One of my students asked me yesterday if it was OK if he shot part of his allotted 500 rounds with the excellent Advantage Arms .22 Long Rifle conversion unit on his Glock 23 carry gun. The reason was that he’d been able to round up 500 rounds of .40 S&W, but shooting it up would leave his practice ammo supply severely depleted. I told him that part of what he was learning with me was rapid fire recoil control, and he’d do better to shoot with the “real deal.” (Conversion units for inexpensive .22 are great for developing trigger control, though, and “draw to the shot” smoothness with accuracy.)
Yes, the ammo shortage continues, and it has generated much discussion among gun folks. My good friend Jon Strayer has some very insightful comments on the reasons for it HERE, at the ProArms News and Views Blog.
Friend Ted Fries passes along THIS commentary from a blog with which I was previously unfamiliar.
I’m finding somewhat more availability than this time last year with SOME cartridges, while others — .45 ACP, for instance – are simply not to be found in certain areas.
What’s all y’all’s take on this? Comment here!
I did the same as G.W.F. I stocked up on 308,38, and 45LC and I have always had a good supple of 22, plus I have a 5mm rifle that I got from an estate sale. And 70 50 round boxes came with it, so that really helped me out, but I do very little practice. I am not a bad shot with the Springfield Socom II and have just about 1000 round of 308. Its just a shame that they have to goof up our ammo.
Here in Indiana I am seeing all the WWB you could want in 9mm and .40S&W at the local Walmarts ever since the price of that ammo went up. The new hard to find item is the Federal brand range ammo that Walmart just recently began carrying. As far as self defense ammo or anything in .357 magnum or .45ACP? Forget it. I order all my revolver ammo and JHPs online because you will never see it in a store here.
The lack of ammo in a brick and mortar store shouldn’t hinder purchasing your ammo. If your reading and posting on Mas’s blog you can buy ammo anywhere without leaving your house. If the price is right just order via Internet.
Two search engines for ammo I’m aware of are:
http://www.ammoseek.com
http://www.ammoengine.com
I reload my practice ammo for all the cartridges that I use except for 9mm. My local Wal-Mart (south MS) seems to keep a decent supply of Winchesters 100 rd value pack in 115 gr FMJ 9mm, so that’s what I use in 9mm. The .40 S&W and .45 acp value packs tend to be elusive, but they always have some .357 Sig ammo in stock
For defensive ammo I order from the folks at http://www.ammunitiontogo.com . They have a great selection, and ship in a very timely manner.
I know how easy it is to get ammo and gun stuff thru the net. I too like to go to the big box stores and look at all the shiny stuff on the shelves. BUT, when it comes to parting with my hard earned cash I hate to give it to some faceless corp. that may or may not have a gun dept. next month depending on the corporate winds. I’ve also found after shipping and everything is added in the internet price is about the same as my local gun store. I’d rather pay a few cents or buck
I don’t know what happened here but I’ll try to finish. I’d rather pay a little more and get better service. my gun guy can order any thing I want and when I have problems- he knows guns cold. Don’t pass your local gun shop by on the way to make a ‘fabulous’big box purchase, it may not be such a good buy after all.
About a year ago, I decided to start reloading my own .40, and I’m glad I did! At this point I have passed the break-even point for the investment in a progressive press and find loading sessions to be a great time of relaxation and satisfaction. Thus far (knock on brass) everything I’ve loaded has gone bang in the proper way. So if you’re considering taking up reloading, get with a friend who already does it and let them get you started.
“I don’t know what happened here but I’ll try to finish. I’d rather pay a little more and get better service. my gun guy can order any thing I want and when I have problems- he knows guns cold. Don’t pass your local gun shop by on the way to make a ‘fabulous’big box purchase, it may not be such a good buy after all.”
DITTO. When you’ve SEEN a Wally World sporting-goods clerk not know where a particular kind of .22 LR ammo was when they were a yard from it, you know this.
