Have Ammo Manufacturers Shut Down due to COVID?

Joe2Kool

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Kind of a rhetorical question but seriously, ammo manufacturers gotta be pumping it out as fast as they can, yet the last handgun ammo I've seen on a shelf was in mid-March. Local sporting goods stores don't have any. Major online retailers are sold out. Minor online retailers don't have any. Where's it all going? Makes you wonder if they've shut down!!??
Now it's bleeding over into rifle ammo and shot shells! Glad I have and bought plenty of that several months ago!
 
"Glad I bought plenty of that several months ago", kinda answers your rhetorical question, doesn't it?

When inventory of anything (toilet paper) is wiped out, it takes many months for the supply chain to get it back on track.
Ammo manufactures are out of primers and powder, just like we are. I'm sure everyone is ramping up as fast as they can, but if the majority of normal buyers went out and hoarded ammo, manufacturers will be careful not to fill shelves that won't empty.

I, like you, saw the writing on the wall and bought "extra" reloading supplies. Aside from a few things, I won't need to really shop at the local sporting goods store for some time now.
 
The ammo and gun inventory is so bad in Los Angeles, stores are closed due to lack of inventory. I'm glad I loaded up with 45,000 rounds plus over the years, with plenty of Deer & Elk rounds in the safe! I can breathe a little easier for the up coming seasons.
I've got everything from .243' to .338 for big game to .22 to .45 Long colt for pistol ammo. I am in good shape. Only problem is I have lead based #8 dove load & #6 Duck load, 4 cases. It's no longer legal.
 
I wasn't buying to be hoarding, it was more of a needing to practice more on the range and less on the hunt. All the comments on here and from everyone I know are about not being able to find any. You can't hoard what you can't find! :):) Makes you wonder where it's going.

BTW, I make toilet paper and paper towels for a living!
 
We get the surplus after military and law enforcement get their annual needs supplied. This includes both finished and raw products.
 
Guys its not going anywhere. It isn't getting manufactured. At least not at the rate that it normally was. All of the BS scared potentates have screwed American manufacturers. No body is on the same page as far as rules. The vast majority of workers in the US are in service industries. The few American manufacturers are left dealing with ignorant masters which have no clue what is involved in manufacturing a product.

Basically what goes on is a finished product is made of parts. Very rarely are %100 of those parts made in house. Most often several businesses or manufacturers make parts for a single finished product. Sometimes its raw materials and sometimes it can be completed technologies.

Here's what is going on. A factory makes scatterdoodles. They purchase widgets from another factory in another state which are used to finish the flux capacitors in scatterdoodles. Suddenly some dipshit mayor in that town says they are putting anyone in jail that doesn't bow to their order to stay home. Now no widgets get to the scatterddoodle factory so no scatterdoodles get made. After a couple of weeks the widget factory gets going again when the mayor realizes she is an idiot and the police have told her they aren't arresting workers. Everything is fixed right? WRONG. Scatterdoodles need a special coolant to run their manufacturing machines. Guess what. Now some governor where special coolant watched some fear monkey on the news last night and he believes his state is now a Hotspot. Now he never read the US Constitution and he doesn't believe in that crap anyway and he thinks due process for law was always an idea for suckered so he says no one is allowed to drive into his state. Snickerdoodles is shut down again. Meanwhile Snickerdoodle Inc. Has started laying off employees. Finally they get all the kinks worked out and they are getting the widgets and coolant they needed. Wait they only have %20 of the employees they used to have. They will just hire more, right? WRONG. All those guys that they laid off plus millions of other unemployed people are making way more money on unemployment than they were at their jobs. Plus the gubmint just came out and said there won't be any evictions until 2021. So whats the point in working at all? Meanwhile just a few snickerdoodles roll out the factory every week.

The guys I know that own manufacturing companies are getting choked to death fellas. I'm not exaggerating this one little bit. I am a manufacturer. We are barely hanging on. I'm just waiting for Anqueefa to come burn my shop down. Thats about all that's left.
 
There has been a major rush on buying guns and ammo in the past 6 months. My firearms dealer told me he can not keep handguns, shotguns, or ammo on the shelf due to customers buying at a rate he has never seen before and he has been in business for over 30 years.
A lot of his handgun customers have been first time gun buyers with a lot of women purchasing their first handgun for defense. He only sells ammo now to his gun buying customers due to short supply.
As for me, I learned under the Clinton-Obama days. I have enough factory ammo in numerous calibers to supply a army platoon. I have many times that much on reloading supplies. I will not have to buy primers or powder or bullets for many years.

RELH
 
Guys its not going anywhere. It isn't getting manufactured. At least not at the rate that it normally was. All of the BS scared potentates have screwed American manufacturers. No body is on the same page as far as rules. The vast majority of workers in the US are in service industries. The few American manufacturers are left dealing with ignorant masters which have no clue what is involved in manufacturing a product.

Basically what goes on is a finished product is made of parts. Very rarely are %100 of those parts made in house. Most often several businesses or manufacturers make parts for a single finished product. Sometimes its raw materials and sometimes it can be completed technologies.

