Ammo hard to find as gun owners stock up

cnn ^

[FromLori]

shops across the country are reporting a run on ammunition, a phenomenon apparently driven by fear that the Obama administration will increase taxes on bullets or enact new gun-control measures.

Ron Cardwell fires his 9 mm semiautomatic at a paper target at a range in Aurora, Colorado. 1 of 3

"In the last two months it's gotten very, very difficult to find ammunition," says Richard Taylor, manager of The Firing Line, a gun shop and shooting range in the Denver, Colorado, suburbs.

"There are a lot of rumors floating around that the present government would like to increase taxes on ammunition. I think [there is] just a lot of panicked buying going on."

While campaigning for the White House, Obama supported re-enacting the now-expired ban on assault weapons. But there is no indication that the administration will take up that measure -- or any other gun-control initiative --anytime soon.

Nonetheless, some gun owners aren't taking any chances.

[chuckles]

I've pondered all the usual excuses and I think you have it right. I haven't been to a gun show in a while so I can't be sure, but I hear things. I think the gunshowers and the pawn shops are buying out Wally World and other ammo places, markin it up about 50% and reselling it.

I'm hearing they have ammo at ridiculous prices. They have reloading supplies to match the prices of their ammo. I just got 500 rounds of .308's off a web site to feed my M1A and my wife's first comment was "Why don't you get 1000 and sell 500 to pay for the other 500?" I said, well, if I get the 1000 rounds, ain't nobody gettin a damn round from me. I've always been a hoarder and my wife has always had the business sense. She just don't understand bump firing a clip or 2 and everybody looking at you with admiration. The more you have, the more you have, I always say.

[piytar]

Can’t remember the exact price, but it was around $15 for a box of 50 Federal.

[piytar]

Maybe he was lucky on the timing?

[c-b 1]

Ammunition is available at decent prices, you just have to look harder than you used to.

If these prices are decent to you, thats ok with me. I just checked ammoengine.com I don't need more ammo bad enough to pay the prices I saw there.

[piytar]

“Individuals who are buying much larger quantities than they can use are the problem.”

That is called “hoarding” and “profiteering” in the Marxist lexicon. In a functional free market, that doesn’t happen.

Sorry if you didn’t know that or take it in the wrong way, but your buying into a false worldview here...

[Jeff Gordon]

This .22 will chew up a lot ammo fast. In an armed conflict, it would keep someone's head down.

[Jeff Gordon]

I think the gunshowers and the pawn shops are buying out Wally World and other ammo places, markin it up about 50% and reselling it.

Walmart is now rationing ammo. Six boxes per customer per day.

[Stentor]

I can’t even find .22 long rifle. The most common ammo in the entire world. And, almost useless for armed conflict.

I got about 2000 rounds for my 10/22 before it dried up and am taking the Czechomatic route for my handgun needs.

[familyop]

"That is called “hoarding” and “profiteering” in the Marxist lexicon. In a functional free market, that doesn’t happen."

You contradicted yourself. When business leaders become too immoral, the market ceases to be properly functional. We can't have fiscal conservatism without moral conservatism. The leadership of men is required to support moral conservatism, and there aren't many men in leadership.

"Sorry if you didn’t know that or take it in the wrong way, but your buying into a false worldview here..."

...sorry if you don't like to see commentary from a man and are afraid of conservative American peasant hordes attacking.

My comments here and here will do well enough for the rest of this reply.

[familyop]

"If these prices are decent to you, thats ok with me. I just checked ammoengine.com I don't need more ammo bad enough to pay the prices I saw there."

Agreed. I'll wait for the backorders to come and continue reloading. Much range work is good. But to survive during the end of the world (little humor there), hobbies like gardening, livestock and small steel, wood or plastic production facilities will probably be even more sustaining. ;-) I'm not buying to facilitate big government revenues, until we see enough support for candidates like Duncan Hunter. Until then, we'll all play chicken toward the big defaults.

Lessons from Argentina’s economic collapse

FerFAL's Argentina forum

Manufactured scarcity The profits of deindustrialisation

[RC one]

took me about 2.5 months to get half a case of 9mm from cabelas online. Just got the second installment of the order a few days ago actually.

[AlaskaErik]

I've been reduced to loading my Ruger LCP with FMJ. Forget about finding .380 in hollow point.

[tgusa]

Most of what’s available in 9mm is from Russia and non-reloadable. Word is the ammo manufacturers are running 24x7. The military has a shortfall too, apparently. But ammo is available although more expensive than normal. I just got 500 rds of Wolf 9mm luger at around $16.00/box of 50 - usually more like $12. But I’ve got it now.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I went to the Bill Goodman gun show in Nashville this past weekend. The only .380 ammunition I saw was three small boxes of premium hollow points. The price for a small box of 20 .380 cartridges was $51.95.

[Quiller]

Speculating on the ammo availability, there are two-three forces coming to a juncture —

1) Part of O’s legislation dream list will outlaw reloaded ammo (require manufacturer’s markings on loadings).

2) Another part of the dream list puts ammo beyond regular owners’ reach by taxing it exorbitantly.

If the ammo tax legislation is to apply to ammo manufactured after a specific date, then manufacturers and distributors place themselves in position to divert a healthy chunk of their stock to inventory to wait on the tax increase. Then pre-tax manufactured ammo would be sold next to taxed ammo, but at the same price. The resulting windfall goes to producers’ pockets (and, of course, to lobbyists and representatives’ campaign funds).

[Malsua]

It ain’t hype. Ammo can be had but you pay double what it was last year.

[rlmorel]

I live in MA, and was unable to find 9mm ammo. Not surprising, I guess.

I just bought five cannisters of ammo for my Garand from the CMP, and it took me three months to get it.

I just spent 10 days driving around the country, was down in Tenneseee...went to a Walmart and bought all the 9mm ammo they had to bring back with me. It was only five boxes, but hey...better than only having one clip to load for protection.

[LibLieSlayer]

Ammo is coming online now... most major calibers are available from large online sources... no .380 yet and you will not enjoy most pricing... but it is becoming “in stock” at most vendors... at least better than it has been since January. According to the NRA, Americans have purchased 1.5 billion rounds since November.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

Lake City... the Government armory run by Federal, is on target to produce 2 billion rounds by end of year. Americans have purchased 1.5 billion rounds since November... they are pumping out ammo as quickly as possible... most of what comes online today, is filling backorders placed months ago. Ammo is available... but one must order online and get in the cue.

LLS

[Jaxter]

I ordered 500 rds of .30 Carbine from the CMP in early January and got it in early April. I think they have a lot of ammo (.30-06, .22LR, .223 Rem, .30 Carbine) but just don't have the staff to keep up with the increase in demand since the election. I already had a ton of .30-06 for my Garands as I plan on retiring in a few years so I wanted to stock up. Glad now that I did.

If anyone's interested the CMP (www.odcmp.com) also has some Garands, Carbines and a few 03 and 03A3's for sale. The posted waiting time is 3-6 months though.