Small Arms Ammo

[flyingx]

I visited 2 stores looking for 22LR ammo. None available. Both store reps say government is buying ammo. Is this so? Why? Are manufacturers unable to meet demand? I try to keep informed but I would not think that one cannot purchase a couple of boxes of 22 shells. Appreciate any information.

[Carriage Hill]

Here’s a few more:

http://www.ableammo.com/
http://www.thepoliceloophole.com/
http://www.sgammo.com/catalog
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/
http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/
http://www.shopalexanderarms.com/.50_Beowulf-Ammunition.html
http://www.aimsurplus.com/
http://shop.ammocanmagnets.com/50-cal-size-Black-Font_c11.htm
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/index.php
http://www.mytargets.com/
http://www.gunbot.net/
http://www.impactguns.com/nemo-omen-300-win-match-rifle-omen-match.aspx
http://www.kygunco.com/
http://www.luckygunner.com/
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=XCanM2A1&name=New+Mil.+Spec.+M2A1+.50cal+Ammo+Cans&groupid=614
http://www.sgammo.com/
http://www.hksspeedloaders.com/Index.html
http://wilsoncombat.com/new/default.asp
http://www.ammoman.com/
http://www.corbon.com/
http://www.federalpremium.com/default.aspx
http://www.natchezss.com/

[Carriage Hill]

Post #21.

[nvscanman]

.gov might buy certain calibers but they AIN’T buying 22lr.

That stuff is being snapped up by us mere mortals.

[DainBramage]

No theyve retooled to make the millions of rounds of 9mm and 40mm the gubmnt is buying.

[driftdiver]

A while back I bought a brick every time I passed it by. I’ve got plenty of 22 but could use other calibers.

[DaveA37]

I’ve been wondering about this for a while now. Is this speculation, or have you seen stories about this? I’ve seen nothing to account for the .22LR shortage except ammo buyers buying it by the pallet load.....

Where’d they park it?

This is nothing new. Ammo has been in short supply for some time in ALL CALIBERS and sizes as is reloading components. Next time you’re in a Wally World store check out the sporting goods ammo shelves. EMPTY!!!!!
In the extremely small chance some ammo arrives (albeit in very small amounts) it will be “gone” in a matter of a few minutes.

There have been other articles about Congress doing some questioning as to “WHY” such large orders of .40 S&W cartridges needed for DHS. Good question. WHO justified the need for these millions of rounds that WE, you and I are supposed to pay for? IMO, stop payment for this stuff and the ammo suppliers will restock the shelves for the rest of us. Then again there is the talk of “rebellion” by the people again’st the gubmint who needs them ammo to protect themselves from “We, the People”...............

[jespasinthru]

With ammo as precious as it is today, I doubt if many people are going to be wasting their limited supply at the gun range. Even the cheap Russian stuff is worth its weight in gold.

[MachIV]

I’ve wondered if the public ranges have had largely empty stalls. What ammo is available is very expensive and popular calibers are not available, especially some of the more traditionally less expensive. I only make it to a public range about once, maybe twice a year. Use long arms at a private family property maybe twice a year. I bought most of my stuff from 2007 to 2010 and haven’t used any of my stock because of the outage.

[driftdiver]

My guess is that its due to multiple reasons. Increased demand for any ammunition means depleted stock and the fact it sells out faster then its being replaced.

I doubt the manuf. maintained a lot of extra capacity since sales were fairly flat. Now people are buying everything on the shelf. Ramping up production takes time and money. Can they justify investing millions for new production capability knowing this is a temporary problem.

Either things will go back to normal and the increased production will lay idle, the govt will ban firearms, or people will eventually max out their personal inventory and stop buying. Its unlikely the current sales will continue long term.

The govt demand is probably also affecting some producers and possibly the supply of brass.

[Psalm 73]

"With ammo as precious as it is today, I doubt if many people are going to be wasting their limited supply at the gun range."

