Call me whacko, but I think that people sense something wicked coming this way. All this news of bankruptcy (CIT), increased fighting and terrorism (Pakistan, Mexico/South America, Caucasus), and the much more present threat of disease (Ukraine) probably lead to an increased thinking of "just in case" and, as obvious by hoarding ammo in calibers one doesn't even have, panic.
This will continue this way, no doubt. Until we collectively reach a breaking point (as in SHTF) or we start to clean up the mess.

It's not just gun owners buying up the stock.

The US Military is the number one contributor.

Three words....

The Obama Factor

I've heard them spoken several times in gun stores, during CCW training, at the range, etc.

Everybody that I have heard speak of this matter believes that Obama is the reason.

Originally posted by Swordbeast
Call me whacko, but I think that people sense something wicked coming this way. All this news of bankruptcy (CIT), increased fighting and terrorism (Pakistan, Mexico/South America, Caucasus), and the much more present threat of disease (Ukraine) probably lead to an increased thinking of "just in case" and, as obvious by hoarding ammo in calibers one doesn't even have, panic.
This will continue this way, no doubt. Until we collectively reach a breaking point (as in SHTF) or we start to clean up the mess.

I definitely think that the "ill wind" theory is a big part of increased sales. There are also more gun owners now than there has been in the past couple of years (count me among them.) These new owners, especially first timers like me, who are serious about their sport/hobby are going to be spending more time at the range, burning through all of that ammo. I'd be curious to see stats on gun range occupancy.

Also, we are starting to enter the hunting season. With the economy in the shape that it is in, I'd expect there to be more hunters in the woods this year who are actually hunting for food more than sport. Many of those hunters may be laid-off or under-employed, allowing for more time to be spent out.

Originally posted by larphillips
Also, we are starting to enter the hunting season. With the economy in the shape that it is in, I'd expect there to be more hunters in the woods this year who are actually hunting for food more than sport. Many of those hunters may be laid-off or under-employed, allowing for more time to be spent out.

Actually this is probably one of the best explanations I have heard thus far, and it makes an awful lot of sense.

Although it may seem an odd concept to non-Americans, we are a society that has always kept hunting as a past-time and sport, but for the first time since the Great Depression this skill actually has utilitarian purposes for many families that are hurting during this economic crisis.

If I was laid-off or unemployed and couldn't easily afford to feed my family, hunting for food would be not only time well spent, but save an awful lot of money in the process. I could feed my family for little investment in ammo, and sell what my family doesn't eat.

I think you may be on to something there.

Originally posted by tjack
Three words....

The Obama Factor

I've heard them spoken several times in gun stores, during CCW training, at the range, etc.

Everybody that I have heard speak of this matter believes that Obama is the reason.

You're wrong. I have a friend who owns a sporting goods store, ammo has been flying off of the shelves since the Iraq war took off into full steam.

Just because YOU haven't been seeing it portrayed that way on Fox News, doesn't mean that it has not been going on.

Originally posted by Snarf

Originally posted by tjack
Three words....

The Obama Factor

I've heard them spoken several times in gun stores, during CCW training, at the range, etc.

Everybody that I have heard speak of this matter believes that Obama is the reason.

You're wrong. I have a friend who owns a sporting goods store, ammo has been flying off of the shelves since the Iraq war took off into full steam.

Just because YOU haven't been seeing it portrayed that way on Fox News, doesn't mean that it has not been going on.

I'm wrong? So, I didn't hear people saying that in the gun stores, ranges, classroom etc? Perhaps I imagined it?

Pardon me, but I think you're mistaken, friend, I did INDEED hear those words again and again, and I simply related my experience to the group here.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, I'm only relaying what I heard. Didn't dream it, didn't make it up, didn't watch it on FOX, went out there in the real world and HEARD IT MYSELF!

Actually, the shortage is almost exclusively in non-sporting handgun cartridges. I haven't seen a box of .38 special on a store shelf in months. 9mm is scarce, as are all of the other major handgun calibers. The only caliber I see available with regularity anymore is .40 S&W. I don't know any civilians that like that chambering, it's mostly for police IMO. .45ACP is scarce as hen's teeth, and is approaching $1 a round in some places.