ALL US OLD TIMERS THAT ARE LUCKY ENOUGHT TO BE RETIRED AND HAVE A SINGLE STAGE RELOADER TIME IS ON OUR SIDE ,WE HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN RELOAD. LUCKY US. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GET THE COMPONENTS TO DO IT. HERE IN CALIF. I DON’T GET TO GO SHOOTING AS MUCH AS I DID IN IDAHO. THEY KEEP PUTING GUNS ON THE BAD LIST. I JUST CAN’T KEEP CHANGING MY STOCKS ALL THE TIME TO KEEP UP. BUY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AFFORD . I BUY TARGET AMMO AND THEN AFTER I SHOOT IT, I RELOAD WITH HOLLOW POINTS POWER UP TO LIMITS. THEN THIS GOES TO STORAGE , AND START OVER AGAIN.
The ammo shortage is the same here in Canada if not worse, especially for most handgun ammo. Almost all of course is manufactured in the US. The same goes for any decent rifle ammo that would be considered defensive, .223 & .308 win. When you find it, it usually costs 30% more than it did last year and more than double in some cases from only a couple of years ago.
Hand loading equipment and bullet components have been flying off the shelves for the last 1 ½ years. I could buy any powder or bullet style I wanted 2 years ago and now spend months finding the basics from dozens of stores in my area (about the size of Texas).
Now when I walk into a store, if I find a supply of “anything” that I normally load, I buy out their stock (eat or be eaten).
For example if you want CCI stinger .22LR you will be told that they haven’t seen an order since late 2009, or that the last guy who walked in just spent $1,200.00 on the mornings shipment.
The hardest hand loading finds for me at the moment are:
CCI primers (especially large pistol).
.45 ACP brass
.357 Mag brass
9mm 115 gr. JHP – .357 125gr. JHP – .45 200gr JHP.
.223 55gr SP – .308 150gr. SP (yea really, .308 150gr).
Apparently many mainline powders are also impossible to find, but I’m well stocked with what I need for years to come.
Otherwise it is either hit and miss, or compromising with your pet loads.
Most good to excellent shotgun and “regular” hunting ammo is still widely available, albeit at ridiculously inflated prices.
Hi there, I live in Southern Louisiana and most ammo is actually fairly plentiful these days. I can walk into my local Wal-Mart right this second and pick up my Federal 9mm for 9.99/box, my Federal .45ACP for 16.99/box, and all the .22LR I can carry from 13.99/300 for Winchester or 17.99/500 for Federal and all the ‘Special’ Brands in between like Remington Yellow Jackets or CCI Stingers. .357Mag can be found fairly easily also.
Like others have posted, the elusive .380ACP is still the toughest to come by…but is still being delivered once a week, and if you get in good with the WallyWorld employee, he/she will tell you when the shipment arrives.
How i find ammo, sneak around counter at Wally mart and just take it out of
hidding place. 45 acp cases hidden, 308 win same place, must less federal
22lr on next shelf all not seen from counter. Wow only double prices.
What was 7$ 22lr boxes of 525 now $22 out door, and i steal it too, but pay.
Why does 13 separate wally marts have no ammo on shelves?
Hoarding is fun, but must have any ammo found, just remember to pay.
Last customer meet at wally mart fought for 45 acp 100 round boxes, $33.
today 10,000 rounds found 22lr, shoot off 525 at a wack each cost $7.00.
Wow what 5 years differance makes today. Remember NOBaMa Imbargo, that
sob is a anti gunner. Russian ammo, Chinese ammo all go bang.
Kalifornia ammo will be gone , come Feb 2011. Guest price ammo feb 2011.
Miitia Kalifornia , army of one hoarder.
Feb ’11. Ozarks. Ammo has shown up again. But still limited. Popular calibers are sporatic availability. Some gun shops bought high during the shortage, now have ammo too high to sell. CheaperThanDirt is about the best prices anywhere.