If I can't replace it - I can't use it. I'm down to my minimum reserve threshold - no range-time until I get above that.

[driftdiver]

I’m still going but less, and shooting a lot less. But then I still have ammo I purchased 10 yrs ago. Made a bulk purchase back then, wish I could still get that price.

[snoringbear]

“And you must be there when the ammo hits the shelves. It will be gone in minutes.”

Well, it’s a loosing proposition when the dudes in the receiving docks call their buds and alert them a shipment is about to arrive. Tese guys got a little game scheme going. If you don’t believe me go check out Craiges List. You can buy all the ammo you want there, at much higher prices. Btw, same thing is going on at Cabelas and Bass Pro.

Just a side not to those who are wondering how the government is able to buy up all the ammo it wants; all it has to do is apply a DXRating to the p.o. And their order takes priority over any and all other orders. Just talk to any manufacturer or supplier who deal with DOD contracts....

[newnhdad]

this should be enough incentive for people not to take the availability for granted. For years after the 2008/9 panic, I purchased a case here and a case there while curtailing my trips to the range. Now we have a real panic on our hands and we just have to be patient but whenever I see it, I buy it. People are buying popular calibers of ammo they can’t use just for trade. I’m pretty sure that we will still be able to get imported ammo, it just costs more for now.

Believe me, if there is money in it, someone will start making more and retooling to meet demand, it just won’t be as inexpensive as in the past is all.

[voicereason]

Managed to pick up three 20 round boxes of Independence (made in Israel) 5.56 for $11.95 a box at a local store. It was all they had. No .22 but they did have some .22 magnum. I’m seeing .243 and .270 on shelves, but not a speck of 30-06.

9mm or 45acp, forget it.

[Eye of Unk]

Go black market if nothing else, while Craigslist may prohibit or censor any ammo sales there are other options, in Alaska they have Alaskalist the Craigslist alternative and it WILL allow guns and ammo listings, and believe me there is NO ammo shortage problems in Alaska, the stores may have empty shelves but the underground supply is up and fully operational.

Part of the problem is people are also buying up the .22 just to go out and shoot 1500 rounds or more on the weekend, they should just hang on to it for now, for more important usage, or to barter for higher priorities, because .22lr is indeed quite worth its weight in figurative gold.

I would say there is some Federal involvement by the shifting of ammo calibers but also is 100 million plus people all panic buying at the same time. The factories will catch up in due order, the feds cannot shoot .22LR, not can any of our Armed Forces even if we did have a real out shooting war say with North Korea, which may indeed just happen.

[ScottinVA]

http://www.luckygunner.com/rimfire/22-lr-ammo

[Arlis]

No doubt.

However, last week I picked up 250 rounds of 9mm that I haven’t found anywhere for months - at Bass Pro - $15 for a 50 rnd. box.

My son saw them, called me, and I drove 30+ minutes to get there. There were about 40 boxes when he first got there, he held 5 for me. When I got there, the last were taken.

5 box limit. He made a 2nd trip and got 500 rnds. himself.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump for reference.

[Chipper]

You can get .22LR off gunbroker.com for $.08 to $.10 per round if you are patient and search around the auctions. I grabbed another brick, and over paid to what it was just a month or two ago, at $.10 per round (Federal 36gr).

Meijers here has had tons of Remington 30-06, .243 and maybe 30-30 (not to sure on that last one) sitting on the shelf. I picked up 10 boxes of PMC 55gr .223, and the other 10 boxes were gone by the next day ($11 for 20 rounds). The clerk said they did get a couple of bricks of .22LR in but they were gone within hours. You can get .223/5.56 off gunbroker sometimes for $.75-90/round.

[MSF BU]

This is probably largely due to guys like me who have thousands of rounds in my basement. In my case, I always grabbed a couple boxes when I dropped in to say hi to my friend who runs a outdoorsman shop. They accumulate!