Frank Talk about Guns (email from Brownells)

Like it or not, these are strange times. We still have high unemployment nearly everywhere. We've been handed the largest debt in the history of the world by our president. The UN is working hard to put together an Arms Trade Treaty that has all the appearances of severely restricting our rights granted under the Second Amendment, and both Ms. Clinton, our Secretary of State, and Mr. Obama have signaled they would sign it if approved by the Senate. The corn and bean belt throughout the Midwest is suffering from the worst drought conditions since 1956, which is going to affect food prices since these two crops are the main source of food for our meat and egg producers. And, the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world in 2012 according to some. Wow – kinda makes you want to think seriously about self protection, concealed carry and some serious survival planning.

(Interesting point about the Senate ratification of this UN ATT. I read from a reliable source that treaties submitted to the U.S. Senate require approval of two-thirds of Senators present to be ratified. Wonder what happens if it's brought to the floor at 0200 hours when most against it are absent and the few there are for ratification and two-thirds of them vote in favor of it.)

So, I wanted to devote these comments to concealed carry and self protection – but from a slightly different point of view. You all know that you have to get your CCW through the proper channels in your state. You may have to take training, may have to show proficiency with your handgun at a range, and may have to meet other criteria. All states except Illinois have this provision with some more or some fewer requirements. For those of you in Illinois, you can only work on/with your elected legislators to try to get something passed to allow you access to concealed carry.

But, did you think about how this current political arena or better yet the UN's ATT might affect your ability to use your firearm for your own protection once you have the permits to do so? As I said earlier, our current leadership is willing to throw the Second Amendment under the bus. The marketplace is watching all of this very closely, and we suggest you do too. If the ATT is not ratified, my guess is that the UN - in its infinite wisdom - will continue the process somehow by some means, and will keep the concept alive to be brought up again when it feels it might have a chance for ratification by the US Senate. In any event, the marketplace is going to react – ratified or not. We feel there will be a large growth of new gun owners seriously shopping for fear they will have only a few more opportunities to ever purchase a gun again. And current owners who want to expand their collection will buy to be sure they get what they want to have before something comes down. Or depending how it plays out, the market may react by going into "buy it now mode" for ammunition of certain calibers to be certain to have something to shoot in the guns they've purchased. We truly expect this to focus on the AR-15 or similar semi-auto rifles and concealed-carry pistols, and their respective ammunition.

There is currently a run on ammunition, and we've talked about the shortages in earlier WebBench Articles. As we look further into the causes for this scarcity, it all appears to point to the lack of brass from the major manufacturers. We understand they are trying to catch up, but currently to no avail. We understand part of the issue is that because of the high cost of raw materials, scrap is being searched for. And, we're told the extremely high cost of new lead makes it prohibitive for low-cost production, making scrap and re-cycled lead in high demand – more than is available, driving up the price – which may contribute to the shortage of low-cost bullets. We're told, though, the the availability of cases is the true problem in all of this mix.

Alternatives sources for cases are being sought throughout the world, and the marketplace is trying to fill that gap for the low-cost 5.56, .40 and 9mm rounds which are in such hot demand right now. From all indications, we feel demand will likely far outstrip supply for the next 12-18 months.

Now is the time to be smart and aware. Check your own supplies to see what you have squirreled away. Check all the gun shops and ammo sources around. Scan the web repeatedly and find sources for the ammo you want. Stay flexible in your choices if you can. Don't get caught up in the "I gotta buy it now 'cause I can always sell it later for a profit" game. It didn't work the last time there was a shortage; it won't play out in your favor this time, either. The factories will catch up. They're trying their durndest to do so, and they will win. Just lay in enough to keep your guns and you happy.

As for handguns and conceal carry-type firearms, there is a wondrous selection out there to chose from. As for AR-15 parts, the bolt carriers right now are almost impossible to get – but they are being made at the absolute manufacturing capacity of one of the major producers. We have them in and out of stock, but the best way to fill your needs is to get on the back order list. Usually what comes in is not enough to meet the numbers on that list. But they do come in. And your turn WILL come.

