Saturday, May 18, 2013
Easing of ammo shortage may come within next 90 days
Something of a quiet groundswell of opinion is building that suggests an easing in the ammunition shortage may arrive within the next 90 days.
Note, however, the talk is of "easing" and not an end.
A shortage of nearly all handgun calibers and many rifle calibers has plagued shooters for about six months now.
Though widely believed the shortage began in December following the tragedy in Sandy Hook, Mass., in actuality many ammunition manufacturers have watched increasing pressure on their product inventory for as long as 10 years.
Sandy Hook and the subsequent calls for increased gun control laws only aggravated an all ready stressed-out ammunition supply.
Of course, hording by firearms' owners only made a situation much worse.
The needless stock-piling of popular calibers by some gun enthusiasts simply contributed to the shortage, tipping the balance off the scale.
The net result was both a lack of product but also highly inflated prices for whatever was on dealer shelves.
Some sellers took - and continue to take - advantage of the shortage.
At gun shows many attendees encounter sticker shock at the cost of what is out there, too. And that surprise is best seen with .22-caliber rimfire ammunition.
A 500-round box of .22s are costing upwards of $100 to $150. Prior to the shortage a 500-round "brick" of .22s often sold for between $15 and $25.
However, the ammunition scalpers may soon find themselves stuck with over-valued product, much the way the real estate bubble burst a decade ago.
The chatter on many firearms-related chat sites is voicing a repetitive strain on how an easing in ammunition availability may begin by mid- to late July.
Such musings may be more than just wishful thinking as well.
Large-scale sellers of firearms and ammunition likewise say they are being told by distributors that a relaxing in the supply is on the horizon.
All of which should prove good news for shooters looking for quality range time and for sportsmen hoping to zero-in their deer-hunting rifles for this autumn's various seasons.
- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net.
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"The needless stock-piling of popular calibers by some gun enthusiasts simply contributed to the shortage, tipping the balance off the scale."
ReplyDeleteYou call it "Needless".
I call it only prudent and quite possibly profitable if some of them taxation proposals come through.
A few years of stockpile wont hurt.
People buy Weapons that last quite a few years don't they?
humm....sounds like you're part of the problem, not part of the solution?
DeleteStockpiling won't hurt? Of course it does. If your not able to wait in line when "the truck" unloads to grab as many boxes of ammo as the store will allow, you don't get any. One man's stock pile is another mans hard luck. Soon (I hope) the hoarders will get their fill then stop buying. A boom in demand followed by a bust is hurtful to the ammunition manufacturers and retailers. This whole ammunition panic hurts us all in the long run.
DeleteActually, stockpiling is good for the economy. It does suck for those that did not jump at the opportunity. You snooze you loose.
DeleteGovernment is stockpiling, why can't the average American? They are trying to keep ammo out of publics hands, and look at the way they (being obh voters) treat 5 year old kids who have a lego toy gun, interrogate him for 2 hours!! There are many such incidents of them trying to intimidate young children to put fear if they grow up and want to own a gun
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. It's propaganda. The anti's know they can't get to us, but think they can brain wash the future generation. Sadly, it seems to work on some adults as well.
DeleteAs a Preper,not a horder, I can tell you most of us have not bought ammo for a while, we have prepared for things like this. There is nothing wrong with that. I was buying 4 years ago knowing the price would only increase. If you want to be annoyed ,be annoyed at the DHS who has enough ammo to wage war in iraq for 27 years. THEY caused this problem not us. They have ordered1.6 BILLION rounds so dont get ur hopes up it will be over soon. I feel bad for anyone who does not have enough, I also feel sorry for anyone who does not know what is REALLY goin on. I have a friend in the dhs who said"don't expect the shortage to be over any time soon" and Certain ammo will never come back(price wise). cheaper than dirt,or now cheaper than gold has some,but they are crazy prices.
ReplyDeleteHello, I bought a "bulk pack (350 rounds)" of 9mm ammo at Gander Mountain on 6/15/13 for $120. I was shocked that they had it!!! Cheaper Than Dirt had it for $299!! Oh, they give you some "free" crappy box too!! I will never buy off of "Cheaper Than Gold, I mean Dirt" again!!!
