I had read articles similar to that above predicting the ammo shortage would deminish by mid 2021. BUT with the election of Biden / Harris and Biden's statement to put Beto in charge of guns. I don't see things getting any better in 2021 or maybe in 2022.
I have curtained practice to the shooting range for now. I was worried that if Trump was reelected the liberals would riot. With Biden appearing to win, the trouble has been minimal but the MAGA March had trouble start near sundown. I firmly believe there will be physical violence and we need to stay alert and prepared.
My wife and I reviewed possible escape routes out of our subdivision. These routes include going through those white aluminum fences, cutting through yards to reach a farmer's field and the road around it. I would rather have a plan I never need than need a plan I never had.
I talked to a guy the other day complains about finding primers, he obviously hand loads. One of the Dem Super PAC guys is in on the group that bought Marlin I believe, as they buy stuff up, they tighten availability, and prices go up drastically. And I’m sure Covid is no help, it’s made distribution and warehousing slower too as staff has beer either furloughed or reduced.
I had read articles similar to that above predicting the ammo shortage would deminish by mid 2021. BUT with the election of Biden / Harris and Biden's statement to put Beto in charge of guns. I don't see things getting any better in 2021 or maybe in 2022.
I have curtained practice to the shooting range for now. I was worried that if Trump was reelected the liberals would riot. With Biden appearing to win, the trouble has been minimal but the MAGA March had trouble start near sundown. I firmly believe there will be physical violence and we need to stay alert and prepared.
My wife and I reviewed possible escape routes out of our subdivision. These routes include going through those white aluminum fences, cutting through yards to reach a farmer's field and the road around it. I would rather have a plan I never need than need a plan I never had.
The other thing that's happening is people are lining up at the big box stores, gun stores every morning of the ammo delivery (Ex. Mon, Wed, Fri at my nearby Academy) and buying everything they can and THEN re-selling it online at 25-50% mark-up.
Combination of a lot of things: political anxiety + regular hoarding instinct + record # of NEW gun owners + growing online re-sale market
The other thing that's happening is people are lining up at the big box stores, gun stores every morning of the ammo delivery (Ex. Mon, Wed, Fri at my nearby Academy) and buying everything they can and THEN re-selling it online at 25-50% mark-up.
Combination of a lot of things: political anxiety + regular hoarding instinct + record # of NEW gun owners + growing online re-sale market
There's a market for it. That's what a lot of folks in line at my local stores are doing. Buying, say, a 50 box of 38 special for $20-25 and selling for $50 online. $1 a round.
You cannot list it on Craigs List nor Flea Bay. Kind of limits your outlets. I could off 5000 and still have a boatload left. You can only use one at a time...
You cannot list it on Craigs List nor Flea Bay. Kind of limits your outlets. I could off 5000 and still have a boatload left. You can only use one at a time...
My only concern right now is primers. I have enough to last me for quite a while - if I behave myself, but there will be a time when they're gone, and nothing in the forecast for replacements. If I run across any, I'll stock up for my next lifetime.
My only concern right now is primers. I have enough to last me for quite a while - if I behave myself, but there will be a time when they're gone, and nothing in the forecast for replacements. If I run across any, I'll stock up for my next lifetime.
I'm better situated than I was the last run on ammo. Still, I expect this one will last longer. Worse, If we lose the 2 remaining Senate seats in Georgia,it may be all over. Period. My unspent ammo money is going to WinRed to support the runoff in GA.
So, Wendy, does that mean we are going to need to learn to mix our own fulminate compounds and recycle primers? Or perhaps switch to flint? 😳. Seriously, I would not be surprised at a move to sharply limit or eliminate ammunition including components as a means to restrict usable firearms. If I recall there have been a few court cases indicating that ammunition limits may be a second amendment violation, but suspect those would take the long route to the Supreme Court.
So, Wendy, does that mean we are going to need to learn to mix our own fulminate compounds and recycle primers? Or perhaps switch to flint? 😳. Seriously, I would not be surprised at a move to sharply limit or eliminate ammunition including components as a means to restrict usable firearms. If I recall there have been a few court cases indicating that ammunition limits may be a second amendment violation, but suspect those would take the long route to the Supreme Court.
Imposing a HUGE tax on ammo can have the same result as restricting ammo availability. As the Supreme Court ruled on the muslam's obammmma care mandate - call it a tax, and all's fine and dandy. When ammo becomes too expensive to even consider buying, the left gets their wish.
I'm not condemning it, just making an observation of the current situation.
Fire arm sales were at record highs over the past 6 months and that surly impacted the availability of the common hand gun and semi auto rifle cartridges.
I reload and have several hundred rounds of each of the 20 different cartridges in my collection and have supplies to reload each several times over. Stocking primers and powder are my biggest concern. I cast for all of my hand gun bullets and all except the bottle neck cartridges in my rifle collection. Except, of course, for 22 rim fire. Probably have around 2000 of them on hand.
I noticed during the Obama years shortage that 17 rim fire was usually easier to find on the shelf than 22. Seriously considered buying a bolt action rifle in 17 HMR because of it but never did.
About the only silver lining I can see in the present situation is that if I want to downsize my collection, now is the time to do it.
One of the Dem Super PAC guys is in on the group that bought Marlin I believe, as they buy stuff up, they tighten availability, and prices go up drastically.
first and foremost. Firearms ammo manufacturers supple Government and US Law Enforcement first. My old agency where i served as range master I had a standard yearly order of 2,880.000 rounds of ammo ( handgun only) annually to train our over 3500 officers. WE mandated bi annual qualifications with 48 rounds per-course of fire per officer. Other agencies are much bigger and take lots of rounds for training and to equip the officers . Your must think of the shear volume of what is needed just to keep those who protect you trained and supplied.
then remember on top of that that the raw materials that are used to make the ammunition is mostly imported. Brass. Copper and especially LEAD mines and smelters have been closed by the hundreds because of the O'bamma EPA rules and regulations. The last lead mine closed in MO. back in 2013.
Now throw in the Covid 19 shutdown and workers staying home and not working for weeks on end . There you have the ammo shortage in a nut shell.
Ammo makers want to make ammo and sell it. But standard orders come first. Then take into account all the company mergers it suddenly becomes obvious civilian supplies are put on the back burner. and we in the sports shooting groups suffer. And no one cares but us.
Let's not forget that these companies also export their ammo to many other countries, militaries and law enforcement agencies; they are not going to jeopardize those foreign contracts and market share either.
21 - 40 of 70 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
A forum community dedicated to Smith & Wesson firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, gunsmithing, troubleshooting, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!