# How is the ammo availability situation lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 15, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089 "2013-06-15T20:11:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/21 "2013-06-16T17:38:32Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > Anyway, I would still like **ducati** to explain why he thinks Obama is responsible for the ammunition shortage, or if he just trying to be funny in a partisan way. Our ongoing military actions have had an effect on availability for some time, but Obama’s election triggered rumors and panic amongst gun owners. Right or wrong, perception is reality and millions of people have made this a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s not direct action from B.O., but plenty of elected officials like Feinstein and Schumer are troubling in their own right. And I’m always funny, partisan or not! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/22 "2013-06-16T18:22:41Z")
thanks for the response. I am super tempted to stock up on ammo the next time a Republican is president so I can sell it when the Democrats take the White House. Given the history of Supreme Court decisions on the second (Heller and McDonald) and the strength of the NRA it is kinda dumb to think anyone is going to start confiscating guns anytime soon. I have a friend who is an enthusiast and he totally stocked up in 2009 (while complaining about ammo shortages and price spikes) but was unable to point to any actions taken by the new administration that justified his fears. This year he came back with an I told you so which seemed 4 years too late to me and kinda misplaced given Sandy Hook. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/23 "2013-06-16T18:31:00Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > Hmmm, that thread was a train > > I think there have been ammunition shortages since Obama was elected in 08’ even though gun control has not been part of Obama’s or even the Democrats legislative agenda. Even since Sandy Hook, it looks to me that Democrats have not really been trying that hard to do anything about guns or ammo (note: I am not a gun owner and I do not follow it that closely, but I do follow politics and this does not seem to be a serious focus for anyone except the pro-gun rights folks). > > Anyway, I would still like **ducati** to explain why he thinks Obama is responsible for the ammunition shortage, or if he just trying to be funny in a partisan way. The panic started before, but have you really not noticed any proposed legislation? It was pretty hard to miss when just casually visiting any news website. It was big news. I don’t know of any _ammunition_ legislation, unless you count magazine restrictions. At least at the federal level. California wanted to enact a pointless no bulk ammo shipments law, but I don’t think that took off. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/24 "2013-06-16T19:32:02Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Our ongoing military actions have had an effect on availability for some time, but Obama’s election triggered rumors and panic amongst gun owners. > > Right or wrong, perception is reality and millions of people have made this a self-fulfilling prophecy. > > It’s not direct action from B.O., but plenty of elected officials like Feinstein and Schumer are troubling in their own right. So…thanks, **ducati**? > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The panic started before, but have you really not noticed any proposed legislation? It was pretty hard to miss when just casually visiting any news website. It was big news. Huh. Seems like new laws garner more press than mere proposals. Like the one allowing visitors to National Parks to carry, which passed during Obama’s first term. Or some state laws allowing carrying inside Kentucky and Kansas city buildings. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/25 "2013-06-16T19:52:49Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The manufacturers are laughing at all those who are hoarding. I’m reasonably certain (without cite) that they created the panic, either themselves or through their bot, the NRA. I share your suspicions though likewise have no hard proof this is why it is happening (just a lot of experience in the way of the marketplace). What I find most annoying is the for lack of a better of word “wannabees” engaged in the hoarding. I recently had to stand in line to buy amno and got to chatting with some of my other line standers. There was a bail bondsmen and a couple of convenience and liquor store owners (i.e. people who have reason to consider a handgun or a shotgun in the desk or under the counter a good precaution), but the rest were just average middle class, overly paranoid about either crime from the mythic raiding hordes I suppose or the government coming to take away their things. I felt like telling most of them they needed to get a life or a therapist. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/26 "2013-06-16T22:19:53Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I don’t buy from scalpers, gougers and other scum, sadly, some people do Why are people scum just for selling a luxury good at its market price? If there’s a huge line of people hoarding all of the product once it arrives at the store, the store’s prices are just too low. Taking advantage of that sounds like good business sense. > [@L. G. Butts](#): > > I assume you are ascribing the ammunition shortage to the actions of Obama, I am curious what he has done to make this so… He made the gun people _feel bad_. :(:(☹ ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/27 "2013-06-17T01:15:24Z")
