Gun ammunition suddenly in short supply

Hunters and hobbyists have depleted shop shelves since the Connecticut school shooting in December. It's 'a Black Friday atmosphere,' one store manager says.

By Bruce Kennedy Feb 1, 2013 9:18AM
Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images Caption: A box of .45 cal. ammunition is offered for saleAmmunition is getting scarce for gun owners, and some people suspect the recent school massacre in Connecticut is one reason behind the run.

The largest seller of guns in the U.S., Wal-Mart (WMT), is limiting sales of ammunition at its stores to three boxes per customer a day.

And it's not only Wal-Mart. Over the weekend, gun owners in Myrtle Beach, S.C., lined up outside the local Bass Pro Shops store.

The store's operations manager, Brad Andrews, told WBTW-TV there's been "a bit of a Black Friday atmosphere" at the shop for several weeks now as hunters and gun hobbyists try to stock up from any new shipments of ammunition.

Sales of guns and ammunition have reportedly risen sharply across the country since the Dec. 14 elementary school shooting.

"It probably has something to do with the recent event in Newtown, Connecticut, the shooting out there," said would-be ammunition buyer Richard Harney. "People just went out and bought it all out. The demand is there, we just saw it, a lot of ammo was off the shelves in two minutes."

Another gun owner at the Myrtle Beach Bass Pro Shops, George Schultz, believes the run on ammunition is due to fears of an impending government crackdown on weapons. "People are scared," he said. "I guess they’re just loading up on whatever they can, and it’s just a shortage."

The website for Ammunition to Go, based in Texas, alerts potential customers to shipping delays of 24 to 26 days due to the high volume of orders.

Law enforcement is also feeling the ammunition pinch. The Metropolis, Ill., Police Department can't find ammo for its .40 caliber semiautomatic pistols.

"We've been told from our supplier that pistol ammunition is almost become nonexistent," Metropolis police chief Harry Masse told KFVS-TV. He notes the ammunition shortage is also driving up costs.

"I used to complain when they cost us 7 to 8 cents a round," he said. "Now they're costing us 30 cents a shot. And there's 50 rounds per box. So it adds up quickly."

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495Comments
Moonteeth
Feb 1, 2013 1:51PM
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The more it pinches the government procurements the happier I am.  Let them feel the effects of this stupid attack on gun owners.  Gun Rights *ARE* Civil Rights.
MCIAHEL
Feb 1, 2013 1:51PM
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isn't easy to get .223 or 5.56 in CT. but i did manage to get a couple box's, do you people think it also has to do with FEMA, buying millions of rounds and heading to the east coast. this is what i have read, don't know how true the move is but i do for sure know they bought 7000 ar-15's and ammo.
dexter426
Feb 1, 2013 1:43PM
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look what obamas done to this country its never ben so mess up and divided hes caused racial tensions

time2share
Feb 1, 2013 1:39PM
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Look at what's happening around you....Cameras at every intersection i.e. Broward County, Florida and all major Cities now. So as and when Martial law hits they can quickly track all vehicles on any road for and for rural coverage they have the day and night vision with Optical 9,000 zoom Drones......Your cell phones can tracked and pinpointed to 2 ft anywhere you are.....and so on. Listen to the verbiage, your with us or against us....They are filtering out those in positions so they can carry out Civilian TYRANNY on our own citizens, Freedom fighter's called Terrorist by governments the are Dictatorships in their own right : Egypt,Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq , Many North African Countries now ( ALL Dictator Muslim Fascist Counties), Look at the Israeli they are all called Democratically elected ( THAT IS ALL AN ILLUSION it could not be further from the truth....This Fascist movement is growing in the UNITED NATIONS AND FRANCE AND USA starting within the factions in our own government elected and appointed leadership there will come a time when TYRANNY will need to be stopped and abolished. GET READY........EVERYTH​ING WILL BE AT STAKE SOON.....!! I KID YOU NOT!!!
Dobro Man
Feb 1, 2013 1:32PM
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When Obama has the power to imprison any US citizen without a warrant, indefinitely with no trail or due process, then I can understand why people are arming themselves.
bushnot
Feb 1, 2013 1:32PM
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thanks to the fearful people nra making tons of money, kept it up you can't eat,stay warm. or live in guns but you can kept a good grip on them when you sleeping under a bridge, because of all the money you invested in guns to protect yourself from everybody else with guns to protect themselves from you with guns nobody is safe. you going to walk around carrying a gun meeting someone else carrying a gun and who's going to shoot first. Boy I'm going to make lots of popcorn cause this is going to be better than the movies, real live action.
Uhhuh of course
Feb 1, 2013 1:32PM
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The website Ammo to go, so proudly listed above, has not had any 22 rimfire (the evil evil Hag Feinstein military grade ammo that must be pried from all America's hands) has been non existent since Hag Feinstein announced her federal plan to dry up the supply.

