We've all noticed that the ammunition simply isn't on the shelf lately. Most of us started prepping our ammo supply long before this happened, however, we're still affected (or is it Effected, always mixed that one up) by the shortage because we have to PRACTICE with our guns to stay proficient.
I wrote a recent post about how to get ammo from your nearest gun range even if there is a shortage. That being said, we still need to keep our eye on the ball. Tonight, I came across an interesting radio show by Dr Savage whereby a caller identified himself as both a Licensed Weapons Manufacturer AND a Government Contractor.
He explained what is going on regarding the "IDIQ contracts (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity)"whereby the government is buying large amounts of ammo from his perspective:
"What Homeland Security is doing here is they are issuing a contract to BUY UP TO that amount of ammo IF they want it. They're probably NOT going to buy it but by ISSUING the contract (and they're going to issue this contract to more than one ammo maker)...so that they can control the amount of ammo on the commercial market at any time. If they go to the ammo manufacturer and say 'Give me 50 million rounds, give me another 30 million rounds' they can use this to control the market. In their contract (between the manufacturer and the government) it stipulates in there that when the government calls and says 'Give us another quantity', everything that they make HAS to go to the government PRIORITY ONE before any of it goes to the commercial market.
So when they (the government) gets nervous, all they have to do is use that contract that they have in place to say 'Give us some more, give us some more.'"
I didn't understand the gravity of the stories telling of ammo manufacturers REFUSING to sell to the government until I heard this idea. I thought the makers where just thumbing there noses at the government. Now I understand that the manufacturers are onto the government's plan to stifle public supply.
Here is the list of manufacturers that are NOT selling to states, counties, cities, or municipalities that are blocking sales to citizens but not their own employees (like police):
http://www.thepoliceloophole.com/
We need to support them and buy our supplies from them. I have also had good luck shopping at my local Walmart between 7 & 8am (when they stock their shelves from deliveries the night before) and picking up ammo. On a recent trip to Utah, I picked up about 15 boxes of .40 caliber from the local Sportsman's Warehouse (several trips, both me and Wifey due to limit of three boxes per SKU).
Hope this helps some of you out there. Keep stocking up and practicing.
~OJD
I am still not too concerned. The same thing was happening in March of 2009. In fact if you do a search for say "small Rifle Primers" you can still find forum posts about it.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is most of the ammo purchases have been .40 SW and it's 5.56 that no one can find.
It is always good to have a supply and to refresh it when it gets too old. Of course young people like you don't have 60 and 70 year old ammo like some of us old codgers do.
ReplyDeleteIts mainly because its very comforting to know that you have the stability with regard to supply,and to able replenish it when its out of service.
ReplyDelete