Reloading is the way to go. I have alot of fun and its relaxing to me. I just 5 minutes ago finished two boxes of 38 specials that I shot about 3 days ago. Reloading prices have went up too and some things are hard to get at times. You have to stick up big time in bulk when you find things and sooner or later you'll use them. The 38 specials that I just loaded were basically free because my friend gave me all the components (bullets, powder and primers) and my brass.
Stop buying ammo!!!
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
- Status
FrankenMauser
New member
I haven't bought ammo since early 2012. And, even then, it was just .22 LR.
Buy when it's cheap.
Laugh when it's not available.
Buy when it's cheap.
Laugh when it's not available.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Nah, it wouldn't work.
The government would simply swoop in to buy up what little they haven't already bought, keeping prices high and supply low.
WHOOPS! Did I really say that?
The government would simply swoop in to buy up what little they haven't already bought, keeping prices high and supply low.
WHOOPS! Did I really say that?
22-rimfire
New member
Too many people involved for that to work. Folks that feel they need some would simply look at this temporary buying slowdown as an opportunity.
Alabama Shooter
New member
Not my fault, my last purchase was in November. When I checked the prices in December they had shot up 20% so all my purchases went on hold to the current shortage passes. People buying into a shortage are foolish. They either got caught short beforehand and are paying the price or they are paying top dollar for something they don't need. You can't tell them that and expect them to understand.
The ones that irk me are the guys that buy it all up at Walmart and resell it at the flea market on the weekend. If the IRS was not so busy wasting time on other things they could maybe look into that.
The ones that irk me are the guys that buy it all up at Walmart and resell it at the flea market on the weekend. If the IRS was not so busy wasting time on other things they could maybe look into that.
Beagle45ACP
New member
The only ammo I've purchased since the panic really geared up was 120 rounds of .45 hollow points. The only reason I even bought that many was because I had never shot it through my Baby Deagle and wanted to put ~100 rounds through it to test reliability.
TheNatureBoy
New member
Since I have enough of everything to last at least 5 years I've been very cautious about purchasing any components at all since the drought began. The only exception was those I purchased for the Savage Model 12
.22-250 I bought about 3 months ago for my daughter. I have been to a few gun shows and noticed how inflated the prices were for components and ammo and walked away shaking my head. Someone in a previous post mentioned that we control prices and I agree with him. On the other hand I understand purchasing components when they are available. Especially if you haven't been able to for a while. I also understand asking for 3 times more than the original price knowing that someone is gonna buy them.
.22-250 I bought about 3 months ago for my daughter. I have been to a few gun shows and noticed how inflated the prices were for components and ammo and walked away shaking my head. Someone in a previous post mentioned that we control prices and I agree with him. On the other hand I understand purchasing components when they are available. Especially if you haven't been able to for a while. I also understand asking for 3 times more than the original price knowing that someone is gonna buy them.
I have no choice but to wait this all out; I didn't then and don't now, have the budget to buy anything on a whim at regular or inflated prices. I can only buy enough to shoot. There's nothing to be bought in central KY last time I was out and about. Don't have the time or (again) money to run around constantly looking for stuff either, or the patience to stand in line for 2 hours at Wal-mart just to see what they get on a truck. Guess I'll have to wait for everyone else to go broke first.
I lucked into a box of Sierra Matchkings on Midway the other day. They're sitting on the desk in front of me; no powder to put behind them though.
I lucked into a box of Sierra Matchkings on Midway the other day. They're sitting on the desk in front of me; no powder to put behind them though.
Justice06RR
New member
Question to your question: who are you to tell people to stop buying ammo?
The problem is, you can tell people what to do but you can't force them what to do. Some people have stopped buying ammo (because there's none to be found to begin with) while others still line up at stores during opening hours for their 3-box limit. And some still pay insane prices for ammo online and in GB...
The problem is, you can tell people what to do but you can't force them what to do. Some people have stopped buying ammo (because there's none to be found to begin with) while others still line up at stores during opening hours for their 3-box limit. And some still pay insane prices for ammo online and in GB...
If we all just hold our breath for one week, it will fix global warming! Forever!