DeleteMaybe the gun manufacturers need to wake up and get involved in solving the ammo shortage...after all why buy a gun if ammunition is not available to shot it...Cant imagine we would have car lots full of buyers if gasoline wasnt available...I know I am not purchasing a new gun until I can walk into a store and buy ammunition again..
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what the government was hoping you would do. Slow the ammunition market and you slow the firearms market.
DeleteTrue. Whats the point of having any firearm if you can't shoot the darn thing?
Delete.22 ammo shouldn't be over $.03/round.
If this issue has bene going on for the last 10 years, then why hasn't production gone up?
ReplyDeleteGovernment interferance. The manufacturers are being pressured by the government to keep supply low.
Think about it, Wal-Mart can't keep the shelves stocked for the last 6 months... but there has been no corresponding increase in production.
Manufacturers are keeping quite.
Some of the most common calibers... 9mm, .22 are NEVER on the shelf.
There is a problem here for anyone who wants to open their eyes and see it.
Maybe the problem is our corrupt government's long-anticipated reaction to the growth of concealed-carry states.
DeleteI hope .22 Lr, L, and Short and even .22 WMR wont be over $30.00 by this August (2014) I know, late comment. Just wanted to share my thoughts with someone who seems like they know a thing or two :P
DeleteMost plants are running at full capacity. Increasing production would require plant expansion. This would only be justified if manufacturers foresee a continued demand at the current level. But with all the hoarding by ammo pimps whose only concern is turning a quick profit, the bubble is likely to burst and the market will be flooded when the hoarders have to unload their caches.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with anyone who wants to maintain their own supply. It's the hawkers who buy up everything in sight and turn around and sell it on Armslist at jacked up prices that are causing the problem. Don't give in to them. Let them sit on their stockpile and watch them lose their asses when the bottom drops out.
Uhh, after 10 years of short supply as stated by the manufacturers in this article, they would have more than ramped up their capacity here already if they were allowed to. At the very least,every foreign manufacturer would be finding anything with a propeller(boat of plane) to ship us all the cheap ammo we could buy just like they ship us sneakers and mp3 players to our heart's content.No, just like Clinton in the '93 ban stopped china from importing cheap ammo and guns(you could buy a 1200rd case of 7.62x39 for $49 also an SKS for $69) I think there is a quazi ban on imports of ammo from Russia and Europe or at the very least severe restrictions and manufactures in the US have been limited on production too.No incentive to increase production after a ten year shortage of many popular calibers and 22lr selling for 60 to 150 a brick for over 6 months??? PLUUease!
DeleteI agree entirely,especially when it comes to the scarcity of the 7.62x39,9mm and 5.56 round. With all the European and other countries that produce those rounds,by the millions,which a better measurement of quantity would probably be in metric tons,which much has been in storage by those countries for 40 years or more,there's noway in hell that a shortage of those can be possible,I'm tending to think that cargo shipments of those rounds are being held up in our U.S. ports.
DeleteYour confusing two things- "hoarding" and "scalping". I have no problem with anyone "hoarding" ammo anymore than I do people hoarding food or water. Hoarders arent responsible for this problem..its govt restrictions, legislation, and govt buying, and people scared for the future. One mans forethought and preparation isnt responsible for anothers lacks thereof. If there is a shortage, Im certainly not going to be concerned with your ability to pop into wally world and buy a box anytime you want to recreationally shoot. This has been a long time coming, and people had fore-warning. Scalpers-people buying at low prices and selling at astronomical prices are another matter. My advice is to simply not buy from them... Learn from this situation and build a supply, esp in today's volaitile world, because if this shortage ends its only a matter of time until the next one.
DeleteI think you should not be able to buy more than 2/200 bricks of any ammo at a time. People who sell it for lets say $65 instead of $50 dollars won't help the situation at all. I can understand if ya' want a brick or two, but some people think they need *every* box of bullets, whether it be .22Lr of . possibly 7.62x39. People need to stop being so fucking grabby towards stuff like that. Let the companies make the ammo, and slowly build up your stockpile, so that the factory can keep up.
