Thanks to everyone who took the time to post. It was good to learn what others are facing in various parts of the country. The bottom line is "keep your powder dry" and hang on to your ammo until you REALLY need it! Guns and Ammo: What are inventories like in your AO?
I was in Rural King in Muscle Shoals, AL this past Thursday for a few items and thought I'd check out the gun department. There were four AR rifles (2 in .22 caliber and 2 in .223/5.56). I saw four .22 revolvers (2 Ruger Wranglers and 2 Heritage Arms ( 1 was the "Annie Oakley" edition and the other had a 16" barrel). I saw four other revolvers that were of that funky new style of double action. They looked to be .38 Special. I didn't see any automatic pistols (might have had some, but I didn't see them). I didn't see any shotguns. I was looking around and the guy behind the counter asked if he could help me and I asked where the rifle and pistol ammo was located. He chuckled and replied that he did not have any pistol or rifle ammo. The only thing he had was shotgun shells. I wasn't shocked. This has been the norm for a few months before the election here in north Alabama. He did say that he occasionally receives a shipment of various calibers, but it is gone before he can put the price tags on it. Basically, this is par for the course at any gun show around here. My son told me he had seen 4- one thousand round cases of 9mm sell in a gun store in Hartselle for $770 per case a couple of weeks ago. I also know a guy who had 3-1,000 round cases of .223/5.56 who turned down $2,500.00 for ONE case last week. I know that sounds crazy, but that is where we are.
It all boils down to the fact that what one has currently is probably all they will have for quite some time. I have heard from a reliable source that Federal and CCI ceased production as of December the 1st as a congratulatory election measure to Kabama Harris. Also, larger calibers (7mm Mag., .30-.06, 270, .243, .30-.30 etc.) will be tougher to find. There isn't any volume to be made/sold. If one is fortunate to come across any ammo at a decent price, I'd advise buying it.
just spent several days going to gunshops in the Detroit area. Almost no weapons of any kind. The few still available were super premium even before the ongoing takeover. .22 LR seems to be about $20 bucks for 50 rounds. 9mm around $50 bucks for 50 target rounds. Some odd calibers available, not many. The few gunshops that have any ammo will only sell if you buy a gun.........good luck. Just remember-people are buying these so they can turn them in as soon as Obiden gives his first executive
ReplyDeleteorder to do so...............interesting factoid..was at the army surplus store two weeks ago and the line was an hour long with people buying almost exclusively bulletproof vests. Which Chuck Schumer seems to think no one should own..........................Johnny Gee
Unless you reload...
ReplyDeleteAmen to that, brother. I'm glad that I had bought large quantities of components over the years whenever I would get a good deal. I occasionally check on Gunbroker to get an idea where prices are nowadays and see things like small pistol primers are selling for upwards of $200 for a brick. And people are paying it! That's more than 10X the normal price.....
DeleteAll I say these days is wow I did not know so many people were alchemist converting that lead into gold. I thought people cheated and coated lead with gold. In fly over all i hear is primers cannot be found.
Deletenah not gold coated lead, the Chinese have been selling "novelty" reproduction gold coins made of tungsten for years . . . . gold plated . . . .. tungsten has almost identical specific gravity as gold (same weight per unit volume). You can get this stamped as Krugerands, US Mint Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs etc.
DeleteAnyway great inference to alchemy . . .
Steve the Engineer
"My son told me he had seen 4- one thousand round cases sell in a gun store in Hartselle for $770 per case a couple of weeks ago."
ReplyDeleteI got lost - I admit I am slow - but, what caliber are your talking about here? Thanks.
No 3Score. It was my bad. I should have written 9mm. I did proofread, but I guess I missed it. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I will correct the omission.
DeleteThanks for the clarification.
DeleteWhat is 22LR selling for in your area - do you know?
$100 - $170 per brick of 500 here near Mason-Dixon line, if you can find them
I haven't seen any for sale in quite sometime. After the COVID story broke everything began to disappear.
