The thing that is astonishing to me is why hasn't production caught up with demand yet?
This hole thing started with the run up to the first election of President Obama in 2008. That is about 7 years ago. You would think over 7 years the production would have stepped up.
For at least two reasons. First, there is money out there wanting to be spent but it stays in the wallet when you go to Walmart and the shelves are bare.
Second, there is a real risk of doing permanent demand damage as people find they either can't shoot because of lack of ammo or it is too expensive if they do find it.
I went to Walmart yesterday to buy some batteries. Wandered past the ammo shelves. Surprisingly, there was actually 9mm, 40, and 45 available, as well as others. The shelves were only half empty this time.
But prices are unbelievable. $25 for a box of 50 .45 ACP. If you bought just a measly two boxes that would be literally burning up $50 for maybe a half an hour of entertainment. Other ammo is similarly priced. I guess there is no shortage of people buying it, though, since it is still hard to find and the range is always full when I go.
But you have to wonder how many people are not getting into shooting just because it is too expensive to indulge in. If it were not for the fact that I can reload a box of 50 .45 ACP for $4.50 I would not be shooting it. I can't go to the wife and tell her I'd like to blow $50 of the family budget on an afternoon by myself.
Steve
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