From CNSNews.com:
The price of his store’s ammunition has more than doubled since mid-December, says Larry Hyatt, owner of Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte, N.C., which bills itself “America’s Largest Gun Shop.”
I spoke to Mr. Hyatt today about the increase in the price of ammunition since mid-December (when the gun control debate began to heat up). Hyatt said that the ammo market is “very volatile” and that he “doesn’t know when the next shipment will be.”
His best seller right now is .22LR caliber. Gun owners like to shoot this caliber because it is typically a cheaper round and also optimal for target shooting, known as “plinking”
A box containing 500 rounds of .22LR was selling for approximately $20/box back in December. Today, Mr. Hyatt tells me he is selling the same box for $49. This represents a 145 percent increase in price.
We “immediately started rationing” as there are “a lot of unknowns for deliveries of products,” Hyatt said.
The 5.56mm was selling for $0.50 a round in mid-December. Today it sells for $1.00/round; a 100 percent increase in price.
Mr. Hyatt also said that 50 rounds of 9mm were selling for $10.99 – but, they’re now priced at $24.00 per box. This represents an increase of 118 percent.
Any observations from your end?
BZ
You have to admit one thing. Our president’s “economic stimulus plan” for the gun industry in the only one that has worked!!
You have to say this about capitalism: supply and demand works.
BZ
I work with a gentleman that has a pretty busy reloading business, and he is struggling to get raw materials. He also deals in reloading supplies and he has had to cut back on sales in every department. In local retail establishments here, ammo has not necessarily doubled in price, but it has gone up noticeably. Scarcity is the most alarming trend here.
Yep, CFS around here as well. I know two reloaders and they’re having difficulty with black powder, plus lead is on its way out in Fornicalia. In certain spots in Fornicalia, you can no longer hunt with lead rounds.
BZ
I hit 7 different Walmarts and 5 guns stores the other day. No .22 Shorts, or Long Rifle Ammunition, no .38/.357, no 9mm no .40 or .45, 1 Walmart had 2 Ar-15’s that were sold before they were even unpacked. There was a line of about 15 people for those 2 rifles and one lady was cussing out the clerk. The guys who bought those AR-15s also bought the only 5.56 ammo that had also just come in.
I’m seeing a lot of 20 gauge slugs and rabbit and squirrel ammo but no buckshot. Lots of 12 gauge 3 and 3 and a half inch shells, very little 2 and 3/4 inch shells unless you want steel or bismuth shot. No 100 shell bulk packs for 23.97, I think the warehouse is breaking them down into individual boxes and selling them for 9.97 each. Reloading components no primers very little in the way of powder, no brass or hulls.
Mark: first, welcome aboard. Thanks for visiting, and thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m thankful for your input, and particularly with regards to reloading!
BZ
Gun shows here are selling all their ammo at double prices.
Even older boxes are double.
They say they have to, because they will have to replace their stocks.
Tomorrow, I will be at another “show” with a buddy, and will check out the status of available supplies.
I’d be curious.
BZ
I have enough ammo to keep me for a while. Not sure how the last gun show went, since I didn’t go. But now I am curious to see how much the ammo for my gun has gone up? Wow.
Ammunition, I find, is very regional. It can be spotty and poor, or fairly ebullient. The fatty portion is rare, however. Mostly, ammo is quite scarce.
People aren’t as stupid as Mr Obama seems to think. Many Taxpayers can see the Writing On The Wall.
BZ
I went to the Gun Show in Mesquite, TEXAS yesterday
It was an all day big show and lots of guns…..and high prices for ammunition.
Looked like people buying mostly hand guns and a lot were just looking as we were.
Thousands of people and hundreds signing up and joining the NRA.
The best sign I saw there was at a booth that read :
“IF YOU VOTED FOR OBAMA, WE DO NOT WANT YOUR BUSINESS, YOU’RE TOO STUPID TO HAVE A FIREARM!”
I’m not a member of the NRA. Never have been, even when I was my department’s 2,000+ -member Rangemaster. I just enjoyed shooting and getting paid a Sergeant’s wages to run the range.
Looks like I need to join. How many of my readers, I wonder, are NRA members?
BZ