Topic: Ammo Shortages

[Magnum]

Libertas thanks for the info on the R1 Remington. I too have heard much good about the gun but I am just relaying what I was told by the guy I talked to at the gun shop.

If you ever meander your way over to Danbury Wisconsin there is a BP gas station on Wisconsin 35 and 77 that still has ammo. I could not believe it when I stopped in on my way up north. I paid a pretty penny for the .22lr ammo. Prices were $4.95 for 50 rounds but they had a nice selection if you are in a pinch. They also had 9mm, 40 mm, .45 cal and pretty much anything else you may need. Like I said they are expensive I believe the Blazer (I personally don't like or use) 9 mm sold for $24.95 for 50 rounds which is $12.00 more than I paid around St. Paul before Newtown. Apparently the "guy" that runs the gun shop has connections. He also had some AR-15's and Ak 47's if you can believe it.

If you are low on anything give me a PM and the next time I make my way up there I will see if they have what you need and pick up what you want...........

[Glock32]

$24.95 for 9mm Blazer, man what a world we live in now. I seriously remember when that stuff was $3.99! It seems my whole life has been bad timing. The late 90s and early 2000s were a golden age for a lot of gun stuff (even in spite of the Clinton AWB), but I was always penniless. Now I have more money but you can't get anything.

[Alphabet Soup]

I was in an ornery mood today so I played hooky for a few hours and stopped by SportCo. I had been there about a month back and it was pretty well barren there, but it was much worse today. There was essentially no ammo to be had - some 20-gauge shotgun and some .25 calibre pistol rounds. The magazine and accessories rack was completely cleared out. Their counters were about 1/3 full of pistols - mostly the cheapest of cheap or outrageously expensive.

I came away empty-handed (story of my life)... 

[trapeze]

Well, I almost hate to say that yes, once again, I am about to embark on yet another expedition to Walmart in search of plentiful and cheap ammunition. There is an ammo shipment due to come in within the next two to three hours. It will be available for purchase in an hour or two after that and I will be there to collect my three box maximum. Less than 48 hours ago I picked up three bricks of .22LR for a total of $76 (including sales tax). I could have had three boxes of 9mm of .40SW or .45 or .223 but I am currently working on building up my inventory of .22LR to the 10,000 round level and tonight's (actually tomorrow morning's) outing will net me another 1,500+ rounds.

Seriously, guys...you have got to do this. Yes, it's a pain in the neck going to Walmart in the wee early hours of the morning and yes, it's kind of demeaning having to ask lowly peon Walmart clerks which days and what times the ammo comes in at but if the goal is to get ammo and get it at the old prices then this is the way to do it.

I know...we all want to just waltz in to the local Academy or Dick's whenever we want and buy whatever we want but those days are, for now, over. Or at least postponed until further notice. I say, "Screw it." Let's get some ammo.

I have used this Walmart strategy now in two different cities, two different states and it's the same thing. The ammo comes in. The store employees know when it's coming (they don't know what they are going to get). They will tell you if you ask and then the rest is up to you. You have to be willing to show up early and wait in line. You have to put up with only being able to buy three boxes. It's stupid and degrading but it works and it's reasonably priced. I know for a fact that I'm gonna be shooting this summer.

I will be there in seven or eight hours to get some .22LR (if they have any) or one of my other calibers. You should do this, too.

[Pandora]

One does what needs doing.  Humiliation is no factor when you're on a mission.

Good job, trap.

BTW, there's a good reason to buy the stuff one doesn't need because all ammo has gun powder and primers which can be used for reloading provided you've the brass and the reloading machine.  Think about it.

[Alphabet Soup]

I'm sorry y'all are having to go through so much trouble.

I started making a small purchase roughly once a month. Different calibers each month. And about the same time I stopped shooting. So I'm sitting pretty much exactly where I want to be (other than not finding a decently priced M1A1). 

[trapeze]

One does what needs doing.  Humiliation is no factor when you're on a mission.

Good job, trap.

BTW, there's a good reason to buy the stuff one doesn't need because all ammo has gun powder and primers which can be used for reloading provided you've the brass and the reloading machine.  Think about it.

Oh, I'm definitely going to start stocking up on smokeless powder, primers and bullets. That's going to start getting to the top of the shopping list very soon. I am pretty sure that my local gun store has both for sale.

