A good friend on a ,once in a life time ,hunt had an airline lose both guns and ammo. The guns where recovered and picked up by the guides wife the next day. The ammo was MIA. His decision to bring common calibers saved him from having to use other peoples equipment. The local shops had the brands he sighted and practiced with.
How many of you have actually had to do this?
- Thread starter Fullboar
- Start date
I went in a local Walmart looking for .35 ammo awhile back. They told me they haven't carried .35 in 7 years. I asked why. They said it was because nobody uses it anymore. What? I talked to the manager. He seemed uninterested but maybe I planted a bug in his ear? Now all of a sudden, they have .35 and it appears to be selling quite well. They also added .30 Carbine to the mix 
Hog Buster
New member
On local deer and hog hunts I usually take 10, maybe 20 rounds for a rifle. For shotguning it kinda depends on what I’m after. Duck and dove can burn up a bunch, rabbit, squirrel, quail and such, not so many.
The only time I didn’t have enough was on a recent hog hunt. Somehow I wound up with only 5 rounds for my rifle. As it happened I needed 6. I was using a .375 Winchester. The rest of the bunch were using .270, 30/06, 30/30 or some other common round. There was no mooching a few extras from them.
I also don’t use rifles or pistols for hunting that are box magazine fed. On more than one occasion I’ve seen guys go out without a magazine, lose one, or have one fail and no extra. This makes for frustrating second shots.
I have a friend who drove 300 miles to a match with his M1 Garand, 500 rounds of ammo and not one clip. It worked out for him, but that’s not always the case.
The only time I didn’t have enough was on a recent hog hunt. Somehow I wound up with only 5 rounds for my rifle. As it happened I needed 6. I was using a .375 Winchester. The rest of the bunch were using .270, 30/06, 30/30 or some other common round. There was no mooching a few extras from them.
I also don’t use rifles or pistols for hunting that are box magazine fed. On more than one occasion I’ve seen guys go out without a magazine, lose one, or have one fail and no extra. This makes for frustrating second shots.
I have a friend who drove 300 miles to a match with his M1 Garand, 500 rounds of ammo and not one clip. It worked out for him, but that’s not always the case.
I watched the ammo stocks during the scare, what disappeared was mostly high demand military calibers. Every time I checked a different Boxmart, I found .30-30, .30-06, 12 ga, etc.
If it was a popular hunting caliber, they weren't sold out. Hunters didn't bite on the scare. It was the urban survivalist/TEOWAKI shooter who went nuts.
Shows they have a really low threshold to deal with. My question is, why didn't they ALREADY have a pallet of ammo in each necessary caliber?
They really don't practice what they preach. If, "OMG, I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AMMO!" was really important, they'd have some. Do they all run out of gas on the way to work, or suddenly discover NO BEER IN THE HOUSE on SuperBowl Sunday?
They keep their real priorities squared away.
If there is one point to take away from this, it's that the new business distribution method isn't large stocks of merchandise kept in the back room. Taxes and the cost of transport won't allow it anymore. The stuff moves in small lots and hits the shelf Just In Time.
Walk into an auto parts store and try to get two dozen bolts off the rack. Won't happen, and we don't buy them by the pound, we get 10 in one box, max. Bulk supply of common commodities is special order only now, that's the new American business standard. 95% of customers only need one or two at a time, the inventory, accounting, and tax liability folks at corporate will not allow overstock or bulk purchases to sit in a store for up to 5 years waiting to be sold out. It really does take a corner country store to do that now.
If it doesn't sell out in less than 6 months, kiss it goodbye. We will order it out of the warehouse for next Tuesday. Hope you have a way to get around it. If you see ammo as a problem, just try all the cute little different imports. "Not in stock" is normal.
On the other hand, I just bought two boxes of Rem 115gr OTM 6.8SPC at Academy. Not the hottest load, but now Walmart will have to pay attention, they are a significant competitor, and Sam's descendants want every dollar.
It's all about daily demand, not a sudden surge. You have to protect yourself in this market.
If it was a popular hunting caliber, they weren't sold out. Hunters didn't bite on the scare. It was the urban survivalist/TEOWAKI shooter who went nuts.