DeleteThe ammo i have at this time is apparently all i will have for some years to come, unless i get super lucky. Last summer during the one day reprieve of online ammo buying here in california, my grandson and i each bought one case of 7.62x39, i wish i had bought 10 of them and some other calibers too.
ReplyDeleteMn, I've squirreled away everything from soup to nuts since obama was elected.
ReplyDeleteI must be a fucking millionaire at these prices!
Kinda what I was thinking as well.
DeleteI rarely go out because I don't want to deal with mask nazis but haven't seen ammo other than the really odd calibers. My bunker is fairly well stocked
ReplyDeletei'm in south texas. going to a store looking for ammo?! please. that's a joke right? if anyone knows a store that has ammo they are not talking. online is the only hope you got around here.
ReplyDeleteNot pretty.
ReplyDeleteSame conditions here as what Matthew W mentioned, been that way for most of the year.
ReplyDeleteSlim pickins here in SW PA except for a few oddball calibers and shotshells. Good thing that I roll my own and have more than enough components and rimfire ammo to last well past my lifetime........
ReplyDeletePrices are astronomical. However your friend should sell at $2500 and re-purchase online. It is available for about $800-850 including shipping at multiple retailers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'll pass that along. Would you mind disclosing the source?
DeleteThe actual retailers vary but i see brass PMC, Fiocchi, Lake City, etc.
Deletehttps://classic.ammoseek.com/
The small stores in the Phoenix area are mostly sold out of ammunition, barring unusual calibers like .40 and 10mm pistol and 7mm rifle. A place I normally frequent got in 10k of .223 and it was gone that day.
ReplyDeleteJ&G Sales in Prescott still has a fair selection, but even their cupboard is looking sparse. They're selling 1k of .223 for $750 and a brick of .22lr for $200. You can order from them at jgsales.com. I'd be tempted, but I lost all my firearms in a freak canoe accident.
Ok north of the border in a rural area. All the big sporting stores have tons of ammo in stock. It looks like to me that its someone deliberatly screwing with our southern neighbours. Iwalked into the cabelas and they had
ReplyDelete22, 9mm, 223, 7.62×39 and 45acp in bulk cases. Boxes of 20 in just about everything else. They even had odd stuff in stock.
Exile1981
Western Colorado. 9mm is about $85/ 200 rounds FMJ. .223/5.56 is $17 for box of 20. $800 for a case of 1000 5.56 FMJ. A few rifle calibers available. Higher end semi auto pistols (Sigs, Dan Wessons etc) and revolvers are waiting adoption, Smith has been doing a good job of getting us pistols, still in the $500 range. AR’s starting at $800 when available. No .380, .357 or .40 seen for about 4 months. People seem to be getting ready for the worst.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/KIgvoJKovIg?t=15
ReplyDeleteBS on the roomer that Federal shut down. The CEO put out a very pointed video on their youtub channel.
Watch for your self.
Thanks Anon. I hope all of that is true (and I figure it is).
DeleteThe truth is what we should seek. The ChiCom propaganda machine is in overdrive right now.
DeleteStay safe!
Bass pro in Springfield MO plenty of shotgun shells. Not so much rifle or pistol ammo. Some .45 and 9mm defense rounds about $25.00 for twenty round box.
ReplyDeleteIf the ammo is coming in 20 round boxes, that is a good indication that it is +P or another premium cartridge. Prices for that type of ammunition were often in the vicinity of $1.00/round before the shortage began.
DeleteI have seen mostly empty shelves since the advent of Kung Flu, and have noticed an increase in first time buyers at the LGS, and the few gun shows I've been to this year.
ReplyDeleteIt does carry a whiff of panic in the herd, and the beginnings of a royal stampede. I'm not sure our un representative government is ready to see the result if they force any more edicts on the people who just want to be left alone.
Western Colorado. 9mm is about $85/ 200 rounds FMJ. .223/5.56 is $17 for box of 20. $800 for a case of 1000 5.56 FMJ. A few rifle calibers available. Higher end semi auto pistols (Sigs, Dan Wessons etc) and revolvers are waiting adoption, Smith has been doing a good job of getting us pistols, still in the $500 range. AR’s starting at $800 when available. No .380, .357 or .40 seen for about 4 months. People seem to be getting ready for the worst.
