Ammo Shortage Is It Real ??

[stonebuster]

My local range is still conducting two CC permit classes a day three days a week. If that is any indication of what's happening in the rest of the country it has to affect the supply of ammo.

 

[DoubleMag]

I make my own. Over the years when specials are run on components I buy some .Im good for almost forever.

Think... 'ghost ammo.' Right after you think about 'ghost guns' oh excuse me, they're already deep into that.

Anyone think it can't happen?

 

[JEBruns]

But when will primers and brass come back at anything reasonable ?

Primers still seem to be the problem for reloaders. They were showing up very regularly at the local Bass Pro, but they have dried up the last few months. The store has full shelves of ammo, powder, bullets and some brass, so that's good to see. But I'd sure like to the primers starting to show up more. I'm way good on them, but it's a long range concern.

 

[Tcruse]

Some truth to the supposition.

Priority goes to military contracts, secondarily Federal Gov. contracts. Thirdly, state and local governments contracts. Then allocations to commercial distribution as stock comes available.

Due to import restrictions and tariffs or out right bans, we see the effects of the past shortages reducing old stock to non exhistance.
Such is the new reality.

I haven’t bought “new” 9, .40, or .45 service grade ammunition in more than 2 decades. I’ve been given old stock L.E. Ammo, but recent purchase of .30SC for ammo and brass donor, I’ve only bought.22rf. 98% of my shooting is with reloads.

"Due to import restrictions and tariffs or out right bans, we see the effects of the past shortages reducing old stock to non exhistance." - yes our current administration is not on our side or on the side of people that buy gas.

 

[alsaqr]

The local Academy and Atwoods stores have plentiful supplies of .22 long rifle, .223/5.56mm, 9mm, .40 caliber, .45 Auto and most sporting rifle calibers. But the prices are very high: Glad i don't need any.

The Lawton Wal Mart has Federal .22 long rifle in 325 round boxes for $21.99.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Anyone don't think it can't happen?

Um......yes.

 

[Speedo66]

Gas prices have shot up 55 cents a gallon in the last week or so, maybe people can't afford to drive to pick up ammo so there's more on the shelf.

I kid, but lately many other commodities and food items have had precipitous rises, only so much a home budget can pay for.

 

[Jimbo80]

If you think ammo is bad the price of a Javelin has tripled in the last 3 months and they're selling like hotcakes.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Primers still seem to be the problem for reloaders. They were showing up very regularly at the local Bass Pro, but they have dried up the last few months. The store has full shelves of ammo, powder, bullets and some brass, so that's good to see. But I'd sure like to the primers starting to show up more. I'm way good on them, but it's a long range concern.

I’m still building my collection of reloading tools and I’m waiting to buy most of the stuff I need till I can get the primers first. But now and especially with my calibers. 44 mag, 44 special ,375 Winchester and 45-70 the parts and pieces still lead to a high price per bullet.

 

[Blkhrt13]

If you think ammo is bad the price of a Javelin has tripled in the last 3 months and they're selling like hotcakes.

Yeah but that’s cause the feds are spending our money and it’s easy when your making personal gain from it. Who holds the most stock in the military complex?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Probably what your neighbor bought was Federal Auto Match in the 325 round box.
Walmart has it for that price every time I go in there.

I think it was the 325 count. We were at walmart last night. And they had a bunch of the 325 count.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

If you think ammo is bad the price of a Javelin has tripled in the last 3 months and they're selling like hotcakes.

Good one Jimbo!
At least you know where your tax dollar is going, since we're giving them away by the plane load.
Only idea I have to help defray cost would be a domestic oligarch tax in Brighton Beach.

I can't afford to buy factory ammo, although availability in my area has greatly increased
since the first of the year.
.22 and .410 are nonexistent.

JT

 

[Mycin]

But when will primers and brass come back at anything reasonable ?

I figure primers will be the last component to return to semi-normal availability, and that won't happen until the ammo plants are so caught up they can cut back to less than 3 shifts per day. As long as they're running flat-out, almost all primers will be going into factory ammo. Before that can happen, not only must the retailers' shelves be full, but also the manufacturers' and distributors' warehouse stock levels must return to their pre-COVID levels.

I also figure that we'll never see prices as low as they were before this latest panic. Inflation will see to that, if nothing else. We may see less than $.06 again, eventually, but I doubt we'll see less than $.05.

 

[Mycin]

There was an ammo shortage.

First, around a million brand new owners each bought a box or two with their new possession. There's a couple million boxes right there.

Second, people in "our" community went and "stocked up." That's anywhere from 10 to 40 million more boxes.

This was all in the span of a couple months, not an entire year.

Third, the couf hit. The ammo factories had to shut down. The Ammo distributors had to shut down. The Ammo wholesalers had to shut down. Even many of the LGS & BBs had to shut down.

Now, suddenly, "our" community was in "feed me, Seymour" mode. Many, far too many, of "us" were also cooped up at home, too; we had time on our hands. And, we had time to be invested in the news, so, we heard it all, right, wrong, flat-out imaginary, news.