Shows they have a really low threshold to deal with. My question is, why didn't they ALREADY have a pallet of ammo in each necessary caliber?
They really don't practice what they preach. If, "OMG, I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AMMO!" was really important, they'd have some. Do they all run out of gas on the way to work, or suddenly discover NO BEER IN THE HOUSE on SuperBowl Sunday?
They keep their real priorities squared away.
If there is one point to take away from this, it's that the new business distribution method isn't large stocks of merchandise kept in the back room. Taxes and the cost of transport won't allow it anymore. The stuff moves in small lots and hits the shelf Just In Time.
Walk into an auto parts store and try to get two dozen bolts off the rack. Won't happen, and we don't buy them by the pound, we get 10 in one box, max. Bulk supply of common commodities is special order only now, that's the new American business standard. 95% of customers only need one or two at a time, the inventory, accounting, and tax liability folks at corporate will not allow overstock or bulk purchases to sit in a store for up to 5 years waiting to be sold out. It really does take a corner country store to do that now.
If it doesn't sell out in less than 6 months, kiss it goodbye. We will order it out of the warehouse for next Tuesday. Hope you have a way to get around it. If you see ammo as a problem, just try all the cute little different imports. "Not in stock" is normal.
On the other hand, I just bought two boxes of Rem 115gr OTM 6.8SPC at Academy. Not the hottest load, but now Walmart will have to pay attention, they are a significant competitor, and Sam's descendants want every dollar.
It's all about daily demand, not a sudden surge. You have to protect yourself in this market.
30-30remchester
New member
I was a guide for 9 years and it seems about every year someone would show up without ammo or the wrong ammo. However we were close to a fairly large town @5000 people and was able to locate about any ammo at the local sporting goods store. However I could surely see where this could have led to problems in a more remote place.
Richland Center Wisconsin, (S.W. corner of the state) at a Coast to Coast which is no longer in business. I really miss it. I like hardware stores where you walk in and they know your name and have a pretty good idea what you need. If they don't have it they will try and get it. Don't get me started on Walmart and their corporate policy since Sam Walton died and the book keepers took over.
I keep bug out bags of assorted ammo everywhere camps,trucks,day bags,even in the boat.Ran out of truck gun ammo one time when I ran acrossed a big pack of hogs made Me Sick.Hour to town or camp wont happen again. The lose of all that BBQ.& chops broke me from suckin eggs.NOmore low ammo days.
jhgreasemonkey
New member
I intentionaly own guns chambered in common cartridges. I currently hunt and shoot with .30-06, .30-30, .44 mag, 9mm, .22 mag, .22lr. Sometimes while on a hunting trip we will go and shoot for a day, then come into town for more ammo. I have never had a problem finding ammo anywhere. If I had an uncommon caliber I would bring a lee classic loader kit with me. They don't take up much space and you can reload your cartridges on a picnic table with a handful of tools.
YES! I think that should be a consideration
A few years back we were headed to BC for a Moose/Caribou hunt. The day before we left the outfitter called and asked if we could pickup some xyz ammo. It was little different caliber but the local Gun store a box. I was thinking "how does someone not have their ammo? Well, thanks to the airline his ammo got lost with his luggage. The local stores did not carry this cal ammo.
So yes, airlines lose stuff and if they happen to lose your custom ammo, you may be up a creek. My wife hates to go through customs with guns so she always borrows a gun from the guide. Ever notice that guides mostly carry an '06, .300WM, .338, or .375? something to think about...
A few years back we were headed to BC for a Moose/Caribou hunt. The day before we left the outfitter called and asked if we could pickup some xyz ammo. It was little different caliber but the local Gun store a box. I was thinking "how does someone not have their ammo? Well, thanks to the airline his ammo got lost with his luggage. The local stores did not carry this cal ammo.
So yes, airlines lose stuff and if they happen to lose your custom ammo, you may be up a creek. My wife hates to go through customs with guns so she always borrows a gun from the guide. Ever notice that guides mostly carry an '06, .300WM, .338, or .375? something to think about...
FrankenMauser
New member
Yes.
I reload too.... But, it doesn't matter when you leave the ammo at home.
