Why the shortage of reloading components?

Aznative

Aznative

New member
I went to my favorite little gunshop yesterday, and it is really getting emptied out of late. The owners are now worried that sales will be down because they cannot get stock in to sell. They told me that they won't be getting any IMR powders until Oct, and Winchester Primers won't be available any time soon because they just got a government contract.

I know the war in Afganistan is eating up some supply, but I feel the hoarding is the biggest issue. There is an ole saying in business that you always take care of the 20% of your customers that give you 80% of your business. This makes me think that the primer, bullet, and powder shortage us reloaders feel is caused by the fact that the commercial loaders have first crack at getting their supplies first. Home loaders get what is left over. If any of you are in this industry and can provide any input on this, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
 
Take a look at the ammo shelves. They are empty and most manufacturers are putting their primers, bullets, powder, etc. into loaded rounds because the market is crazy right now.

People are hoarding both loaded ammo and reloading supplies so if you are not standing there when it hits the shelf, chances are you are too late.

It's tough for any of us trying to get ammo or components at this point in time.
 
The civilian "run" on shooting supplies actually started when all the polls started giving the election to "the Anointed One" and really picked up steam the day after the election...

I started laying back a few items when the "Anti-Bush" rhetoric was going heavy and Hillary/Barak started campaigning so early in the process... There were just too many Republican candidates running at the time and none looked really favorable...

Considering the state of affairs today, I'm glad I got some, while the getting was fairly good..
 
I wouldn't consider what I did 'hoarding'. I would call it smart purchasing but no matter what you call it if you don't have it you probably won't get it anytime soon.

I did notice that Midway had more available varmint bullets today than they had for quite some time. Not that that will last long but FYI.
 
I started purchasing some time ago; when it looked like the Hildebeast or the Obamanation could actually win. Never went by a sporting goods store without buying a few components.

I think that fear is moving a lot of the product, but I have to wonder about the current administration causing shortages (aside from the fear factor). I cannot believe the DOD's short lived decision to shred military .223 and .308 brass did not have its source in the White House or that line of thinking. Is the current admin stopping the importation of foreign made ammo? The only current .223 that I have found is US made. And there is certainly a move afoot to stop importing certain foreign made firearms.

Obama's back ground from the time he graduated law school has been staunchly anti-gun. Despite his convenient campaign rhetoric, I have every confidence that he will sell the 2nd Amendment short any chance he gets. He will not spend the political capital to do it directly, but there is a lot he can do that behind the scenes.
 
I agree 100%...
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I have to wonder about the current administration causing shortages (aside from the fear factor). I cannot believe the DOD's short lived decision to shred military .223 and .308 brass did not have its source in the White House or that line of thinking.


He's been too consistent in his old attitudes and his history on the subject is too ingrained..

I think it's a shame that his Kansas grandparents didn't take that boy out and teach him how to hunt and survive while they had him...If they really had him for any length of time...
 

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I think it's a shame that his Kansas grandparents didn't take that boy out and teach him how to hunt and survive while they had him...If they really had him for any length of time...



My neighbor had a pet monkey, couldn't teach him jack. The similarities are amazing.........
 
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204 gunner- TOO FUNNY!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

If the panic buying would cease for a short time, and people would relax, things might settle. I know a few guys that have bought cases and cases of ammo recently. If things died off right now they wouldn't shoot what they have
right now in 3 lifetimes. It's ridiculous. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
I've been wondering if there has been any inside deals made with the administration. (Maybe: Limit civilian production and you will get a military contract)

I know from other forums that people have written and emailed the biggy ammo and component manufacturer's asking them if they are going to ramp up production to meet market demand and all have failed to get a response.
 
Well, I just emailed Winchester and Federal, I couldn't find one for Remington. Both the Win and Fed sites, after I submitted the emails, both said I will get a response in two days, so we'll see. I suggest others contact them as well.
 
We seem to be ok here in NH. IMR powders have been arriving once a month. I bought 10lb.s of powder a few months back and a few bricks of small and large rifle primers. I've got lots of bullets from years of buying, I always grab them on sale. I always sit on a large amount. I can burn through 400 rounds in a day at a military shoot.
 
Buy it when and if you can find it. It's going to get more and more difficult. I have quite a bit - yeah hoarding - but who really cares - smart purchasing. I doubt I'll run out any time soon, but one never knows /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Be prepared - I learned a few things in Boy Scouts.
 
I was at a gun show this past weekend. Not a case of 5.56 in the place and very few 7.62. I talked to one guy who was lamenting that he was "down to" 30K rounds.... now come on, seriously?

For those that are looking, I did see 5.56 bulk at Ammunition to go (dot) com for $400/1K. I also saw another place I won't mention that was asking $700/1K for LC loose pack. Personally, I'll wait till the prices come down
 
I went to a gun show this weekend, ran into a friend that told me of a friend that has bought 10,000 bullets, and brass as well as 300#'s of powder. Tell me that did'nt effect supply all over. Must of had plenty'o primmers I'd guess.
 
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I wouldn't consider what I did 'hoarding'. I would call it smart purchasing but no matter what you call it if you don't have it you probably won't get it anytime soon.



Hey SKB, have you ever considered a career in politics?

From this, you appear to have a real undiscovered talent!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Take a look at the ammo shelves. They are empty and most manufacturers are putting their primers, bullets, powder, etc. into loaded rounds because the market is crazy right now.

People are hoarding both loaded ammo and reloading supplies so if you are not standing there when it hits the shelf, chances are you are too late.

It's tough for any of us trying to get ammo or components at this point in time.



This was the main purpose for my post. I was hoping someone in the industry would verify that the ammo companies are focusing on assembled ammo first and reloading components second. I would simply like to know why it is getting so scarce my favorite gun store is worried about sales dropping because they cannnot replace stock. I don't go to gun shows as a rule, but I've heard from others that people are going in with carts to haul off ammo.
 
Here is a possible theory??Seems like the anti's have deep pockets,anyone ever wonder if they are buying up large contracts and either selling to other countries or destroying product just to keep prices so high a lot of reloaders will get discouraged and quit shooting??hope not!!
 


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