How about this instead. Buy smart. I've bought all of my ammo since November, have paid avg of .09 and .33 for 22LR and 9mm respectively.
Not proud of the .33 for 9mm, but I go to the range twice per month, and run 200 rds of each.
Avg for 9mm is coming down fast for me, last two purchases are .30 and .28 avg.
I keep enough in stock for 1 year. I won't go to the range less due to not having ammo, period.
Good luck out there.
How about this instead. Buy smart. I've bought all of my ammo since November, have paid avg of .09 and .33 for 22LR and 9mm respectively.
Not proud of the .33 for 9mm, but I go to the range twice per month, and run 200 rds of each.
Avg for 9mm is coming down fast for me, last two purchases are .30 and .28 avg.
I keep enough in stock for 1 year. I won't go to the range less due to not having ammo, period.
Good luck out there.
no one will stop buying ammo.
its like this, if and when i find ammunition that i need, im going to buy every damned box the store will let me. i havent seen ANYTHING in 22 rimfire in months. rifht now i am using up a 25 year old brick of ammunition. i need more. when i see, i will get.
now the problem is this. auctioneers hitting up big box stores and getting all they can when the store puts ammo out. most of my local stores have a group of auctioneers waiting, 3-4 hours every day in the parking lot waiting for ammunition to be stocked.
its like this, if and when i find ammunition that i need, im going to buy every damned box the store will let me. i havent seen ANYTHING in 22 rimfire in months. rifht now i am using up a 25 year old brick of ammunition. i need more. when i see, i will get.
now the problem is this. auctioneers hitting up big box stores and getting all they can when the store puts ammo out. most of my local stores have a group of auctioneers waiting, 3-4 hours every day in the parking lot waiting for ammunition to be stocked.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"I believe Mike Irvin's post #24, the government would do that. First, it weakens our country. Second, they give you just enough so you'll think you do live in a Free country. We are Free-as long as we live according to how they want us too."
myusername
New member
I've stopped buying ammo until I see some more normalized prices.
At some point if US production can't meet long term demand either new plants will open or importers will start bringing in ammo from new plants overseas.
I don't know but I suspect the US is the only place experiencing an ammo shortage.
I just noticed my usual online supplier where I paid $225/1000 for 9mm last fall has some at $599 - 3X normal and that's cheaper than it has been, even when they can get it.
I don't know who's gouging, if it's the retailers or the distributors or both, but I know the price has nothing to do with demand, it is price gouging and profiteering plain and simple.
I'm not going to replace ammo until I'm down to SHTF minimums of around 250 rounds per caliber.
At some point if US production can't meet long term demand either new plants will open or importers will start bringing in ammo from new plants overseas.
I don't know but I suspect the US is the only place experiencing an ammo shortage.
I just noticed my usual online supplier where I paid $225/1000 for 9mm last fall has some at $599 - 3X normal and that's cheaper than it has been, even when they can get it.
I don't know who's gouging, if it's the retailers or the distributors or both, but I know the price has nothing to do with demand, it is price gouging and profiteering plain and simple.
I'm not going to replace ammo until I'm down to SHTF minimums of around 250 rounds per caliber.
Last edited:
zincwarrior
New member
I haven't bought ammo in a month (not voluntarily). It doesn't seem to have helped. 
It will get better. I track .22LR orders every tuesday/wednesday on gunbroker for fun. Bulk uctions (more than 2 less than 10 of Federal 525 bricks) orders have fallen from $95 per brick in March to $64 as of this week. I've seen several in the last two weeks that didn't get a bid and had to rebid.
Its happening. Its just slow. From an article I read, manurfuacturers experienced increased sales for 6 quarters last time and expectations of high demand to the end fo year. I still believe we'll see more availability in the 3rd Qtr of this year (about 4 quarters into the current crisis), with iprovement thereafter.
I'll also note rifle and pistol availability appears to be increasing now.
It will get better. I track .22LR orders every tuesday/wednesday on gunbroker for fun. Bulk uctions (more than 2 less than 10 of Federal 525 bricks) orders have fallen from $95 per brick in March to $64 as of this week. I've seen several in the last two weeks that didn't get a bid and had to rebid.
