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I will tell you exactly what is happening. I went to Wally World this morning at 7:00 A.M. There were two people already at the counter waiting for ammo to be put on the shelves. Minutes later, 8 other people showed up behind me.
All of these people seemed to know each other and apparently go around to all the area Walmarts texting each other if they find out that a shipment of ammo has come in. Anyhow, I exchanged some pleasantries and smiles with everybody and just listened to them talk. Apparently, these guys have no jobs or make going to buy ammo their primary job. Once they get their quota of ammo (Wally world limits sales to 3 boxes of ammo per caliber), they combine what they have gotten throughout the week and offer their ammo for sale at gun shows or online gunsites. Some of them don’t go to Academy Sports anymore because apparently there is a group of illegal aliens (yes, I said illegal aliens) who camp out at Academy the night before and then, being the first in line, these same illegals buy up all the spam cans (usually Russian 7.62x39 or 5.56 steel cased ammo) or bulk brass cased ammo (i.e. Remington UMC - 250 round count). What they do with it, give it to the cartels or, more likely, resell it online or gunshows...who knows? Anyhow, it infuriates me how people like this are making a bad ammo situation even worse.

I am better off than most as I had more than couple of thousand rounds of ammo for each caliber I own before the panic. But, it restricts my range time, because I don’t want to fall below my current levels.

So, I thought I would just provide a personal perspective on this ammo shortage problem. I have some ammo backordered through Cabelas and will likely get it sent to me two months after placing the initial order.

I did th really world tour this morning also. I got up and left the house by 630 visiting 3 stores. I did also run into 3 people who do this regularly and they knew the timing of every shipment. I was able to buy a little ammo this morning, just not exactly what I wanted.

But I did learn the plan.....

WalMart is getting their normal allotment of ARs and ammo that they contracted for before the rush. They are selling it at their regular retail mark up. The manufacturers haven't raised their prices. The perfect storm of obama’s reelection plus the shootings has created a never before seen spike in demand and everyone but WalMart is letting the demand dictate the pricing. I have bought three ARs and much ammo from WalMart myself in the last month by waiting just as you described on my days off. The good news is that supply is beginning to catch up with demand on rifles which means that nearly everyone who thought it important to have a semi automatic has one (very good news). I believe ammo will soon follow suit.

Thank you for the honest assessment of the situation from your opportunity to listen. I’ll add to it.

Saw a link to an Ebay page a few weeks ago while running a search for AR bolt carrier groups out of curiosity. They were there—gobs of ‘em. Complete groups were going for about $500 dollars (”buy it now” prices). Didn’t check to see what the auctioned ones were going for (likely that much or higher).

So yes—scalpers. Hordes of ‘em. Wise folks will wait ‘till later and buy the stuff cheap.