Common ammo availability if SHTF

I apologize if this topic has been had in these forums already. I'm realizing now how poor an idea it is to rely on 223/5.56, x39, 9mm, .45acp, etc. when SHTF. Seeing all that common ammo that's supposed to be 'widely available during SHTF' be wiped off the shelves suggests otherwise.

Obviously the answer is to stock up, or reload (or both) and have yourself taken care of for a year or two..or more. Shooting happened on 12/9. Shelves began to empty the following Wednesday (19th). Shelves of ammo, magazines, ARs and the like pretty much gone nationwide in under a week's time. If there were an invasion or something serious other than just hasty panic and speculation, those shelves would have been gone in just a day or two I'm guessing.

I've gone to two modest ammo manufacturers today (HSM and BVAC) nearby where I live and they were not only out of the popular calibers (223/5.56, x39, 9mm) but ordering 500 or 1000 rounds was at least a few months out for both...and that wasn't even a certainty.

So either stock up when it's quiet...or pick a obscure caliber for your semi-auto centerfire rifle like the 300blk or 6.8 or 6.5 or 30ar.

Thoughts?

For my part, I've got a mere 500ish of x39, and <200 rounds of 5.56. Got caught with my pants down having blown through probably 2k rounds of 5.56 this year planning to buy a few k more with the tax return in February...not going to happen now.

 

I suggest that you teach yourself to reload, After that teach yourself how to cast your on...
That my friend will put you 2 stage's ahead of the game !!!

 

Agreed. Every time I want to put $600ish down on a dillon 650 and start getting supplies, I think about getting a new gun, or ammo, or a safe or some other thing. Need to prioritize better for sure! lol

 

Instead of a expensive setup you might want to check out Lee for more reasonable prices. I have their single stage and progressive presses and they work fine. Going into town today to buy reloading supplies, wish me luck. I'm almost positive that the plated (cheap) bullets and primers are gone just like when Zero got elected in 08'.

Reloading Presses - Lee Precision

Also check the closeouts. They have some good prices on press factory seconds.
Closeouts - Lee Precision

 

for shits and giggles I'm going to 2 LGS on saturday just to see what is going on.
Big boxes are out of .223, and 9 and big packs of .22LR. And when they do come in, they are gone w/in the hour.

This is NOT an exciting time

 

Agreed. I am seeing the same thing in my locale. It is not a fun time either.

 

Plenty scalper's out there..I refuse too feed the frenzy !
Good Luck !!!

 

Just get a .22 or 12 gauge.


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.22 in lr short and win mag are gone as well as all hand gun calibers and shot not consisting of #7 or #8...... the sh@T has hitteth the fan when it comes to being able to keep stocking. I typically do not buy in bulk because 1. I never have the money and 2 The wife would kill me. While I would like to reload I haven't had the money to buy even a simple re-loader. What I do is I buy one or 2 boxes of ammo every pay period. It hurts the wallet less and keeps the wife off of my back. The one thing the run on everything "assault weapon related " did due was worry my wife enough to give me cart-blanch on buying what I think is appropriate. It helps that I was able to order 15 p-mags right before the jump. She now thinks I have ESP lol.

 

I certain that now you have a bit of trading power..Think about it...

 

Looks to me that some are long on excuses and short on plans.

You've had years of warnings and still it's the "I CAN"T" this or that.

YMMV but your path is clear.

 

we have a gun store that bought out the big box stores and has increased the cost of ammo they sell by 40% (including the ammo from wally world...),,, i hate folks like this...

 

I know a guy who reloads more handgun ammo on a simple lee $32 HAND PRESS hanging out with his missus in the evenings than he does on his $500 Dillon 550. Seem to keep the wife happy to have him in the living room reloading while she's knitting or reading instead of him being a recluse in the shop. Happy wife, happy life. The handpress is a bit impractical for bottleneck rifle cartridges, takes too much arm strength for full-length sizing to do many rounds. Sometimes, this guy will size rifle cartridges in the Dillon and perform the rest of the process with the hand press. Just a thought.

 

The reason I suggest always having a a 12 gauge in addition to whatever you have is the versatility. If you can only get bird shot it is fine if you learn how to make cut shells or wax slugs. . (A good overview of you are not familiar with them)

I think it was popular in the depression ( the first one ) my grandfather showed me how to do it when I was a boy in Arkansas

They are very easy to reload as well.

The price of AR and AK ammo will go down , no one is taking about bans etc. At least not now. I think it was the CT shooting 12/21 all made people panic.

I only have about 300 rounds of 5.56 but I have a back order of 1000 rds pending

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I did this exact loading process for years and even the slight indentation of the wood block and "C" clamps on the kitchen table brought out only a bit of extra polishing oil from DW. No complaints and lots of quality time.

People can always find an excuse to "not do something" while wastin' time scratching their axx.

 

except for the lr 22 all I need is primers and powder and I can keep reloading lol

 

I have only used the Lee Turret press to load for years now, I have owned and used the more complicated progressive presses from RCBS, Dillon, and Lee. The simple turret press from less has been the most trouble free and user friendly setup I have ever used. I used the money to buy primers, and powder instead of spending any more money on progressives.

The only reason that I had the above progressive presses was because I managed a indoor gun range back in the late 90's. and when you reload up to 10,000 rounds for range use per week, the time you save with the progressives are well worth it, but none of them were trouble free in operation, Dillon being the best of all that I used.

 

I've had the same issues with my progressive and use the single stage and hand priming tool to get the cases to that state. Then use the progressive for the remainder of loading.