Explanation: Why ammo prices have tripled

[Waitone]

I think the scariest part of all of the shortages are the role that our own government has had in the shortages, and this role is only going to get worse. As part of the 1994 Gun Control Act that gave us the assault rifle bans and high cap magazine bans, we also got a great many more things that people never heard about. Ever wonder why US made surplus for 223(5.56mm), 308(7.62mm), and 30-06 disappeared from the market? Loaded ammunition in government inventory cannot be sold to the public any longer as of 1994.

And that right there is why I play a one note samba on the need for rollback. It is not sufficient to simply be left alone as the political class is evidently doing for now. We need laws repealed.

 

[Travis McGee]

Great thread, thanks guys for taking the time to provide us the inside scoop.

 

[nvcdl]

Ammo is a bit tight but no need to panic. Buy what you need to shoot, and always have enought for a civil emergency but don't stock up when prices are high - It makes no sense and only drives prices higher. I guess it is a primal thing -when supplies are short of an item we panic and act as if it will get worse. After Clinton got elected in 92 there was a run on primers and for a year or so they were almost impossible to get ahold of and prices spiked - later prices dropped to normal.

 

[def4pos8]

Murphy's Law of Firearms Ownership, Corrolary 1911 states: "Anything you thought you might need to shoot, should have been purchased twenty years ago!" Back in '91, after returning from six years in europe, I bought A LOT OF components, from the sheer joy of having them available. I STILL haven't used 'em all up! --although I will shortly. . . . Ammunition prices from european vendors, like Fankonia Jagd, are listed as PER CARTRIDGE! I never forgot that. I fear that as a vision of things to come. . . .

 

[RMc]

Fiat Money?

Let us not forget the role played in this saga by the ever decreasing value of our fiat currency, backed only by the "good faith and credit" of the United States Government.

 

[NC-Mike]

Let us not forget the role played in this saga by the ever decreasing value of our fiat currency, backed only by the "good faith and credit" of the United States Government.

Oh oh! Well soon see packages of 3-.223 cartridges, nicely shrink-wrapped, for the low price of 19.99...

 

[wdlsguy]

Lead alone has doubled over the past year to over $1 per pound:

 

[230RN]

10e6 Thanks to each of you, Wacki, Dave, and Kola!

Comments:

I think the scariest part of all of the shortages are the role that our own government has had in the shortages, and this role is only going to get worse. As part of the 1994 Gun Control Act that gave us the assault rifle bans and high cap magazine bans, we also got a great many more things that people never heard about. Ever wonder why US made surplus for 223(5.56mm), 308(7.62mm), and 30-06 disappeared from the market? Loaded ammunition in government inventory cannot be sold to the public any longer as of 1994.

Beg pardon, but isn't the DCM / CMP selling "surplus" .30-06 ammo now? Did this "law" or "fiat" or "executive order" or whatever go away somehow?

Let us not forget the role played in this saga by the ever decreasing value of our fiat currency, backed only by the "good faith and credit" of the United States Government.

I think you mean the Federal Reserve Bank, not the United States Government.

This bears repeating. In fact, this bears shouting:

I'm not going into every detail, but only the ban on assault style weapons and magazine capacity had a sunset in 2004, everything else was signed into law. If you think this isn't real, look into this a bit further. You might be surprised!

There is a lot more to gun control than banning guns, and I feel all shooters should broaden their horizons a bit when it comes to laws.

Look a bit deeper next time something comes up, there are many gun owners advocacy groups, including the NRA, that send out alerts and post the new bills so you can see them before they become law. Its a pain in the butt to read bills, write letters, and talk with othger gun owners, but we have to do it and stop relying on the 'other guy' to do it.

I personally think the antis are "wearing us down" with all kinds of crap so we tend to lose our vigilance.

 

[SSN Vet]

cheap vs. expesive are relative terms and are defined differently in the eyes of different beholders....

Many, many, many people would call $3/gal. gas dirt cheap. Ten years ago, when stationed in Scotland, I paid the equivalent of $4/gal. TEN YEARS AGO. My Swiss friends tell me $7 to $8/gal. is the norm.

Another perspective is the value of what that money can gain for you. I haven't heard of many Maine loggers who are giving up their chainsaws and skidders for axes and oxe teams due to the price of fuel.

So, what can that little lump of brass, lead and powder do for you?

Entertain you for 30 min.?

or....

save your life and the lives of those you hold dear.

Kind of puts a different perspective on things for me.

OBTW.....my solution is to reload.....it's a great hobby, that feeds my other hobby.....and builds my overall K&C of all things firearms related.

 

[Banta]

I hate to say this but get used to it. Also get used to allot of your imported products becoming more expensive. The reason, as mentioned the US dollar is really weakening against most major currencies. This is good for your exporters but terrible for you the consumers. I know, I've lived most of my life looking across the border and seeing the difference in prices between the same items bought here in Canada compared to how much they go for in the states. 5 years ago the Canadian dollar was only worth .65 cents to the US dollar. Today it is now worth over .94 cents to the US dollar and it is estimated that by the end of the year our dollar will be equal to the US dollar. Keep in mind what the US imports from Canada and other resource rich nations and again, because of the weakening US dollar, everything in manufacturing will become more expensive.

 

[tasco 74]

i've got my presses and dies and enough brass and bullets and powder to last my lifetime i think..... so i'm not too concerned about the ammo prices i guess........ just another reason to learn to reload....................