So I never really got any experience with life prior to the ammo shortages because prior them, I only ever shot .22lr and 16ga. shotgun for plinking and hunting, respectively. Those were the guns my grandfather had and so that's what we got and we didn't really have much choice in the matter, seeing as I was too young to buy ammo myself (I think, either way I always went to the store with an adult because I couldn't drive).
As a short aside that 16ga. was the shotgun I took deer hunting and I missed a doe at some 30yds+. I never knew what the distance was because I was in a real tall tree stand and I never measured it. But I took 3 shots (bolt action mossy from 1970 something) and it's a moment I always think about. Now I shoot 9mm, 12ga., and 7.62x54r and I feel confident if I had that shot back, that deer would be dead. You can't just pick up the gun and kill a deer. It's possible, but you need to be proficient with your chosen firearm.
Needless to say I own several hundred rounds of 9mm, slightly less in 12ga., and though I only have 50 or so rounds of 54r I am still looking for a good deal on brass cased ammo/waiting until I can buy in large bulk because it's just too costly to buy it piecemeal. I've also kept all my brass and I intend to reload for that some day.
Sorry to stray off topic, but it just made me think of that one time I had a shot on a deer. And it made me think of my grandfather.