Why Is Just Carbine Ammo Gone?

[Minnesota Joe]

Yeah, I know we're in the midst of an ammo panic. But why does it seem to be hitting the supply of .30 carbine the hardest? Mind you, I can still find other varieties of ammo, e.g., .30-06, .303, 7.62x51 NATO. But can I find even one box of food to feed my M1 carbine? No. Does anyone know the answer?

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[jimb16]

Count your blessings. In most areas, all of the poipular ammo types are in very short supply, not just the carbine ammo.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I just bought 2 cases of 45 acp, PMC and Blazer. $433 each with tax out the door. It was 60% higher then the last ime I bought some. Others, .40 and 9mm was $368 and $260.
Prices are sky high in my area. I am hoping they drop soon.

[USSR]

I'm casting bullets and reloading for my carbine very cheaply.

Don

[twh]

Difference is surplus versus new production. There hasn't been any large quantities of surplus carbine ammunition in long time. Not the same scenario with 30.06 and .308 and .303. Most other ammo is still available as new production because the demand is higher for common calibers.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

My first "deer rifle" was scoped Marlin(?) in 30 caliber carbine my dad bought for me when I was a kid. (I think it was a Marlin) - It had an amazingly sweet and short throw lever action. Maybe someone can tell me if it was made by Marlin. About 10 years ago my mother sold it to a 'dealer' along with all his extensive collection of handguns and hunting rifles soon after my dad passed away for pennies on the dollar. She didn't tell anyone she made the 'DEAL' until it was done and his guns were gone -- I've searched Gunbroker for years but have not seen another one like it.

Anyway, back to subject...

My dad fixed me up with many boxes of 30 cal carbine hollow points and I (probably luckily) never shot a deer with it but I shot jackrabbits, armadillos, (LOTS of armadillos) and one coyote.
My dad had a lease for years near Del Rio, TX and the rancher paid me 50 cents each for armadillos and he paid me $10 for the coyote. (BIG money to me as a kid in the mid sixties)

My dad bought SEVERAL 12"X12"X8" or so sized boxes filled neatly with surplus LC-44 FMJ. Every round was marked the same. I have no idea of the number rounds in each box, but there were many, many of the small manila colored cardboard boxes with military nomenclature in each box. He bought them from an Army/Navy store back when military surplus stores sold actual military surplus and not Chinese made camping junk. I remember the stacks of large boxes stored in our garage and I think they were marked about $20 for each 12X12X8 box full of ammo.

I shot up all of it but the one small box that I still have. I shot up most while wandering around at our lease in mid-day behind the turn of the century rock cabin we used as a camp house. The ammo lasted for years of serious and dedicated 'plinking' while walking around by myself for miles when I was about 7 - 10 years old. I wouldn't take anything for the memories.

I can remember shooting homemade targets, antique medicine bottles I found in very old trash heaps, butterflies, rocks, cactus, etc.

With the prices I'm hearing about lately for carbine ammo, I wonder how much this vintage ammo would have been worth today! (Ouch!)

Are there any other 50 + year old farts like me who remember the cheap prices of WWII vintage ammo and other things in the 60's sold by Army/Navy stores?

[Doc Felgood]

Guess I must qualify as another "ol' coot". I remember paying $3.00 per hundred for military surplus carbine ammo in the early sixties. I still have some of it left. I found three boxes of it a couple of weeks ago while looking for something else.

[roosterinalabamy]

another 'ol gas bag remembers tons of brown wrappered clips/mags at army-navy, gunshows and such. couldn't give 'em away!

[phil441]

another 'ol gas bag remembers tons of brown wrappered clips/mags at army-navy, gunshows and such. couldn't give 'em away!

Hey Rooster,
Welcome from another 'ol gas bag.
Wish we'd known what was coming.
Maybe we can teach the kids and grand kids what to watch out for.....
But nah, they've gotta learn on their own I guess.

Phil

[conradwojo]

I know a guy who has one and his wife uses it all the time for deer in Michigan. He loves that short throw lever and says you can keep it shouldered and sighted and work the lever with a flick of the fingers. Don't underestimate the little carbine round for some deer. Works well in areas where shots are short. Just use quality soft or hollow points at max velocity. That's why I load my own. I might have to get me one of those Marlins some day.

The Other Side of Kim - GGPs