Where's the ammo? American Rifleman article

[hso]

In short, folks are buying it faster than it can be made.


https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...ort-wheres-all-the-ammo#.X9l4hBi9Ylo.facebook

APPEARS IN NEWS AMMUNITION
The Keefe Report: Where's All The Ammo?
by Mark Keefe - Tuesday, December 15, 2020




Photo courtesy of Guy J. Sagi

Consider this a public service announcement of sorts regarding the current ammunition scarcity. I’ve spoken to the top three manufacturers, and if you were/are having difficulty finding ammunition, it’s not because they aren't trying to keep up with demand.

Each one of them reports that they have produced record amounts of ammunition this year. I include Hornady now within that big three, at least until the Remington facility in Arkansas is back up to speed. Just so you know, the Remington plant was perhaps the third or fourth largest ammunition plant in the United States. But more on that in just a moment.

Demand actually was on the upswing before the year 2020 even began. Then the dumpster fire that is 2020 wrought havoc on both gun and ammunition availability. This is a pure demand-driven issue. The government guys who may or may not be in black helicopters are not interested in small rifle primers or .22 Long Rifle. Good luck finding either on the shelf.

 

[GEM]

The free market, supp[y and demand - what an awesome concept. The psychology of panic - no one has ever studied that?

But there is hope, we have lots of toilet paper and paper towel now. The only shortage I see is Lysol Liquid.

Most of the panic ammo, will sit in closets for many years. Confused children will look at grandpa's stash and wonder what to do with it since the old coot has passed (hopefully not from Covid because he was a mask denier).

I bought 9mm in the 30 to 40 cents range to stock up a bit. Expensive but it will last until the panic subsides. Got a whole lot of various 32 cal revolver ammo. That stuff was out there for a bit.

 

[wiscoaster]

Going forward a lot is going to depend on the availability of primers. Ask yourselves where domestic ammo manufacturers source most of their primers. Then ask yourselves what the effect on domestic ammo supply will be if the import of ammo and primers is banned by the executive order of a new President. When I ask myself those questions the only answer I come up with is that under that scenario this will last a whole lot longer than even the pessimists project, and can only get worse.

 

[H&R Glock]

I sure don't want to think about the government using primer sniffing dogs at ports of entry or state lines, ...... but by that time there ought to be about 10 million lawsuits pending about 2A issues.
I bought lots of stuff about 18 months ago. Still have 18K SPP's and that'll last for about 5 years.

 

[huntsman]

Growing up we never had more than a box or two of ammo around the house, mostly for hunting and traditionally I’d get a box or two of shot shells for my birthday.

It wasn’t until I bought my KGP-141 that I even considered stockpiling ammo but even then 10 boxes was a lot.

In 2009 when I got my CCW the need to accumulate handgun ammo took hold, in feb of this year I made my first bulk ammo(1k) purchase online.

Going forward I expect conditions will take me back to my youth where a few boxes will be all I can manage to have on hand.

 

[Dunross]

Nothing new in that article. It's all been pretty widely known for at least the last six months now.

 

[Slappy White]

It’s just sad because it’s basically ruining the sport of shooting. I feel for new shooters or folks who are getting new guns and wanting to try them out. I reload but I mean you can’t even find components. I just can’t believe this is just a situation we just have to live with. Doesn’t seem to be this way for any other industry. I don’t understand it.

 

[FROGO207]

Slappy did you need to buy toilet paper this spring? The way things are now is that so called big buisness orders just what they will be selling in the next week or so as we move forward. If something happens like a supply disruption or a super large demand the manufacturers are caught with their pants down. Blame it on taxing inventory that now nobody wants to warehouse to make a profit. Politics natural disasters or sombody shaking the supply tree for many reasons and we now have an ammo shortage.

 

[Slappy White]

Slappy did you need to buy toilet paper this spring? The way things are now is that so called big buisness orders just what they will be selling in the next week or so as we move forward. If something happens like a supply disruption or a super large demand the manufacturers are caught with their pants down. Blame it on taxing inventory that now nobody wants to warehouse to make a profit. Politics natural disasters or sombody shaking the supply tree for many reasons and we now have an ammo shortage.