Is Obama and the Hag abuseing federal funds or DNC campaign funds to have their minions divert ammunition from the civilian market to falsely 'dry up supply'?

Oh Our Obama would not do that, would he naaah. Of ocurse not.

Taz100420
Feb 1, 2013 1:31PM
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Go ahead and buy up all the ammo, my bow has ALOT of reusable ammo and plenty is still available....
buckhunter
Feb 1, 2013 1:28PM
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The run started when Obama was re-elected.. had nothing to do with the Newtown shooting other than knowing that horrible event was ammunition for Obama.
We all need a bad guy.
Feb 1, 2013 1:27PM
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The Government is buying everything under the FEMA Act that forces the manufactures to sell to them first and then stockpiling it for some reason.

 

 

What does the US Weather Service need with 20 million rounds of .40 and .223 cal ammo?

 

And it's not just ammo. Where have all the guns gone? The stores can't find any to buy for sales.

TIDEWATER27
Feb 1, 2013 1:27PM
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Hussein Soetoro Obama has done more for gun sales, and ammunition sales, than any individual, or corporation, could possibly do.  Thanks to Hussein, gun manufacturers like Ruger, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Springfield, Tarus, etc... cannot keep up with the demand for guns!!  The fact is that law-abiding citizens are arming themselves at an unprecedented rate.  The more Hussein talks about banning weapons, the greater the sales' figures.  If the NRA gave trophies to individuals who were the most responsible for high gun sales' figures, Hussein would surely be given the biggest, and best, trophy the NRA had to offer!!
Fatuus Secundus
Feb 1, 2013 1:21PM
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[George Schultz, believes the run on ammunition is due to fears of an impending government crackdown on weapons. "People are scared," he said. "I guess they’re just loading up on whatever they can, and it’s just a shortage."]

 

That about sums it up. Gun owners. What a bunch of frightened pussies...

Helfyr
Feb 1, 2013 1:18PM
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I think it has to do with the possibility of ammo being taxed, just like cigarettes. .35 cents per pack to $10 a pack in some areas, well equate that to .10 cents a round to $1.50 a round. Of course people are buying it up and there are probsably many reasons.
coach 86
Feb 1, 2013 1:10PM
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all the talk about not taxing the middle class--what a joke--our taxes are going up 2% this month and they will find many ways to tax us---like a new tax on guns and ammo--I will bet we will see a tax similar to the sin  tax on tobacco and booze on guns/ammo very soon--my son lives in Germany--they tax the number of phones/tv's/radios you have--they even tax you if your dog is over a certain size--welcome to socialism
Someone
Feb 1, 2013 1:09PM
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finally , obama has figured a way to really stimulate the economy. gun sales and ammo sales are up because this fool thinks he has the right to go around congress and not uphold the constitution. gun and ammo sales are up so I guess he finally did something good i guess.
WildMontanan
Feb 1, 2013 1:09PM
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No ammo to be found in NW Montana or Northern Idaho either. Tried to buy soke 22 lr ammo and all is gone. Bet the chinks are making it by the boatlaod now and working 24/7 to supply us with it.
Someone (schmendric)
Feb 1, 2013 1:07PM
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Yes, tell people they might not be able to buy something and all the sheep go ba-baaing and stampeding to buy it.  Doesn't reflect too well of the intellectual level of these people.  And they are the ones with the guns!  Oh, boy!
MirageGuy
Feb 1, 2013 1:04PM
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This is really pretty easy....

To all the liberals, stay unarmed...  The government  will protect you (LOL)...  Just picture Chicago without any police.    But don't expect anyone to share what they have WORKED for with you.

We actually prefer liberals remain unarmed.   We know what happens when Marxists arm themselves.   
morejazz
Feb 1, 2013 1:02PM
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Obama and Feinstein have done more for selling guns and ammo with their ridiculous gun ban proposals then all the paid advertisements have sold all last year. 
fastcook
Feb 1, 2013 1:01PM
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Assalt ban is not going to well for uncle sam.Dam those founding fathers and their second ammendment.Amercans are armed to the teeth now dont screw with us.

 

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