I left all of my ammo at home for an Antelope hunt in 2005 or 2006. Lucky for me, the tiny all-in-one farm store (gas station, post office, veterinarian, auto repair shop, tobacco shop, bar, feed store, and restaurant) had Remington .270 Winchester 130 gr Core-Lokts sitting on their shelves. (I didn't take a backup rifle on that trip, either.
)That being said:
I don't buy firearms based around ammunition availability. As a reloader, I check component availability and trends (whether or not XX cartridge is dying, or experiencing a rise in popularity) to make sure I can get components to get started. Then I buy the firearm. It doesn't matter if it's an obsolete wildcat, or a modern chambering - sometimes I have hand loaded ammo sitting on my shelves before I buy the rifle. (I've never put the cart-before-the-horse with handguns.)
grubbylabs
New member
I bought my 308 for that reason. Very popular as far as ammo goes which means that reloading components would also be readily available. I did trade for a 444 knowing that both ammo and reloading components would be hard to come by.
but like many of you I always take more than enough ammo to the field with me when I go.
but like many of you I always take more than enough ammo to the field with me when I go.
hickstick_10
New member
Me and a buddy each have "trapper" length lever guns for taking a poke at coyotes, trunk gun and a little hunting.
He bought himself a rossi 92 in 454 casull, and I purchased a win 1894 in 30-30. As we both live in Canada, and in a one horse hick town to boot, he has a very hard time getting ammo when he doesn't feel like reloading. And components are a long drive or long wait away.
As opposed to 30-30 which is available in nearly every hardware store.
He bought himself a rossi 92 in 454 casull, and I purchased a win 1894 in 30-30. As we both live in Canada, and in a one horse hick town to boot, he has a very hard time getting ammo when he doesn't feel like reloading. And components are a long drive or long wait away.
As opposed to 30-30 which is available in nearly every hardware store.
Hog Hunter
New member
I got to my farm one mornin durign deer season a few years ago, got ready grabed my gun case and realized I didnt have my bullets in there. I was LIVID!! No way I was driving back 2hrs to my house to get my ammo, so I hunted with my 357 all weekend. ended up shootin 3 hogs 2 boars and a sow. By the way it was a snubby that I dont have anymore. Now I check everytime I put the gun in the truck that the bullets are in the case.
9mm is still easy to find right now. Hard time finding .44 at a decent price. Gun shows are all selling it at a higher price. Even 9mm at the gun show is higher than ammo I bought at Walmart. 100 rounds of 9mm, Winchester brand, $20. I bought all they had. .44 cal 240 gr going for beween $28 and $35 for a box of 50 at the gun shows and that varies on muzzle velocity, etc. Enough to make you crazy.
Dave Anderson
New member
On my first African hunt our rifles arrived at the lodge, the luggage with ammo didn't. There were four of us hunting and we mostly had brought an extra rifle. The outfitter poked around in his gun vault and found us ammunition in 7mm Rem. Mag., .308 Win., .30-'06, .300 Win. Mag., and .375 H&H.
I didn't check out his ammo store in detail but did notice there was ammo in .270 Win., .300 Weatherby, .338 Win. and .458 Win. One of the group had brought just one rifle in 7mm Mauser and had to borrow my spare .308 for the first day.
Luckily for me the outfitter found 15 rounds or so for my .300 Win. Mag. loaded with 180 gr. Barnes X bullets, as I had sighted in with the 180 TSX. They shot close to the point of aim. I killed my first African game with the borrowed ammo.
Fortunately all our luggage arrived in the afternoon so all was well. Still, I was glad to hunt with my own rifle and not one borrowed from the outfitter.
I often hunt with new or different cartridges but a spare rifle in .30-'06 or .308 is a handy thing to have.
I didn't check out his ammo store in detail but did notice there was ammo in .270 Win., .300 Weatherby, .338 Win. and .458 Win. One of the group had brought just one rifle in 7mm Mauser and had to borrow my spare .308 for the first day.
Luckily for me the outfitter found 15 rounds or so for my .300 Win. Mag. loaded with 180 gr. Barnes X bullets, as I had sighted in with the 180 TSX. They shot close to the point of aim. I killed my first African game with the borrowed ammo.
Fortunately all our luggage arrived in the afternoon so all was well. Still, I was glad to hunt with my own rifle and not one borrowed from the outfitter.
