No ammo to be had?

So I got a couple of precious hours off from dad duty/work yesterday, decided to go to the range and pop off a few rounds. I get there and the guy behind the counter tells me they have no 9mm ammo, haven't had any for 3 weeks. He said ammo is really scarce right now, distributors are back ordered. So I couldn't shoot that day. I was not a happy camper- had been looking forward to shooting for a while. :cussing:

So what's the deal? Can anyone recommend an online site where I can get some rounds? I'm going to buy my own ammo from now on, not rely on the local ranges.

Yes, I know I should stockpile tons of ammo before the guvmint comes to take our guns away just like everyone else, but it slipped my mind. :headbang:

Cheaper than dirt is where I would start.

I heard somewhere (which means it's total b.s. lol) that Homeland Security is taking advantage of the antigun propaganda in order to stock pile much more ammo than before. Reason they actually want it is apparently they're afraid of looming budget cuts so are striking while the iron's hot. Gun collector I know says his local store owner says market will rebound in a few months. Seems to make some sense so who knows...

Try luckygunner.com or bulkammo.com it really is hit or miss with ammo lately. I try to keep a good stockpile because you never know when something like this will happen! 5.56 ammo has literally tripled in price in less than a year- if you can even get it. I live in NY state where they just passed a terrible gun law- you should see the prices of AR15s around here!

The homeland security thing is BS. The government routinely buys huge amounts of ammo in bulk, for obvious reasons. Training, blowing enemies of the state away, that sort of thing. I would imagine the real reason is paranoia inspired by recent massacres that the government will outlaw firearms... which is also BS. I don't want this thread to get moved to the political forum, so hey, thanks for the help and keep the tips on where to buy ammo coming.

And while I'm at it, anyone have recs on what brand of ammo to buy for range shooting? I want the cheapest ammo I can get for my 9mm that will not jam or blow me up.

pabster said:

I don't want this thread to get moved to the political forum,

Click to expand...

Well, you made the first political comment, you big dummy. lol

19.19 for a box of 50 rounds of .40 S&W FMJ sounds pretty good if the stuff is any good. Armscor from Cheaper than Dirt.net and they say it's USA made....I wonder if they have it in stock.

I would imagine the real reason is paranoia inspired by recent massacres that the government will outlaw firearms...

Click to expand...

You are exactly right..My Uncle works the gun counter of a local establishment. Talking with him last Saturday, they cannot keep up with the demand on ammo and guns. Every other day the shelves are empty. Folks are coming in hoards, worried about the anti-gun laws. Everyone's packing like it's Beirut around this joint.

We cant even buy a Gun let alone Ammo here in Canada, LOL

LMAO !!! Panic in Detroit !!

The gun nuts have created their own shortage

Common theme since Obama was elected the first time. ( or any democrat) The NRA panics its members and they react. What’s really amazing is how many folks are duped and led around the ring by the NRA. Their scare tactics work well on the insecure and pocket millions of dollars for them. The only agenda the NRA has is to sell weapons and ammo and they prey on the weak and insecure. If not for their agenda the street actually would be safer but they shoulder most of the blame for the reckless proliferation of firearms into dangerous hands. Simple as that. They created the situation. IF guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns is the stupidest thing I have ever effing heard in my entire life and the main reason we live in fear of another shooting. Carry a piece and yes you are living in the fearful and paranoid world the NRA has created for you and not only controls you but owns you.

For a few Dollars More is the movie isnt it where he plays both sides of the coin for personal profit while killing everyone..LOL Thats your NRA.... All about the money and playing both side of the coin while they laugh their way to the bank. Arm the criminals so the good people will be scared and buy more arms then the criminals. And the whole time they dupe you with the 2nd because lets face it the best way to stir the public is with the Bill of Rights and telling you it's being violated.

The NRA has played this country like a cheap fiddle.

In fact really what the NRA is saying is that if they cant guns into the hands of criminals how are they going to scare people into buying more guns and ammo. They block any legislation that will fund a study of the situation as well. I liken them to the Nazi party. They are a slave to the dollar and the dollar only. They could care less about you and your personal safety. They just want your money.
What have the ever done to correct a situation? Sell more guns to both sides.

Propwash said:

You are exactly right..My Uncle works the gun counter of a local establishment. Talking with him last Saturday, they cannot keep up with the demand on ammo and guns. Every other day the shelves are empty. Folks are coming in hoards, worried about the anti-gun laws. Everyone's packing like it's Beirut around this joint.

Click to expand...