Here's what is going on. A factory makes scatterdoodles. They purchase widgets from another factory in another state which are used to finish the flux capacitors in scatterdoodles. Suddenly some dipshit mayor in that town says they are putting anyone in jail that doesn't bow to their order to stay home. Now no widgets get to the scatterddoodle factory so no scatterdoodles get made. After a couple of weeks the widget factory gets going again when the mayor realizes she is an idiot and the police have told her they aren't arresting workers. Everything is fixed right? WRONG. Scatterdoodles need a special coolant to run their manufacturing machines. Guess what. Now some governor where special coolant watched some fear monkey on the news last night and he believes his state is now a Hotspot. Now he never read the US Constitution and he doesn't believe in that crap anyway and he thinks due process for law was always an idea for suckered so he says no one is allowed to drive into his state. Snickerdoodles is shut down again. Meanwhile Snickerdoodle Inc. Has started laying off employees. Finally they get all the kinks worked out and they are getting the widgets and coolant they needed. Wait they only have %20 of the employees they used to have. They will just hire more, right? WRONG. All those guys that they laid off plus millions of other unemployed people are making way more money on unemployment than they were at their jobs. Plus the gubmint just came out and said there won't be any evictions until 2021. So whats the point in working at all? Meanwhile just a few snickerdoodles roll out the factory every week.

The guys I know that own manufacturing companies are getting choked to death fellas. I'm not exaggerating this one little bit. I am a manufacturer. We are barely hanging on. I'm just waiting for Anqueefa to come burn my shop down. Thats about all that's left.
By golly Tri, I believe you're onto something!
 
A lot of his handgun customers have been first time gun buyers with a lot of women purchasing their first handgun for defense.
As for me, I learned under the Clinton-Obama days. I have enough factory ammo in numerous calibers to supply a army platoon. RELH

My 357 and 9 were a bit much for all my household members, so a new cartridge was recently acquired. :) Hence the need for ammo. I found some on one of the major online sales sites (seems like if you mention a specific place on here, it disappears!). Paid about twice normal, but new shooters gotta shoot!

I too learned under past administrations so plenty of the other stuff on hand.
 
Joe be glad you can purchase ammo on line and have a better chance of finding a bargain. Here in CA. they stopped us from buying online. when I heard that law was passed and will go in effect at the new year, I made several purchases of 1,000 rounds for 3 different calibers. Got it at a very good price.

I also have two progressive reloading presses and enough brass, bullets, primers, powder to last me 5-10 years depending on if I shoot 100 rounds per month or 200 rounds per month. When the bullets run out, I have over 1,000 pounds of alloyed lead and bullet molds to make my bullets for every caliber I have. I am now teaching a grandson how to reload and when I pass the reloading gear goes to him.
RELH
 
The ammo and gun inventory is so bad in Los Angeles, stores are closed due to lack of inventory. I'm glad I loaded up with 45,000 rounds plus over the years, with plenty of Deer & Elk rounds in the safe! I can breathe a little easier for the up coming seasons.
I've got everything from .243' to .338 for big game to .22 to .45 Long colt for pistol ammo. I am in good shape. Only problem is I have lead based #8 dove load & #6 Duck load, 4 cases. It's no longer legal.
You want to get rid of those #8 and #6s?
 
The only thing I'm lacking is 5.7x28mm due to it being a recent purchase. I blame Ruger for the lack of ammo due to them introducing an affordable version!?
 
My wife asked me “why are you buying powder in 8 lb jugs?” I said, you’ll see. lol and now she does. I don’t catch too much grief from her though, because she likes to shoot ALMOST as much as I do.
 
Joe be glad you can purchase ammo on line and have a better chance of finding a bargain. Here in CA. they stopped us from buying online. when I heard that law was passed and will go in effect at the new year, I made several purchases of 1,000 rounds for 3 different calibers. Got it at a very good price.

I also have two progressive reloading presses and enough brass, bullets, primers, powder to last me 5-10 years depending on if I shoot 100 rounds per month or 200 rounds per month. When the bullets run out, I have over 1,000 pounds of alloyed lead and bullet molds to make my bullets for every caliber I have. I am now teaching a grandson how to reload and when I pass the reloading gear goes to him.
RELH
I feel for you living an Cali. And we all know the democratic party platform goes further than that. Even though Cali is a blue state, get out and vote red! And all of us in red states and swing states gotta get out and vote as well.
 
Joe most of the interior, from central to Northern, and Northern part of CA. is republican country. It is the majority population from San Francisco along the coast to L.A. that keeps voting in liberal Democrat idiots.
Then those idiots in San Francisco retire and find out they can not afford the taxes on their home that been inflated in value of a million dollars or more. They sell and bail out of state and take their foolish voting habits with them. They drive up the prices of homes for locals because they will pay the asking price and not barter the price down to a reasonable amount.
RELH
 
Joe most of the interior, from central to Northern, and Northern part of CA. is republican country. It is the majority population from San Francisco along the coast to L.A. that keeps voting in liberal Democrat idiots.
Then those idiots in San Francisco retire and find out they can not afford the taxes on their home that been inflated in value of a million dollars or more. They sell and bail out of state and take their foolish voting habits with them. They drive up the prices of homes for locals because they will pay the asking price and not barter the price down to a reasonable amount.
RELH
Bingo!!!!
 
