Bullets are speeding faster out of gunshops in U.S.

Bullets are speeding faster out of gunshops in U.S.

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We've been seeing this happen at an accelerated rate over the course of the past year, with each quarter as the trend continues to increase it seems to hit the news again and again.

Even raising prices to 3x the normal price hasn't deterred consumers. They are still buying and suppliers are selling out their stock. Consumers are even stockpiling calibers for guns they don't even own!

Of course, this is great news for the Fed which has seen Tax Revenue from Gun Sales increase 42% and Tax Revenue from Ammunition Sales increase 49% over the past year.

However, as previous stories were prone to blame the looming threat of Gun Control Initiatives from the new POTUS in the White House and the Democratic controlled Congress, this story has pointed out that this trend actually defies those original theories as this trend does not appear to be politically motivated being that the current political climate has put Gun Control Initiatives on the back-burner indefinitely.

My initial theory, at the beginning of the year, was that this was an artificial shortage contrived by the ammo manufacturers to boost Revenue. However, with sales beyond what the manufacturers can keep up with, and almost doubling sales last year, it is beginning to appear that such is not the reason.

I'd be curious as to what other theories one may have for the dramatic rise in ammo sales if not politics, greed by the manufacturers, fear of Gun Control Legislation, or fear of Crime.

www.washingtonpost.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 3-11-2009 by fraterormus]

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.

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.

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.

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!

reply to post by fraterormus

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I am sure that little Rabbit will get his with all that 9mm and .45 ammo.

Shotgun shells are plentitful.

Handgun and mil. rounds are the one's hard to get. .223/.308/9mm/.45

not hunting rounds.

reply to post by j2000

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.223, .308 are certainly hunting rounds. These are not strictly military. Now 7.62 is almost impossible to find, and it is pretty much military and assault only.

.22 rimfire are not that easy to get a hold of either!

.38 has been selling out the same day as delivery.

IMO, .38 and .45 are mainly home and self defense, and that is why people are buying them! .223 .308 7.62 are for us paranoid folks that might need to hunt for food, or launch an offensive! You just never know!

FYI. Georgia Arms has plenty of ammo in all calibers! They come to our gunshows, and they always have plenty to sell. They have a website, the ammo is very dependable, but it gets my guns a little dirtier than I would like.

www.georgia-arms.com...

Birdshot is the onlything I've seen that's plentiful. Slugs are hard to find and 00 Buck is as scarce as .38 and .45 handgun, maybe moreso.

Classic Arms has a bunch of it in stock... brass, too. None of that steel-case crap (which I have way too much of.)

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.

reply to post by tjack

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You are correct.

Obama has been the best thing to happen to gun and ammunition sales in years.

Sadly, it is because people think he will remove guns and ammunition from the general population.

BTW, prices have gone up 200-300% also.

[edit on 11/3/2009 by mrmonsoon]

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.

Um Yeah Ok....