Posted on 08/07/2009 2:03:24 PM PDT by marktwain
My brother and I attended a gun show last weekend and I have good news. Bullets are back. Not only was I able to buy all the 9mm rounds I wanted, but my brother found adequate supplies of .380 ammunition as well. Stacks of .223 ammo were also in evidence. Since our government hasn't changed in six months, what has changed? Economics 101 tells us that the marginal utility of the next bullet will be less than the last one. In other words, if I have no bullets to shoot in my pistol, I really, really want the first 10 bullets I can buy at whatever price I find them. The 500th bullet, I will shop around for the best price, and after 1,000 I will probably stop (I think). Manufacturers have been running flat-out since November of 2008, and have finally caught up. Enough Americans have enough ammunition that they feel they secure.
Since the government hasn't changed, why do they feel secure? Is it because we all have 1,000 rounds of our preferred ammunition stockpiled and we can't conceive of a firefight where an additional 200 rounds would have made a difference? No, I think it is because we have renewed confidence in our fellow citizens' good sense. Poll after poll is showing renewed support for our basic right to keep and bear arms. We see efforts to curb gun ownership fall short of needed votes. We see efforts to raise money for the Brady Center in Chicago falling flat. We see regular citizens who haven't protested in their lives stepping out to join others at town hall meetings, TEA parties, and Obamacare rallies calling for less government intrusion in our lives. We are willing to take care of ourselves and our own. Stop spending money the country doesn't have and don't come taxing us for it. Gun ownership is, for many, the first step of taking care of ourselves and our own. It begins with personal safety and security and extends to our community and our state. Before the Great Society we relied on our families, our communities, and our churches to care for our less fortunate, not the federal government.
This is a resilient and generally optimistic country. The majority that sees the glass half full rather than half empty have begun to stand up. One indicator of that to me is piles of ammunition at a gun show.
The price of .223’s is about the same level pre-election.
500 for $200 is about standard.
Good, I always thought "Wizards" was a stupid name anyway.
I was able to get 2 100ct .45 auto again here in NY, but it was the only 2 boxes on the shelf..
here,here
FYI
Gunshows always seem to have plenty.
It’s still a little hit and miss around here.
Come back to me when you can find SS109s or 30’06 AP in large quantities cheaply...
I think demand is SATED, not saturated.
But, neither is the supply.
I’m seeing some Remington and even Federal XM109 in the stores, but for SEVEN BUCKS for a box of 20. This stuff used to run two to three bucks a box.
The prices will fall as the store start to stock up and the 7 BUCK boxes sit there collecting dust.
Correction:
I saw XM193, which is the military-grade 55gr FMJ stuff coming out of Lake City.
Walmarts around my area still don’t have what’s really wanted...just the weird hunter calibers and shotgun shells....hardly no pistol ammo at all....lest you count 22 shorts as pistol ammo....
I am fixin’ to walk 50 yds to the range and waste 1k rounds..... Easy to do.....
Maybe not 1k, but dang close....
Easy to do....
We see efforts to curb gun ownership fall short of needed votes.
The recent defeat of the common sense Thune Amendment serves to indicate that this is not precisely the case, and vigilence is still required in relations with anti-Second Amendment forces.
I’ve fired 700 rounds in a day. My hand was bleeding, I needed some ibuprofen and had a big smile on my face.
I saw .38, 9mm, .45 ACP, and .40, as well as most of the calibers in "self protection" rounds.
I’m still short several thousands rounds and probably need an additional weapon, which will need ammo...
So, I’m not done buying yet - but prices are high and I still have problems with supply.
Not all .223’s are created equal. I only buy Q3131 and its $500/1000.
.380’s still in short supply and damned expensive @ $32.00/box of 50 in the local gun store with a 1 box/day limit. None online unless you want to pay $64/box of 50 at Cheaper Than Dirt. I’m having hell getting enough to practice and take my concealed carry quals on the 22nd.
I think you may be right. I just picked up 1k of .223 55gr prvi and 1k of lake city .556 62gr green tip. Sportsmans guide has plenty as does The-Armory.com. Used coupons at Sportsmans, saved a bunch. Do I have enough? perhaps for me but wife has her own stash requirements. We do shoot a lot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.