Heavy demand for guns, ammo puts strain on supply chain

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 04/27/2009 | Tim Barker

[newgeezer]

Life is good at Mid America Arms in south St. Louis County.

Traffic inside the gun shop has doubled in recent months. Sales are up a solid 40 percent. And they can't keep the shelves stocked.

What started late last year — about the time President Barack Obama took office — as a nationwide surge in gun buying has evolved into something much larger. Good luck finding ammo for all those guns. Or the components and tools to make your own.

At stores such as Mid America, empty shelves and disappointed customers speak volumes about a supply-and-demand equation that's been knocked off its fulcrum by changes in the political landscape. The most popular calibers — 9 mm and .380, for example — are difficult, if not impossible, to find. And new shipments don't last long.

"It's a struggle," said Al Rothweiler, one of the owners. "Where someone used to buy two boxes of ammo, now they buy four, five or six boxes."

Rothweiler and others say it's pretty easy to explain ...

Most of the fingers point to fears that Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress eventually will get around to pushing for new laws restricting gun ownership and placing severe tax rates on ammunition sales. So people are buying guns and ammo before that happens.

"They realize this administration does pose a risk to their Second Amendment freedoms," said Alexa Fritts, spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association.

For its part, Obama's administration has been fairly quiet on the subject, citing the need to focus on the economy and other issues at this time.

However, the president's urban policy agenda, at whitehouse.gov, makes it clear that Obama would like to make permanent the so-called "assault weapons" ban that was signed by Bill Clinton in 1994 but allowed to expire in 2004.

[CottonBall]

would like 25000 rounds in the event we spiral down a depression road or the mexican govt fails and south texas has a flood of illegals.

Isn't it too late for that? ;)

[Hodar]

Why would that be a given, especially in a shortage?

Go to Walmart, look at the empty shelf. Walmart moves a LOT of ammo, the prices are not higher than they were a year ago (at least the empty shelf where my 9mm used to sit).

If prices were raised by the factory, and all factories are at 100%; some factory is going to cut or maintain the original price and use the backlogged business to expand - such is the nature of Capitolism.

Factories operate on a backlog - they know their daily/weekly capacity to a very precise number. If they have 3 weeks production backlog on the books, that's a good thing. If they have 3 Months backlog - that's a great thing. If you have a year's backlog - then you see about expanding your business.

If your local gun shop has raised prices, he's gouging you. This is a temporary shortage.

On a personal note, I intend to buy 1000 rounds and use my food vacuum sealer to seal a couple hundred rounds to put away for future use. They 'should' be able to be stored indefinitely in a simple bag like that.

[CottonBall]

do we have a gun ping list i can subscribe to

that's a good question. I'd like to be on one as well.

If there isn't one yet, I'd be happy to start one. I have the time.

[dashing doofus]

Damn. Zero looks alot like Louis Farrakhan in that picture.

[Carbon Helix]

“People have to calm the heck down...I know it’s all speculation but do you really need 25000 rounds of ammo? Stop buying for a while so these online rape artists (auctions) get stuck with a crap load of over priced ammo.”

I don’t believe that this is what is causing the ammo shortage. While there are some individuals who are stocking up with massive quantities (10,000+ rounds ... and more power to them), these people tend to reload their own stuff. While they are most certainly the cause of the primer shortage, they do not significantly affect the ammo supply.

Instead, there are 10s of millions of ‘casual’ gun owners. They may have a shotgun for home defense, maybe a hunting rifle, etc. Now, with the current economic and political climate, they are thinking it is a good idea to buy that handgun and a few hundred rounds to go with it.

Millions of Americans who have always thought owning is good idea, but never got around to it, are being motivated to get off their butts and learn to protect themselves and their families. This is not irrational. When millions of people do it all at once it does unbalance the supply/demand curve. 20 million people buying 200 rounds adds up very quickly. We will see a shortage of ammo and increase in prices until people feel they have enough to protect their family.

[garyhope]

Anybody here expect it to calm down anytime soon?

I bought ammo BEFORE the election. I only wished I had bought more. AND another handgun.

“but it does seem like a reaction to Obama.”

It’s not just a reaction to Obammy, it’s a reaction to ALL OF THE DIM DHIMS! Schumer, Conyers, Pelosi, Boxer, Waters, the whole damn bunch of the Dims, the Hollywood set, the college professors. It’s the whole damn “liberal” mindset and naivete about the reality of Islamofascism.

The “liberals” are all traitors and/or stupid about how things really work.

[HawaiianGecko]

  "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. ME 5:85, Papers 8:407

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341

"No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms (within his own lands or tenements)." --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution (with his note added), 1776. Papers 1:353

"None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important." --Thomas Jefferson to -----, 1803. ME 10:365

I can think of no reason on Earth to believe anything any gun grabber says about the intent of the 2nd amendment really meaning anything else other than exactly what it says in plain English.  You don't become any more founding fatherly than this man.

[Sig Sauer P220]

And the last thing i want is to be stuck with 100 bullets and no way to get more if they are needed.

If it becomes a shooting war, just take the weapons and ammo of anyone you drop. Assuming you aren't dropped first.

[SJSAMPLE]

Not higher than a year ago?

100% higher for the most common stuff.

And there’s no such thing as “gouging”.

[RC2]

Another point of interest here. When our founders wrote the Constitution, in regards to the “Right to bear arms”....the people had pretty much the same type of arms that the British had. Which means they were pretty equal. Today, our government wants our military to be far ahead of the general public. They do not want the people to have access to the same type of arms that the military has. In other words, you can keep your squirrel guns but no high powerd weapons with clips. The reason? It should be obvious.

[JamesP81]

The only thing I can find is “large pistol magnum” and shotshell.

We're starting to get some small pistol magnums around here. I'm searching high and low for load data that will allow me to use these for my 9mm reloads since I can't find conventional small pistol primers.

[catman67]

She’s much better off with a .22lr pistol!

[basil]

I haven’t priced ammo lately-—I got in ahead of the crowd—LOL! Storage at my house is full.

[HawaiianGecko]

  "high powerd weapons with clips."

What good does a clip do? 

[ArrogantBustard]

The clips help to load cartridges into magazines quickly.

[Travis T. OJustice]

"high powerd weapons with clips."

What good does a clip do?

Holds a girls hair back.

[lurk]

Barnes Bullets is building a huge new facility in central Utah. Looks like they’re planning to ship out product by the train load.

[catman67]

My Wal Marts have stopped carrying firearms or ammunition. The best yoou can do there is a cleaning kit!

[HawaiianGecko]

  "The clips help to load cartridges into magazines quickly."  LOL, yeah I know.  It just drives me nuts to hear people use the word clip when they are speaking of magazines. People that pop clips in guns have been watching too much TV and have never held an automatic in their life.

[Joe Brower]

"do we have a gun ping list i can subscribe to"

We have a few.

First, you have the generic FreeRepublic "banglist", which is maintained by anyone who simply adds the "banglist" keyword to a thread. It can be fetched by this link: http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/banglist/index

Then you have the private RKBA list, which I maintain. I started this many years ago and it has over 500 names at this time. I can add you to this -- just let me know.

There is also a self-defense list maintained by DaveLoneRanger. FReepmail him for details.

Let Freedom Ring,

JB