We've all been through this before. So keep up with what's going on. Best source for updates on what's going on and particularly the UN is the NRA/ILA Email Alerts – go to www.nraila.org and go to the very bottom of any of the pages and click on "Contact Us". A page opens where you can register and then click on the box that says "Sign up to receive NRA-ILA Email Alerts". You'll get the daily alert which I read faithfully to stay current. By the way, if you are not already an NRA member, now would be a super-excellent time to become one. They are, after all, the largest and strongest lobbying group supporting our Second Amendment and the rights it grants us under the Constitution. Just remember, if it were not for the Second Amendment, the First Amendment could become meaningless.

If you are buying/building weapons or reloading it looks like things are getting tight. I bought an extra stripped AR-15 lower receiver when I built a M4orgery a few months ago. Even the it was difficult to get a good price. I am glad I did at that time. Now it seems that uppers are getting scarce. I'm in the middle of a M24 build and want to do a M10. I think I will jump on the lower for that as soon as I have funds.

If anyone knows of a good, inexpensive source of Lake City 5.56 cases, let me know. I'm looking for quantity ... 2-3k.

TJ Conevera. com

I’m not affiliated, Just of consumer of their wares.. Fine folks

I got this friend who lives in Colorado.
He told me he has ordered (over the last year or so) ammo from on line store...

I wonder if “they-wink, wink” are tracking UPS and other parcel delivery services now, for shipments of ammo, primers and powder??

Would it still be safe for him to order ammo on line??

3 posted on 07/27/2012 3:59:11 PM PDT by GRRRRR (He'll NEVER be my President, FUBO! Treason is the Reason! Impeach the Kenyan)

Would it still be safe for him to order ammo on line??

It would be safe. There are millions of people that buy ammo online ... too many to track. It gets even more complicated to track when reloading since people buy best price from multiple suppliers and orders are staggered. Plus I think most reloaders buy primers and powder locally to cut down on extra shipping fees.

Thanks .. I checked them out. It is difficult to find once fired, unprocessed Lake City 5.56 brass. They have new, but no unprocessed.

Wonder what happens if it's brought to the floor at 0200 hours when most against it are absent and the few there are for ratification and two-thirds of them vote in favor of it.

"I'll take Revolution for $1000, Alex."

6 posted on 07/27/2012 4:16:36 PM PDT by Monitor ("The urge to save humanity is almost always a false-front for the urge to rule it." - H. L. Mencken)

"I'll take Revolution for $1000, Alex."

Alex: "Laying siege to inner cities, where Holder's people live."

8 posted on 07/27/2012 4:22:18 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")

9 posted on 07/27/2012 4:37:07 PM PDT by RedMDer (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=93destr)

Dagnabit, I just got a catalog that had unfinished
AK receivers for $26 and I threw it out and can’t
remember who it was Aaaaarrrrgh.
Even prices on AK parts kits have gone through
the roof!

10 posted on 07/27/2012 4:37:51 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

12 posted on 07/27/2012 4:54:40 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")

13 posted on 07/27/2012 5:02:14 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")

Thanks, I thought it was them but couldn’t seem to
find it on line.

14 posted on 07/27/2012 5:07:33 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

Thanks , just ordered some, supposed to be Polish
blanks from Radom, drill and pin they say.
AK’s are a snap to build but finding the parts kits
is harder and harder.

15 posted on 07/27/2012 5:36:55 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)

with both wars drawing down (supposedly), ammo and components should start becoming more available. The wars have been the big excuse for the supply shortages for over a decade now.

Regarding the Senate vote, and the 2/3rds required; I think no matter how many are there for the vote, the ultimate vote has to be 2/3rds of the total number of Senators.

with both wars drawing down (supposedly), ammo and components should start becoming more available. The wars have been the big excuse for the supply shortages for over a decade now.

DHS just inked a contract for 175 million rounds of 5.56 ammo. This is completely out of control, considering at the height of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military only consumed 5.1 million rounds per month. DHS is Obama's army and they threaten our freedom and liberties each and every day.

Holy shiite! that is some BS. what are they prepping for I wonder? We need to bankrupt this government.

So everything’s sold out for another year and a half or more. Thanks. I’ll check again later in a couple of years.

20 posted on 07/27/2012 6:24:00 PM PDT by familyop ("Wanna cigarette? You're never too young to start." --Deacon, "Waterworld")

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.