Everybody panic
Gun and ammo shortage coming soon? Talked to some folk in the ammo biz last week who said it was hard to keep certain popular calibers in stock. Not sure if it’s the election, politics, or the press and their talk of race wars. But something is up.
April 9th, 2012 at 8:59 am
Election Year Jitters.
But who’s to say….
April 9th, 2012 at 9:02 am
I think its the election plus the economy. Plus, we have lots of first time gun owners.
April 9th, 2012 at 9:13 am
I had a heck of a time trying to find m855 5.56 ammo last month, and prices had gone up significantly from the month before (though it may have been that I had been seeing prices from vendors who didn’t have any in stock).
April 9th, 2012 at 9:21 am
From what I understand, the military has separate facilities for the manufacture of ammo so it only affects us when it comes to raw materials, however, the rest of the .gov buys from the people we buy from. So this may explain why we have a shortage.
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/04/it-looks-like-dhs-isnt-only-ammunition.html
Since a new tax on ammo is not likely to get any traction, could this be a way for the government to raise the price of ammo? By buying this much, they have guaranteed that the price will increase.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Well the army just ordered $2.5 Billion dollars worth of 5.56 to be filled by Sept 2013
April 9th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
We’ve (Brownells) been struggling to keep AR stuff, and ammo, in stock for the past few months- which means that the manufacturers are struggling to keep up with orders. Seems like everyone is preparring for the unknown and a possible big O second term. One manufacturer just raised their price on shotshells. Our guy said ammo companies do that when they can’t fill orders, just to discourage more orders, or my guess; to cash in on the demand. They have a right to do that.
April 9th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Since a new tax on ammo is not likely to get any traction, could this be a way for the government to raise the price of ammo? By buying this much, they have guaranteed that the price will increase.
That would mean someone in the .gov has an understanding of basic economics, so it can’t be the answer.
April 9th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I had the chance to talk with a few industry insiders at a match yesterday, and they basically said that most of the issues are being CREATED, they are not organic.
They tell stories of manufacturers receiving calls asking for their entire years production of uppers or lowers, with payment up front for 20% of the order, and the rest on shipping receipt each month.
One told me that he generally keeps a running order of upper parts for about 9-12 months of production in stock, and then has standing orders for a months worth of production each month, but that his standing orders are now only being filled with 25% of the order.
Another said that he can order entire pallets of stuff, but not smaller orders.
This on top of an ammunition wholesaler who told me that he orders about 6-12 months of stock at a time, but that following SHOT he received an order from ONE customer for his entire years supply of 5.56. He wouldn’t tell me who, but he said it was the largest single order, by far, he has ever had, and completely wiped out his 5.56 inventory, an entire warehouse. He would tell me it was not a .gov, .mil or a foreign buyer, though.
Several places told me that they cannot get small parts at all, ejection port doors, or gas blocks, or lower parts kits, etc.
Someone (or maybe multiple someones!) somewhere is stockpiling to beat the band. Or someone is about to raise the rates on everything because they control the market!
April 9th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Ammo shortage? No worries… when the Zombies come… stop by… we’ve got plenty…
Dann in Ohio
April 9th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Some facilities in our department are having trouble getting their ammo orders. Luckily I ordered all mine for the year on the first day of the new fiscal year and got it all before things started getting tight again.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Haven’t had Remington .308 brass @ Scheels Sports in Bismarck,ND for about 3-4 months.
April 10th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Couple of weeks ago had to go to Wally World(Okla. City) and decided to check on Federal bulk-pack .22; price had gone up about three bucks in the three weeks since I last got some.