Went to buy and everyone was out

I usually stay stocked on stuff but been shooting quite a bit so either getting low or have run out . Example 4895 powder after 3 stops finally found 1 jar of IMR (usually use Hodgden but beggers can't be choosey . Even black powder a few times been a expedition and a few phone call to find and it was about out of . Percussion caps for cap and ball revolvers they were either out or had just a few .I like Remington but had to grab CCI . That was biggest surprise cause had seemed weren't many people before into the "Black Arts"around here . I cast about half my bullets but the ones I like to have FMJs the shelves were getting pretty bare . Stocked up on primers to go with my stock pile just because they were there . I have plenty to keep myself busy but hadn't seen bare shelfs like this since when the Covid scare started and needed toilet paper . I get most my stuff from a few local shops and Acadamy , Basspro or Cabelas here in the Oklahoma City area . Anyone else running into this . May go get me some other reloading powders if anybody got it to have . Anyone else having this problem . May have to order on line but I like to shop local when can .

Are any of those components from China? A friend of mine here in southern California runs an ammunition manufacturing business. He has had to stop making ammo because most of his materials and components come from China and are currently sitting on freighters off the coast of California pending the tariff issues.

I looked at a few things powder , bullets and percussion caps and they all said made in USA . I can guess and say either people are stocking up for just in case type thing or the companies who make the products have been slowed down because of all this Covid stuff . Sorry about your friend having problems like that . Sucks to be inconvenienced trying to shop but to be trying to run a business is something else . I have read on different forums about people trying to order cap and ball revolvers and all on back order . Sooner or later it will straighten out . Unless we lose all our 2A rights but that is a totally different discussion !!!!

We haven't seemed to hit the same point YET here. We will if you guys are now. Too bad, I just parted with two lbs of FFG and about two thousand #11 Alcan just a week ago. Wish I could hand it to someone in need instead of pushing it to someone that wasn't in need... Things just don't fall into place sometimes. I'm loading and helping others load ammo these days.

It has been like this for the past 4 weeks at least for ammunition. Guns have been a problem since March when all of this virus stuff started. It has been rolling from one crisis to the next with each bring a new crop of first time buyers. Most guns are unobtainable from Distributors. When we get a shipment its like opening a Christmas present if it's a box of 6 9mm Glocks its a good day. If it is a box of stuff that the younger generations do not want, like revolvers (I have been told they are "Old People's Guns), it like getting new underwear for Christmas. I cannot speak for the reloading business as our shop does not have a license and magazine to sell powder or primers.

PS-- I like to carry an "Old People's" Gun.

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Originally Posted by fjruple

I like to carry an "Old People's" Gun.

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Sure, something antique like a three inch HB Model 13 S&W for instance...or a 2 1/2" Model 19... Loaded with some 125 gr screamers.

I'm kind of old people now but if I'm going to carry something, it's going to be a semi-auto. 1911 probably. Won't be a glock that's for sure.

My understanding is that the the reloading powder companies are essentially the Big Lots (or now Ollies, if you wish) of the chemicals business. Lake City needs 10000 pounds of powder A, so DuPont makes 20000, and sells the other 10000 to IMR. The Israelis order 5000 of powder B, so their chemical company sells off its excess. Someone else needs powder for their 410 shells, and Western picks up the excess as Accurate 1680, etc.

The reloading industry soaks up the excess stock that the cartridge makers don't need. Right now, there isn't excess. If a certain round isn't selling out, it isn't getting made. If the powder's getting made, it's probably being used. What little is leaking into the reloading industry, it's being grabbed as fast as it goes in stock. Same with pistol and small rifle primers. (That's why large rifle and large magnum rifle primers were the last to leave the shelves; lowest demand and higher supplies because ammo makers have shifted over to smaller ammo.)

I expect the situation will start improving again. Shipping will straighten itself out soon, and powder supplies will stabilize. More 9mm stock will hit the shelves, especially as the Feds will miss their targets on buying ammo on their "up to X in 2020" contracts, and the required stock for those contracts can go into the civilian market instead. I doubt the market can stabilize by the end of 2020, but 2021 should be better.

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Originally Posted by Singer B

Are any of those components from China? A friend of mine here in southern California runs an ammunition manufacturing business. He has had to stop making ammo because most of his materials and components come from China and are currently sitting on freighters off the coast of California pending the tariff issues.

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Components? As in brass, bullets, powder and primers?
I wasnt aware there were any Chinese reloading components being brought in. What brand name(s) are they being sold under? I'd like to know so I can avoid them. Also what's the name of your friends ammo mfg business?

Jim-- I like to carry an old Colt Detective Special .38 special or Smith & Wesson 642 .38 Special with the old .38 Special Police loads of 200 grain RN lead bullets. Very similar to the British .38/200 but in a .38 Special. These rounds are loaded to tumble on impact and our quite effective. In my state, you are responsible for every round that you fire both criminally and civil liability. I also do from time to time carry a Para Ordnance LDA single stack 1911 .45ACP Carry Compact with Hornady Critical Duty. Its against the law in my state to use hollow points .