.223 is NOT a sporting cartridge. It is a military and defensive cartridge. Very few places allow you to hunt deer with .223/ 5.56mm. Some varmint hunters use it, but to say that it's a mainstream hunting caliber is ridiculous. I have seen a bunch of it around lately, I think the manufacturers are starting to get on top of that demand. You can still find .308 and 30-06 etc. pretty easily. AK ammunition is pretty scarce too.

People are arming up- for various reasons. I don't think it's all because of Obama. It's pretty clear that gun control won't be on the table for a while. Folks are arming up because they feel that they may have a genuine need for weapons and ammunition in the near future.

Part of it is fear of the current administration and Congress attempting to pass additional gun control legislation, which is a direct result of Obama's early campaign push for 'common sense' gun control measures, something that went over like a lead balloon.

That said, I think an earlier poster was also correct in noting that Americans collectively sense that there's trouble on the horizon, and not just gun control. Those people are preparing accordingly.

Originally posted by moonwilson
Actually, the shortage is almost exclusively in non-sporting handgun cartridges. I haven't seen a box of .38 special on a store shelf in months. 9mm is scarce, as are all of the other major handgun calibers. The only caliber I see available with regularity anymore is .40 S&W. I don't know any civilians that like that chambering, it's mostly for police IMO. .45ACP is scarce as hen's teeth, and is approaching $1 a round in some places.

.223 is NOT a sporting cartridge. It is a military and defensive cartridge. Very few places allow you to hunt deer with .223/ 5.56mm. Some varmint hunters use it, but to say that it's a mainstream hunting caliber is ridiculous. I have seen a bunch of it around lately, I think the manufacturers are starting to get on top of that demand. You can still find .308 and 30-06 etc. pretty easily. AK ammunition is pretty scarce too.

People are arming up- for various reasons. I don't think it's all because of Obama. It's pretty clear that gun control won't be on the table for a while. Folks are arming up because they feel that they may have a genuine need for weapons and ammunition in the near future.

The 223 is not a military cartridge. The reason its not allowed to hunt with in most places is because the round was designed to Maim not kill.
The 223 has a lighter load then the 5.56. If you shoot a 5.56 out of a rifle chambered for a 223 you can damage the weapon.
The 223 is the sporting version and it is used for target shooting and hunting small game. Its not a defensive round at all.
To sum it up
the 5.56 has a hotter load for military purposes.
the 223 has a lighter load for target/ small game hunting.
DO NOT fire 5.56 in a weapon chambered for 223.

If anyone is having a hard time finding ammo you have to hit the stores in the morning before 9 am. Or preorder. I preorder from Cabalas and it comes in every week.

Americans are stocking...simple.

Pistol ammuntion is what is hard to get, the common calibers.


One thing, it has been getting better in the last 2 months. Walmart did NOT raise prices.

I have seen at least 10 boxes of .40 cal on Wally's shelf for a week @ $14 per 50.

2 months ago they had NONE.

Originally posted by Darkice19

Originally posted by moonwilson
Actually, the shortage is almost exclusively in non-sporting handgun cartridges. I haven't seen a box of .38 special on a store shelf in months. 9mm is scarce, as are all of the other major handgun calibers. The only caliber I see available with regularity anymore is .40 S&W. I don't know any civilians that like that chambering, it's mostly for police IMO. .45ACP is scarce as hen's teeth, and is approaching $1 a round in some places.

.223 is NOT a sporting cartridge. It is a military and defensive cartridge. Very few places allow you to hunt deer with .223/ 5.56mm. Some varmint hunters use it, but to say that it's a mainstream hunting caliber is ridiculous. I have seen a bunch of it around lately, I think the manufacturers are starting to get on top of that demand. You can still find .308 and 30-06 etc. pretty easily. AK ammunition is pretty scarce too.

People are arming up- for various reasons. I don't think it's all because of Obama. It's pretty clear that gun control won't be on the table for a while. Folks are arming up because they feel that they may have a genuine need for weapons and ammunition in the near future.

The 223 is not a military cartridge. The reason its not allowed to hunt with in most places is because the round was designed to Maim not kill.
The 223 has a lighter load then the 5.56. If you shoot a 5.56 out of a rifle chambered for a 223 you can damage the weapon.
The 223 is the sporting version and it is used for target shooting and hunting small game. Its not a defensive round at all.
To sum it up
the 5.56 has a hotter load for military purposes.
the 223 has a lighter load for target/ small game hunting.
DO NOT fire 5.56 in a weapon chambered for 223.

Um Yeah Ok....