Quote Originally Posted by cafdfw View Post
I believe much of this situation was caused by 'panic buying' - It's been all over the internet that supplies are short -- Threads and more threads about it. Then even more panic buying and hording. Prices went WAY up because of this short term (for them) lack of sufficient production to fill the demand they couldn't keep up with. Hopefully the horders haven't caused a situation where the prices will not go back down, but they should decrease when supply catches back up. And it will.
Well, if the skyrocketing prices for ammunition were only for those calibers in high demand, such as 5.56 (.223), 7.62x51 (.308), 7.62x39mm, and 9mm, I would agree with your contentions. I can even see how closing the Federal ammunition plants by Congress increased the pressure on commercial manufacturers for these calibers. However, I just priced out some .45-70 hunting ammunition (Remington soft points, 405 grain) and it now sells for about $2.00 per round! This is a result of panic buying of .45-70? I don't think so. .380 ACP isn't used by the military, but it is very hard to find, at any price. Recently I saw a 50 round box of .357 priced at $99.00 at a Gander Mountain store near me... Prices are going into orbit for calibers that are NOT in high demand. There is more to this ammunition shortage/reloading supply shortage/price hike than simple supply and demand. There is an "invisible hand" at work here, and it's not Adam Smith's. KarlKW