Posted on 04/06/2013 6:38:47 AM PDT by benasawin
The sudden shortage of ammo available just isn’t making sense. Yes, DHS has made substantial purchases (~1.6b rounds) but when one looks at the numbers, this alone cannot account for such dramatic shortages of supply.
Just estimating, for purpose of an example, 1.6b rounds is a huge purchase but how does this break out?
1.6b divided by 50 rounds/box equals 32m boxes. There are 50 states and for purposes of simplifying this example, say there are 50 cities in each state and 5 stores (outlets) per city. This computes to 125,000 total outlets in the US.
If one divides 32m boxes by 125,000 outlets, this equals 256 boxes (drain) on each outlet. There are certainly more than 50 cities in each state and highly likely that there are more than 5 outlets within each city.
My point, how could this action by DHS be the sole driver behind the shortages we are facing? There has to be more to this issue.
All I know is that I recently bought a .22 so I could shoot all day for a few dollars. The pistol really requires CCI MiniMag ammo. Can’t find any. I called one store - a huge guns and ammo supplier - and discovered they had the ammo for three days straight and are now out of stock again. They can’t maintain a steady supply!
I think the ammo shortage is related to the “black rifle” shortage. American citizens are purchasing rifles and ammo in record numbers.
People who should have had a couple hundreds of rounds stocked up but didn't.
All wanting some more ammo.
Google/Bing George Soros ammo
A lot of ammo is imported.
That ammo comes in through entry ways like ports. In things like shipping containers.
If the government lets that ammo sit on the docks and won’t let it in supply dries up more quickly.
They know what they are doing.
My point exactly. Other than shotgun shells, any rim fire or centerfire rounds are not to be found. Shelves are empty virtually every where one shops. Weird to say the least.
American citizens have purchased over 70 MILLION firearms since Obama took office.
That same motivation increased demand for ammo.
Threats of gun control, and now actual implementation, in some areas, have moved that increased demand into a panic.
Customers are practicing more, as evidenced by long lines at firing ranges around the country.
DoD is no longer making it’s used brass available for reloads, as they’ve issued directives to scrap it instead.
(here the intent is as conspiratorial as it seems on its face, as this is an economic negative for the gov’t)
Also, a couple major ammo manufacturers are at least partially shut down, while they make improvements to their factories.
While the DHS et al purchases may have put a crimp in some purchases, there still is the influx of foreign ammo and ammo they (government) hasn’t bought (yet).
It is the sign of a real fear by most American Gun Owners the government WILL do something about gun and ammo availability and they are “stocking up”.
Even though I had plenty before, I am buying whatever I can find I deem not “price-gouged”. I go by Walmart every morning at 7AM. Been lucky and found some great deals. You just have to be there consistently. (great deal 3 weeks ago on a 30 caliber ammo can-new- full of 420 rounds XM855LC SS109s on stripper clips for $175 - from Walmart, imagine that!) Day or so later, two 250 megapacks of UMC 9mm for $67 each - CTD sells 50 rds of PMC 9mm for $69)
As for the 22s, I think it’s a symptom of ammo manufacturers gearing production towards ammo they make a larger profit on, and the fact that many like me would like to have 5 or 10 thousand rounds to use for plinking, etc. So whatever hits the shelves gets snapped up just on principle.
Yes, recent firearms purchases are through the roof but despite being able to occasionaly find a new piece, ammunition for it is almost non-existant.
For every billion rounds purchased by the government, you probably have 100 billion purchased by citizens. It is not just the volume but the velocity of purchases that are creating a bottleneck in the supply chain.
I conduct recoil therapy once a week. (Sure beats drugs) I used to shoot 100 - 200 rounds on a weekend then go to the gun shop, Walmart, etc, and replenish my supply for the next weekend. No more -- I now buy ammo in the caliber I need when ever I see it. I'm certain there are many others that do the same. This is the reason for the supply problem.
There is a one word answer as to why there are ammunition and component shortages:
FEAR
Agreed, but it is also abnormally high demand of gun owners who are “afraid” of their government.
It has gotten much worse since the active gun grab.
The Fed Gov is doing everything they can to make it worse. Looking for an excuse to confiscate.
—Millons of new gun owners tens of millons of old gun owners.-—
Definitely a major factor. More so, I would expect, than government’s recent actions.
At some point though, even that demand has to let up somewhat and we should start seeing a recovery of supply levels. At least one can hope. hee
largely, I believe this. And, while I thought the government’s purchases of 9mm, 40 S&W, and even 45 ACP seemed reasonable if spread over a 5 year IDIQ contract.
However, I now think they are trying to manipulate availabilities somewhat. I recently read where they are planning on similar purchases for odd caliber ammo, one specifically is 45 LONG COLT in large quantities....this isn’t what one would consider a government round.
SAAs, Cowboy actions, and the like, Carbines, Lever actions, Revolvers and maybe a Judge or Governor, but not nearly a billion round’s worth....
It isn’t confusing at all when you get right down to it. Metals and minerals are also in a shortage and have been for some time now. The DHS purchases haven’t really had as much impact as disruptions that were already in effect in the marketplace.
To find the source of the ammo shortage, read the news, then look in the mirror and multiply by every conservative with a clue.
Excellent point. hee-hee
But my mirror only shows a fella that hasn’t been able to restock his supply in weeks. That and some new wrinkles I had not noticed before.
>>My point, how could this action by DHS be the sole driver behind the shortages we are facing? There has to be more to this issue.
I have friends who call every place that sells ammo every morning. If a store has recieved a shipment, they leave work and go buy as much as they can.
DHS is a major buyer, but a couple dozen million people who are panic-buying are the real cause for the shortage.
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