I have (as of now) about 25,000 rounds of ammunition from .22LR to 7.5×55mm Swiss. Combined, it is worth a fortune at today’s mad prices. Almost all of this ammunition I purchased over a few year period starting about 2004. About 15,000 rounds are Federal .22LR 525 boxes (Remington sucks) that I bought at Wal-Mart for just under $9 a box. Every time I would go to Wal-Mart to buy an oil filter or whatever, I’d stop by the gun counter and buy a few boxes of ammo. I did it because the prices of lead, copper and tin were rising. I like to shoot, so I stocked up, not out of political paranoia or end of the world stupidity, but out of the realization that shooting will get more expensive in the future. My buddies and I would place a combined order of a few thousand dollars from one of the online ammo vendors who would deliver it to my friend’s house all on a pallet from the back of a semi trailer. **CrafterMan** : I like your basement. That’s just the .308? Hopefully the shortage ends soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/28 "2013-06-17T01:56:25Z")
Congratulations on the 7.5 X 55 Swiss. I never bothered to order any until the surplus ran out, and commercial loads were crazy expensive even before the recent craziness so I’ve never had a chance to shoot my K-31. ---
**Author:** ![Sehmket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Sehmket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sehmket)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/29 "2013-06-17T02:32:30Z")
I don’t see a lot of .22 here in Central KY, but I’ve mostly stopped looking - I’ve switched over to archery for my target-shooting fix, figure I’ll go back to shooting eventually. My dad informed me that he’s found .22 the last few weeks up in Ohio, so… maybe things are getting better? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/30 "2013-06-17T03:16:56Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > So…thanks, **ducati**? > > Huh. Seems like new laws garner more press than mere proposals. Like the one allowing visitors to National Parks to carry, which passed during Obama’s first term. Or some state laws allowing carrying inside Kentucky and Kansas city buildings. Fine then, there is also laws that went beyond proposals and were voted on, sometimes passing one half of congress but not the other. Reading up on the California one - I see it was passed but a court found it unconstitutional and poorly written. > [@toofs](#): > > About 15,000 rounds are Federal .22LR 525 boxes (Remington sucks) that I bought at Wal-Mart for just under $9 a box. Blue box or red box? I have both, and not sure of the difference, I think blue is more grains? Federal also each round in those trays of 50, boxes those, and then puts them in the big box. Remington just has hundreds of loose rounds in a fragile box, and that the reason why my real Rem .22 box is a gallon ziplock. They make good shotguns and shells, though. Oh, and I have my Swiss, too. Only 40-60 rounds though. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/31 "2013-06-17T03:35:41Z")
Ammo can be found here in Sacramento, \*if \*you’re willing to call around a bit \*and \*you’re willing to pay for it. But the empty spots on the shelves still far outnumber the boxes for sale at most stores. I talked to someone at a local gun store a couple weeks ago who said things have been getting “better” recently, but the “shortage” is still very much ongoing. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/32 "2013-06-17T10:09:44Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > **CrafterMan** : I like your basement. That’s just the .308? Yea. I have about 10K rounds of .223 and 30K rounds of .308. Plus a bunch of 50BMG, 22LR, and 9 mm. You can never have too much ammo… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/33 "2013-06-17T10:34:51Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Fine then, there is also laws that went beyond proposals and were voted on, sometimes passing one half of congress but not the other. > > Reading up on the California one - I see it was passed but a court found it unconstitutional and poorly written. > > . A quick look around new federal and state laws shows that gun rights have expanded in the last five years, no new restrictions have passed, and recent mass shootings have prompted proposals to allow concealed carry in more previously off limits locations than ever. The ammo shortage is entirely the fault of gun owners who apparently fail to appreciate expanded permissions. To place any blame for shortage and inflation of ammo prices on this administration is ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/34 "2013-06-17T16:04:14Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > A quick look around new federal and state laws shows that gun rights have expanded in the last five years, no new restrictions have passed… [Not quite](http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/15/nation/la-na-nn-gun-registration-requirements-take-effect-in-new-york-20130415): > [@](#): > > In New York, a one-year registration period began Monday for owners of guns now listed as assault weapons. In addition, gun owners will generally be limited to seven rounds in any ammunition magazine. Since manufacturers don’t make seven-round magazines, an owner can have a 10-round magazine but cannot fill it up. In addition we have [Colorado HBs 1224 and 1229](http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1251640790516). ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/35 "2013-06-17T16:58:23Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [Not quite](http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/15/nation/la-na-nn-gun-registration-requirements-take-effect-in-new-york-20130415): > > In addition we have [Colorado HBs 1224 and 1229](http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1251640790516). [As Colorado ranks in the top ten states for the most lenient gun laws](http://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-laws.aspx), I doubt that many gun owners are handicapped by the restriction on magazine size. Although it bears mentioning that opponents of 1224 feel this law will prevent disabled gun owners from defending themselves against attack. Because disabled gun owners need more than 15 rounds at the ready to stop an intruder. I guess. And if you have a problem with 1229/ universal background checks, I assume that means you’re totally on board with the worst felons, violent offenders, non-citizens, and the criminally insane owning guns. Are you cool with that? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/36 "2013-06-17T17:12:12Z")
Are people really paying ~$100 for 525 rd boxes of Remington .22LR? If so, I have quite a few I’d like to sell! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/37 "2013-06-17T17:22:43Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > Anyway, I would still like **ducati** to explain why he thinks Obama is responsible for the ammunition shortage, or if he just trying to be funny in a partisan way. [Steven Colbert explains.](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/colbert-after-obama-comes-for-guns-hes-going-after-limbaugh-by-taking-hookers-and-canned-frosting/) “The government is buying up ammo so that following the economic collapse, they can outgun the American people. And they need it. ‘Cause right now all they’ve got are tanks, airplanes, helicopters, Predator drones, nuclear missiles and laser cannons. But, if I get my hands on a box of shotgun shells, it is go time, Uncle Fatty!” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/38 "2013-06-17T18:05:44Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > A quick look around new federal and state laws shows that gun rights have expanded in the last five years, no new restrictions have passed, and recent mass shootings have prompted proposals to allow concealed carry in more previously off limits locations than ever. The ammo shortage is entirely the fault of gun owners who apparently fail to appreciate expanded permissions. > > To place any blame for shortage and inflation of ammo prices on this administration is ludicrous. California and New York. But if you are suggesting I blamed Obama, then you absolutely, positively need to read again, and note the zero times that I did. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/39 "2013-06-17T18:09:25Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The panic started before, but have you really not noticed any proposed legislation? It was pretty hard to miss when just casually visiting any news website. It was big news. > > I don’t know of any _ammunition_ legislation, unless you count magazine restrictions. At least at the federal level. California wanted to enact a pointless no bulk ammo shipments law, but I don’t think that took off. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > California and New York. But if you are suggesting I blamed Obama, then you absolutely, positively need to read again, and note the zero times that I did. I noted that the panic is unfounded, and that gun owners have gained more freedoms, not less at the federal level and in many states since Obama first took office. All _big news_. Maybe not on Fox, where any mere discussion of restrictions (restrictions, mind you, not bills or laws) is blown out of proportion. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089/40 "2013-06-17T18:20:15Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > I noted that the panic is unfounded, and that gun owners have gained more freedoms, not less at the federal level and in many states since Obama first took office. All _big news_. Maybe not on Fox, where any mere discussion of restrictions (restrictions, mind you, not bills or laws) is blown out of proportion. Missed edit window. I meant to say that Fox blows mere _discussions_ of possible restrictions out of proportion, and apparently fail to headline with news of expanded gun permissions that have occurred during Obama’s administration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-ammo-availability-situation-lately/661089.md?page=3)