Who knows
 

Who knows anyone that works at one of the ammo factories. Can they shed some light on the low production of ammo? We have all heard the crazy stories like the government buying it all, black suv's at the stores. I personally don't believe that. So what's the problem? Let's not speculate.

I look forward to the posts, I aint got an answer but have a guess.

My bosses daughter works for ATK, which is Speer, CCI and others. No government buy outs, dont beleive everything you read! Just consumers buying alot, panic mode, not the first time this has happened.

Supply and demand...it flies off the shelves as fast as it gets there...end of story.

Example: My mother-in-law is not a shooter, but she is a firearm owner. She owns a .38spcl to keep on her nightstand and a .22lr revolver, that's it. She shoots about every month to every other month, half a box (20-25rnds) at a time.

In this climate, my mother-in-law has noticed the empty shelves and noticed the high traffic at the shops, and heard all of the whispers and rumors... My mother-in-law, who shoots about 3 boxes of ammo a year normally, has suddenly started stockpiling ammunition. She has various loads of .38spcl totalling up to just under 1,000rnds right now, and has about 12-15,000rnds of .22lr, and buys every box she can find. She called me earlier this week asking if she should buy reloading equipment because one of her friend's son's (a true blue mall ninja) said all gun owners should be able to load their own in case "they" take away our ammo. All that on a limited income...

The demand is huge, and unfortunately it's driven by nothing but speculative rumors. Companies are making ammo as fast as they can, focused on the highest demand items right now. I noticed last month that it started to slow down a bit, for a few weeks ammo and components were starting to show up on shelves again, but then once it became available, the surge picked up again and it's all gone again. In high population areas where people have no common sense and show it in their law making, the ammo supply will take longer to come back. In areas with less people and more reasonable lawmaking, you'll start seeing availability again soon enough.

Personally, I'm not certain that the US Gov't, cutting it's defense budget as it is, could hide a significantly sizeable ammunition purchase to outweigh the civilian demand right now. Millions of US firearms owners are slamming ammo demand right now, way heavier than the military could ever compete with.

That is what I heard. Both ammo manfs and some firearms manfs have boosted up production but still can't keep up with the demand. Some manfs like Hornady that make both ammo and supply components estimate it will be at least 6 months until they get caught up with the ammo and components will be available for reloaders.

My thought too. I'll wait it out just like the last one and go from there.

ive been moonlighting at a gun shop for awhile now. about 4 days ago I ran up a skid of .223 Winchester "usa" brand 45 grain hollowpoints. how might a Canadian shop get a entire skid worth of .223 ammo? there is no buying scare in Canada. if we can get ammo a plenty from our distributer network then obviously the ammo is floating out there somewhere. most the ammo makers are running above normal capacity and there is no shortage of copper, lead and zinc specific to the gun industry nor is there any major increases in prices (of materials) that wasn't foreseen. yes it sucks that some shooters cant get their ammo but I think distributer/dealer networks and manufacturers can learn a lot from these times. long story short the ammo walked off the shelf in the hands of shooters, not the boogeyman

The manufactors have cut down production to drive up prices. Like I said before, my bosses daughter works for ATK, she used to be able to put in all the overtime she wanted. ATK has cut all over time, you would think at a time of shortage they would not do that. Its all about the $$$$. The law of supply a demand dictates the price, they can sell less and make more money.

I think that's part of the equation, for sure. The other part is that the political winds are blowing people - once again - to hoard ammunition. And it's not just the activities on a national level, states are now causing a stir, too.

Slippery slope for manufacturers. Anyone else notice how much cheap steel-cased stuff is showing up for not-so-cheap prices and being gobbled up instantaneously? I suspect we're going to see manufacturers overseas who'll see the market gone crazy and step up to fill the holes that ATK, Winchester, and Remington have so "shrewdly" created for themselves on the supply side. Yesterday, I watched people shrink from the sale of new centerfire and rimfire rifles after the question from the prospective buyer, "...do you have ammo for it?"

It'll be interesting to see how all of this plays out. Those of us who watched the game last time probably won't be too surprised.

I don't think that it is a lack of supply. It is phenominal demand.

I have a long time, great buddy that runs a rather small hunting/fishing shop. Psecializes more in hand guns than long guns He has been buying about 5X the quantity of ammo that he did 12-18 months ago, especially in the popular hand gun and "military" style rifle cartridges ... and it is flying off the shelves. Can't hardly keep auto loading hand guns in the case. He limits sales as his stock is depleted so that he can serve as many different customers as practical to do so.

Told me that he could sell all of the militsry style autoloading rifles that he could get his hands on, even with a profit margin markup of 50% more than "normal", as fast as he could get them. He has been able to get only about 10-12/week as of late. Everyone is essentially presold to folks on a waiting list.

He had probably 300-400 "used" rifles and shotguns a year ago, some almost junk. I was in there 3 weeks ago ... his used gun racks were all but empty. Maybe 15-20 guns. Only the worst stuff was left. Told me that if he had 10 crates of 223 Rem. , it'd be gone in a week. Even with the 100 round per customer/day limit that he has set.

He is all but out of some of the weird long gun ammo as well. He describes what is going on as true panic buying. From what i gathered from talking to him at church this morning, he's starting to cut back in anticiaption of a slow down.

I have a friend in the manufacturing business. His company only makes hunting bullets though. Even with that they are working longer hours than they have been in the past. They have even hired more temp help to catch up and give the full time help a day off or two. It was bad in 2008 when Obama was elected. It started up again when he was re elected and went insane the second the Sandy Hook shooting took place. It's going to be awhile before it slows down. Even with the Senate voting against the bill Obama is quietly working on expanding gun control by executive orders.
In general fewer people trust this administration when it comes to restricting gun ownership and the sales are reflective of that.

I sure hope the demand dies down soon, or the supply catches up...preferably both. Tired of seeing empty stock in stores and online.

And fwiw...I don't trust this administration on anything. Not sure they can actually tell the truth about anything.

Bumping this thread. Just wondering if anyone has seen more ammo becoming available?

Here in Phoenix I am starting to see more ammo, magazines and rifles - even an AR or two every now and again. Still no .22 though.

Now that the senate has voted down the most recent gun bill are people sensing the panic buying is starting to slow down?

I've started to see 7.62 X 39 and 9mm and 45acp becoming available but it is mostly marked up about 25% - 35% higher than before Feb-March dry-up. I'm guessing the .223 / 5.56 is also becoming available but I haven't actually been paying that much attention. I'm waiting until July-Aug when I'm hoping things will calm a bit.

I don't expect to see 1000 rounds of SKS ammo for $220.00 ever again, but I'm thinking the price will drop somewhat.

Just starting to ease off where I am in Mi.

.223 is available in 20 packs, but not yet in bulk & so is the 7.62x39.

17 rimfire is pretty easy to get.

.22 rimfire is still tight, but not quite as bad as it was. I bought a 100 pack of Mini mags & 40 rds of 22-250 a week ago at the Cabela's in Dundee when I was there. No .22 mags or 222 in stock however.....so still a bit of a mixed bag.

.40 S&W is also still a bit short on supply.

Same here. It is much too hot to shoot outdoors here in the summer and so the shooting usually slows down.