Posted by
Catmman on Sunday, April 26, 2009 2:18:59 AM
C
urrent shortages are not the result of the military using up all the ammo in the GWoT. This is a myth, and frankly it's a ridiculous one. Most,
most, military small arms ammunition is manufactured in one plant. By small arms I mean small caliber weapons, handguns and rifles primarily. Most military small arms consist of 9mm and .223 caliber (5.56mm) ammunition which, in the current theory espoused by some, would account for the concurrent civilian shortages. Upon further analysis this doesn't stand up as the shortage is across the board, in a lot of different calibers not just those used by the military. Example: There is some limited use of .45 ACP ammunition amongst some military units; other calibers in demand now however are not used by the military - .380 ACP, 9mm Makarov, .40 S&W. These calibers are in more demand than those used by the military and in some cases are harder to find as a result. It bothers me that this "military using all the ammo" myth persists. It is simply a result of lazy reporting in my opinion.
At the gun show: Went to the gun show again today. Not nearly as crowded as it was last month. Ammunition was still in short supply, but there was some to be found. Last month you couldn't find 9mm or .45 ACP ammunition (or much else). Today there was ammunition to be had, though some of it was selling for higher than it probably should be. There was one vendor selling .40 S&W ammo for a decent price. He wasn't bare which was good. I may go back tomorrow and pick some up.
Some stores have taken steps to make ammo available for longer periods of time. Some stores are limiting the number of boxes of ammo per purchase, stuff like that. Some of the Academy (a sporting goods outlet) stores have implemented this policy.
Last weekend the Vice -commander and I tripped up to Cabela's. They had ammo available, though 9mm and .45 ACP were out of stock. There were plenty of other calibers available. The biggest surprise was they had a lot of .223 ammo on the shelves. Perhaps the biggest indicator was the .223 ammo wasn't flying off the shelves as I'd seen it do down here in San Antonio. There was a decent amount of .223 ammo available at the gun show today, .223 being one of those calibers which the military is supposedly sucking from the market.
Certainly there is a political aspect to this as well. Anyone who thinks the current atmosphere in Washington isn't conducive to enacting further "gun control" laws is being naive at best. The recent shootings have given those on the Left, who were already predisposed to 'regulate' guns more, fodder as you can read in
this moronic article. I wonder if the articles' author understands the ironic idiocy of his assertions? Using the 10 year anniversary of Columbine as the pillar to base your anti-gun screed on is assinine. Did it not occur to the author that Columbine ocurred right smack dab in the middle of Bill Clinton's "assault weapons" ban? Or that some of the weapons used by the Columbine killers were 'banned' under that same 1994 legislation? I also think it a bit ironic for someone to title an article "A culture soaked in blood." I wonder if the author is a supporter of abortion? I suppose infanticide would qualify as an evil if perpetrated by a gun criminal.
In a fair share of the articles you'll read on this subject (Google it) you will see that most of the reports you'll read will be quick to point out that President Obama has done nothing to incur such behavior from the public. This justification is used to make some appear that they are simply fanatics, who are attempting to smear Obama by default. Technically, those who point out the current administrations record (or non-record as it were) would be correct in their assertions. I would like to make the point however that one need look no further than our current presidents past record and stance on this issue. Obama may not have done anything yet, but it is only a matter of time.
Just as after the election, some hoped Obama would tack to the center on his governance. His rhetoric at the time and near the end of last years presidential campaign pointed that he would. Nearing the end of Obama's first "100 days" and one can easily see that governing from the center never really entered the presidents mind. He is tackling health care and other social needs from the leftist mindset, what's to keep him from eventually going to the "gun issue" in the same way? In my opinion the only thing keeping the current administration in check is there fear of backlash and losing Congress again as a result. The gun issue cost the Democrats control of congress in 1994, control it took them 12 years to regain. It is a lesson they haven't forgotten.
The gun issue isn't a sensitive issue just to Democrats. Americans will suffer a lot of crap from their government. Most stuff, taxes for example, are an afterthought anymore. But when the government "comes after guns" in any way, the American people get riled. Firearms are an issue not easily demogogued by the Democrats or the Left, atrocities accepted. As a general principle owning firearms is understood and ingrained in the American psyche as something inherently American. When anyone or anything suggests otherwise, people perk up and start asking questions. One reason most gun shootings run out of steam after a day or two is that once real analysis takes place, most of the fearmongering from lefty pundits starts to look like inane pap. Another reason the issue is a 'third-rail' for lefties is for the very reasons I pointed out about the article above. They twist the facts and add emotional appeals in an attempt to sway the discussion. Once someone comes along and says, "Why did you use Columbine in your article advocating for stricter gun control? Don't you realize the Columbine shooting ocurred almost five years after the enactment of the 1994 assault weapon ban?" At that point the sputtering occurs and the the invective takes over, "Your just a bitter, gun and bible clinging redneck..."
Whoa. I got a tangent there huh? I was supposed to be writing about ammunition.
Patience is what ammo buyers should be exercising right now. If we are going through the same stuff in six or eight months, then perhaps we can shift from mildly inconvenienced to furrowing of brows.
Note: The best alternative to driving around all over town looking for ammo may be to order what you want online. True, most online vendors are also out of stock on the popular calibers, but you can order what you want, it'll be back ordered, and you'll get it. If you don't have an immediate need for ammo, this would be a good way to stock up.
It's also a good way to avoid paying such high prices you may experience locally. Most reputable online dealers charge regular prices for their ammo. Indeed, if you buy in bulk, you may get credit for a bulk discount you would not receive otherwise from a local retail outlet or even at a gun show. Additionally, you might get shipping and handling charges waived (again, depending on the vendor) for orders over a certain monetary value.
The biggest drawback of course is time. It will take a while for your order to get to you depending on the vendor and the ammunition you are ordering, but you're pretty much guaranteed what you want for the right price.
Previous posts on ammunition shortages:
Where's all the ammo?
Where's all the ammo? Part II?
Where's all the ammo? Epilogue