Ammunition shortages

[vesuvius5150]

Troops training for and fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are firing more than 1 billion bullets a year, contributing to ammunition shortages hitting police departments nationwide and preventing some officers from training with the weapons they carry on patrol.
An Associated Press review of dozens of police and sheriff’s departments found that many are struggling with delays of as long as a year for both handgun and rifle ammunition. And the shortages are resulting in prices as much as double what departments were paying just a year ago.
“There were warehouses full of it. Now, that isn’t the case,” said Al Aden, police chief in Pierre, S.D.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20322566/

Hope this isn't old news or a re-post. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be in the news section or if this forum is appropriate but i've been hearing over at ar15.com that prices for ammunition are supposed to go through the roof. Someone said they even though a 25% hike for .223? I wasn't sure if they were talking out of their ass or what.

Thoughts?

[scrybe]

Ammunition prices have nearly doubled in the last couple years already. 223 has taken a huge hit. 20 round boxes that used to cost $4 are selling for $8.50+. Good luck finding any 5.56 too. I used to be able to stumble upon some winchester 5.56 at Bi-mart everyone once in a while. Those days are long gone.

I didn't take the time to read the article, but the problem isn't a shortage in ammunition per se, it's the fact that the price of raw metals are skyrocketing. We sent a lot of our scrap metals over to China to appease their manufacturing needs and now we are finding ourselves in a pinch for things like copper, brass, and lead. The cost of manufacturing ammunition is being passed on to the retailers.

[brianm423]

I just ordered a case of 556 and 9mm. Ammo prices are increasing the first week in September I believe. Get your stuff now.

[vesuvius5150]

I didn't take the time to read the article, but the problem isn't a shortage in ammunition per se, it's the fact that the price of raw metals are skyrocketing. We sent a lot of our scrap metals over to China to appease their manufacturing needs and now we are finding ourselves in a pinch for things like copper, brass, and lead. The cost of manufacturing ammunition is being passed on to the retailers.

Besides all the stuff about the police departments, this is pretty much what the article said, raw materials aren't there anymore.

[Noble713]

The military needs to totally re-work its ammunition turn-in procedures. Right now, the process and paperwork for turning in unspent ammo is such a pain in the as$ that NO ONE wants to do it, and as a result units with thousands of rounds that weren't used during training take it all to the range and burn it up. I think my company alone had about 3,000 rounds left at the end of AT that we ran through our SAWs (much to the chagrin of the gunners who had to re-clean their weapons). Fixing this won't totally solve the problem, but it would help.

*snip*

[JJC]

If this is an issue while we are in 2 small fronts, what will happen if are in a front with China or other big player, is anyone in the government thinking about this?

[punchinout]

expect prices for some of the major manufacturers to go up anywhere from 18-20 % after september 1st.

Prices have been climbing steadily for the last few years.

materials and demand.

it sucks for people who are just getting into shooting sports and people who have been in it for awhile and have witnessed the increases.

prices for .223 and 5.56 are up there, i was at GI joes a few months ago and saw their pricing on .223 it was 8.99 a box for 20...then the next day i go into work at half of our .223 had shot up to 8.99 and 9.99 a box. i was buyin 20 round boxes of PMC .223 for about 5.99(with a discount) last month...and its gone up 2 bucks since then. we were carrying S&B .223 at 5.99...its about 8.99 now. its crazy.

i'd say buy your ammo in bulk now.

[brianm423]

Yeah, If you buy online from certain dealers, sometimes they will give you a discount if you buy atleast a case. I think I saved around 50 cents a box on 556 since I bought 1000 rounds. I got S&B and I think it was around $6.20 a box of 20 rnds.

[Mr.Vegas]

I was at the Gun Show today. Almost crapped my pants when I saw ammo prices.

[Death.]

Well I guess this means I'll be shooting conservatively from now on.
Is wolf's steel cased ammo prices going to go up as well? Seems like they wouldn't as much due to the lack of brass in the casings.

[boone]

^^ All metals are going up. I'm afraid.
Expect an increase.

[punchinout]

^
^
yea everythings goin up. if you really want to shoot it, Wolf, Brown-Silver-Golden Bear ammo is still relatively cheap, you can get 500 rounds for about a third of the price of regular brass.

[Mr.Vegas]

^
^
yea everythings goin up. if you really want to shoot it, Wolf, Brown-Silver-Golden Bear ammo is still relatively cheap, you can get 500 rounds for about a third of the price of regular brass.