Its happening. Its just slow. From an article I read, manurfuacturers experienced increased sales for 6 quarters last time and expectations of high demand to the end fo year. I still believe we'll see more availability in the 3rd Qtr of this year (about 4 quarters into the current crisis), with iprovement thereafter.
I'll also note rifle and pistol availability appears to be increasing now.
First post!
Seriously, retailers NEED to start adjusting prices to meet demand, with the caveat that prices will track accordingly as demand subsides. Nobody wants to be accused of unfair gouging, but all that does is feed the flippers who have no problem with unfair gouging on armslist and gunbroker.
It's not unfair, it's economics. But instead of the retailers getting the blame, they're just outsourcing the gouging. I'd rather the retailers maintain stock and their storefront rather than take a bath by letting a limited supply fly right through their shops and on to the internet.
I think people need to start re-evaluating the knee-jerk instinct to boycott any business that raises prices during a supply crunch. As it stands, we can have fixed prices or a steady supply. Even rationing doesn't do much to alleviate the shortage, as the flippers will get all their buddies from the Legion hall or VFW or whatever to rent a bus and clean out the local stores in a day.
If the prices don't scale to meet demand, there may be no end to this shortage.
And, for what this is worth, I think these prices should apply to EVERYONE, including government agencies. However, I can't imagine that price is an issue when dealing with taxpayer funded entities that have a corner on the concept of "essential need." I'd like to see an ammo manufacturer tell DHS "you have enough for now."
Seriously, retailers NEED to start adjusting prices to meet demand, with the caveat that prices will track accordingly as demand subsides. Nobody wants to be accused of unfair gouging, but all that does is feed the flippers who have no problem with unfair gouging on armslist and gunbroker.
It's not unfair, it's economics. But instead of the retailers getting the blame, they're just outsourcing the gouging. I'd rather the retailers maintain stock and their storefront rather than take a bath by letting a limited supply fly right through their shops and on to the internet.
I think people need to start re-evaluating the knee-jerk instinct to boycott any business that raises prices during a supply crunch. As it stands, we can have fixed prices or a steady supply. Even rationing doesn't do much to alleviate the shortage, as the flippers will get all their buddies from the Legion hall or VFW or whatever to rent a bus and clean out the local stores in a day.
If the prices don't scale to meet demand, there may be no end to this shortage.
And, for what this is worth, I think these prices should apply to EVERYONE, including government agencies. However, I can't imagine that price is an issue when dealing with taxpayer funded entities that have a corner on the concept of "essential need." I'd like to see an ammo manufacturer tell DHS "you have enough for now."
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Seriously, retailers NEED to start adjusting prices to meet demand..."
They've done that.
It's an elementary tenet of capitalism that high demand brings higher prices as available supply shrinks.
It's another tenet of capitalism that as demand decreases and supply increases, prices will decrease.
Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think, the system is operating EXACTLY how it's supposed to.
Regarding gouging...
You can only be gouged if you AGREE to be gouged.
No one has a gun to your head forcing you to purcase X thousand rounds of a particular cartridge at an extremely high price.
But, if you WILLINGLY BUY that ammo at that price, you've screwed yourself and the only person you have to blame is you.
To be perfectly frank, I'm rather shocked and distressed at:
1. The number of people who simply don't get those basic concepts of the American economic system.
2. The number of people who are more, rather than less, demanding Soviet style price fixing simply because they don't like the price of 9mm ammo.
Jesus wept...
They've done that.
It's an elementary tenet of capitalism that high demand brings higher prices as available supply shrinks.
It's another tenet of capitalism that as demand decreases and supply increases, prices will decrease.
Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think, the system is operating EXACTLY how it's supposed to.
Regarding gouging...
You can only be gouged if you AGREE to be gouged.
No one has a gun to your head forcing you to purcase X thousand rounds of a particular cartridge at an extremely high price.
But, if you WILLINGLY BUY that ammo at that price, you've screwed yourself and the only person you have to blame is you.
To be perfectly frank, I'm rather shocked and distressed at:
1. The number of people who simply don't get those basic concepts of the American economic system.
2. The number of people who are more, rather than less, demanding Soviet style price fixing simply because they don't like the price of 9mm ammo.
Jesus wept...
- Status