ReplyDeleteHere in Lower Alabama there is one gun shop that's pretty well stocked but one is going to pay through the nose for any of his wares. And people are paying it. Fortunately I'm largely interested in obscure calibers and have socked away lots of components over the years, so I'm doing OK right now.
ReplyDeleteFor those who would like a Great Depression tip a Birdshot shotgun shell can be carefully opened up dump JUST the birdshot leaving the wad alone and refill with buckshot and reseal carefully. Buckshot is less dense than the same volume of birdshot. I've used them for deer hunting when I was younger with my Uncles but I strongly suggest single or double barrels only as the jar of firing *might* unseal and dump the pellets in your pump or semi-action?
ReplyDeleteYou can still get buckshot for reloading. I just checked online and I know my local gun shops carry it.
The guys at Moss Gun and Pawn Shop had a video about cut shells one time. Basically, you make two slices on a regular birdshot shell. Then when you fire it, the hull separates and sends the upper part of the hull, the wad, and the shot out as one unitized piece. Basically a Depression Era Slug they called it. Probably not the most optimal loadout ever, but might do in a pinch.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crOg6YvBeXk
Leigh
Whitehall, NY
Cheap shotshells can be used as a lethal defensive "slug-type" round and for breaching doors, etc. by scoring the outer casing where the wadding meets the shot.
DeleteI was in a major independent store in Richmond Virginia last week. They had managed to put together a small a pile of 556 and 308 for holiday sales. The 556 was $.95 around. The 308 was $1.45 around. No other ammo available, no pistol ammo and most firearms sold except shotguns. All the other stores are routinely patrol and Virginia have absolutely nothing, some of them are even out of the ubiquitous .17 WMR.
ReplyDeleteI was in a major independent store in Richmond Virginia last week. They had managed to put together a small a pile of 556 and 308 for holiday sales. The 556 was $.95 around. The 308 was $1.45 around. No other ammo available, no pistol ammo and most firearms sold except shotguns. All the other stores are routinely patrol and Virginia have absolutely nothing, some of them are even out of the ubiquitous .17 WMR.
ReplyDeleteA Message From Federal, CCI, Speer And Remington President Jason Vanderbrink On Ammo Demand
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/KIgvoJKovIg
That pretty much debunks the supposed shutdown theory. It also explains the 7 million NEW gun owners buying just 2 boxes each adding to the impact. Now may be the perfect time for some new ammo manufacturers to jump into a vastly expanded market.
DeleteJump into the market now? Spend millions on machinery and then get stuck with the expense when the shortage ends (as it always does)?
DeleteNE Ohio there is not much if any ammo available. Cabelas had a bit on one shelf the other day. The local outdoor type stores are basically order only.
ReplyDeleteThink air guns. Very effective in .22 cal. and larger and still very cheap. A well placed shot will get you what you need.
ReplyDeleteNear as I can tell based on "googling" the industry produces about 10 Billion rounds of ammo per year.
ReplyDeleteThere are about 335 million people in America (a best guess as it's not possible to know for sure with
the way the illegals come and go). Divide 10 billion by 335 million and you get thirty. That's right,
THIRTY. Only 30 rounds of ammo per year per person. Even if only 10% of America is into shooting that's
still only 300 rounds per year. And for many 300 rounds is just ONE TRIP to the range. So when LOTS
of people decide they are jumping on the bandwagon all of a sudden there simply isn't NEAR enough ammo
to go around.
Houston area, and there is no ammo in the stores for walk ins. My buddy owns a store, says his suppliers have told him not to expect any more any time soon. He's buying ammo FROM customers so he can have something for new gun purchasers. He's not the only one either, as another store where I picked up a transfer admitted to doing the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIf you can find it locally, expect to pay about a dollar a round for any kind of FMJ 9mm, and $1/rnd for 556/223. "Fancy" or "critical" ammo is double that. Even 762x39 is up to 50c/rnd to 80c/rnd, and it was much cheaper than other rifle ammo.
