[JayPee]

I went to my local super Walmart today and found it completely sold out of 9mm ammunition. The sales people said they have been trying to get some on hand but their warehouse is out of it too. Anyone else had this experience? This was in East Tennessee.

JayPee

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I have not personally experienced it as I have "some" ammunition on hand, but have been told and read that both 9x19mm and .223 ammo is becoming harder to find.

Best.

 

[randomman]

Winchester White Box?

At my job we have had a running shortage of WWB for about the past two months. I have been completely out of .40 S&W and my store's entire network (100+ stores), is also down to about 150 boxes across the chain. 9mm is only slightly better with our stock being about half to a third of what it should normally be.

It seems Winchester is behind in all of its ammunition shipments. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with increased demand, or decreased supply due to increasing costs.

-Rob

 

[Josh Smith]

We have plenty of 9mm around here. It's the .45acp that we're hurting on.

Josh <><

 

[oberstlt]

Recently I have noticed a shortage of many military calibers and that which is available has steadily climbed in price. Could this be the supply and demand the economists talk about? I should have gone to college.

There was an article in yesterdays paper about some young merchant of death who was ordering 762 Soviet from Cheaper Than and selling to to the US Govt at a premium. The US objected because it was so poorly packaged according to the article! I noted no issue pertaining to the reliability or accuracy of the stuff. Humm...

I have bought REM-UMC from my local sporting chain (Dicks) for use in IDPA for a number of years in 9mmP, 38 SPL and 45 ACP. A bit of 223, 308 and 12 ga from time to time as well. I have watched the prices nearly double in about 15 months (I think). I remember when 762 Soviet, 762 NATO and 556 NATO were all available in "battle packs" at good prices. No more.

Wally's has generally been a pain to deal with here (they can't find the key) and sometimes they flat don't have it. I have also hit shortages at Dicks too but they will rain check it for me with some reliability.

Scrap metal prices of steel, brass, copper and even lead have steadily risen (I watch the trash here and when I see them pulling stuff out, it is not for political reasons). What I cannot figure out is why in a world of plastic stuff, why the demand for metal is so great? I should have gone to college.

For a long time it was not worth reloading 9mms and 556. I think those days may be over. 545 Soviet is still out there but it is not as cheap as it once was. Josh, your 762 Russian is dead cheap as long as you don't mind corrosive stuff.

Some gun on another page tell me to buy it cheap and stack it deep. Gun show this weekend, I will report more if applicable later.

 

[twoguns]

Howdy folks,

I normally look for deals on the net, especially Midway or Cheaper Than Dirt. But in the past year, much in line with my learned brethern, Mr. Oberstlt, those deals are much fewer and now where near as nice now.

More and more, given the rising costs of loaded roads and out of stock issues at times, I am finding it cheaper and easier, simply to buy components in bulk whenver possible. While like my friend, it has been many years since I have reloaded 9mm and 5.56, I have enough components on hand to handle more than a few rounds. When I notice any caliber is starting to get low in my ammo cabinet, I simply remind myself to restock it with my reloads.

While I am not trying to hijack this thread at all, I think these comments from various members, just make a stronger case for reloading and stockpiling components before their prices become absurd to the same degree as loaded ammo.

twoguns

 

[oberstlt]

I am back from the show freshly fed and beered! What a disaster that was. The show was terrible and all of the bulk 9mmP had been purchased by one of our match directors. ALL OF IT! Oh, and 1000 WIN Large Pistol Primers was nearly $30 including taxes. Yeow.

There was 45 ACP for $300/k (not too shabby), some 223 and some 762 Soviet. No bargains. I got 100 rounds of 545 Soviet for about $20 and a Roumanian bayonet for the AK74 that I swear will have to be heated to cut hot butter.

It could be the end of the world as we know it!

 

[demented]

Shortages, whether real or perceived are self sustaining. Folks think there's gonna be a shortage of ammo, gasoline, milk, bread or potatoes, they'll make a run on the supply and create an even bigger shortfall. I've accepted that in the future I'll either be shooting rimfires and saving my center fire ammunition for when it really counts or not shooting at all. Reloading has almost become a rich mans pastime, with the high price of components plus extravagant haz mat fees added to higher shipping costs, a person has to order several hundered dollars in components to come out ahead. JAYPEE, we should have taken a bank loan and purchased a full pallet of the Speer Gold Dots for $12.50 per box, ya' think?

 

[JayPee]

Yessir, I do think! We shore should have.

J

 

[oberstlt]

I remember a big primer shortage in the mid 1990's. If memory serves it was blamed on politics, the EPA and reformulation of priming compound.

 

[Chris Stephens]

Hello,

There's still plenty in the pipeline, but the cost of components has gone up quite a bit so it isn't going to be cheap!

Where I work, we strip out metal component of old AC units and such because of the "scrap value" we recieve as an incentive. Copper and aluminum are in "high demand". I almost wish I owned a "junk yard" now, because I'd be standing in high cotton!!!!

You can buy almost anything at any price, but you won't find as many "deals" in ammo as you used to. Even reloading is starting to get "expensive".

Chris

 

[elb]

Hello,

Where I work, we strip out metal component of old AC units and such because of the "scrap value" ...



Chris

In my (nearby) little town of Seguin, I have noticed weekly police reports of A/C units being burgled for their metal content. Makes me want to alarm my unit.

Aside from the amount of ammo we are shooting at the jihadis in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have also read that China is buying lots of metal these days.

elb

 

[ccwman]

JayPee,
I had a very similar experience. Went to my local Wally World for some WWB 9mm JHP. Was told they were completely out and the warehouse was out. Sales clerk claimed Win just got recertified as a supplier to the Army and all their 9mm is going to Iraq. This was about six weeks ago.
I went in yesterday and they had WWB FMJ but no JHP.
I'm in Vermont.

If anyone finds another good deal on Gold Dots PLEASE let us know! THANKS!

 

[jaydubya]

Herr Oberstlieutnant wrote: Could this be the supply and demand the economists talk about? I should have gone to college.

I did, even took three courses in Economics. Didn't help. Whoever called economics a "dismal science" was right. It is simply Monday morning quarterbacking.

However, there is one economic fact -- actually two. The Chinese, all 1.2 billion of them, are buying raw materials hand over fist. And all 1 billion Indians are starting to do the same. There goes the almost-free lunch we've had since Teddy Roosevelt's day. And that is fact.
Cordially, Jack