Think about some guy who has $1000 to spend on ammo. If it cost $0.50 per round he buys 2000 rounds. If it cost $1.00 per round he buys 1000 rounds. Capitalism is the best method of allocating scarce resources.
If the price was artificially held down by "Gouging laws" then the supply would have run out twice as fast and only half as many people would have ammo.
So be thankful for the free market system.
Think about some guy who has $1000 to spend on ammo. If it cost $0.50 per round he buys 2000 rounds. If it cost $1.00 per round he buys 1000 rounds. Capitalism is the best method of allocating scarce resources.
If the price was artificially held down by "Gouging laws" then the supply would have run out twice as fast and only half as many people would have ammo.
So be thankful for the free market system.
chuckusaret
member
I agree, one of the big box stores in my town that in the past maintained a large inventory of ammo on the shelf now has very little on the shelves. I made an inquiry to a part time clerk of incoming ammo orders. To his amazement the computer inventory showed several hundred boxes in the stores warehouse but with a do not stock code on it. When he asked the mgr he was told that it was not to be stocked on the shelves until after enventory. The stores annual enventory was completed 1-8-09. I am quite sure the inventory has been reconciled and written off by now. Why when in a sellers market would they not want to stock and sell the item. Could they be waiting on a price increase?
Dunno, I bought 3 boxes 9mm Blazer Brass for $9 a box and 100 rounds of 20 gauge for $23 last night.
This is called Capitalism! Isn't that what every American wants? I thought we were so big on promoting a Capitalistic society, however when times are tough people seem to want to gravitate toward a more Socialist doctrine. What gives?!
Duke of Doubt
member
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It's an interesting phenomenon.
I don't believe that hard core enthusiasts are driving the shortages, as we already have more ammunition on hand than we could ever shoot, barring deliberate wastage. We're stocking up a little on what we can find cheap, which isn't much.
I suspect casual shooters panicked and decided that their friend the hobbyist had something after all. If they quadrupled their holdings or better, that would account for the shortage.
The other possibility is that new shooters not only bought guns, but decided to stock up on ammunition. This strikes me as unlikely. They aren't used to paying for guns and ammunition, and the idea of spending more money on ammunition than on the gun will be foreign and objectionable at first. So I don't think new shooters are driving the shortage.
So all you casual shooters, relax!
I don't believe that hard core enthusiasts are driving the shortages, as we already have more ammunition on hand than we could ever shoot, barring deliberate wastage. We're stocking up a little on what we can find cheap, which isn't much.
I suspect casual shooters panicked and decided that their friend the hobbyist had something after all. If they quadrupled their holdings or better, that would account for the shortage.
The other possibility is that new shooters not only bought guns, but decided to stock up on ammunition. This strikes me as unlikely. They aren't used to paying for guns and ammunition, and the idea of spending more money on ammunition than on the gun will be foreign and objectionable at first. So I don't think new shooters are driving the shortage.
So all you casual shooters, relax!
sublimaze41
Member
Components are also flying off the shelf. I have been eyeballing the bullets below for sometime hoping I could wait.
Last night at 2045 Wideners had 39 of the MBM80B BP 2000 30CAL 145GR FMJBT M80 Bullets $279.00 FREE USPS FLAT RATE S/H,
and 17 of the H2267FB HORNADY BP 22 CAL 55GR FMJBT W/C BULLETS $429.00/6000 FREE S/H USPS in stock.
Today they have none left. That is 180,000 projectiles in 12 hours......and this is just these 2 calibers
I rember all that talk before the Clinton AWB. People all over shouted "Don't feed into the panic."
I waited myself out of several guns and magazines I wanted. I remember paying $100 for a G-19 mag after all the dust settled.
This time I will not get nailed for failing to act.
Last night at 2045 Wideners had 39 of the MBM80B BP 2000 30CAL 145GR FMJBT M80 Bullets $279.00 FREE USPS FLAT RATE S/H,
and 17 of the H2267FB HORNADY BP 22 CAL 55GR FMJBT W/C BULLETS $429.00/6000 FREE S/H USPS in stock.
Today they have none left. That is 180,000 projectiles in 12 hours......and this is just these 2 calibers
I rember all that talk before the Clinton AWB. People all over shouted "Don't feed into the panic."
I waited myself out of several guns and magazines I wanted. I remember paying $100 for a G-19 mag after all the dust settled.
This time I will not get nailed for failing to act.
ShunZu
member
I have to agree with Duke of Doubt.... it's not the enthusiast that's been running the suppliers dry -- enough is probably on-hand for most needs. I suspect it's the folks who 1) have been asleep at the wheel and just realized they didn't have much ammo for their pieces, 2) people who just purchased firearms in the "last chance to get'em" panic and are stocking up regardless of price, or 3) a combination of all those things.
Witnessing the crowds at recent gun shows and the feeding frenzy underway, it's no wonder demand has outrun available supply. And the memorandum a friend that works at Wally World just showed me that discusses stamping serial #'s on ammo is going to have a significant effect on future ammo prices (if congress makes it law). If you have a friend that works there, ask them to show you the memo. I tried to get a copy but he was worried about losing his job ('cause he knew I'd run to THR and plaster it on the forums).
Witnessing the crowds at recent gun shows and the feeding frenzy underway, it's no wonder demand has outrun available supply. And the memorandum a friend that works at Wally World just showed me that discusses stamping serial #'s on ammo is going to have a significant effect on future ammo prices (if congress makes it law). If you have a friend that works there, ask them to show you the memo. I tried to get a copy but he was worried about losing his job ('cause he knew I'd run to THR and plaster it on the forums).
It is Capitalism. However, as consumers, WE too can react to the pricing offered. This discussion has some interest becuase of the unusual way the pricing is unfolding. Raw materials are way down - pricing up. Some are saying scarcity is propping up the pricing. - Is that so? Could be. Or is it gouging by an industry hobbiests support at every turn?
We'll see... And if it is gouging, what then? Do we forgive and forget and shrug it off to market forces or do we remember it?
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