Would/has current ammo shortage impacted decision on making a gun purchase?

[jrfrmn]

I wouldn't change my mind on buying one but might not buy if it were something I wasn't already set up for.

I'm not convinced this is the same as the 2008 shortage or the Y2K deal either. This time it seems to be going far deeper and there seems no end in sight. I dunno why it is the way it is but am beginning to suspect the government has as much or more to do with it than we gun owners do. No evidence to prove that other than the humongous buys by HS.

Still I've been spending some time lately surfing the internet. I've gone to dozens of big ammo and gun retail outlets to see what's in stock. I don't need to buy anything but just wondering what it's like for folks who failed to stock up whens they could.

One thing is common at ALL of them and that is there is no 22LR ammo out there other than match grade at $8 to $30 a box of 50. It just ain't out there. Expected resupply dates are running from March to October and most companies have notes on there that their suppliers cannot give accurate ship dates and are talking of price increases if/when they do ship.

The same is true pretty much for 9mm, 40 S&W and 45acp ammo. It just ain't there. I did find one source today that seemed to have a decent supply of those three BUT their prices start around $2 a shot and go up drastically from there. I looked at reloading components also and bullets for these even from bullet casters just is not in stock and expected delivery dates are as far out as on ammo or worse.

This one ain't gonna self correct anytime soon. Unless you already have a large supply stashed you just ain't gonna do much shooting if you need to go buy it. Some how gun shops do seem to be getting some ammo in but in the stores I've been do it sure is scarce and 22LR just isn't available.

I don't believe that the bullet makers, ammo makers and such have shut down operations and from all ya hear they are working over time and double shifts but where is it going? For sure no one seems to have it. Me thinks big brother is buying up way more than we're hearing about.

 
I do believe you hit the nail on the head there boss man.

[Sourdough]

I have lots of .22RF.  The wife has for the last 38 years given me a brick or two as stocking stuffers for Christmas, for Birthdays, Fathers Days and any other special occasion.  She has done the same for Sky since he started shooting at the age of 5.  Yea, we shot a lot, but not near as much as she gave us. 
 
Since we are considering moving, I took an inventory on my powder, to see how much I had to get rid of.  I've got over 90 lbs, and I did take into consideration the partial cans.  I've got a shelving unit of boxes of bullets I have stocked up on over the years.  I do a lot of shooting so I have kept myself well stocked in reloading supplies.
 
The only thing I am short on are 5.7 and .17 Hornet.  New calibers to me, ones I do not reload.   

[Dixie Dude]

Sourdough, If you move back to the lower 48, are you taking a ferry direct from Anchorage to Washington?  You could carry everything with you that way from what I understand.  Are you going back to Tennessee? or somewhere out west.  I'm thinking about Idaho when I retire.  Good elk and mule deer country, Sparsly populated except in the south. 

[kennyd]

From what I understand the ammo makers tool up for a few calibers at a time.  So if they are churning out huge amounts of .308, 40, etc. the lines are dedicated to those.  So when we are waiting for our 30-30 or whatever, the turn will take a while in coming.  If you have something even less popular (.41, .300 Sav.) it may take years for them to turn their attention to it again.  On the other side of the coin, there are fewer buyers for some of the less popular calibers.

[theratdog]

bill i have been doing the same things for years and telling my family to stock up on ammo your gun is pretty useless with out ammo my son who knows it all is really complaining now. when i talk government or guns they think i am nuts.

[Old Fart]

bill i have been doing the same things for years and telling my family to stock up on ammo your gun is pretty useless with out ammo my son who knows it all is really complaining now. when i talk government or guns they think i am nuts.

I'm gonna think a lot of folks are brilliant when/if this thing comes crumbling down around us. 

[Dixie Dude]

I think a good rule of thumb should be a bare MINIMUM of the following:
 
500 rounds for bolt guns, 750 rounds for lever guns, and 1,000 rounds for semi-autos. 
 
500 rounds for revolvers and 1,000 rounds for semi auto pistols. 
 
5,000 rounds for 22's. 
 
This is a bare minimum per gun.  Then add to the supply.  Shoot only anything above this minimum for practice.  Reloading expands this when you buy supplies like primers, powder and bullets.  Also consider casting.  This is good for large fat rounds like 44mag, 45-70 and such which is slower anyway. 
 
For food gathering, learn to snare and trap, also fishing.  This would save ammo. 
 
I don't think it matters what caliber.  In light of recent shortages, after filling your minimum supply for what you have, then you might consider other calibers.  I am thinking along the lines of the 17HMR, 22 Mag or 22 Hornet.  Then say a 300 Blackout, 243, 7mm 08 or 260 Rem.  30-06 for sure.  Ammo for these are still fairly inexpensive.  Also 40 S&W was still on the shelves during the shortages.  38 specials and 357's were also still on the shelves as well as 44 mag.  I also saw a fair amount of 45 acp. 
 
Get the basics first, then expand. 
 
Remember you also need to stock up on food and toiletry items. 

[mcwoodduck]

I own 3 22mags.
A few weeks ago I was toying with the idea to sell them and get something else.
Since all I see on the shelves is 22 mag I think I am going to keep them, and may add another.