Posted on 03/18/2020 11:01:30 AM PDT by PROCON
The folks over at Ammo.com haven’t just been feverishly filling online orders over the past few weeks as Americans across the country are flocking to stock up while the country is locking down. The Ammo.com staff also been keeping track of where the surge in demand is coming from, and have released some fascinating data about the sales spike.
While many gun stores saw the increase in demand kick in last week, the folks at Ammo.com say they first started seeing a swelling demand back in late February, with a 53% increase in sales on February 23rd. By March 15th, the website says sales had increased by a staggering 276% percent.
When comparing 22 days worth of sales from February 23, 2020, through March 15, with sales from February 1, 2020, through February 22, our data shows these staggering statistics:
309% increase in revenue
78% increase in conversion rate
222% increase in transactions
77% increase in site traffic
27% increase in average order
(Excerpt) Read more at bearingarms.com ...
It’s a great little pistol for pocket carry, but not something to try to learn to shoot on.
True.
She also has a Ruger P89 that I taught her to shoot with.
Primers lasted longer on the shelves than live ammo during the Obama years, but in general reloading supplies were very scarce for a long period of time, particularly 2012-13. This time around, the ammo inventory has gone out the door even faster - haven't checked on primers and projectiles yet.
“That ammo will be worth more than gold in a barter situation if this crap continues Dog.”
I bought a new gun today. Background system check crashed. Took 2 1/2 hours to get an approval. Most popular ammo all sold out.
Mass layoffs. Gov’t saying 30 days total shutdown. Some states banning sales of guns and ammo.
“It’s a great little pistol for pocket carry, but not something to try to learn to shoot on.”
I agree. I’ll be 70 next year, a veteran, and have been shooting almost my whole life. I would not recommend learning to shoot on ANY snubbie, unless it’s chambered in .22 LR.
That’s an excellent gun to learn on.
I’d have much rather that lady bought a used P95 that we had, but we had run out of 9mm ammo by the time she got there.
“She also has a Ruger P89 that I taught her to shoot with.”
A very good 9mm, especially for a new shooter. It is heavy enough to absorb recoil, and is accurate and forgiving. However, I would recommend changing out the plastic grips that come with the standard model for some good Hogue or rubber grips.
I’ve taught a bunch of people to shoot and I always start them off on my Buckmark.
The 5 1/2 inch barrel and fiber optic sight makes it easy to hit the target and the more success they have the more they want to shoot.
Minimal recoil doesn’t scare them either.
I’ve seen knucklehead boyfriends at the range handing their girlfriend a .40 S&W for her first time shooting and then wonder why she hates it.
“She also has a Ruger P89 that I taught her to shoot with.”
“A very good 9mm, especially for a new shooter. It is heavy enough to absorb recoil, and is accurate and forgiving. However, I would recommend changing out the plastic grips that come with the standard model for some good Hogue or rubber grips.”
Good idea, did the same with my P89 in 1996. Still have it and never had an issue with its reliability.
+1 on the Hogue grips for the P89.
I have an early Southport CT and a Prescott AZ later model.
The AZ gun came with the Hogue, I immediately replaced the grips on the older one.
Agree. I own and carry an LCP fairly often simply because where we are it’s shorts and t-shirt most of the time. The trigger is thE worst in the industry and it can be snappy as heck with a defensive load, but it’s better than going without. That said, practice, practice, practice makes it effective.
You’re right on that. It’s one snappy little gun.
Down to my last 50 rounds of .300 Savage and the .32-20 stock is a bit sparse... ;)
I have an LCP II and the trigger is much improved.
I’m stocked up nicely and very glad I am. I went and bought 100 rounds each of .45 and 9 mm and brought them home and went to put them in the ammo boxes and found they were full. Guess I need to go out for practice now.
state?
To those who think handloading their own ammo is easy and inexpensive and costs little time I hate to be a wet blanket but...no.
It is true that an individual can assemble the required components and make a round for little money. However much depends on the quantity needed and the quality expected.
I say this as a competitive handgun shooter that handloads and consumes +10K rounds per year. I say this as an individual that hangs out with my fellow competitive handgun shooters that like me handload and consume +10K rounds of ammo per year. I say this as an individual that is certified, but not an active metallic handloading instructor. I say this as a individual that that has a dedicated handloading bench with 5 mounted presses.
To the casual shooter that would think that owning 1000 rounds is a lot of ammo my advice is to just purchase 1000 rounds and be happy. Back in the 2012-2015 guns and ammo shortage, finding handloading components was at times a chore.
Those that are already set up, those that started handloading then or were already handloading learned their lesson and they, at this time, have plenty of components in their bunker. The hardest part of that shortage was obtaining smokeless gunpowder. Some of those powders were off the market for the entire shortage period. What handloaders learned was that many of the suppliers of powder will ship to their commercial customers that order powder by the truckload. The home handloader, we purchase “canister” powders, make up a very small percentage of the market so we get what’s left.
I’m not directing this to any one specific poster. Having spent many hours active on beginner handloading web forums and facebooks, I know the futility of trying to get those interested in beginner handloading to understand exactly what is involved in starting this hobby. I have been told on countless times that I’m a handloading snob. For that reason I no longer offer specific tips on getting started except to say if all you want to accomplish is handloading a couple dozen rifle rounds per year then you can get something that can go “bang” and hit the target for about $500 out of pocket. If you are thinking about 500-1000 rounds of handgun rounds per month then the minimum cost is closer to $1000 I’m well aware of the cost of products manufactured by Lee. I have some of their products. I know what they can do and I know what they cannot do. I have had people that have never seen an actual handloading press in their life lecture me on how wonderful some of Lee Precision products are. I no longer try to bring a real world reality perspective before those people, not worth it to me.
Having said this, the most important tool the handloader needs is a approprate workspace, a strong bench and plenty of storage. Handloading is a great hobby but unless the needs are small, the actual cost in time and stuff exceeds the price of commercial ammo.
Been handloading for over 25 years now. Was given my grandfathers 1891 Mauser but no ammo. And ammo for that rifle was very expensive. Pawn shop had a Bonanza Co-ax single stage press and all the other necessary stuff, as well as a set of dies, so I took the plunge for $75.
Now I mainly just reload for my Tika T3 Rem 7mm mag, a real one hole rifle. But I remember well the obama component shortage. I stocked up all I could and now have the components for ... well lets just say multiple calibers and leave it at that.
But buying bulk factory for pistol ammo makes more sense to me now. Perhaps if I had a multiple stage progressive press I’d feel different. I don’t shoot near as much as you. But I do have my own range, 100 yds, and AR 500 steel hanging targets. Yeah, I punch holes in paper as well. And those Zombie target that bleed, those are a real kick.
But I feel good having all the pieces to assemble as required for now. But they do take up quite a bit of room.
Most of my handloading tackle consists of items that I purchased myself. But I do have my Dads RCBS single stage press and uniflow powder measure and a Redding beam scale, all vintage mid 1960s. Plus his molds and bullet making tools and some other bic-a-brac.
I don’t cast my own bullets although I could. Someone will have bullets for sale usually even during the worse shortage periods out there.
I keep at least 3 years supply of powder and primers, and 1 year supply of bullets for every caliber I load. And that is 5 handgun and 4 rifle calibers.
As far as brass is concerned, lets just say I have enough.
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