Posted on 06/29/2013 11:38:47 AM PDT by dagogo redux
I thought a weekend vanity thread about the current state of the arms and ammo markets might provide a useful exchange of info for some FReepers.
Post election, and especially post Sandy Hook, many acquaintances - probably just waking up now to the trajectory of history - approached me about the status of the gun and ammo market. I’m not anything of an authority on this topic, but I have had my ear to the ground about such things, perhaps more than some.
There has been another recent flurry of questions as well, revealing that they haven’t looked back into things since then. I’ve been able to correct, I think, some of their worries about the availability and prices seen earlier.
Recent gun shows in the Puget Sound area have seen a significant reversion towards the norm on gun prices, and decent availability for SHTF and personal defense weaponry - certainly not back where it was long ago, but much improved from 3-6 months ago.
I’m not a big fan of finicky or high maintenance weapons, or those chambered for less-than-ubiquitous ammo when preparing for a long-term long survival scenario, but recent gun shows here had a decent supply of handguns, shotguns and practical rifles for prices about 3/4 to 2/3 the prices seen during the recent rush.
Ammo stocks at the gun show were decent, though not great, and there were few really great deals, IMO.
However, I am happy to see Ammoman stocked again with military surplus bulk AK rounds at $0.30/round, and they even had some reasonable NATO/Portuguese .308 battle-packs recently. I don’t pay much attention to the AR-15 platform, but the ammo seems readily available, many places, although still pricey.
Ammoman has no .45 or 9mm bulk, $1.00/round HP .40s, $0.80-1.00/shell 12 gauge Federal and Remington buckshot and slugs. Nothing in 20 gauge.
.22 mag shotshells - one of my favorites - seem nowhere to be found: I’ve been on several waiting lists for a while now . . . Guys at the gun shows spoke of relative shortages in many .22 rounds.
Lucky Gunner has some stuff in bulk as well, and may be worth checking out. Others here may know of other good sources to watch, but those are the two I follow in addition to the gun shows.
I do drop by Surplus Ammo south of Tacoma occasionally, a truly great resource in the past, but it's been a long time since they had anything I wanted. Their ammo shelves were still practically bare two weeks ago.
Anyway, that’s what I tell folks when they ask locally. Anyone else is welcome to chime in.
John Linebaugh (gunsmith) also produces great information resources from many years of experience. The following is one of his more well known articles, but there are more on the site. Both men have been long acquainted with the work of Elmer Keith, BTW, while doing much of their own work since.
Gun Notes: The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend
by John Linebaugh
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
Familiar with the Linebaugh .475 since Ross Seyfreid wrote about it in the 80’s. Never had the nerve to touch one off though.
I never see Remington 35 mentioned or spoken of as a popular, in demand or desirable ammo but damned if I can find any.
LV,
Young’s had bought a half a million dollars worth of ammo about a month ago..Someone I know from Houston bought some 9mm, and .22LR there. It wasn’t cheap, but said they had thousands of boxes of ammo.
I live in suburban Chicago. All of the Wal-Mart and gander mountain type places are cleaned out every week usually by retired guys that wait in line like buying concert tickets. The only ammo left is shotgun shells. Totally sucks. I’m talking no 9 45 40 or 22lr or 762 or 223. Gotta buy bulk online if I can find it for less than a frickin dollar a round. This is crazy.
I used to love those articles. Those Bisley framed monsters with heavy hard-cast slugs dished out some serious power.
He and the late Bob Milek two of my favorite writers from that period.
Thanks sockmonkey.
My key indicator is WalMart...when I can wander in to my local, (3-hours away) store and buy what I want from stocked shelves, I’ll be convinced the big shortage is over. Not the case now...still empty shelves.
I often have luck at www.ammunitiontogo.com or www.natchezss.com.
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