Where is all the ammo?

[TeacherMan]

So my buddy from the westside called me today almost in a panic, he cant find any ammunition! I told him its been limited since around November and he said that he understands this but all of a sudden its all gone.

He was specifically looking for 22 shells. He went to 3 Walmarts and 1 Sportsmans warehouse and he was able to come up with 100 rounds, 2 small boxes. So I went down to Bimart today to pick some up and Holly .!@# they are completely out as well and don't expect to be getting any more in. What is going on. There was a lady at the gun counter with $800 in ammo of all odd ball sizes in her cart litterally cleaning up every last box they had on the shelf. She told me that she didn't even have most of the calibers but it will bring her more money than her stocks will. She started mumbling about Obama signing something with Mexico and then went off about all reloading being band. The guy behind the counter really got her wound up when he said the federal government is coming in and buying all the ammo in stores because they are getting nervous about people having so much ammo on hand. At that point the lady went off about the end of the world, she had a shopping cart full of sleeping bags and camping supplies and told me you better get it soon it will all be gone also. I told her not to worry in 4 more years people will see the mistakes they have made and we will fix it. Her response was there will not be a government in 4 year, she was a little over the top for me.

What do you do? If you see it I guess you buy it, but that is what the problem really is, everyone is freaked out. I like to go shooting all the time, plus I wanted to be able to take my little girls shooting next weekend when I go bear hunting and now I don't want to waist any of the ammo.

[TeacherMan]

These links will help clarify what the worry with reloading is all about.

http://blogofbile.com/2009/04/22/obama-supports-treaty-which-would-ban-reloading-ammo/

http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/a-63.html

[Heavily Armed Hiker]

I've heard that part of the reason for the ammo shortage is that the ammo manufacturers can't get the banks to finance their demand.  This economy won't turn around until the banks start lending.

[Jamieb]

The local walmart got in some CCI mini mags last night, thats the first I've seen on selves in a few weeks, I bought 1000, leavinge a few box's for someone else. I made the rounds last night to Cabelas, SW, big five, and walmart looking for ammo and reloading components. I didnt find much. I dont normaly hord a bunch of supplies but I shoot alot and dont want to run out so I've got more stock now then I've ever had at one time.

[Al Bundy]

These links will help clarify what the worry with reloading is all about.

http://blogofbile.com/2009/04/22/obama-supports-treaty-which-would-ban-reloading-ammo/

http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/a-63.html

That treaty has been around since 1997. The US signed it back then, but it hasn't been ratified yet. In order for the US to ratify it, two thirds of the Senate must consent to it. Last I heard Obama doesn't have that kind of support right now.

[bowhuntin]

I was talking to a guy behind the gun counter at the Sportsman Warehouse in Federal Way to find out when they would be getting some more shipments in. They were expecting them in any time, but he also told me that those that work behind the counter are buying up a lot of the ammo because it is in short supply along with reloading supplies. They may get a big shipment in, but by the time the employees pick it over they may have two boxes of ammo of the popular rounds on the shelf. I think people are over reacting personally. Kind of like the stupid Y2K scare. It will get better over time, but who knows how long that will take. Probably after Obama is out of office.

[mazama]

With 12 ammo cans full of ammo iam not going to panic,i will wait till the price goes down,at the gun show i saw lots of ammo but the hard thing to get is primers and powder i have been reloading all winter so iam running low on certain powders and pistol primers.

[saylean]

If he's desperate, send him to Wades in bellevue. they have plenty of .22 ammo, or did yesterday.

[Mauser]

I don't know where your friend lives but Sunbirds Shopping Center in Chehalis has a lot of ammuntion on the shelves. They are also very well stocked with powder if you reload. Most of their centerfire ammo is Remington. They were unloading several pallets of that brand the last time I was in the store. What shocked me was the sticker price on some of those cigar sized magnums.

[jackelope]

i heard from my inlaws that CCI went back to work and are running 2 shifts now.
i think they had big cutbacks/layoffs but i'm not entirely sure of the whole story.

[weasel]

just got back from a 2 week business trip to Ohio. i thought i'd check out some gun shops for some bullets. i could not find any. all the shops said they are out of just about everything. so i go to walmart and the shelves are empty except for a couple boxes of 303 british something.  there was also a sign that limited you to two boxes. this shortage is just not in wa. where can i get a box of gameking 200 gr. 30 cal. bullets.   

[DAVE460]

I was in Kesselirings this Sat and the had no cheap 22 long rifle, only match grade.

[magnanimous_j]

I think that if there was something truly nefarious going on (government sneakiness and the like) the ammo factories would be raising holy hell.

I think there is a temporary spike in demand coupled with a little old fashioned price gouging. If we think theres no ammo to be had, we won't think twice about paying 200% of what we did a couple years ago.

My guess, there are warehouses full of ammo, but releasing it a bit at a time and playing on people's fears is so much more profitable.

[shoot-em-dead]

WOW, I'm impressed Maggie, your finally admitting to some belief in a conspiracy .

[Bigshooter]

I don't know where your friend lives but Sunbirds Shopping Center in Chehalis has a lot of ammuntion on the shelves. They are also very well stocked with powder if you reload. Most of their centerfire ammo is Remington. They were unloading several pallets of that brand the last time I was in the store. What shocked me was the sticker price on some of those cigar sized magnums.

I have been checking in on sunbirds the last few months.  Sometimes the shelves are pretty full other times there is hardly anything.