Great points, Prop and Pabster. Exhibit A is the gas crunch local to NJ immediately after Sandy, though both supply AND demand were affected. Even a sudden change of 15% in supply or demand can reek havoc on a market.

99ss said:

LMAO !!! Panic in Detroit !!

The gun nuts have created their own shortage

Common theme since Obama was elected the first time. ( or any democrat) The NRA panics its members and they react. What’s really amazing is how many folks are duped and led around the ring by the NRA. Their scare tactics work well on the insecure and pocket millions of dollars for them. The only agenda the NRA has is to sell weapons and ammo and they prey on the weak and insecure. If not for their agenda the street actually would be safer but they shoulder most of the blame for the reckless proliferation of firearms into dangerous hands. Simple as that. They created the situation. IF guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns is the stupidest thing I have ever effing heard in my entire life and the main reason we live in fear of another shooting. Carry a piece and yes you are living in the fearful and paranoid world the NRA has created for you and not only controls you but owns you.

For a few Dollars More is the movie isnt it where he plays both sides of the coin for personal profit while killing everyone..LOL Thats your NRA.... All about the money and playing both side of the coin while they laugh their way to the bank. Arm the criminals so the good people will be scared and buy more arms then the criminals. And the whole time they dupe you with the 2nd because lets face it the best way to stir the public is with the Bill of Rights and telling you it's being violated.

The NRA has played this country like a cheap fiddle.

Click to expand...

who the hell said anything about the NRA??

You wanted to know why you have no ammo didnt you?

99ss said:

You wanted to know why you have no ammo didnt you?

Click to expand...

it sure as hell isnt the NRA's fault. (disclaimer: i am NOT an NRA member)

Pabster ......Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in............ Politics


[video=youtube;UPw-3e_pzqU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU[/video]the Political game again......

pabster said:

The homeland security thing is BS. The government routinely buys huge amounts of ammo in bulk, for obvious reasons. Training, blowing enemies of the state away, that sort of thing. I would imagine the real reason is paranoia inspired by recent massacres that the government will outlaw firearms... which is also BS. I don't want this thread to get moved to the political forum, so hey, thanks for the help and keep the tips on where to buy ammo coming.

And while I'm at it, anyone have recs on what brand of ammo to buy for range shooting? I want the cheapest ammo I can get for my 9mm that will not jam or blow me up.

Click to expand...

It's too bad you dropped off the political forum because this was discussed over there and the purchases are not BS. You can go to this site, which has the original solicitation and contract award for every non-DoD purchase of ammunition going back to 2004. Yes, the government does routinely buy a lot of ammunition, but it's usually in consistent lots with the exception of when new firearms are being adopted. Prior to 2009, there were only three really large (100 million or larger) ammo purchases: one in 2006 and two in 2008. The 2006 purchase was for 100 million rounds of .223 by Customs and Immigration, which coincides with their adoption of the M-4 carbine so that purchase makes total sense. The others were for 375 million rounds of 155 grain (FMJ) and the standard 180 grain JHP ammo for ICE in 2008, which coincides with their adoption of 40 caliber weapons to replace mainly shotguns in 2008, and a follow-on order for 200 million rounds of 40 caliber ammo for ICE eight months later. What you'll also find interesting in all these purchases is the government orders specific training and duty ammunition, not all duty ammunition. Current orders are now 100% for JHP ammunition whereas before they were for JHP and FMJ ammo for target practice, so when you hear that government agencies use the same ammo for training and duty use... they aren't.

But to your dilemma, where is all the 9MM ammo going? Most of the non-DoD purchases are for .40 S&W ammo, which was adopted as the standard for most government, state, and local agencies back in the mid-1990s. The DoD is the primary buyer of 9MM ammo, and their purchase records are harder to access for obvious reasons. My guess is you can't get 9MM these days because production of it has been going down since 2000 since demand has been shifting to .40 S&W, the surplus ammo market is drying up, and there's a lot of hoarding going on.

By the way, I used to get ammo through Cheaper Than Dirt, but don't waste your time there either. Aside from high-end fragmentary rounds they are Out of Stock across the board in the caliber.

