The little shop I try to buy all my reloading components from is also licensed as an ammo manufacturer. He makes mostly popular caliber hand gun ammo. I stop in every week or two to see where things are at with him, he's only open three days a week since the crazy started. He's also quit answering his phone quite a while back since it rings constantly. He doesn't return messages since there are too many and it would be all he did. He has had primers and some powder but the powder is hit and miss. I've been trying to buy .357 bullets from him that he gets from a local caster for over two months. He'll get 30-50 thousand bullets in at a time and they'll be gone in a day or two. He told me a couple weeks ago it's worse now than it was in Jan/Feb trying to get components.
I know I'm just as frustrated as everyone else and there are some people buying things to make a profit right now. Personally I like to make a profit on the stuff I sell so I don't have a problem with it. If people are willing to pay outrages prices for stuff why not take advantage of them? I don't suffer fools.
The right to bear arms is an individual right. What goes with that individual right is the right to hoard ammo and reloading components. You're frustration should be aimed at your congress critters, and do it politely or they will ignore you.
Here's a cheery note. There are a couple news stories out the last few days from the ammo/component manufactures. They have been running at nearly 100% capacity for the last 10 years. Yep, last 10 years. Our situation isn't going to get any better any time soon unless politically the anti-gun loons and the media decide they can't gain any ground and back off. Ironically, everyone watching the whole Boston manhunt helped us out. Reasonable people who don't own guns watched that mess unfold and thought "having a gun right now and being able to defend my family would make me feel a lot safer."
The powders that are readily available for me are the shotgun powders, namely Blue Dot and Red Dot and Green Dot. . Google "The Load" for reduced loads in Red Dot and there are several sites with reduced loads for Blue and Green Dot as well as the loading manuals. My point is you may not be shooting what you want to shoot, but if you get creative you can still shoot. As for .224 bullets and 22LR....
"What cannot go on forever, won't" said some famous economist. At some point the crazy is going to end, and most likely with the market becoming a buyers market. Don't make the same mistake twice. Once components and ammo become available again at reasonable prices get a plan together to buy extra's that you can weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Buy a little or a lot consistently. Get with your buddies and buy in bulk. It's not any different than having a store of can goods and other supplies ready if the power goes out for an extended period of time. The anti-gunners are not going away. Be ready, the mess we're in will happen again.
Good luck!
