Ammo and This Election Year
- Thread starter Misssissippi Dave
- Start date
1911Alaska
New member
New to shooting
I am still fairly new to shooting. Could somebody tell me what causes these ammo shortenings? Why it happens? And what the election has to do with it?
Thanks
I am still fairly new to shooting. Could somebody tell me what causes these ammo shortenings? Why it happens? And what the election has to do with it?
Thanks
carguychris
New member
IMHO it wasn't "nothing" as stated in the prior post. I'll try to explain this while staying away from politics as much as possible to avoid thread lockdown.
Based on some vague general statements on the party's website, there was a legitimate concern before the 2008 election that the new administration might attempt to reinstate the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. This started a mild run on hi-cap semi-automatic firearms of types that might be expected to be banned under this theoretical legislation.
The election results turned the mild run on semi-automatic firearms into a massive all-out run. Reasonably priced hi-cap pistols, everything AK, assembled AR's, and the essential parts required to build as AR (as opposed to add-on accessory doodads) vanished from stores.
For reasons I can't explain, the run on semi-autos morphed into a run on ammunition. I think this started when stocks of .380ACP ran out; this was most likely due to the release of several hot-selling pistols for a cartridge that was viewed by ammo companies as a relatively slow-selling boutique item that was only produced seasonally. This started a domino effect that spread to other cartridges. Suddenly, everyone thought there was an ammo shortage, so they started buying all the ammo they could find, and the stores ran out of ammo, thus creating a REAL shortage, and people starting buying everything in the store as soon as it arrived, thus perpetuating the situation...
You get the idea.
(I feel obliged to mention that, to date, the administration has NOT made a serious attempt to reinstate the AWB.)
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I have enough centerfire to protect myself for awhile.
I have enough rimfire to practice for a long while.
And a whole bunch of pellets.
I have enough rimfire to practice for a long while.
And a whole bunch of pellets.
zincwarrior
New member
I hear shortage but I think a lot of it is driven by them dern speculators (we need a government oversight committee 
). The local Academy and Walmart continue to be well stocked.
). The local Academy and Walmart continue to be well stocked.I think it's easy for people that are sitting on a significant stockpile to critize those that are buying a little extra. I don't see many of the same people offering to sell their surplus supplies (at little profit) when a shortage occurs to help increase supply. Instead, they just tell others not to buy.
Look on the brightside. From what I can tell, most of us have been stockpiling components these last few years, maybe that means if another shortage is coming then it won't be so bad?
Anyway, the political climate is to blame. The NRA is producing all sorts of propaganda telling me that how I should vote, because XYZ politician is going to inact gun control if elected. That causes people to buy more guns and more ammunition...period.
If individuals keep convincing their friends that if O'bama wins then they can kiss their guns goodbye (despite lack of congressional will), then in the same breath tell them not to order ammo or guns because that would cause a panic, then that's definitely a mixed message.
Look on the brightside. From what I can tell, most of us have been stockpiling components these last few years, maybe that means if another shortage is coming then it won't be so bad?
Anyway, the political climate is to blame. The NRA is producing all sorts of propaganda telling me that how I should vote, because XYZ politician is going to inact gun control if elected. That causes people to buy more guns and more ammunition...period.
If individuals keep convincing their friends that if O'bama wins then they can kiss their guns goodbye (despite lack of congressional will), then in the same breath tell them not to order ammo or guns because that would cause a panic, then that's definitely a mixed message.
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What I'm saying is that the type of behavior you admitted to is the prime cause of shortages.
Buy or don't buy, it's up to you. But if you don't like ammo shortages, I recommend you plan your ammo purchases so that you can have your own "significant stockpile" formed by regular purchases over a reasonable time period based on when you find really good deals.
If we all did that, we could eliminate nearly all ammo shortages and we'd also probably benefit from lower ammunition prices. When shortages cause the prices to spike dramatically, they rarely fall all the way back down to pre-shortage prices.