Something else that should be on everyone's SHTF list would be gun cleaning and maintenance supplies. I have already picked up enough gun cleaning chemicals and tools to last me for about a decade...maybe two. Spare parts will be on my list, too, at some point. Gotta think these things through.

[trapeze]

Oh, hey...if anyone is interested in a badass shotgun I got an email on this today...

Soon, baby, soon. That gun plus a 50 round drum mag...woo, hoo!

I might have to have this one shipped to one of my Texas properties since CO is in the process of going full on commie but screw it, who cares?

BTW...same place has quite a few mags available if you can't find any locally. Not cheap but they do have them.

[Alphabet Soup]

Oh, hey...if anyone is interested in a badass shotgun I got an email on this today...

Soon, baby, soon. That gun plus a 50 round drum mag...woo, hoo!

I might have to have this one shipped to one of my Texas properties since CO is in the process of going full on commie but screw it, who cares?

You won't be disappointed 

[trapeze]

I gotta put it off. Don't have unlimited funds and the AK47 build project plus the ammo acquisition plus the reloading machine plus the reloading supplies are going to have to take precedence for now. I'm thinking that maybe by the end of the year or early next. But this would be the ultimate SHTF weapon for close combat so it IS on the list. Just not now.

[Glock32]

One does what needs doing.  Humiliation is no factor when you're on a mission.

Good job, trap.

BTW, there's a good reason to buy the stuff one doesn't need because all ammo has gun powder and primers which can be used for reloading provided you've the brass and the reloading machine.  Think about it.

Oh, I'm definitely going to start stocking up on smokeless powder, primers and bullets. That's going to start getting to the top of the shopping list very soon. I am pretty sure that my local gun store has both for sale.

Something else that should be on everyone's SHTF list would be gun cleaning and maintenance supplies. I have already picked up enough gun cleaning chemicals and tools to last me for about a decade...maybe two. Spare parts will be on my list, too, at some point. Gotta think these things through.

I have just about every spare part for a Glock pistol, for SHTF purposes. It's one reason a Glock makes an ideal TEOTWAWKI pistol, you can replace any part yourself without any special tools. A small punch is all that is needed.

[Alphabet Soup]

I gotta put it off. Don't have unlimited funds and the AK47 build project plus the ammo acquisition plus the reloading machine plus the reloading supplies are going to have to take precedence for now. I'm thinking that maybe by the end of the year or early next. But this would be the ultimate SHTF weapon for close combat so it IS on the list. Just not now.

I understand practical necessities. However, I paid $599 for mine.

Back when they were plentiful.

Back when they were legal.

just sayin...

[trapeze]

I gotta put it off. Don't have unlimited funds and the AK47 build project plus the ammo acquisition plus the reloading machine plus the reloading supplies are going to have to take precedence for now. I'm thinking that maybe by the end of the year or early next. But this would be the ultimate SHTF weapon for close combat so it IS on the list. Just not now.

I understand practical necessities. However, I paid $599 for mine.

Back when they were plentiful.

Back when they were legal.

just sayin...

Well, since I won't be buying one right away, perhaps the prices will come down a bit. Hope so. I agree that $900 is a bit pricey for a Russian made shotgun. I mean, hey, it's not like it's an over and under Benelli with hand finished walnut furniture.

Walmart Strategy Update:

I went in to the local TX Walmart this morning at 6AM and found out that no, they did not get any ammo in overnight. So that sucked. I have one more shot at it before I return to CO tomorrow morning and I will not pass up the opportunity. Heck, I might take someone with me so that I can pick up an additional 1500 rounds (if they have them). And, depending on what time I am on the road for my return trip I may be able to stop in at another two or three Walmarts. Heck, let's be optimistic here...I might be able to get my inventory up to my goal of !0,000 rounds of .22LR before I get back to CO.

[benb61]

Well, still nothing to be had in So Cal unless you jump through the "find out when the shippment arrives and be there in the wee hours of the morning" hoops.  Not that that is not an excellent way to get what you need at this point in the game, it's just very time consuming.  Anywho...  I went to a gun show last weekend and was able to pick up 580 rounds of .223 and about  60 cents/round, and an additional 250 of 9mm HP for less than  45 cents/round.  They had no .22LR at all except for bird/snake shot.  I need to start hitting the Walmarts around here and set up a spreadsheet of delivery nights and stock times.

Edited to fix typos.

[trapeze]

Sixty cents a round for .223 is not bad. I have been having to pay seventy cents a round at my local shooting supply store in CO. I haven't shopped for it at Walmart yet but I would hop that it would be closer to forty cents a round.

