Author Topic: Ammunition drying up? (Read 1615 times)

His lordship. · « **on:** March 29, 2009, 08:33:48 AM »

Went to my first Austin, Texas gun show last week and they had hardly any common types of ammo for target use, 9 X 19, .22 RF, .38 special, .45ACP, etc. Also, checked out a local gun shop and he was pretty well cleaned out, managed to get 2 old boxes of Federal .22 rimfire.

Checked online and J and G is very low or out, Cabelas has "On backorder" for most of their common stuff too. The ammunition store says on "Vacation until September 1st". If I was still in Minnesota I probably could get something as the gunshow sellers are usually a few months behind on the major ammo trends and would have stuff they bought from 6 months ago in their inventory.

I have heard that Obama is stepping up the war in Afghanistan, and that would require lots of combat ammo, is that the reason it is getting low?

How is the ammo situation in your neck of the woods?

Thanks.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2009, 09:49:09 AM »

The war isn't causeing it, It's still a bit of panic buying because of the new prez being so anti gun I think it will start to calm down and I hope its more normal by the end of summer. I don't expect it to get any better till at least then.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2009, 09:59:03 AM »

From what I am hearing on the forms,it is worse out west then here in the north east,why I don't know.

rockbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2009, 03:38:58 PM »

I went to a show in Abilene, TX yesterday, there was plenty of ammo there but the price was out of sight. I was looking at one table .357 Sig 124 gr Speer Lawman $32.00 a box, .45 ranged about 40 bucks a box, but .380 blew my socks off.........$50.00 a box, that was for Federal JHP personal defense. I did see .22 for $19.00 a brick.

It is not just the ammo, reloading supplies are also very high at this time but if you have the time to look a few good deals can still be found at Gunbrokers and Auctionarms, just be sure to look at shipping cost before you bid, some are selling the ammo low and getting to you big time with the shipping.

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2009, 04:22:09 PM »

Quote

It's still a bit of panic buying because of the new prez being so anti gun I think it will start to calm down and I hope its more normal by the end of summer.

I sure hope so! I have a lot but I want a whole lot more!!! I went to Wally World in a couple of locations and they obviously had been raped. Unless you were shooting 300 Ultra Mag or wanted to buy RF ammo by the 50 round box you were sucking! Cheaper than dirt's store wasnt too much better.

One things for sure...I am so glad I had the foresight to cash in while the getting was good and laid back a whloe lot of ammo. I only regret not getting several cases more and reloading componets.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2009, 01:16:05 AM »

CCI told my gunsmith they were 9 million primers behind on orders.

Not only are primer going to ammo makes but the local public. So I am sure other primers makes are having the same problem.

With people stocking up on ammo, it also effects the primers available to reloaders.

A lot of people are buying ammo like never before.

fastbike · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:25:42 AM »

In Fort Worth, handgun ammo is getting shorter than it was, but rifle ammo is still reasonably available. This is true at Cabela's, Cheaper Than Dirt, and Academy. Still some variance. Last weekend, Cheaper than Dirt was about out of .40 and .45acp, while Cabelas had quite a bit. Cabelas also had plenty of 9mm and .223. Prices are going up, but boxes are still on the shelves. Walmart is typically empty, but I think that's intentional rather than strictly supply driven.

ironglow · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:34:30 AM »

Some of it is a plot by the Democrats to get at our guns through the back door...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92095

curtism1234 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2009, 11:59:59 AM »

It's just panic buying.

If the ammo companies thought it was going to continue they would be running 24 hour shifts making as much as they can. But they know things are going to settle down, people are not shooting what they are buying, and next year this time there will be plenty of ammo on the shelves that they can't sell.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2009, 12:18:36 PM »

We can only hope,I have heard that Wallmart is in no hurry to restock any stores.

ironglow · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2009, 12:12:47 AM »

KK;
I don't think it is any problem with Walmart not wanting to restock. I went to my nearest Walmart, where I have a fair acquaintance with the gun clerks. When I went for a couple of bulk (525) boxes, the shelf was bare. Thje guys told me they are getting the rounds in just as regularly as usual, it is just that customers are buying them as fast as they come in !
I did buy a 100 pk of mini-mags and a 50 pk of Maxi-mags. They seemed to have a decent supply of the "first line" .22 ammo. Since it seems to be the bulk that is in shortage..I assume it is primarily buying in anticipation.

Whether the article posted above has affected centerfire and components, I can't venture a guess.

Dee · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:45:29 AM »

Quote from: ironglow on March 31, 2009, 12:12:47 AM

KK;
I don't think it is any problem with Walmart not wanting to restock. I went to my nearest Walmart, where I have a fair acquaintance with the gun clerks. When I went for a couple of bulk (525) boxes, the shelf was bare. Thje guys told me they are getting the rounds in just as regularly as usual, it is just that customers are buying them as fast as they come in !
I did buy a 100 pk of mini-mags and a 50 pk of Maxi-mags. They seemed to have a decent supply of the "first line" .22 ammo. Since it seems to be the bulk that is in shortage..I assume it is primarily buying in anticipation.

Whether the article posted above has affected centerfire and components, I can't venture a guess.

