Shooting Product Vendor(s) going crazy...

[flatlander]

I figured the hoarding thing had just risen to a new level, even worse than when Clinton was first elected. But Obama's flat scared the pants off most of us, and with each shooting that makes the news, the panic-buying/hoarding has gotten worse than it's ever been in the past. No one I know trusts the current administration any further than we can toss them, so it's easy to believe the worst possible explanations for the current shortages. Having said all that, I'm starting to believe (as a couple of previous replies have said) that we may be our own worst enemies.

Add to that the number of folks who are looking to get into reloading for the first time - I've been reloading all my own CF ammo since 1968 when I was still in high school, and always just assumed that everyone else was doing the same. So it's amazing to finally realize how many shooters are just now starting to get into reloading - some
without enough knowledge to fully understand what they really need to get started. So it's not too difficult to figure out why these shortages have persisted for as long as they have.

 

[wrangler5]

I'm afraid the shortages may persist longer than they have in the past. Unless the Supreme Court comes out with opinions that make for a very broad individual right to keep and bear, and which will make most of these "common sense gun control" proposals clearly Unconstitutional, I for one expect to begin laying in a full year's supply of any ammunition and components that I use. After I've got my year's supply on hand, I'll then continue to buy what I use as I use it. (Rotating old stock, of course.)

I will also spend time and resources to work up equally accurate loads for my rifles using several different powders and bullets and primers. While I'm getting old enough to imagine running out of time to shoot, I want NEVER AGAIN to be in a position where I run out of ammunition or components. If many others follow my pattern of stocking up, it will continue to put demand pressure on the supply for quite a while.

If what I plan constitutes "hoarding," well so be it. I prefer to think of it as simply "stocking up" to a different level than I have previously used, something that recent events have shown to be prudent.

 

[Steve Blair]

I've always thought of hoarding as acquiring things that may never be used. As the previous posters said, I'm adjusting inventory levels to supply considerations.

 

[wrangler5]

I'm adjusting inventory levels to supply considerations.

Now THERE's a politically correct definition if I ever saw one. I'll try to remember to use it on a liberal and watch his head explode. I love it.

 

[XTR]

The double whammy that I'm getting hit with is that I'm trying to experiment with some new bullets and powders as they are all I can find. The problem with that is that you can't just pick up 100 bullets and a pound of powder, because if you get a new load you better have enough to make it useful or it's just one more thing you can't find.

So instead of 100 and a pound I buy 1000 and 5 lbs (should have gotten 10). Since I'm getting Bergers that's a $700+ investment in an experiment.

 

[GrocMax]

Can I borrow this?

Police depts. have no ammo, citizens have no ammo, distributors have no ammo. Seems like if someone is buying the ammo then distributors would be distributing to somebody, but they have nothing???

To more easily understand, think of an ordinary household toilet that's hooked up to a 1/4" water line. Flush it and it takes a long time to refill the tank. Flush it again before it's filled and it it might have enough to get the job done. Keep flushing it and the tank stays empty.

That's what's happening with the ammo/components market. It was only designed for a certain flow rate. People are continuing to "flush" the system and it's going to take a long time to catch up but ONLY when people stop cleaning the shelves every day.

Sorry for the toilet analogy but isn't this situation just a bunch of Crap? Seemed appropriate the time.

 

[amlevin]

Can I borrow this?

Police depts. have no ammo, citizens have no ammo, distributors have no ammo. Seems like if someone is buying the ammo then distributors would be distributing to somebody, but they have nothing???

To more easily understand, think of an ordinary household toilet that's hooked up to a 1/4" water line. Flush it and it takes a long time to refill the tank. Flush it again before it's filled and it it might have enough to get the job done. Keep flushing it and the tank stays empty.

That's what's happening with the ammo/components market. It was only designed for a certain flow rate. People are continuing to "flush" the system and it's going to take a long time to catch up but ONLY when people stop cleaning the shelves every day.

Sorry for the toilet analogy but isn't this situation just a bunch of Crap? Seemed appropriate the time.

Feel free. I probably "stole" it from someone else. At my age it's hard to remember. 8)