Yeah I remember the mad rush on toilet paper in the spring. But it didn’t last that long. This just seems to be over and over. Any little thing and the stuff just flies off the shelf. It’s it’s been that way for probably 2013. Maybe earlier. It’s just frustrating and I feel sorry for folks who really enjoyed shooting a lot, especially new shooters.

 

[Slappy White]

Honestly I would think the gun manufacturers would be trying to do something about this. Because I know me personally, I’ve been considering a couple of new guns but then I think well why should I not like I’ll be able to shoot them. I know for myself, I’ll never buy another rimfire gun.

 

[DustyGmt]

Yeah it sucks. I like shooting. I feel like every time I see a box of overpriced ammo I'm either a sucker for wanting to buy it or a sucker for not realizing that it was the last box I had the chance to buy until 2049.

 

[Oaktree45]

A local sporting goods store got some 9mm Magtech in today. One box per customer $18.00

 

[vintovka]

When ammo is "in" at a certain store word now spreads fast inside the store and its gone before those who got called at home can get there, Its almost like a "discount" or ersatz currency that can either be immediately resold for profit or used for future barter. Seems everyone's a "survivalist" nowadays.

 

[DustyGmt]

A local sporting goods store got some 9mm Magtech in today. One box per customer $18.00

I'm going to invest a few grand in disguises and wardrobe and buy a van to do costume changes in, return to each store 12x per day, then maybe I could buy enough ammo to resume weekend shoots.

Seriously though, I have a case and a half of 9mm that's just begging to be shot, but I dont dare. Not until I see some glimmer of hope....

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

When ammo is "in" at a certain store word now spreads fast inside the store and its gone before those who got called at home can get there, Its almost like a "discount" or ersatz currency that can either be immediately resold for profit or used for future barter. Seems everyone's a "survivalist" nowadays.

Some call it ammo......I call it "New Money."

 

[lionking]

Yeah I remember the mad rush on toilet paper in the spring. But it didn’t last that long. This just seems to be over and over. Any little thing and the stuff just flies off the shelf. It’s it’s been that way for probably 2013. Maybe earlier. It’s just frustrating and I feel sorry for folks who really enjoyed shooting a lot, especially new shooters.

Shooting is fun...real fun for some a real involved hobby. May anger some to say it though but it is just a hobby, if you have enough ammo for defense right now, stop going to the range for a while or cut down on it, then supply will come back and prices will drop. It seems some treat guns and ammo like a opiate addiction. After Sandy Hook I didn't shoot a .22 of mine for four years, it sucked but eventually I could again when ammo prices went back to normal and then I bought again.

I seriously doubt the new shooters are the ones buying 1000 cases of ammo, I'd venture to say the new shooter buys a box or two and shoot some. So the question is who are the ones buying 1000 round cases of 9mm on Gun Broker and such for .80 cents to a $1.00 a round and I'd really like to know who is buying a box of 30-30 ammo for $100.00 lol!

 

[Hangingrock]

There is a local firearms retailer and indoor range operator that allows (Members) to purchase one box of ammunition per day. I myself have a stockpile of commercial ammunition, accumulated from when Obama took office. I also have reloading components, With that said I'm going to restrict myself to (X) amount of ammunition per range session on my property.

 

[Obturation]

I'm still shooting, I'd still buy factory 45 acp , 10mm or 380 if I saw it for a sane price because I don't load this cartridges and even after the 2020 scare I don't think I'll take to loading them. I load what I shoot the most of, 45colt/454 casull, 357 mag, 45-70, 30-30. I'm just not interested in getting into loading many others. One things for darn sure, I'll be buying primers. I wasn't reloading in 2013 and didn't foresee this shortage but luckily I had 5k on hand and still have maybe half that, when I get down to 1000 I'll conserve but I'm hoping things will try to get back to normal soon or I can score some primers , I'm not counting on either though.

 

[lionking]

I'm still shooting,.