I've been watching online auctions and estate sales and people are literally selling grampa's ammo drawer. No one would have bothered to put one box in an auction before, but they're doing that now. Some of the stuff is antique! In normal times the empty boxes would sell for their antique collector value. There is still some shotgun ammo available, mostly bird shot. Bad guy isn't going to know what is coming his way if that's all I've got to send, so I bought what I saw.
Expect to pay about $600 for an AR in 22, $900 for a plain jane AR in 556 if one comes available. Online stores claim to have glocks for $650-700 but I haven't tried to buy one.
Most of the local stores I've been in lately have ZERO new gun inventory except what was ultra premium even before the crisis. There are consignment guns and used guns in the display cases, but prices match online new...
And a word of advice, from observing my store owner buddy-- if you're looking for ammo, don't just stick your head in the door and shout out "Ammo?" He's really tired of being yelled at 30 times a day and the answer will be "NO" even if he just got some in. And he's not getting any anyway. All of his employees quit in March and just keeping the doors open for transfers is wearing him out. Plus, he's looking at the death of his dream when the transfers stop. Without inventory, he can't sell, without selling, he can't keep the store open. It'll be ironic if high demand is what kills off the mom and pop retailers.
nick
This is what it looks like at Cabelas in Scarborough, Maine since about spring time.
ReplyDeletehttps://isserfiq.blogspot.com/2020/10/more-empty-shelves-than-venezuelan.html
Gun library has been closed for six months as they moved all the old stuff to the main display area to fill the empty space. Handgun cabinet has no more than a dozen very overpriced high end pieces.
Rural King in Glasgow KY has some firearms, out of ammo except shotgun shell. Local gun shop got some 9 Luger they were selling $25 a box, or a case of 1000 for $500.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Federal CEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIgvoJKovIg
ReplyDeleteI have a metric ass-ton I'm trying to sell off at less than current market value. It is NOT selling fast.
ReplyDelete$750 for 900rds .223? Silence. Boxes of 9mm for $25? The layer of dust on the box has layers of dust. $125 for 140 .308? The crickets are so quiet they're getting frightened when one of them farts.
I have been selling on gunbroker. I bit of a pain to register and get set up but once there, it is easy to use. I felt that the ammo pricing scare/shortage is overdone and have sold some of my stock to take advantage of the prices.
DeleteMy Gun Range friends use to called me crazy for sweeping up and saving my brass.
ReplyDeleteI was told its cheap ...why are you doing that?
I said the wife makes jewelry and ornaments out of them.
I guess I should have told them I owned some things made by RCBS and Dillion.
But I guess some things are best left unsaid.
Especially with my groupings better than theirs and collecting on some range bets.
Was in Academy this weekend and there were a couple of shotguns for sale and a few high end semi-auto pistols. No ammo, except some shotgun birdshot. I was looking for some duck loads in Sept. and could not find anything in 12 ga larger than #6 and it was lead.
ReplyDeleteAfter Sandyhook, .22LR became scarce and it was at least 3 years before you could find bricks in Wally world. If Old Joe and his Ho are seated next month, don't expect to see any ammo for the next 4 years.
TN Patriot
This is 1000 times worse than Obamas second term. People are preparing for a massive civil war. The demand for ammo is unprecedented.
ReplyDeleteGun show in August had high priced ammo, limited numbers of AR/AK rifles but the thing that I noted; NO helmets/plate carriers/camo or commo gear. Limited foot gear. Anon is correct. People are preparing for Civil War.
ReplyDeleteSioux Falls sd scheels store had a 250 rd limit but the had a entire shelf of 556 white box range packs. Some self defense 45. 40 cal ball ammo and. 22 shorts of all things was in stock. The only 22 long rifle was target ammunition at 20 bucks a 50 count box. shot gun ammo was fully stock with hunting rounds and some self defense. I saw 22 hornet ammo. 250 savage 30 carbine. 300 win mag and 243 in stock.
ReplyDeleteJohn in sd