[FatherofFive]

I don’t buy it. The shortage creates more demand. The higher prices creates greater supply. 0bama doesn’t understand the free market so that may be his goal but it won’t work.

[Timber Rattler]

No, remember back in 2005 and 2006 when the military was buying up as many rounds on the civilian market as it could because of the chaos in Iraq. Ammo prices (temporarily) increased, and there were empty shelves at Walmart for the traditionally military calibers. Even Cheaper than Dirt and Cabelas had shortages because the ammo was going straight from the factories to Uncle Sam. I have no doubt that the would-be gun grabbers at the time were paying close attention and are now applying lessons learned.

Pass The Ammunition: Army Taking Action on Small-Cal Shortages

Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan Hit Home With Ammunition Shortage for Police Departments

[Timber Rattler]

The higher prices creates greater supply.

There aren't that many ammunition factories left though. That's why there was a bottleneck in production in 2005-2007 when the military ran short and started buying every bullet it could contract for.

[SampleMan]

I don’t buy it. The shortage creates more demand. The higher prices creates greater supply. 0bama doesn’t understand the free market so that may be his goal but it won’t work.

You are correct. The shortage of ammo is NOT due to a lack of production or government demand. The supply side of the equation is plusher than it has ever been. Bottom line, retailers are continuing to sell volumes of ammo greater than ever before.

There is a shortage due to civilian demand, which has skyrocketed and is not abaiting. Gunstores have sold boxes of ammo that have been setting on the shelves for years, at the same time that they are selling new ammo by the pallet.

It is no different than what you see at grocery stores before a big storm hits.

The American people have taken a good look at the forecast and firmly believe that a major storm is on its way. They are simply preparing. This is in fact a very positive sign. No tyrant likes to see their enemy stockpiling millions of bunkers.

[IMR 4350]

You are right, but try and tell that to people that have convinced themselves otherwise.

The limited number of calibers of ammo they are buying and the very specific specs for the ammo wouldn’t create a shortage in anything but that specific ammo in the specific caliber from that specific company that mfg. the specific ammo.

If this is to be delivered over a 5 year period, while still troubling because of the ammo specs, it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the overall amount of ammo produced.

The shortage in all types of ammo is because the American people that never felt a “want” to own a gun before now feel a “need” to own a gun and are buying and they need ammo to go with it.

People that were smart enough to already own a gun are buying ammo in every caliber.

The American people aren’t idiots, they sense something is seriously wrong and it is getting worse and it is getting worse by design.