I stopped by my friend's pawn shop today at lunch and he shared some information with me. It is almost impossible for him to order any handgun. The distributors are out --- Glocks, Brownings, etc. --- the stuff that most people buy for self-defense. In addition he told that one of his wholesalers (a smaller one) stated yesterday that they were selling 750,000 rounds of 223 ammo per day. Ammo is going to become scarce again.

That said, most of us on this forum either load our own or buy calibers different from the masses. However, as the ammo manufacturers gear up to meet the demand of the masses, they will slow down or stop production of "our type of things." Thus, it seems wise to stock up a little if you have not already done so.

Wait until we get closer to election time.

Stuff is still out there through the distributors but I can say the that I'm starting to see 1/2 hour wait times on background checks here in OR. The checks here are done through Oregon State police and they have been very busy.

I think Racksmasher said it best.

Joe W

Just got back from our little local (30 miles away) reloading store. He had 5 boxes of 50 cal XTPs. He said I had better take them all because the next ones will be higher, if he can get them. Also bought both boxes of 475 cal Speer 325s that he had along with the last # of 110 in the store.

While he has lots of stuff, I cleaned him out of 50s & 475s. Admitedly, he has a small store & caters to the rifle & mainstream handguns more than to strange folks like me. I did put in an order to Midway last night. They apparently had the items that I ordered in stock.

I was kinda thinking that the old year end inventory thing was playing a role, but methinks as noted there perhaps politcal concerns going on again. Toss in the Mayan Calender folks, and all those folks watching Doomsday Preppers, and it is easy to start speculatin'. I just hope you do not have plans to store your shooting goodies in ball jars, then you might be getting it on both ends.

Craig

Two weeks ago I ordered a Kimber stainless TLE/RLII. I was told it would be 6-10 months. The shop is selling guns as fast as it can get them.

I don't know about the areas you guys are in but here in NC I have not heard of any problems getting stuff. I spent the last three days qualifying with a handgun thru the state of NC and shot with a bunch of cops who have been on a buying spree and have had no problems getting what they wanted. I also went to three or 4 different stores from the coast of NC to our capital and they were chalk full of guns and ammo. Maybe its a regional financial thing.

I remember hearing that record gun sales were set around the end of December or early January. I'm sure that has contributed to the shortage. I notice some components that are normally easy to find are out of stock locally. I don't buy into the "Mayan Calander" idea but it seems to me that many people have a feeling (instinct?) that something bad is on the horizon.

I'm in charge of purchasing the guns for The Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn annual banquet. The local gun store that handles the guns for us just told me that the sporting guns are all in stock, but that it will be a chore to get some of the tactical/defence firearms, even with a 2 1/2 month lead time.
I'm thinking some of it is due to "prepping" going mainstream.

it depends on what your after too, one of my customers I do alot of transfers for here locally has a Taurus and two Kahrs on the way and I've brought in half a dozen other semi auto's in the past couple months for him.

The last Brownells newsletter warned of the same surge in demand, particularly in relation to 5.56 stuff. Repeat of the situation following the last US election.

Probably due to uncertainty over world economic conditions and the possible US election outcomes.

Here on the eastern side of the prairie, things are fairly easy to come by, yet, so I have built up a supply, I remember all to well not long ago waiting for components. On the western side of the state with the oil boom it is a different story, good wages and money to burn has been a boom for the smaller sport shops, I have not witnessed it, but have heard from people out there, things are selling quite well. The shelves are not empty but coming and going at a steady pace.

I just set a new record for time on hold for a background check today at 1hr 20minutes and that was at 3:30 this afternoon.

I buy most of my guns and components at a shop nearby, his suppler told him to stock up on ammo, especially 223 now, he told him to expect a shortage this fall. I can see this with 223 ammo, due to the increase in AR sales the last 4 years, and possibly with 9mm, 40, and 45acp due to a increase in handgun sales, time will tell.