Posted on 03/17/2009 12:06:24 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Around Wichita, the supply of ammunition -- particularly for handguns -- is not keeping pace with a strong demand. The demand is emptying shelves at the big discount stores and smaller shooting ranges, business owners and gun merchants say.
Despite the slumping overall economy, two Wichita indoor-shooting ranges and a Goddard gun and hunting supply store say they are doing a robust business.
Business is good, they say, because of a mix of political and economic factors.
On the political front, they say, gun owners and enthusiasts appear to be buying more guns and ammo out of concern that President Obama's administration will push for more gun control.
As a result, "Obama has sold more guns and ammunition than anybody in history," said Bill Vinduska, owner of the Bullseye Indoor Shooting Range, 1455 N. Terrace.
And Don Holman, owner of the Bullet Stop indoor shooting range, 2625 W. Pawnee, said there is an economic component. Many gun consumers seem to be concerned that in a bad economy, crime will increase, he said.
"You're seeing a lot of average Joes... worrying about their protection," Holman said. "They feel they need to take more responsibility for their protection."
So the shooting range has become a popular place.
At the Bullseye, "you come in on a weekend and all our lanes are packed from open to close," Vinduska said.
"Everything is selling."
The most popular items seem to be self-defense items, including handguns and ammunition.
At the Goddard Gunnery, which sells mainly hunting supplies but also handguns and ammunition, owner Monte Reese said he has gotten new customers who said they couldn't find ammunition at the big discount stores.
"There does appear to be a shortage through the distribution channels," Reese said. "Certainly... demand is outpacing supply."
In 15 years in business, he said, "we had the best year we've ever had last year."
"We noticed the trend well before the election," he said. "It certainly didn't slow down after the election."
At the Bullet Stop, prices are rising with the demand, Holman said. In the last six months, for example, a box of 50 rounds of one type of ammo has gone from $36 to $53.
The shooting ranges are restricting carry-out sales so they have enough for their range customers.
Holman said he's seeing more couples, more women and more families coming to the shooting range --"just a heavy migration toward an acceptance of firearms in the role it plays in their lives."
David Ewald, spokesman for Minnesota-based Gander Mountain, one of the nation's largest gun retailers, said the company has seen brisk gun and ammo sales for the last six to eight months. Gander Mountain has a store in downtown Wichita.
Part of the gun popularity could well reflect a "back-to-basics" phenomenon where people are pursuing simple recreation like hunting or hobby shooting, Ewald said.
Wichita police have heard of ammunition and gun shortages at the retail level, said department spokesman Gordon Bassham.
Under an annual contract, police are still able to get the guns and ammunition they need for public safety, Bassham said.
"Virtually all of our bullets are shot on the range" for training, he said.
Holman said it's possible that much of the ammunition that is being bought from discount stores is getting sold at higher prices at gun shows.
The high demand and low supply can cause gun owners to hoard --"enough so they feel that they're not going to run out," he said.
They had an article about this in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, too.
Learn to reload and cast bullets.
DONE.
Now the trick is staying stocked up on primers.
I would get as many as one can. Sooner or later the goons will figure out that choke point in reloading.
LOL. That is one lady sleeping soundly tonight. :-)
Gotta wonder what everybody's going to be hunting(?)
A lot of people are hoarding the wrong things. If the whole system breaks down the thing you want an endless supply of is 22, including the subsonic 22LR which Eley and a few other manufacturers sell.
I hadn’t heard of subsonic ammunition. Tell me more...
Aguila makes several varieties, including one with a 60-grain solid bullet loaded in a .22 Short case for .22 LR overall length. That one will actually cycle a Ruger 10/22 action, which most subsonic ammo won’t.
http://www.talonarms.com/talonarms/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=135
Subsonic bullets do not break the sound barrier thus no sonic boom. At least that is the theory. The boom is more like a snap.
The shortage will probably keep the bubble solid for quite some time.
Correct. And that’s why you add a can.
Unless you intend to use some of that as currency, I think I would have taken another approach than preparing for so many short range fights ;^)
Practice!
preeeeeeeeeeeetty!
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