Same here at Wal Mart. From Clovis NM, to Sherman Tx. NO PISTOL AMMO, and only a little of the higher end 22 long rifle. When I checked Cheaper than Dirt's website last week, the Pistol ammo was GONE. Maybe I need to check again.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:50:21 AM »

Back to Walmart,around here they just don't sell guns or ammo,the towns they are in tell them what they can and can't sell.It's the same with Cabela's,in one store they can't sell any semi-auto's such as the Ruger 10/22.

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2009, 03:10:38 AM »

Kitch;
I think the Walmarts react to local demands around them. While you live in a fairly rural area, you are in the "crowded corner" of NY and just a few miles from "Chris Dodd country". From what I understand (correct me if I am wrong), as soon as they could afford it, many of the big city liberals left the big city for the "quaint countryside". Unfortunately, they brought their big city liberalism with them .
Then they medddle in local affairs and screw everything up...including what the stores handle/sell.

Could that be the problem where you are ?

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2009, 03:22:58 AM »

Right on,but it is sad they bow to the few.

mjh · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2009, 04:13:50 AM »

Cabelas in MN yesterday was very low or empty on handgun ammo. Pretty much nothing in 9mm, .40, .45, .357. A little bit of .38, .44, and larger calibers. If yea had a .38 super you were in luck. Didn't even look at longarm or shotgun ammo. Some winchester and federal bricks of .22 but not lots. Going to sportmans liquidation sale today to look for a few boxes of steel shot. They should have a little bit left.

1sourdough · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2009, 05:07:22 AM »

I was at a Sportmans Warehouse that's closing in WI last week. The reloading section was rather bare but they did have a lot of waterfowl shotgun ammo available.

Dee · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2009, 09:47:29 AM »

The water fowl shotgun ammo is EXCELLENT home defense ammo. Just a thought.

Mohawk · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2009, 01:12:53 PM »

Sportsman's Guide still has a pretty good stock. I order from them from time to time. If in Austin check McBrides, Reds, and Cabelas in Buda. They still have a decent selection though the prices will be high retail.

DEACONLLB · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:10:16 PM »

One thing you have to think about is the fact that there is nothing to hunt and our hunting season does not start till last of Sept in OKlahoma and with the tight enonomy the stores are not wanting to carry a large stock of ammo. I went to acadamy sports last friday to get some black powder supplies and the place where they had it in hunting season was loaded with swimming gear. I ask the clerk where they had moved it to and he said it was out of season and all he had was primers left. The gun shows in Oklahoma are loaded with ammo and I have had no problem finding it as long as it was not too odd ball. I got the same answer in walmart out of season but will have plenty when season open. As has been said part of the problem is panic buying. Money is tight and people are holding on to it and buying only what they need.
Deaconllb

His lordship. · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2009, 04:42:54 PM »

I appreciate you guys responding on this. I took the info you gave and checked further, including Cheaper than Dirt, and yep, it strongly looks like panic buying of the common calibers. At the Austin, TX gun show last week I noticed that there was a good selection of rare stuff, like 7.62 X 25 (Tokarev), 7.62 Nagant, 7.35 browning (.32 ACP), and .44 magnum revolver.

At first I thought the Texans were heavily into the .44 magnum cartridge, eat, sleep, live it, etc. But now it makes sense. Some of the buyers were very concerned about where all the ammo went, one guy made fun of one seller who had mostly empty boxes out, and no ammo in them. Now we know! $:-\$

As I am planning to visit the local ranges soon, I think I will keep my Model 1911 in .45ACP in storage for awhile, and go real easy on my .22 RF consumption. I am hoping to get a CCW permit soon, now I will have to ask if I can qualify with my pellet pistol?! Ha, Ha.

Mohawk · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2009, 09:41:39 PM »

Quote from: Chris D. on March 31, 2009, 04:42:54 PM

I appreciate you guys responding on this. I took the info you gave and checked further, including Cheaper than Dirt, and yep, it strongly looks like panic buying of the common calibers. At the Austin, TX gun show last week I noticed that there was a good selection of rare stuff, like 7.62 X 25 (Tokarev), 7.62 Nagant, 7.35 browning (.32 ACP), and .44 magnum revolver.

At first I thought the Texans were heavily into the .44 magnum cartridge, eat, sleep, live it, etc. But now it makes sense. Some of the buyers were very concerned about where all the ammo went, one guy made fun of one seller who had mostly empty boxes out, and no ammo in them. Now we know! $:-\$

As I am planning to visit the local ranges soon, I think I will keep my Model 1911 in .45ACP in storage for awhile, and go real easy on my .22 RF consumption. I am hoping to get a CCW permit soon, now I will have to ask if I can qualify with my pellet pistol?! Ha, Ha.

Hey Chris D., if you need a good lead on ranges in the Austin area let me know. I have had requals at most of them at one time or another and know all the folks. Indoor or outdoor, the selection is good. There is an outdoor range called "Eagle Peak" out near the town of Lago Vista and I was raised about a mile from there. You get a day out in the woods and some good shooting done. Heck, I might even meet ya'!