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 ...
It is simple supply and demand...
Make the supply smaller...price goes up...
Harder to afford ammo...
Just the results skeeter wants....
Most likely its cover for sending it overseas.
After all, what are they going to do, arm the post office?
I used to think it was a congressional pork project to make sure the ammo makers had some orders, but now I think the FedStapo and Big Sis think it a way to screw us lowly types. The last 5.56 I was able to find was at usarmorment some rather nice Federal 77 gr that somehow leaked past everyone and down to me, for a price. I also think if this is somewhat planned by Big Sis it has every chance of being the biggest boondoggle the “Elite” has conceived in awhile. I view it as the Fed ammo storage program, viable till the corrupted begin selling it or giving it away. After reading what the LAPD has become from that ex-cop the bright shiny future is not going to happen.
Well,Mr DHS .40 shooter-meet Mr .308 marksman.Good luck,you’re sure gonna need it.
Maybe unrelated, but I have been looking for reloading bullets all morning. I have plenty of brass, but no bullets to reload with. I need .40, .380 (and associated .357 calibers)among others.
I visited a dozen sites I normally buy reloading supplies from. Every single one OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK.
Never seen anything like it.
Because they know it takes their agents and police officers 30 or more rounds to make one hit!
Answer: Those currently in elected office, possessing a vast ability to collect information, have learned that a significant proportion of the American demographic hates them. Further, those currently in power have learned that each day brings us closer to all out, "knock down,drag out Social War. Hence, the gathering of ammunition and the storing of same in their bunkers.( Beleaguered demagogues always retreat to a bunker!)
It would be interesting to see if the large media centers are also obtaining and storing weapons and ammunition.
“I visited a dozen sites I normally buy reloading supplies from. Every single one OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK OUT OF STOCK”
I recently had trouble trying to find a simple RCBS brush handle. Figured out that the handle of a Lyman accessory would fit it.
I think you are correct to an extent. Right now they are running scared with the amount of guns and ammo the public is buying. We’ve been at a record pace since 0bama took office.
So they can’t ban guns or ammo. What can they do? Buy up all the supply.
But there is a secondary result....and a question we all need to consider very carefully. Now that they’ve got 24 years worth of ammo or enough to shoot each of us 5 times..just exactly what are they going to do with it?
And while I get the whole free market idea and dealers making $$$$ off government purchases, are they just being greedy useful tools in our own destruction?
Before I get too alarmed about this, my questions are:
What are the historic norms for federal ammo purchases?
How many armed feds are there, and what is a reasonable amount of ammo to consume in annual training expectation per armed fed?
Continue to ask...
Where are they getting the money to “load up on so much ammo?”
Hi-Tech Ammo
Montana Gold
Widener's
Powder Valley
I was able to sneak an order in at Hi-tech this week. It arrived yesterday. A couple of hours after I placed the order I went back to their site only to find that they were not taking any more orders. Montana Gold was supposed to have .223/5.56 projectiles in stock some time this month, now their order page is down. Widener's hasn't had anything in stock that I have wanted since the election.
Possibly, but at least some of the contracts are spread over five years. It could be a way of establishing a legal obligation over the "winning" bidder to continue supplying fedgov with ammo during that period, when said vendor might have reason to question the wisdom of continuing to do so.
Or it could just be a way of using the IDIQ form of contract to buy tomorrow's ammo at today's GSA schedule prices.
This FAL rifleman likes to say ‘howdy’ at 500 yards.
I think they did, but I know for sure they armed the Dept. of Education (gotta hunt down those student loan delinquents) and the Sosh Security Admin (just bought about 200K rounds of select handgun ammo). After all, those senior citizens get mighty uppity when the check is late.
They were advised by the LAPD that they are going to need a TON of ammo if they want to hit anything.
It is sick. A major reason I reload is to save money, so I buy projectiles in bulk. There are not many places that even sell in bulk, even before the shortage. I have had to radically cut my time on the range as I do not want my ammo stocks to completely disappear. I have been reduced to shooting mostly .22 LR with a mag or two of other calibers. Now I am finding it difficult to get .22 LR. So anytime I see a brick I buy it. With a family of four that shoots, it doesn’t take long to chew through a brick.
Checked the local Walmart yesterday. They had some 12 and 20 for shotguns, looked like it was mostly birdshot, about 5 boxes of 410 left, and some 7mm. All the other shelves were empty.
I am glad that stuff is fairly universal.
My budget does not allow RCBS but it is the best. I did buy a used .40 RCBS die set from a coworker that fit right in my Lee press.
I like the Lee pistol dies on my single stage press because they have the flow-through powder charging design.
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