NO LEAD, NO POWDER AVAILABLE

[J.B. Books]

I just stopped at my local dealer and it seems the ammo shortage has now spilled over into shotgun reloading components. According to this dealer no bagged lead shot will be available in the next 3 months minimum. The distributor told him their backorders are in the millions of pounds. No common target powders, 700x, Red Dot, Green Dot, etc are available, no information regarding when they will be available again. Wads and some primer brands remain available, Win 209's primers were still available but the dealer said he feels it is a case of who knows for how long.

I find it hard to believe hoarding has reached this level given the millions of factory and reloaded shotgun target ammunition is expended each year.

When I got home I checked several on-line distributors, Ballistic Products, Precision Reloading and Gamaliel for powder availability, again all common target powders are out of stock.

[Double Play]

Pete,
It is almost impossible to get anything right now for pistol or shot shell reloading. Fortunately I had stocked up with my shot shell supplies before it got too crazy. I have over 2k shells loaded and enough materials for another 4k. I hope by the time Deb and I burn up these rounds things will be more readily available once again. I have pistol primers on backorder till June but I'm not holding my breath on that delivery.

[J.B. Books]

I have quite a bit on hand as well but it's very easy for me to go through 4K shotgun shells on targets and another 1500+ plus on crows in a year.

It is unsettling that we don't know how long the shortage will last. I would give up the clay pigeon shooting if I have to so as to extend my ammo supply for hunting. The situation is not good, it seems it will surely impact participation in organized and recreational shooting this year across the country.

[B. Dudley]

Finding primers anywhere local for me has been near impossible. And most outlets online are out too. The ones that have any charge a hazmat fee for handling.

This is an odd one... Ballistic products has 209 primers and they charge a $25 fee for primers and power if shipped by ground or air. But... They will ship primed hulls by ground with no fee. Can't figure that out.

[J.B. Books]

I just returned from the Kittery Trading Post, a large dealer/retailer in the shooting sports in New England. There I found a few bags of shot priced at $49.99. They have no idea when more will come in. Powders for reloading were very scarce, very little was available for shotgun target shells, no Red Dot, Clay Dot, 700X etc. A few 1lb bottles of Green Dot and SR7625 were available, limit 2lbs per customer. A few Fed 209A primers were there in loose 100 packs. Same with CCI 209 Magnum primers. There was big pile of Win 209 primers in 1000 packs for 45.99.

I also spoke to one of the long time managers in the shooting sports department. He informed me the information he has been given by those in the industry is the lack of availability and shortage of ammunition and reloading supplies will persist for the next 22 to 26 months.

[Smoothebore]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

I just returned from the Kittery Trading Post, a large dealer/retailer in the shooting sports in New England. There I found a few bags of shot priced at $49.99. They have no idea when more will come in. Powders for reloading were very scarce, very little was available for shotgun target shells, no Red Dot, Clay Dot, 700X etc. A few 1lb bottles of Green Dot and SR7625 were available, limit 2lbs per customer. A few Fed 209A primers were there in loose 100 packs. Same with CCI 209 Magnum primers. There was big pile of Win 209 primers in 1000 packs for 45.99.

I also spoke to one of the long time managers in the shooting sports department. He informed me the information he has been given by those in the industry is the lack of availability and shortage of ammunition and reloading supplies will persist for the next 22 to 26 months.

Conspiracy? No conspiracy here, it's obvious unless you are naieve, blind, or possibility part of it. What happens in 22 to 26 months? Mid term elections come to mind. It's no secret that the current administration is working toward attaining a super majority. If they are successful, well the ammo shortage will just make the next step easier. If Boehner manages to hold onto the House, the left still wins, just not as big. As the former White House Chief of Staff let slip four years ago, "Never let a good crisis go to waste".

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I'm usually stocked up but this thread motivated me to become a hoarder!

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Conspiracy? No conspiracy here, it's obvious unless you are naieve, blind, or possibility part of it. What happens in 22 to 26 months? Mid term elections come to mind. It's no secret that the current administration is working toward attaining a super majority. If they are successful, well the ammo shortage will just make the next step easier. If Boehner manages to hold onto the House, the left still wins, just not as big. As the former White House Chief of Staff let slip four years ago, "Never let a good crisis go to waste".

Whether this a random result of current events and politics or something planned and deliberate, if it does not resolve itself soon it has the potential to hurt the entire gamut of firearm sports, the bottom lines of gun clubs and dealers and ultimately the sale of firearms. If you were looking at a sale flyer advertising a great buy on a new 9mm pistol, are you going to buy it an any price if retailer has no ammo for it?

I understood the run on ammo for so called assault rifles such as .223, but to find this shortage to be nationwide on shotgun target load components and 22LR is puzzling. Hoarding to some extent, and a shift by the manufacturers to fill all the gov't orders is probably to blame. I have not been doing this for as long as some of you but I been doing it for 40 years, I have never seen anything close to this situation.

[Mills]

RST's online ordering system was down today and when I called I got the answering machine. I will try again, but hope they have not been affected as well

[Paul Stafford III]

Supplies here in Michigan are non existent. Luckily, our gun club has a decent supply but even they had to put a limit on purchase amounts. If you dont have it now it will be tough to shoot the summer into fall.