[trapeze]

No ammo came in on the truck last night. I'm leaving TX in the early morning hours so I have one last chance to pick some more up.

Drove to Cabela's yesterday. Very nice store. I could have spent untold thousands of dollars in there but kept it in the hundreds. They did have some .17 and I bought a couple of boxes for someone who couldn't find any locally. Boxes and boxes of A15 mags (plastic ones) at $24.95/ea. Passed on those.

[IronDioPriest]

Boxes and boxes of A15 mags (plastic ones) at $24.95/ea. Passed on those.

I woulda bought mitt full just to piss on your tyrannical legislature.

[Libertas]

Libertas thanks for the info on the R1 Remington. I too have heard much good about the gun but I am just relaying what I was told by the guy I talked to at the gun shop.

If you ever meander your way over to Danbury Wisconsin there is a BP gas station on Wisconsin 35 and 77 that still has ammo. I could not believe it when I stopped in on my way up north. I paid a pretty penny for the .22lr ammo. Prices were $4.95 for 50 rounds but they had a nice selection if you are in a pinch. They also had 9mm, 40 mm, .45 cal and pretty much anything else you may need. Like I said they are expensive I believe the Blazer (I personally don't like or use) 9 mm sold for $24.95 for 50 rounds which is $12.00 more than I paid around St. Paul before Newtown. Apparently the "guy" that runs the gun shop has connections. He also had some AR-15's and Ak 47's if you can believe it.

If you are low on anything give me a PM and the next time I make my way up there I will see if they have what you need and pick up what you want...........

Across from the casino, yeah I cruise in there sometimes when up at the lake, last got some .380, little more expensive but available.  I plan on being up around there end of this month and will check it out again.

To update my own situation I guess it pays to get PO'd.  I made the rounds yesterday and was coming up zilch, but then decided what the heck and cruised into a Gander Mountain, fairly well picked clean with the exception of shotgun, .17, few .45acp & colt, and some 7.62x54.  Father came up dry on the Marlin but I took a look at a Mossberg 702, clerk said they have 3 left, I wondered about buying now and hoping to get some .22LR later and he mentions he was one box of Win HP's left (500 rnds), so I had him ring it all up!

So now I have a decent squirrel gun and plinker and some ammo, I got a lot on my plate but want to hit the range in the next couple weeks and test her out.  I too am gather intel on peoples delivery days/times and I may have to take some half days off to see if I can get a jump on building up the .22LR reserves.  I have about 10k in various flavors now so I am OK, but I will need to load up on more rifle rounds overall.

The 702 is black synthetic stock 18" barrel and has the high-cap mag giving it the little scary black rifle look.  

Pretty much what you see here -

http://www.mossberg.com/product/rifles-autoloading-rimfire-international-plinkster-702-22/37001

And I might pick up a couple more of these -

http://shopping.yahoo.com/943801380-702-plinkster-25-round-magazine-and-loader/

[Libertas]

One does what needs doing.  Humiliation is no factor when you're on a mission.

Good job, trap.

BTW, there's a good reason to buy the stuff one doesn't need because all ammo has gun powder and primers which can be used for reloading provided you've the brass and the reloading machine.  Think about it.

Oh, I'm definitely going to start stocking up on smokeless powder, primers and bullets. That's going to start getting to the top of the shopping list very soon. I am pretty sure that my local gun store has both for sale.

Something else that should be on everyone's SHTF list would be gun cleaning and maintenance supplies. I have already picked up enough gun cleaning chemicals and tools to last me for about a decade...maybe two. Spare parts will be on my list, too, at some point. Gotta think these things through.

I have just about every spare part for a Glock pistol, for SHTF purposes. It's one reason a Glock makes an ideal TEOTWAWKI pistol, you can replace any part yourself without any special tools. A small punch is all that is needed.

What on a Glock is most prone to wear?  What should we be squirreling away?  Extractors, recoil spring, that kind of stuff?

[Glock32]

The part I've had to replace twice now on my G17 is the striker. I think I have just been extraordinarily unlucky, because this is not typically considered a high wear part. Parts I would keep would be springs (recoil spring, trigger spring, slide stop) and extractors. It might be good to have a spare striker assembly too.

They are incredibly easy to work on. No fitting or machining, entirely modular. There are prettier pistols, there are pistols that subjectively feel better in the hand, but there are none I would rather have in a Mad Max scenario.