As far as selling my ammunition to try to increase supply, that's crazy talk. First of all, why would I want to blow up my own strategy to keep shooting without paying sky-high prices during shortages?
Second, the paltry amount of ammunition that I have on hand would not make a signficant difference in the overall supply. It wouldn't provide any significant help--the only significant effect it would have would be to put me in the same boat as all the people who didn't plan ahead. Based on annual sales levels, ATK, the largest U.S. commercial ammunition manufacturer probably churns out on the order of 10 billion rounds a year. If I sold everything I had, it would amount to much less than a thousandth of a percent of JUST ATK's production, not counting any other domestic manufacturers or importers. I'd say it's like a drop in the bucket, but that's not even close to how insignificantly small it is.
The only way to prevent shortages is not to panic buy. The way to not panic buy is to keep a good stockpile on hand at all times. The benefit is that you never have to pay the stupidly high prices that are common during shortages.
By the way, even "buying a little extra" probably wouldn't be a big deal, it's when people buy "a lot more than they normally would" that the problems start.
Walklightly
Moderator
Yeah, I guess I did panic (if that's what you want to call it) buy once at Walmart during the scare, but I normally go there and restock my ammo when I shoot. They just got in 15 cases, yes 15, of WWB 9mm. The guy said this will be gone by the end of the hour, news would spread fast people would call, or come in every day which made me mad because this one guy came in every day to buy ammo. I was a long time regular ammo buyer, I said to heck with it, can you save me two case, I'll be right back with the money, Went home and got my 44mag money and I was then a hoarder for a hour, lucky I did because there was a guy ahead of me buying 10 with cash. . Then I mail ordered a case of .38s from ammoman.com, sense most of my 44mag money was gone to buy a Redhawk.
3 years later I've yet to open up those 9mm cases.
And I finally got my Redhawk, a blued 5" instead of the 4" stainless I thought I wanted.
For the individual, the extra pound or two of powder included in a regular order is a drop in the bucket in terms of production. I figured I was crazy not to buy just a little extra, as a hedge, especially while the price was low.
Buying an extra 1,000 or 2,000 primers is how the whole thing starts of course. But, in the end we're just looking out for our own best interest. None of us can buy or sell enough volume alone to impact the market, so agreed, selling any bit of a stockpile would be nuts. On the other hand, buying a little before the price gets inflated seems like a good idea as well, even though it contributes to the problem, I have to lookout for my own supply.
Buying an extra 1,000 or 2,000 primers is how the whole thing starts of course. But, in the end we're just looking out for our own best interest. None of us can buy or sell enough volume alone to impact the market, so agreed, selling any bit of a stockpile would be nuts. On the other hand, buying a little before the price gets inflated seems like a good idea as well, even though it contributes to the problem, I have to lookout for my own supply.
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zincwarrior
New member
I have a stockpile if you consider snackfood, popcorn and rum a stockpile.
People get weird and others try to inflame it for the personal reasons. Hopefully the market will not do this again. Personally I thought about further stocking up, but realized there's no real point in it. Better to spend your money bribing politicians -er- contributing to politicans and PACS that support the Second Amendment.
Even as bad as it was in '08 it wasn't all that bad if you had a couple of weeks worth stocked up.
I couldn't care less what someone buys but jeez, if you're buying the last 7000 primers on the shelves....how about leaving a hundred or two for at least the one next guy? That was the only thing last time that was discouraging, some shop gets in 20 boxes of .380 or whatever, and one guy has to have every single box. How bout leaving just one or two?
Haven't seen signs of any shortage locally.
I couldn't care less what someone buys but jeez, if you're buying the last 7000 primers on the shelves....how about leaving a hundred or two for at least the one next guy? That was the only thing last time that was discouraging, some shop gets in 20 boxes of .380 or whatever, and one guy has to have every single box. How bout leaving just one or two?
Haven't seen signs of any shortage locally.
