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Stream of consciousness...
Doc
Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
Thinking about the shortage of ammo, reloading supplies and at times various guns maybe the reason is simple. I recall when Obama arrived the panic set in. In fact, after the election and before the swearing at...I mean swearing in the panic buying had started as many folks were convinced that Obama, backed by super majorities in Congress, would shove something up our...I mean down our throats. I am surprised that we didn't see some truly Draconian laws passed while the Commies...I mean the Democrats had that political advantage 2008-10. My best guess is the Democrats begged the socialist Kenyan to hold off as it would be unpopular and they had other things to get done before the wrath of the voters descended upon them.
Then came a couple of high profile criminal shootings, most notably the Sandy Hook massacre and the rush was really on. People were stocking up anything and everything they feared would be legislated out of existence. Combined with Obama's return to office by welfare voters and the resulting fear of executive action in his last term (which I still anticipate) the mad dash picked up more momentum. The gun sales eventually returned to fairly normal levels but the panic over ammo continues to this day. People may feel they now have enough guns, but one can never have too much ammo, eh?
I think the reason some calibers have been in short supply to dealers is that the manufacturers keep shifting priorities on production. We all heard of the massive government contracts for ammo and we are still sort of fighting a war demanding ammo supplies plus who knows how many foreign government orders the ammo makers are getting these days? Commercial sales take a backseat and some calibers (like 22 rim fire) gets put on the back burner as far as production is concerned.
There are also tons of new shooters. Women are taking up guns for sport and self defense in unprecedented numbers. The threat of terrorism may be driving many gun owners to lay in large supplies of fodder for their black rifles in case fending off ISIS from their neighborhoods falls to them.
I don't think there's any one factor we can point to in explaining the situation. It's a perfect storm of circumstances. I just know that I am tired of it and wish that things would settle down and loosen up. I see no sign at this point that it will happen anytime soon.
Then came a couple of high profile criminal shootings, most notably the Sandy Hook massacre and the rush was really on. People were stocking up anything and everything they feared would be legislated out of existence. Combined with Obama's return to office by welfare voters and the resulting fear of executive action in his last term (which I still anticipate) the mad dash picked up more momentum. The gun sales eventually returned to fairly normal levels but the panic over ammo continues to this day. People may feel they now have enough guns, but one can never have too much ammo, eh?
I think the reason some calibers have been in short supply to dealers is that the manufacturers keep shifting priorities on production. We all heard of the massive government contracts for ammo and we are still sort of fighting a war demanding ammo supplies plus who knows how many foreign government orders the ammo makers are getting these days? Commercial sales take a backseat and some calibers (like 22 rim fire) gets put on the back burner as far as production is concerned.
There are also tons of new shooters. Women are taking up guns for sport and self defense in unprecedented numbers. The threat of terrorism may be driving many gun owners to lay in large supplies of fodder for their black rifles in case fending off ISIS from their neighborhoods falls to them.
I don't think there's any one factor we can point to in explaining the situation. It's a perfect storm of circumstances. I just know that I am tired of it and wish that things would settle down and loosen up. I see no sign at this point that it will happen anytime soon.
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Too old to live...too young to die...
Too old to live...too young to die...
Comments
2 and 1/2 years after Sandy Hook, there has yet to be ANY 22 LR on our local Walmarts shelves.
Witness also, the noticeable lack of any kind of Russian or Chinese 22 LR for sale anywhere.
Methinks there's some kind of skullduggery afoot in this country... [V]
And I'm not holding my breath.
In your statement you have a lot of the answers , a lot of new shooters a good factor in the shortage , the fear of any new tax or ban or limit , having to register what you buy has caused people to buy all they can when they are able.
I think I am good example ( well not good as I have contributed to the shortage ) I never had more than one box ammo for anything at any given time even 22lr never more than a brick , it was too easy to stop by and buy it the gun shows had tables full so why have all that inventory or "as in money tied up in ammo". when I could buy several more firearms or what ever I happen to want when access was easy to ammo.
then comes the threat and panic for what ever reason real or imaginary .
