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....
While that could be a way to continue the system bottle-neck, I have a feeling this is more due to a government idiot filling out requisition forms and when he was told to buy .45, he checked the box with everything that started with .4. We are talking about government idiots here.
My Judge uses .45 Long Colt or .410 shells. We bought it about 6 mos ago and have found very little of the .45 in all that time.
Bottom line, Long Colt is already being scarfed up by someone.
I looked up the actual government requisition for their odd calibers purchase. That DHS request was not for billions of .22, 30-30, 45LC, 410, qnd 12 guage 8 birdshot, but several thousand rounds each. My thought was some .gov employees were using official purchase requests to secure personal ammo.