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Master Blaster 2
Moderator
I horded my ammo supply way back in 2000 when the World was going to come to an end and have kept my big stock of ammo since than. Have enough for my life time. Prices never did go back to 2000 prices so I did OK. Buy what you can afford. Store it properly and it will out last you.
aarondhgraham
New member
I learned from 2008,,,
That summer was miserable,,,
I remember driving to 4 different places,,,
And then only being able to find 3 boxes of .22 short.
So I did some calculations on how much I would actually shoot in a year,,,
Then as supplies came back to the store I started buying a "bench stock" of ammo.
Basically I bought 20 bulk packs of .22 LR and numbered them,,,
I open them in order and when I open a pack,,,
I immediately replace it on the shelf.
Same thing with my other calibers but I stock much smaller amounts of them,,,
Such as 9mm, .38 Special, and .380 ACP I keep 2,000 rounds on hand,,,
.357 and .44 Magnum I don't shoot as much so 1,000 is enough.
The key for my system is to immediately replace what I take to shoot,,,
I'm not hoarding up for urban warfare or SHTF scenarios,,,
I just want to be able to always go to the range.
In the summer of 08 I was rationing ammo to myself,,,
I don't want to go shoot 25 rounds of .22 and quit for the day ever again.
Aarond
.
That summer was miserable,,,
I remember driving to 4 different places,,,
And then only being able to find 3 boxes of .22 short.
So I did some calculations on how much I would actually shoot in a year,,,
Then as supplies came back to the store I started buying a "bench stock" of ammo.
Basically I bought 20 bulk packs of .22 LR and numbered them,,,
I open them in order and when I open a pack,,,
I immediately replace it on the shelf.
Same thing with my other calibers but I stock much smaller amounts of them,,,
Such as 9mm, .38 Special, and .380 ACP I keep 2,000 rounds on hand,,,
.357 and .44 Magnum I don't shoot as much so 1,000 is enough.
The key for my system is to immediately replace what I take to shoot,,,
I'm not hoarding up for urban warfare or SHTF scenarios,,,
I just want to be able to always go to the range.
In the summer of 08 I was rationing ammo to myself,,,
I don't want to go shoot 25 rounds of .22 and quit for the day ever again.
Aarond
.
Everyone remembers that year. Nothing could be found. I and everyone else bought anything and everything, even the last box. Now thats over with still buy any and all you can afford so if/when that happens again you want have to when prices rise. And for me sitting on mine and selling some to who didnt prepare? Not gonna happen grasshopper.
22-rimfire
New member
Like many, I can't afford to simply buy out the local Walmart or gun shop of the ammunition that is in stock. I suggest you buy what you need, can afford, and "want" based on your usage. A 6 month supply is a good cache and would have been sufficient during the last "shortage".
I don't shoot hundreds of rounds of centerfire ammo every week or every month. I do shoot a fair amount of 22 ammo and I am well supplied in that caliber (at least the common stuff).
Nobody talks about the gas prices when they are starting to decline a bit. But for me, anything over $3.00/gallon is A LOT and it affects everything I do recreationally.
I started buying prior when the "ammo shortage" became apparent during the last presidential election simply because I believed we were going to see some substantial price increases. I started in December and January (and the election was in November) stocking up on what I commonly shoot and a few boxes of what I don't commonly shoot.
A box of Remington 41 mag was about $40 then, and now is more like $65-$70. But that is certainly one of the exceptions of the price curve.
I don't shoot hundreds of rounds of centerfire ammo every week or every month. I do shoot a fair amount of 22 ammo and I am well supplied in that caliber (at least the common stuff).
Nobody talks about the gas prices when they are starting to decline a bit. But for me, anything over $3.00/gallon is A LOT and it affects everything I do recreationally.
I started buying prior when the "ammo shortage" became apparent during the last presidential election simply because I believed we were going to see some substantial price increases. I started in December and January (and the election was in November) stocking up on what I commonly shoot and a few boxes of what I don't commonly shoot.
A box of Remington 41 mag was about $40 then, and now is more like $65-$70. But that is certainly one of the exceptions of the price curve.