I am also because 2018 and 2019 I stocked up a decent bit. However I will be limiting my range trips for now also. Fine with me there are other things to use my time for and enjoy. However one exception will be the day after Christmas this year when my friend's daughters will be in town I'm treating him, his daughters, their boyfriends and another friend to a range day and have allocated a few hundred rounds of 5.56, 7.62 , .22 and 9mm out of my stash to shoot because I want them to become more trained and into shooting (they are already but I want them more to be) because my friend's daughters will be who I will to a fair amount of my "stuff" if something were to happen to me because I know they will carry on the tradition unlike some of my immediate family who would take it all to a pawn shop first chance they had.

I already did this with them a couple times already but want to again this Christmas.

 

[bearcreek]

When I ask myself those questions the only answer I come up with is that under that scenario this will last a whole lot longer than even the pessimists project, and can only get worse.

How long are the pessimists projecting? The educated optimists that I've read are saying that the soonest we might start to see a little recovery is the end of 2021.

 

[Waveski]

...since the old coot has passed (hopefully not from Covid because he was a mask denier).

I respectfully request that we keep that unrelated subject out of this discussion.

My comment : I find that the best way to conserve on ammunition and still enjoy shooting is to keep a normal range trip schedule , but to keep the round count low per trip.
Example : Last week I took an elderly friend to the range , mostly just hung out with him and helped him out. He was sighting a Ruger American on a 50 yard target. Short , but convenient. I had placed a couple of clays on the backstop berm. He offered me his Taurus /Beretta 92 knock off. I loaded 5 rounds , walked the first 4 close around a bright orange clay and shattered it with the last shot. 50+ yards , standing unsupported.
I went home happy having fired just 5 rounds - and they weren't even mine!

Another trick I use - no rule says that you have to max out mag capacity - lately I've been loading 9 rounds in a 15 round magazine. (I don't like even numbers...)

Weekly sessions of a few mags per trip keeps me more proficient and satisfied than once in 2 months and a couple hundred rounds.

 

[bearcreek]

May anger some to say it though but it is just a hobby

Matter of opinion. I consider it to be a critical responsibility of every free adult.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I respectfully request that we keep that unrelated subject out of this discussion.

My comment : I find that the best way to conserve on ammunition and still enjoy shooting is to keep a normal range trip schedule , but to keep the round count low per trip.
Example : Last week I took an elderly friend to the range , mostly just hung out with him and helped him out. He was sighting a Ruger American on a 50 yard target. Short , but convenient. I had placed a couple of clays on the backstop berm. He offered me his Taurus /Beretta 92 knock off. I loaded 5 rounds , walked the first 4 close around a bright orange clay and shattered it with the last shot. 50+ yards , standing unsupported.
I went home happy having fired just 5 rounds - and they weren't even mine!

Another trick I use - no rule says that you have to max out mag capacity - lately I've been loading 9 rounds in a 15 round magazine. (I don't like even numbers...)

Weekly sessions of a few mags per trip keeps me more proficient and satisfied than once in 2 months and a couple hundred rounds.

Im just leaving the autos at home and only shooting my revolvers and bolt guns at the moment. I think ive probably used up a total of 200 rounds over my last three range sessions, the majority of which were .22s.......

 

[MacAR]

The Remington plant in Lonoke is about two hours from my house. I've shot many rounds of trap on their fine range as well. Its my sincere hope they get started up again, so people can go back to work and we can get more ammo.

As far as conserving ammo, etc. I have basically stopped shooting my 22's, except for hunting. With the sting of the Obama shortage fresh in my mind, I stocked up some time back. Unfortunately I didn't stock up on 38/357 or 30-06 when I had the opportunity. Hopefully I can do some trading for some primers so I can reload those calibers, and my .222 Remington.

In the end though, we'll see things swing back. Fear not brethren, this too shall pass.

Mac

 

[skfullen]

I've got a friend (gunsmith) who began a quest to stockpile .22 ammo and Ruger 10/22's after the Obama debacle. His goal was to purchase a 10/22 and 2,500 rounds of .22 ammo in increments and stockpile them for family during the NEXT shortage.
When asked, he would only say the project was "ongoing and going well".
I have often wondered how many "units" he acquired.
That's 2.5k of ammo per 10/22 rifle - for some who may have missed the incremental nature of the quest.