So of course I like to shoot so I stared buying as above, when I could and as much as I could ( none lately so sit back down and no name calling ) , but that's just one fellow (me) now x that by the millions of shooters who have done as I , if they were not doing it to start with . they are now
that in its self will absorb all the ammo being sold .
then toss in the fact if you find any at the so called normal price and can double or triple you money ( I never did that ) due to supply and demand your still shoveling coal into the fire . when removed it form the shelf and placed it on the secondary market it keeps the engine running cant find it at the store so pay more so you do have it
I have thought on it but the number of rounds stock piled in general publics hands has to be astronomical , compared to just three years ago .
I too would like to see a normal flow and some calibers do stay on the shelf now , but buying a box of 45 acp ammo or buying 1000 rounds of 22 for close to the same 50.00 the 22 is still going to go first .
time will tell but like the green tip 223 cure ball over night ammo that was on sale every where in the stores and internet to get it moving disappeared and prices for a short time went crazy I would guess it will take some time to back fill the void that left
Over the last 6 years, I've seen many folks who had never had more than a box or two of centerfire and maybe 5-10 boxes of rimfire ammo buying cases of ammo simply because they were afraid of what MIGHT happen and they had the $$ to do so.
Surely, citizens were afraid in WW2 when German and Jap ships (submarines) were sighted just off our coasts but either had more confidence in the government or simply didn't have the $$ to spend. Of course once we got well into WW2, the male age group that engaged in recreational shooting had gone to war and everyone else was too busy producing for the war so that would also be a factor.
It's hard to believe that there's not some underlying factor or agenda involved in the current ammo shortage(especially 22lr). I agree that the factories are likely servicing orders of a bajillion rounds of military type ammo that most likely are more profitable than servicing the demand for domestic stockpiling of 22lr.
I am sure some things are truelly in short supply, but if you look hard enough and long enough you can usually find it, and while it is really aggrivating there is nothing we can do about it.
I am frustrated because I think American manufacturer and the free enterprise system would correct this. But then I recall previous situations when manufacturers invested in expansion only to find the surging demand was temporary. But I still wish they would step up a bit and roll the dice on increased production. After this length of time it's time to get going.
I know prices go up. That's expected with inflation over time. But this continuing lack of manufactured goods is positively un-American.
Too old to live...too young to die...
Also most all varieties of 223 FMJ mil spec ammo has disappeared again as well as reloading supplies relative to the recent ATF threat. Even the 55gr stuff is disappearing. Thus the Rem plant will continue to run 24/7.
As long as socialist Obama controls the executive branch, there will always be a threat for gun owners. There are currently 46 socialists in the Senate and 188 socialist in the House. Even worse, Obama has stacked the federal bureaucracies with socialist partisan hacks.
I don't consider myself a hoarder by nature, but I learned the art of hoarding after WJC and socialists first AWB in 93.
different times and mind set as most all had little any way during that time , but accepted what they had to deal with ,
today give me more and now its my right society it would not go so well.
I do remember as I am sure most of you the gas shortage . mile long lines odd / even day you were permitted to buy based on your license plate number ,
quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
I'm sure there's someone on here who personally remembers the rationing during WW2(I only have the memories of comments made by my parents). I've heard about the rationing of gas, tires, leather goods, and other things but I don't remember anyone saying that farmers couldn't get ammo(especially 22 rimfire) during the war rationing. Supply wasn't that much of a problem although people were encouraged to only buy what they "needed".
Over the last 6 years, I've seen many folks who had never had more than a box or two of centerfire and maybe 5-10 boxes of rimfire ammo buying cases of ammo simply because they were afraid of what MIGHT happen and they had the $$ to do so.
Surely, citizens were afraid in WW2 when German and Jap ships (submarines) were sighted just off our coasts but either had more confidence in the government or simply didn't have the $$ to spend. Of course once we got well into WW2, the male age group that engaged in recreational shooting had gone to war and everyone else was too busy producing for the war so that would also be a factor.
It's hard to believe that there's not some underlying factor or agenda involved in the current ammo shortage(especially 22lr). I agree that the factories are likely servicing orders of a bajillion rounds of military type ammo that most likely are more profitable than servicing the demand for domestic stockpiling of 22lr.