Gun sales going ballistic (DHS visits mail-order ammo buyer!)

PostStar.com ^ | March 20, 2009 | Don Lehman

[Atlas Sneezed]

.... Everyone interviewed by The Post-Star for this story agreed ammunition of all calibers has gotten tougher to find, as gun owners stock up. Prices skyrocketed in recent years as metal prices went up, which caused many gun owners to stock up in anticipation of rising ammunition prices.

There are also concerns that some larger calibers, or those used by military-type weapons, could be banned, restricted or taxed more heavily.

One northern Warren County resident found out recently the government is paying attention to such ammunition sales.

West said a customer of his recently stocked up on .223-caliber rounds, a caliber often used in assault-style weapons. The customer bought 1,000 rounds a few months ago through a mail order company.

Shortly after the purchase, he received a visit from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose interest was apparently piqued by a large-scale purchase of that caliber.

"His wife was home. He was at church," West said. ....

[Atlas Sneezed]

I can't tell whether this is gun-shop hearsay chat, or for real I'm kind of sorry the reporter didn't contact the buyer, the wife, or the DHS agent who dropped in.

[headstamp 2]

In the scheme of things, 1000 rounds is nothing. I could see them getting interested for say 10’s of thousands. 223’s are relatively small in size as rifle calibers go. It’s like they came in on a pallet to the guy.

Sounds like hearsay.

[GL of Sector 2814]

I can't tell whether this is gun-shop hearsay chat, or for real I'm kind of sorry the reporter didn't contact the buyer, the wife, or the DHS agent who dropped in.

I'm skeptical. There are a lot of people who buy a lot more than that. If the DHS was making routine "checkups" on such purchases, there would be more chatter about it.

[headstamp 2]

Last sentence should read,

“It’s not like they came in on a pallet to the guy.”

[airborne]

1000 rounds of .223 is 2 ammo cans.

Approximately the size of 3 - 5 pound bags of sugar, I would estimate.

[Oldexpat]

The shelves are still full here in San Diego.

[PubliusMM]

Chilling, if true. Who is reporting ammunition sales to Homeland Security?

It’s time to take back the country.

[mylife]

A case is a large purchase?

DHS must be very busy if they are investigating every Jasper who buys 1000 rds.

Especially via the mail. Heck whats the point in buying 20 rds for 17 bucks if the shipping is 8 bucks?

[SteamShovel]

The customer bought 1,000 rounds a few months ago through a mail order company.

How is 1000 rounds something unusual?

You could go through that easily, just for target practice.

[Not A Snowbird]

I don’t buy it. ATF would be more believable than DHS.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Chilling, if true. Who is reporting ammunition sales to Homeland Security?

Here in Nevada, you don't even have to show I.D., unless you look under 21. Even then it's just to verify age.

If you pay cash, there is no record what so ever.

[LRS]

Just got back from a gun show yesterday. I saw one table selling a thousand rds. of Wolf 7.62 x 39 for $400.00...

[mylife]

Holy Carp! 400 greenbacks for that crap?

[Old Sarge]

You could go through that easily, just for target practice.

On the last M16 Qual range I took my Army National Guard soldiers on, we were issued 49 rounds - nine to zero your weapon, and forty to qualify.

I needed six to zero, and I renewed my Sharpshooter badge.

My basic load in Ramadi for OIF 3 was 200 rounds of .223 ball and tracer. That's six 30-round magazines in my body armor, and one 20-round in the weapon with a round in the chamber.

So yeah, a thousand rounds would raise some LEO eyebrows.

[mylife]

http://www.impactguns.com/store/645611762321.html

[LRS]

Yep!

[aimhigh]

Who is reporting ammunition sales to Homeland Security?

Yes, they are spying on citizens.

[mad_as_he$$]

Really? I will be there in five hours. Recommended store?

[mad_as_he$$]

I strongly recommend paying cash for all gun related items.

[mylife]

Honestly, I see little old ladys buying 500 rds at a time here in Tx.
I they are just stocking up.
I bet they have thousands of walmart sacks and rubberbands saved as well ☺