Methinks it's a ruse to drive the price up-and it's working. Sort of like the bullshit gas shortage in the early Seventies(a whole 'nother topic...). I only need .22LR for the rifles(Marlin M1 and a Ruger),30-30 for the Marlin 336 and 12G slugs for the Mossberg,and stocked up last fall. I need to get out and do some shootin' and sight my **** in. That would expend some of it,which mean$ I get to buy more...at a higher price. Can't wait for garage sale season;picked up a box of 500 .22LR Remingtons at a sale last year for 10 bones-SWEET! The old Marlin M1 likes CCI,but will shoot about anything. I picked up a Ruger 10/22 last year and haven't even fired that suckah yet! Word from friends with those say they like CCI as well. The Marlin 336? Again,need to get out and see what it likes. I've got Federal,Hornaday LeveRevolution and Remington rounds to try. Watch;it'll prefer the Hornaday,which is PRICEY. Oh well...

After Physco cop I dont think they stand a chance on banning any guns. That was you know whos biggest argument saying that the cops would protect people but after a once dedicated award winning cop started killing innocent civilians its not going to happen. Also look at your history in 1991 there was only 250 million Americans and there was 24,700 murders. In 2012 there was 311 million Americans and only 10,000 murders. Its not going to happen you really think that companies like Smith and Wesson, Heckler and Kotch, Izmash, Ruger, Winchester, Remington, Bushmaster and the NRA are just going to let that **** happen? They would bribe any politician to get there way not to Mention with Joe Bohner and Bill O Reilly out there fighting against it. I just dont see anything happening. Damn though 9x19mm parabellums getting scarce.

- - - Updated - - -

After this bs it is only causing companies to make more guns and ammunition faster and when this blows over ammo and guns will be cheap and I can finally get my Desert Eagle Steel black with the 50 Action Express Magnum ammo.

- - - Updated - - -

hell I would make the ammunition yourself and save tons of money and be able to pack a little more grains in there for more power. I have done some neat stuff with the lead ends and tapped and thread locked a carbide tip and that sucker would go through anything with my Izhmash Saiga(sks 7.62 by 39mm)

Could it be the current ammo shortage is because the US gov't. has ordered such vast quantities? Maybe ...Or has the large ammo makers are purposely dragging the shortage out & inflating prices? Maybe....Or we should of seen the storm on the horizon. Without ammo your guns are useless.

Please don't turn this into a BS Political Issue Guys, it all good information

Pabster find a local "re-loader" if you can, you can usually get re-load/rounds or target/rounds far cheaper, than factory full jacketed, or jacketed hollow point ammo... Then if you save the brass/shell casings, bring them back to the re-loaders & they will generally give you a discount on the next, batch you buy too, brass/shell casings are expensive, they usually will charge a deposit for the 1st batch... I would also suggest you buy/order either, non-jacketed ammo it far cheaper in a Semi-Wad Cutters or Wad Cutters, target rounds are far cheaper for just Target Shooting/Plinken', then the more expensive full copper jacketed type factory rounds,... The Wad-Cutters & Semi Wad-Cutters they will work just fine for defense too, "if need be", you can have custom lighter or heavier loads made also, it's kind of ALA CART in the ammo world... IMHFO the off the shelf FMJ {full metal jacketed} &/or JHP {jacketed hollow points} rounds, especially in S&W 0.40 cal. {even allot of 9mm rounds too} are what most State & Federal Govt. issue is now... But they are about $25-$35 a box of 50 rounds {re-loads can be as low as half that price, once you have brass/casings to exchange}, if you go that route, for "new" ammo, I like Federal, Remington or Winchester, for typical off the store shelf boxed ammo, there are allot of different brand , I like American Made stuff myself, cleaner ammo, more consistent quality & more dependable primers, far less misfires... You could also try, Bass-Proon-line or at a local store, usually has good prices/decently stocked, Big 5 Sporting Goods & Walmart use to also...Google any of the following possibly for your area, Ammo, Ammunition Re-Loaders, Hunting, Shooting, Firing Ranges, Gun Stores, Gun Clubs, Gun-Smiths, Target Supply, Pistol &/or Riffle Ammunition Suppliers, Guns, Firearms, Riffles, Pistols, Weapon Suppliers, Shotgun News & maybe even NRA's web site/links... There were a few Ammunition/Suppliers Re-Loaders in the S.F. Bay Area & South Bay, I don't know of any in S.F., but in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Rafael & Milpitas years ago at least anyway, when I was Range Master/Mgr. running/built Target-Masters Indoor Pistol Range in Milpitas off Minnus Circle. {I don't know if they are still open or not}, sorry I can't remember the names of the local suppliers at the moment, it was a long time ago, like 30 years, but they're out there, just need to do some research... I do allot of my own re-loading, not much lately.. But, I don't sell any... It's not all that costly to get set-up & learn how to do, if you want to shoot allot it will pay for itself very quickly...