Posted on 08/01/2021 10:03:42 AM PDT by karpov
SEATTLE (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with record sales of firearms, has fueled a shortage of ammunition in the United States that’s impacting law enforcement agencies, people seeking personal protection, recreational shooters and hunters -- and could deny new gun owners the practice they need to handle their weapons safely.
Manufacturers say they’re producing as much ammunition as they can, but many gun store shelves are empty and prices keep rising. Ammunition imports are way up, but at least one U.S. manufacturer is exporting ammo. All while the pandemic, social unrest and a rise in violent crime have prompted millions to buy guns for protection or to take up shooting for sport.
“We have had a number of firearms instructors cancel their registration to our courses because their agency was short on ammo or they were unable to find ammo to purchase,” said Jason Wuestenberg, executive director of the National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association.
Doug Tangen, firearms instructor at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, the police academy for the state, said the academy also has had trouble obtaining ammo.
“A few months ago, we were at a point where our shelves were nearly empty of 9mm ammunition,” he said. In response, instructors took conservation steps like reducing the number of shots fired per drill, which got them through several months until fresh supplies arrived, Tangen said.
Officer Larry Hadfield, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said his department also has been affected by the shortage. “We have made efforts to conserve ammunition when possible,” he said.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry trade group, says more than 50 million people participate in shooting sports in the U.S. and estimates that 20 million guns were sold last year
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
I check out Walmarts in the East and South. Ammo is coming back slowly.
Stores are getting larger shipments.
The ammo situation is getting better.
We have 9mm, 5.56 and 7.62x39 on the shelves with no limits.
Depends on what part of the country you’re in.
Was in Academy yesterday and they had plenty of .223 and 5.56 at .72 and .87 a round.
The prices are even starting to come down 35-40 cents/rd for 9mm.
Online prices have taken a dive and supply is finally up. Haven’t seen the prices at the level they were before this thing began and it’s likely we won’t for a very long time if ever, but the drought is definitely ending.
Walmarts near me have literally nothing in their ammo shelves......always.
Keep buying, folks. Keep buying.
9mm and 223 is back in stock but if you shoot J Frame revolvers for which there are a blue million in ownership, .38 special is hardly anywhere to be found and when you find it it is nearly $1.00 or more per round. Forget it.
My fear is that they will simply get rid of ammunition, what good are all the guns if you can’t ammo for them?
Some calibers are slow in coming back, .38 special and .22 magnum are still scarce.
As well as the components to roll your own. Powder and primers are difficult to acquire.
Is there a restriction on the importation of ammo for private sale?
Is every ammo manufacturer in the world maxxed out?
I’m not opposed to ammo from Russia, EU, Israel etc.
WTF is going on here?
Ammo is the Achilles heel of the 2nd Amendment.
They know it and we should all take heed and have a lifetime supply.
They are trying to start a false buying panic with this article.
Russian ammo has been restricted by sanctions.
Still lots coming from Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia, Czech Republic, Turkey.
“38 special is hardly anywhere to be found”
I can’t find it anywhere.
Runnings is well stocked with ammo, 9 mm in particular.
They’ve been having it at our local one for the last few months. Good price, too.
Not sure where the AP is shopping. Far far far kore ammunition availability lately than there has been in the last 6 months.
Prices even starting to come down
Depends on what part of the country you’re in.
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The Demoncrats are shooting away with jabs, much surplus around of their jabs…..meanwhile, the quiet freedom loving towns across America continue to smell a stench….most are preparing for their own shooting away should the need present itself.
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