Silver Bear is pretty good stuff. I like it. But 5.56 is so hard to find.

[punchinout]

Silver Bear is pretty good stuff. I like it. But 5.56 is so hard to find.

lol if you want to pay for the shipping and handling from WA state i got the hook up. p-)

[vesuvius5150]

Does anyone have a link to Federal or another company with a press release saying their prices or going to go up? Or something close. I'm planning on buying bulk but i'm trying to convince my dad to do so too but he doesn't beleive in spending money on ammunition he wasn't going to shoot RIGHT then.

[PvtPyle]

lol if you want to pay for the shipping and handling from WA state i got the hook up. p-)

No, but I'll drive up and pick up a truck load of it! Utah is not that far away and I am tired of getting jerked around by HSM. PM if you can help!

[....]

Ammunition prices have nearly doubled in the last couple years already. 223 has taken a huge hit. 20 round boxes that used to cost $4 are selling for $8.50+. Good luck finding any 5.56 too. I used to be able to stumble upon some winchester 5.56 at Bi-mart everyone once in a while. Those days are long gone.

I didn't take the time to read the article, but the problem isn't a shortage in ammunition per se, it's the fact that the price of raw metals are skyrocketing. We sent a lot of our scrap metals over to China to appease their manufacturing needs and now we are finding ourselves in a pinch for things like copper, brass, and lead. The cost of manufacturing ammunition is being passed on to the retailers.

That's why I'm saving up for an AK. I can't feed my colt 6920 m4. The places around here barely have .223 wolf, let alone better quality stuff. I think American gun owners will see a shift in commie block weapons and ammo being used more and more like in the early 90's when every redneck had a norinco SKS.

[vesuvius5150]

That's why I'm saving up for an AK. I can't feed my colt 6920 m4. The places around here barely have .223 wolf, let alone better quality stuff. I think American gun owners will see a shift in commie block weapons and ammo being used more and more like in the early 90's when every redneck had a norinco SKS.

Hey i have a norinco and i'm not a redneck, i mean unless you consider Philadelphia the back country. p-)

[wbear]

Time to Start Reloading!

[....]

Hey i have a norinco and i'm not a redneck, i mean unless you consider Philadelphia the back country. p-)

Sorry dude, Wasn't trying to be mean, it was just a bit of a stereotype.

[vesuvius5150]

Sorry dude, Wasn't trying to be mean, it was just a bit of a stereotype.

No worries, i was just giving you a hard time. I like my norinco, it was a good middle ground between a yugo and russian SKS.

[Hilbert]

I think American gun owners will see a shift in commie block weapons and ammo being used more and more like in the early 90's when every redneck had a norinco SKS.

Even the prices on 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 have gone up several dollars as well. A dealer at a local gun and knife show said it's because the Iraqi Army is buying large quantities of it, but I'm not really certain.

[foxtrot023]

I heard from various dealers to expect an general increase of 10% for Sept.

[Paulinski]

Time to Start Reloading!

I agree. But I'm not saving up any money, just shooting more.

[Durandal]

Yeah, I've stopped buying from commercial sites. Now I am getting in are large group buys from single sources buying several hundred K or several million at a time.

Or I am only buying when I need to shoot it and keeping what I have for a rainy day.

Prices are ridiculous, between metal prices and a war prices are through the roof...as are firearm, and gear prices too.

What we need is a heavy dose of peace for a bit so we can stockpile again.

When I think of all the times I bought a single case of 5.56 Wolf for 82.00 and 7.62x39 for 69.00 I cry.

I could have doubled my money since 2002. Bah.

[D-gin]

Where would be a good place to buy a few thousand .223 rounds?

[Hollis]

Time to Start Reloading!


Reloading is doing the same thing. The supply is based on past consumption. Sence more people are hoarding and new people are reloading, Supplies are low and prices are going up up up up up................ Just like ammo.

[scrybe]

I could have doubled my money since 2002. Bah.

No joke. I've thought numerous times over the last 2 years that if I had money to invest, screw stocks and bonds, invest in ammo.

[....]

Even the prices on 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 have gone up several dollars as well. A dealer at a local gun and knife show said it's because the Iraqi Army is buying large quantities of it, but I'm not really certain.

The price will go down once they make the transition to m16's and m4's. You're right, prices are painful, but atleast you can get ammo for ak's and sks's.

[Working Class Hero 134]

7.62x39 is really hard to find in the spam cans. Who ever thought 20 years ago we would be non-wasteful shooters?