Posted on 02/09/2013 9:26:32 AM PST by lbryce
In a puzzling, unexplained development, the Obama administration has been buying and storing vast amounts of ammunition in recent months, with the Department of Homeland Security just placing another order for an additional 21.6 million rounds.
Several other agencies of the federal government also began buying large quantities of bullets last year. The Social Security Administration, for instance, not normally considered on the frontlines of anything but dealing with seniors, explained that its purchase of millions of rounds was for special agents' required quarterly weapons qualifications. They must be pretty poor shots.
But DHS has been silent about its need for numerous orders of bullets in the multiple millions. Indeed, Examiner writer Ryan Keller points out Janet Napolitano's agency illegally redacted information from some ammunition solicitation forms following media inquiries.
According to one estimate, just since last spring DHS has stockpiled more than 1.6 billion bullets, mainly .40 caliber and 9mm. That's sufficient firepower to shoot every American about five times. Including illegal immigrants.
To provide some perspective, experts estimate that at the peak of the Iraq war American troops were firing around 5.5 million rounds per month. At that rate, DHS is armed now for a 24-year Iraq war.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
Elections are over.
Haha, you beat me to it.
Then why redact that info in the reports to media queries?
Sure sounds reasonable. How do we explain the all the folks here reporting store shelves and web sites going empty of ammunition?
Also check out the manufacturers of brass & bullets. They often have supply and sometimes cheaper too.
By nx summer, when the shelves are again full; splurge and get everything you and your kids will ever need and forget about it. I bought all the .556 I'll ever need when it was $179/case and now even the wife agrees I did something good way back when. Ya know after Big"O" first got elected, around the summer of 2008, the shelves were again full of supplies. I spent a few thou, got a big discount, and now don't have a worry in the world except for new calibers I acquire. Life is so much easier and I smile more too.
The week before Sandy Hook, it was $322/1000.
No, that would not be a wise action. Remember the term "going Postal"? Yes, some of the USPS is nuttier than the Ocuppy Movement. And that is not saying much.
“DHS, all your ammo are belong to US!!!” ,said the Little Red Hen.
“Its just as easy to liberate 1.6 billion rounds. All we have to know is where it is. Its ours, we paid for it.
One refusal to issue my tax return check and I will take ammo instead. Take my retirement savings? I will take the value out in ammo,” said the Little Red Hen.
The specs for the ammo are too specific. It stipulates a specific bullet be used in say the .40 S&W.
Switching from a bullet for 357SIG to 40S&W isn’t a big deal (maybe more than trivial, with some tuning to get it running right).
I’ve been in a factory with dozens of these machines, and seen them in action. They’re impressive. The owner likes to say that when a machine is running, it’s going (as fast as you can say it): “nickle-nickle-nickle-nickle...”
You can always cast bullets. Molds are cheap and pretty effective, especially for hand guns.
I have a one 170gr mold that, in a pinch, can be used for my 30-30, .308 and .30-06. That is what you call multi-purpose.
I also have had trouble finding brass, but finally got enough for now.
Keep your powder dry my FRiend.
“How do we explain the all the folks here reporting store shelves and web sites going empty of ammunition?”
Not sure,,,, panic buying? Lotsa new gun owners? Gun sales are way, way up.
Got this yesterday morning from a gun dealer friend;
“Interesting status report from Valley Guns in West Virginia :
Status of gun industry
Attention F.B. fans: to follow will be several IMPORTANT Info updates about the status of the gun industry currently, followed by an INVENTORY UPDATE: We traveled to Texas for Industry meetings concerning the shortages, here’s what we were told.
Smith & Wesson-is running at Full capacity making 300+ guns/day-mainly M&P pistols. They are unable to produce any more guns to help with the shortages.
RUGER: Plans to increase from 75% to 100% in the next 90 days.
FNH: Moving from 50% production to 75% by Feb 1st and 100% by March 1. Remington-Maxed out!
Armalite: Maxed out.
DPMS: Can’t get enough parts to produce any more product.
COLT: Production runs increasing weekly...bottle necked by Bolt carrier’s.
LWRC:Making only black guns, running at full capacity...can’t get enough gun quality steel to make barrels.
Springfield Armory: Only company who can meet demand but are running 30-45 days behind.
AMMO: Every caliber is now Allocated! We are looking at a nation wide shortage of all calibers over the next 9 months. All plants are producing as much ammo as possible w/ of 1 BILLION rounds produced weekly. Most is military followed by L.E. and civilians are third in line.
MAGPUL is behind 1 MILLION mags, do not expect any large quantities of magpul anytime soon.
RELOADERS... ALL Remington, Winchester , CCI & Federal primers are going to ammo FIRST. There are no extra’s for reloading purposes... it could be 6-9 months before things get caught up. Sorry for the bleak news, but now we know what to expect in the coming months. Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted...
Related commentary from Bob Owens :
They didn’t know when they’d be getting anything back in stock, from magazines to rifles to pistols. Manufacturers were running full-bore, but couldn’t come close to keeping up with market demand. It wasn’t just the AR-15s, the AK-pattern rifles, the M1As, and the FALs that were sold out. It really hit me when I realized that the World War-era M1 Garands, M1 carbines, and Enfield .303s were gone, along with every last shell. Ubiquitous Mosin-Nagants—of which every gun store always seems to have 10-20—were gone. So was their ammo. Only a dust free space marked their passing. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Every weapon of military utility designed within the past 100+ years was gone. This isn’t a society stocking up on certain guns because they fear they may be banned. This is a society preparing for war.
Barack Obama, Dianne Feinstein and the rest of the Statists have done more to promote gun ownership than the NRA ever did. Well done, Democrats!
Now Obozo and minions would not do that on purpose would they? /sarcasm
They may be anticipating a lot of gun battles during the confiscation process. Americans aren’t going to give up their freedom, their guns and their property that easy.
If I understand your post the ammunition factories are running full blast and the civilian government and military are taking all their product.
At the same time we are hearing about cuts to the military budget and about police departments laying off officers.
Doesn’t add up to me.
Indeed people should understand that by now Obama has been doing it for the last five years.
Why? They are afraid of us. Paranoia is a symptom of despotism.
The fed govt buying this specific ammo in this limited number of cal wont have any real affect on the overall supply of ammo for any real period of time especially if it’s over a 5 year period.
The govt isn’t buying this much ammo to try and affect the supply of ammo as some people are speculating.
But I thought they hated firearms!
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