What did "we" do? We went online and bought, bought, bought. (It's what we do.) But, we were buying out of a closed-off supply. So, "we" for right, or for wrong, bought the shelves bare. Many--probably too many--turned a shortage in to a "situation."

Sadly, some took advantage of the situation and made it worse by "scalping" what supply there was, just exacerbating the problem.

Don't forget also that one of the major ammo and primer companies (Remington) went bankrupt and were effectively idle for a significant part of the this timeframe, further reducing supplies.

 

[CapnMac]

Don't forget also that one of the major ammo and primer companies (Remington) went bankrupt and were effectively idle for a significant part of the this timeframe, further reducing supplies.

Good point.
Although exactly when the plant went idle is not exactly clear. (During bankruptcy, the production of saleable goods is a tangible asset which can be sold to pay off creditors--it's all very complicated at the large industrial level.)

Import of ammo was severely curtailed, too, along with overseas production.

 

[Mars5l]

No ammo shortage here in Central Florida unless you want something uncommon. I can buy cases of most anything. Hell Rural King last month had 500rd ammo cans of PPU M1 Garand ammo $550. Just wanting for prices to come down especially for ammo for my military rifles

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

There is plenty of ammo available, both online and local. Its just most folks don't want to pay for it.

I've got a decent stockpile but still I went from shooting 5 matches a month and practicing 1-200rds in between to virtually shooting nothing.

The last match I shot was July of '21. I've been doing my regular dry fire drills but I hadnt live fired a pistol until last weekend.

I shot my AR9 a few times during that interim but it was a low round count.

If you're honest with yourself your coming to the realization that shooting is becoming a wealthy persons hobby/sport.

I'm currently saving up to grab another case of 9mm and .223. Hopefully prices will float where they are until I can get them.

Anyone waiting for prices to drop but needing ammo should buy now. It ain't getting any better.

 

[AzShooter1]

I continue to find CCI ammunition on their website, same with Norma Tach 22s.

I've seen .22 ammo and Primers lately coming down in price with primers running $56 a thousand with no limit.

 

[Scout21]

primers running $56 a thousand with no limit.

If you haven't, and assuming it's online, you should drop a link in the reloading component availability thread. I'd certainly like to know where I can get some.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ad-link-required.883031/page-18#post-12291655

 

[Keyfer 55]

I continue to find CCI ammunition on their website, same with Norma Tach 22s.

I've seen .22 ammo and Primers lately coming down in price with primers running $56 a thousand with no limit.

It's not happening here. 51 dollars for a
pound of power.

 

[crestoncowboy]

"Due to import restrictions and tariffs or out right bans, we see the effects of the past shortages reducing old stock to non exhistance." - yes our current administration is not on our side or on the side of people that buy gas.

Price diesel.

And many of my clients that I service trucks and equipment for, they bid by the mile. And you are locked in at that price. One guy has 5 big trucks hauling 5 days a week for the state. He bid when diesel was just over 3 dollars. Now it's 5.50. I drive 8mpg big blocks 20 miles a week. I won't be hurting no matter what gas hits. But you have to look at it from other folks POV.

Fertilizer is another . When buying for our hay field this year, its exactly double what we paid last year.

Roller twine is 70 a pack. Was 39

 

[jmorris]

I think recreational shooting not the reason for ammo shortage. The shortage is just for us.

Anytime you have more money buying less number of goods you get two things, shortages and higher prices.

Close down business that make things and at the same time, hand out money to people that didn’t earn it and the results are pretty easy to see today.

It’s a great time to sell stuff though. There are a number of people invested in stocks they probably should have already gotten out of, before the next phases take place.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Anytime you have more money buying less number of goods you get two things, shortages and higher prices.

Close down business that make things and at the same time, hand out money to people that didn’t earn it and the results are pretty easy to see today.

It’s a great time to sell stuff though. There are a number of people invested in stocks they probably should have already gotten out of, before the next phases take place.

I've considered selling a few quad and even couple vehicles I don't use. I have an 08 2 door stick shift Rubicon with 54k on it I should sell . A Banshee quad that are selling stupid high etc etc.

But I might miss them someday. Lol. I know I'll regret not selling though. Especially the Mopar. We all know how they last.....

 

[jmorris]

I've considered selling a few quad and even couple vehicles I don't use. I have an 08 2 door stick shift Rubicon with 54k on it I should sell . A Banshee quad that are selling stupid high etc etc.

But I might miss them someday. Lol. I know I'll regret not selling though. Especially the Mopar. We all know how they last.....

I know what you mean, still have the ‘86 CR250R ATC, Only new thing I ever had that wasn’t a daily driver. Kind of wish I still had the ‘69 Camaro I had though, they have gone up a lot more in value.

 

[DustyGmt]

I can get 9mm for around $18/50 and many others for pretty close to acceptable. I'm still not seeing the pallets upon pallets of 12ga target loads flats but I think it's because they were once so scarce and a collective of local trap shooters aren't playing around and wipe out the shelves in pretty short order....

I think things are going to be screwy for a while, maybe if things go our way in 2024 ammo will go back to the way it was and gas will be under $3/gal again. One can hope.