Joe most of the interior, from central to Northern, and Northern part of CA. is republican country. It is the majority population from San Francisco along the coast to L.A. that keeps voting in liberal Democrat idiots.
Then those idiots in San Francisco retire and find out they can not afford the taxes on their home that been inflated in value of a million dollars or more. They sell and bail out of state and take their foolish voting habits with them. They drive up the prices of homes for locals because they will pay the asking price and not barter the price down to a reasonable amount.
RELH
That's been my impression of Cali also. Off the coast and not so liberal. I was in upstate NY/Niagara falls a few years ago. Many more Trump signs than I expected. Maybe we can divide Cali and NY into West and East Cali, and North and South NY. We have two Carolinas, Dakotas, and Virginias so why not?
 
There has been talk here for years to divide CA. into two states. Northern CA. and Southern CA. and San Francisco would be in the Southern part along with Sacramento.
Northern CA. would have the majority of the dams and water and we would make them pay for it after the farmers in the Central Valley get their share for growing crops in our "food basket" area.

RELH
 
There has been talk here for years to divide CA. into two states. Northern CA. and Southern CA. and San Francisco would be in the Southern part along with Sacramento.
Northern CA. would have the majority of the dams and water and we would make them pay for it after the farmers in the Central Valley get their share for growing crops in our "food basket" area.

RELH

:LOL: :LOL:
 
I can’t even find 300 RUM casings to reload with!

You hoarders need to calm down!

If there ever was a zombie apocalypse, You really wanna live through it?! You ate up popcorn eating, movie watching SOB’s!

I just want 25 shells to reload for the hunts!

You people the same ones needing 300,000 rolls of toilet paper for your dirty arses??!!!
 
It is called being a "day late and a dollar short" for waiting until the last moment to get together your hunting supplies.

RELH
 
I can’t even find 300 RUM casings to reload with!

You hoarders need to calm down!

If there ever was a zombie apocalypse, You really wanna live through it?! You ate up popcorn eating, movie watching SOB’s!

I just want 25 shells to reload for the hunts!

You people the same ones needing 300,000 rolls of toilet paper for your dirty arses??!!!

Not really, I just like to shoot. Lol and better to be prepared. Ps, I don’t have a 300 RUM or I’d help you out.
 
Any iodeas on where to track down the following:
Hornady Precision Hunter Ammunition 300 Win Mag 200 Grain ELD-X
 
I can’t even find 300 RUM casings to reload with!

You hoarders need to calm down!

If there ever was a zombie apocalypse, You really wanna live through it?! You ate up popcorn eating, movie watching SOB’s!

I just want 25 shells to reload for the hunts!

You people the same ones needing 300,000 rolls of toilet paper for your dirty arses??!!!
PM me your address, I have about 23 casings I can send to you.
 
It is called being a "day late and a dollar short" for waiting until the last moment to get together your hunting supplies.

RELH

Been shopping for shells for a year!

what’s your secret?!

I’ve got enough ammo for this year!

Just would like to restock my RUM casings as my others have been through the reloader a few times!

Trying to find a couple lbs of retumbo 2 years ago almost got my dad in some trouble!

purchased off some shady dudes in St. George!
Wasn’t good!
 
Heck, anymore, if you want anything gun related start planning now for your 2025 shipments to show up at your door!

I shopped around just for fun looking at 9mm’s online.

Everything’s gone unless you wanna pay top dollar for a cap gun!
 
BloodTracker, this is what it takes to be prepared. Took me several years to stock this much factory ammo. I have 6-7 ammo cans filled with reloads.

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I feel for you living an Cali. And we all know the democratic party platform goes further than that. Even though Cali is a blue state, get out and vote red! And all of us in red states and swing states gotta get out and vote as well.

Same with NM. Difference is, the blue is surrounded by red keeping them in if they get to radical...
 
BloodTracker, this is what it takes to be prepared. Took me several years to stock this much factory ammo. I have 6-7 ammo cans filled with reloads.

View attachment 13147

View attachment 13148

Be careful hoarding that ammo! I bought my uncles 1960’s 30.06 pump action that included a bunch misc. ammo for it that was just as old!

Went to range to plink off a few old rounds and one of the old casings was so rotted that it blew a hole through side of casing. Gun was smoking like a chimney!
 
Went to range to plink off a few old rounds and one of the old casings was so rotted that it blew a hole through side of casing. Gun was smoking like a chimney!

That's why you store it in a card board lined metal container or plastic container with a moisture seal and moisture desiccants in it and never open the lid once it's closed...
 
My ammo will not be around 20 years from now. It will get shot up and replenished long before it can go bad. Also I will not shoot any ammo that has a tarnished case.
RELH
 
I shot two of my reloaded shotguns shells from 80's. They were in a plastic box in the garage. 11/2oz lead #4 shot. They patterned better than any steel shot I've tried. Still breaks my heart I can't use them.
 

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