I often hunt with new or different cartridges but a spare rifle in .30-'06 or .308 is a handy thing to have.
My deer camp is about 240 miles from my house. When I go up there it is usually for at least 10 days or more (stayed there 22 days straight this past season), unless I take a big buck (Wall hanger) and have to bring it back home. I take at least 20 or more rifle rounds for my main rifle and from time to time I take a second rifle as a back up just in case. Within 30 minutes of camp are places to buy factory ammo, but that will not help me much since I shoot my own loads. I must mention though that my 160 grain 7 MAG loads will shoot just a tad higher than the Hornady Custom 162 grain ammo. How do I know that you say? Well when I sighted in my rifle I shot both of them to compare. Deer season 2010 I took about 40 rounds for the 7 MAG. to deer camp, so I was in pretty good shape.
Here's a piece of advice that might save the day...
Particularly if you are using a less than common caliber. It won't help if you forget you ammo on a range trip, or a couple hour drive, but if you are going for an expensive hunt at a long distance, especially in a foreign country, send some of your ammo to your guide/outfitter, well in advance.
I have heard many stories over the years about how airlines/customs/etc. lost or delayed ammo, and guys having to use scrounged ammo, or borrowed rifles. When its a once in a lifetime thing (or even only once a year), sending some ammo to your guide, or some other location you can pick it up after you get there, and sending it by bonded, insured carrier seems like cheap insurance to me. Allow plenty of time for it to get there, especially overseas, and check with your guide/PH that they get it, before you set out.
Carry your ammo with you, of course, but having a couple boxes already there means that if the airline screws up and you only get the guns, all is not lost. I have heard that some foreign nations have limits on how much ammo you may bring in with you. If true, another reason to "send some on ahead".
You (and I) might like to hunt with exotics and wildcats, and finding some ammo in the boonies for something like that is like winning the lottery. It could happen, but you can't count on it. Alternative (if affordable and practical) is to have a back up gun in a common caliber. More bulky to transport, but if you are spending big bucks on a special hunt, its cheap insurance. The odds of having both guns unservicable due to ammo loss/unavailability, or some mechanical failure at the same time are pretty small.
Particularly if you are using a less than common caliber. It won't help if you forget you ammo on a range trip, or a couple hour drive, but if you are going for an expensive hunt at a long distance, especially in a foreign country, send some of your ammo to your guide/outfitter, well in advance.
I have heard many stories over the years about how airlines/customs/etc. lost or delayed ammo, and guys having to use scrounged ammo, or borrowed rifles. When its a once in a lifetime thing (or even only once a year), sending some ammo to your guide, or some other location you can pick it up after you get there, and sending it by bonded, insured carrier seems like cheap insurance to me. Allow plenty of time for it to get there, especially overseas, and check with your guide/PH that they get it, before you set out.
Carry your ammo with you, of course, but having a couple boxes already there means that if the airline screws up and you only get the guns, all is not lost. I have heard that some foreign nations have limits on how much ammo you may bring in with you. If true, another reason to "send some on ahead".
You (and I) might like to hunt with exotics and wildcats, and finding some ammo in the boonies for something like that is like winning the lottery. It could happen, but you can't count on it. Alternative (if affordable and practical) is to have a back up gun in a common caliber. More bulky to transport, but if you are spending big bucks on a special hunt, its cheap insurance. The odds of having both guns unservicable due to ammo loss/unavailability, or some mechanical failure at the same time are pretty small.
Bamashooter
New member
I dont have any off the wall calibers so everything I shoot I should be able to find ammo for just about anywhere. I am also a reloader so I dont have to worry about looking for ammo somewhere becouse I never have up to this point forgot to bring the ammo. I have never messed my scope up and had to rezero on a hunt. I usually carry more than 1 gun hunting so I usually just carry a box per rifle.
Dave Anderson
New member
44 AMP, good advice, provided it is legal to do so. In the African countries I've been to, and I think in most if not all African countries, it is illegal to ship ammo ahead. The ammunition has to accompany the hunter. You have to declare how many rounds you are bringing (there are limits, 100 rounds per rifle in my experience) and the ammunition has to match your rifle. Also you generally can't bring two rifles which accept the same cartridge.