Some people aren’t buying to use it at the range, they’re takingit home and “hoarding” it.
Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can’t keep up with the nation’s demand for ammunition.
Shooting ranges, gun dealersand bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages.Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months becausegun enthusiasts are stocking up on ammo, in part because they fear President Barack Obamaand the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation —even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president lastmonth signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.
Gunsales spiked when it became clear Obama would be elected a year ago andpurchases continued to rise in his first few months of office. The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check Systemreported that 6.1 million background checks for gun sales were issuedfrom January to May, an increase of 25.6 percent from the same periodthe year before.
“That is going to cause an upswing in ammunition sales,” said Larry Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing about 5,000 members. “Without bullets a gun is just a paper weight.”
Theshortage for sportsmen is different than the scarcity of ammo for somepolice forces earlier this year, a dearth fueled by an increase in ammouse by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We are working overtime and still can’t keep up with the demand,” said Al Russo, spokesman for North Carolina-based Remington Arms Company,which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. “We’ve had toadd a fourth shift and go 24-7. It’s a phenomenon that I have not seenbefore in my 30 years in the business.”
Americans usually buy about 7 billion rounds of ammunition a year, according to the National Rifle Association. In the past year, that figure has jumped to about 9 billion rounds, said NRA spokeswoman Vickie Cieplak.
JasonGregory, who manages Gretna Gun Works just outside of New Orleans, hasbeen building his personal supply of ammunition for months. His goal isto have at least 1,000 rounds for each of his 25 weapons.
“Icall it the Obama effect,” said Gregory, 37, of Terrytown, La. “Italways happens when the Democrats get in office. It happened withClinton and Obama is even stronger for gun control. Ammunition will be the first step, so I’m stocking up while I can.”
So far, the new administration nor Congress has not been markedly antigun. Obama has said he respects Second Amendment rights, but favors “common sense” on gun laws. Still, worries about what could happen persist.
Demandhas been so heavy at some Walmarts, a limit was imposed on the amountof ammo customers can buy. The cutoff varies according to caliber andstore location, but sometimes as little as one box — or 50 bullets — isallowed.
At Barnwood Arms in Ripon, Calif.,sales manager Dallas Jett said some of the shortages have leveled off,but 45-caliber rounds are still hard to find.
“We’vebeen in business for 32 years and I’ve been here for 10 and we’ve neverseen anything like it,” Jett said. “Coming out of Christmas everythingstarted to dry up and it was that way all through the spring and summer.
Nationwide, distributors are scrambling to fill orders from retailers.
“Weused to be able to order 50 or 60 cases and get them in three or fourdays easy, it was never an issue,” said Vic Grechniw of Florida AmmoTraders, a distributor in Tampa, Fla. “Now you are really lucky if youcan get one case a month. It just isn’t there because the demand is wayup.”
A case contains 500 or 1,000 bullets.
AtJefferson Gun Outlet and Range in Metairie just west of New Orleans,owner Mike Mayer is worried individuals are going to start buying bythe case.
“If someone wants to shoot on theweekend you have to worry about having the ammunition for them. And Iknow some people aren’t buying to use it at the range, they’re takingit home and hoarding it.”
With demand, prices have also risen.
“Used to be gold, but now lead is the most expensive metal,”said Donald Richards, 37, who was stocking up at the Jefferson store.”And worth every penny.”