This is possibly due to the large shift of consumers towards 380's for self defense weapons, thus a reduced demand for 9mm.

20 round box

This is just my opinion.
Back in 08(and before) 380 was one of those old school calibers that traditionally didn't have a large demand. Ammo makers made it in small batches.
Just about then Ruger and some other companies came out with new 380 caliber guns, CCW took off in several states, as well as the 08 election caused a huge surge in demand. This quickly drained the minuscule supply. It took months and months before 380 was seen on the shelves again.
9x19 and 45acp dried up as well. .45 was especially hard to get.

I can remember seeing $600+ per 1000rd prices on 5.56/223 after the election.

Around here at the local ammo selling places(Wal-Mart, LGS, Sporting Good stores, etc) still have a decent supply of everything except 5.56.
The 5.56/223 stuff just vaporizes instantly. I haven't seen a 420 can of M855 in many weeks.
Fudd calibers are plentiful as well as shotshells.
Some brands/types of 22rimfire are spotty. But 22LR is always available if brand/type isn't a big breaker.

As I understand it today, the ammo makers are running at full capacity and can not keep up with demand. Demand which is much larger than pre-08.
All those folks who purchased firearms during the 08 panic evidently are buying ammo.

I've been stocking up on reloading components. I started reloading during the last ammo shortage and components were hard to find then......and they were expensive if you did find them.

The local Sportsman's WH has had those 420 cans of 855 since Christmas. Well, they are still 169, but the pile is shrinking quickly.

I don't remember much of a change in 9mm prices in 08 but 223 was expensive when you could find it. 9mm I had to purchase 2 or so at a time at walmart. I spent a lot of time checking out all the different walmarts around to get my fix of 9mm. I can't remember how I got my 223 but it was 350 or more a case. I do remember that the guns dried up, then LPK's, then the mags, then the ammo and reloading components in that order. Reloading components and 380acp took years to easily find again.

I do recall that 40 S&W was the only popular caliber that could be readily found at walmart. 9 and 45 were few and far between.

This is the precise reason I have held on to my foties.

During the last election year, 5.56/.223 and 9mm could be found but at very high prices compared to pre-election prices.
Prices really didn't stabilize to lower volumes until the last year/year and a half.

This time around it seems mass buying started early and hard which has led to sources being out of stock totally vs having
stock but at very high prices.

I blame higher prices and no stock this year on the election cycle and "End of the World" panic buying. People are concerned
about 12/21/12 just as much as they are concerned about who takes office this year, hence they are hedging bets by buying
up all the ammo they can afford.

I will not be buying ammo until after the election and 12/21/12. When everyone wakes up on 12/22/12 yet the world hasn't ended
and they have more ammunition stores than money or food, I'll be more than happy to purchase their ammo at reasonable
prices or trade for food.

I think I'm going to start reloading. I know every here would say that's exPected but actually doing it is another story. Any good deals on a reloading setup?
Meanwhile it will be my .22 over my ARs for a while

April 2012 EOM 'DEALS' are out there...

1K rnds. M193:

'GREAT' Deal is now $319 to $325
'GOOD' Deal is now $349 to $359
'FULL RETARD' now $399 & up

This sliding scale will continue to shift upwards the closer we get to election 2012.




My comment 'cut and pasted' from the 'Full Retard' Thread which has some good stuff...

Try Atlantic Firearms. They seem to have 55gr Wolf .223 for $229 1k

I Just came back from my local gunshop in MD and priced out their XM193. Two weeks ago I bought a ammo can of the XM193 Federal 62 gr. 420 ct. for $165.00. Went back today and had a price of $200.00 flat. I inquired and was informed the increase is due to freight charges. Can anyone touch on this topic of freight charges? Are freight charges still on the rise when fuel prices are are slowly coming down?

What you local shop meant was:

"We know we can make more money from these so are charging more but will make up a BS excuse so we don't have to look you in the eye and admit the truth"

Wulfmann