DeleteAnyone think the shooting in Santa Monica, Ca today (6-7-13), will exacerbate ammo availibility?
ReplyDeleteI started buying bricks of 22 LR, years ago whn they sold for $9.98 per 550. This was to take advantage of the price for future hunting and plinking at the range. The same goes for .223, 30-06, shotshells, etc. I'm glad I did.
ReplyDeleteAs a veteran, I swore an oath to protect the constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. It was made clear to us that this meant for the rest of our lives. I intend to do just that, just like hundreds of thousands of others
People like you will keep this country alive
DeleteAmen brother
DeleteDamn. Now it's FREAKING $70 for a pack of 550 .22. It used to be 2 cents a shot. .02 X 500 = about $15. Why the hell would people sell .22 for over a nickel a shot? What the hell. +1 n' Amen Brother. *salute*
DeleteAt some point Bubba is gonna have to quit buying ammo and make some of the back payments on the doublewide.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the Bubba's (country folk living in trailers) of this country who will be keeping it free , not the young, in vogue pop cultre I assure you.
DeleteI also am a vet and agree 110%
ReplyDeleteI am a Vet,and I agree also.
DeleteAnyone who thinks ammo supplied to the civilian populations will recover anytime soon isn't paying attention. You are a moron if you do not realize the elites nwo paradigm is in motion, and the american sheeple will not be allowed to return to the way things used to be.
ReplyDeletecant use the f word oh well not worth posting here
ReplyDeleteAmen to protecting the constitution!!! I think that this entire episode is really the 2nd amendment at work... keeping the government in check by an armed populace, only now the current government doesn't recognize the 2nd amendment and will manipulate, or weaken the people's power in any way they can. If you love and support our constitution and the principle of the right to liberty, these are truly scary times we live in.
ReplyDeleteI urge gun owners to avoid buying ammo at inflated prices. As long as there are buyers for $100 bricks of .22 LR, or those willing to pay 50-60 cents a round for .223/5.56, there will be greedy vendors raking in huge profits.
ReplyDeleteI'm shooting regularly with my high quality air rifles. I'm picking off small chalk targets at 50-70 yards. Pellets are super abundant. Don't cave in to the profiteers.
The ammo shortage is starting to ease up. As the U.S. pulls out of Afghanistan, I expect to see a flood of military surplus 5.56 ammo hit the market.
Hang tough, don't feed the greedy, and support politicians who support your right to bear arms.
If 5.56 (.223) is available for 45-55 cents a shot, ill have to get a Ar-15 or some nice rifle. And yes, Air Rifles are good for fun too. SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.
DeleteI am also concerned about the recent DHS purchases. Is there any explanation?
ReplyDeleteOne thing that will help is to vote in new 2d Amendment rights, conservatives...to replace many US Senators up in 2014. Alaska – Mark Begich won by 1-point in 2008 & very vulnerable. Arkansas – Mark Pryor is not popular with his vote for Obummer care, Colorado – Mark Udall won pretty handily 5 yrs ago, but CO has become liberal bastion but still unpopular gun law in usually a Red State could get out more Republican voters. Iowa - Tom Harkin retiring, Louisiana – Mary Landrieu facing voters after she voted for Obummer care...Michigan- Carl Levin retiring..that state needs an enema..going super broke. Minn- Al Franken vulnerable. Montana- Max Baucus retiring..thank God..he voted for Obummer care and he may have backed the Feinstein and Obummer gun bill...who cares, MT needs new blood...NH- Shaheen is vulnerable. North Carolina- Kay Hagan backed obummer bills..healthcare...She's not too popular in her own state....SD, Tim Johnson..moderate, but retires from Senate after this term. Many Republicans like their Gov is front runner...Dems have no good candidates. Finally, WV- Jay Rockefeller has decided not to run for re-election. Republican Congresswoman is leading polls and should split the state. Joe Manchin is sitting Senator but will be up in 2016. He crafted that other stupid gun bill with PA Senator...it was doomed to fail as Dems didn't even like it. So with all these Sen's up..or retiring, the conservatives in those states better step it up..or Obummer will have more power to weild the rest of his term.
ReplyDeleteToo bad we have to wait for the votes!
ReplyDelete