Back in January, I wrote an article expressing just how hard it was for me to find ammunition for the brand new handgun my wife surprised me with.
As much as I wish this was an April Fools joke, it's not. It seems like the ammunition shortage has only gotten worse.
I snapped the image to the right from a local Walmart ammo shelves (the same store that the image from the previous article came from).
There is even less ammunition on the shelf, in fact, it seems that the only thing left in good supply is the 12 gauge shotgun shells.
The scary part is, it isn't just private citizens that are having trouble getting ANY ammunition… Check out this article from a few days ago featured on FOX
- Ammo Can 9mm Combo, 1000 Rounds, Flat Dark Earth
- Double Latch Design
- Double Padlock Tabs
Why Ammunition Shortage Is a Bad Thing!
Ammunition Shortage Affecting Law Enforcement
OSHKOSH – A national shortage on some types of gun ammunition is having a major impact.
Private citizens are paying premium prices for limited supplies.
- Carry up to 85 pounds of gear with two strong side handles
- Stackable design and double padlock tabbed for security; Four tie-down points on the side
- Water-resistant O-ring seal for dry storage; Non-submersible
And some law enforcement agencies are waiting months for shipments as manufacturers struggle to meet demand.
Forty calibers, nine millimeters, .223 and .308. All types of gun ammunition that is in short supply and costing buyers a premium.
“It's borderline horrible,” said Jon Gafner, owner of Jon's Sports Shop in Oshkosh. He says the shortage is hurting the average gun owner.
“They just want to go to the range on the weekend and shoot a box of shells and they can't buy them.”
Gafner says talk of new gun and ammunition restrictions in Washington, D.C. are causing the shortage. Gafner says gun shops are selling out of ammunition as soon as they get it in stock. And private gun owners aren't the only ones facing a shortage.
The Town of Menasha Police Department says it can't get enough ammunition for the department's AR-15 assault rifles. The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department says it has enough ammunition for now.
“We're looking at a six to eight month backup on some of the ammunition,” said Lt. Darin Rice of the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department.
- Use this crate for easier carry and transport of multi-caliber ammo storage
- Includes Four, O-ring sealed 30 Caliber ammo cans (AC30T) for multi-caliber ammo storage
- 30 Caliber ammo cans are a convenient size to store all types of bulk ammo and will be impossible to tip over in the AC4C
Lt. Rice says the department currently pays $12.20 for 50 rounds of 40 caliber handgun ammo and $10.06 for 20 rounds of AR-15 ammunition. But he expects when the state negotiates a new contract for participating law enforcement agencies this summer, that backup will also come with a higher price tag.
“Different vendors I have talked to told me they anticipate an increase in the cost of ammunition in the near future.”
Both Gafner and Lt. Rice say the increases could reach 10-15 percent.
View the original article here
You might also want to check out this related article: The Best Way To Store Your Ammo
This must be a major pain in the rear for police and vendors, but the truth is it doesn't have to be a pain for you.
Check out this new report on ammunition reloading and learn how you can make sure you are never out of ammo, even when the police are.
- Three reinforced, fixed steel shelves that can hold up to 75lbs per shelf
- Can store up to 8 standard sized ammo cans
- Superior all-steel 3-point locking system
Watch this video from Student of the Gun on ammunition shortage, lesson learned, for more insights:
It now seems that the shortage of ammo is gradually ending but this doesn't mean this is not going to happen again. With the gun control issues confronting the gun industry, that might be sooner or later. But don't panic just yet. There are more simple ways around it, including the tips from the related articles we have here. You can buy bulk ammunition or simply buy a box or two when you go to the ammunition depot or store and you will be surprised with an ammo storage fully stocked over time.
What's your take on this gun ammunition shortage? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
Editor’s Note: Legal “Loophole” Allows You To Carry Concealed In 28 States
Up Next: Shotgun Ammo For Home Defense | Buckshot vs Birdshot
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 1, 2013, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.