In the south (I’m sure that it exists nation wide) there is a reckoning that comes with each pending snowfall. Every local store will be ravaged of its supply of milk and bread. The weather guessers can predict a light dusting, or 1-3 inches per hour all night, and near fist fights will break out over milk and bread. Now, mind you, the loaf of bread/gallon of milk crowd all know that it is winter. Kentucky winters are unpredictable at best. But, the potential for loaf of bread/gallon of milk always exists. And basic winter weather preparation doesn’t change. But, like some strange, unexplainable phenomenon, each time there is snow, a fist fight is in the works over who gets the last loaf of Wonder bread. It matters not that the day after this predicted one inch snowfall that it predicted to have a high of 52 degrees that day. Loaf of bread, Gallon of milk.
It is apparent that the same mentality exists in the firearms community as well.
Recently, the BATFE put out a form letter stating it was considering changing the status of M855 5.56 ammunition classification. Previously, M855 was exempted from the classification of “armor piercing”. With a stroke of the pen, the BATFE is attempting to change that.
Almost instantly, the run on M855 began. Within short order, M855 was out of stock in many places. Strangely, XM193, which is unaffected by this proposed change, began to show out of stock in a few internet retailers sites. Some retailers who claim that their products are dirt cheap, showed M855 at a low, low price of $799.99 per 1,000 round case. Internet gun forums are a buzz with threads that say “ATF bans 855”. Well, nothing has actually been banned as of yet, but the effects seem to be the same.
We’ve seen all this before. The last being the post-Sandy Hook frenzy when the feds made a run at a federal gun control package. During that time, there were a LOT of scalpers. Guys that would stand in line when the ammo truck would come in at Walmart, buy up all the ammo they could, and resell it at twice the price on various internet sites. There was also the gun stores, and internet retailers that marked up their stuff way beyond value. I saw plenty of $50 Magpul PMags in the 30 round variety.
At that time, the scalpers, and those who marked up their products “dirt cheap” really angered me. But, the scalpers and others really aren’t to blame. You could ask “ONE MILLION DOLLARS” (Dr. Evil reference there) for a case of M855 but it does no good to do so unless you have a buyer. That’s where the loaf of bread/gallon of milk crowd comes in. They know that the gun/ammo market ebbs and flows. We’ve enjoyed a nice spring/summer/fall in the gun/ammo market. Lots of $8 PMags, .30ish cent a round 5.56, and I don’t believe the AR market can get any softer. But, the threat of a minor winter storm has brought out the scalpers, and the loaf of bread/gallon of milk crowd.
The point is this. Prepare now. Things are relatively calm in the gun market. If you need magazines, buy a few magazines here and there as you can afford it. Stock a little ammo here and there to last you through the next gun control scare. Get involved in reputable gun rights organizations. Take someone new shooting. There is plenty we can do to prepare now for any potential winter storms that might pop up in the world of firearms.
Just as we all know when it is winter, and bad weather may arise because of it, there is always the chance of another gun control scare. And it is as unpredictable as a Kentucky winter.
Loaf of bread…..gallon of milk.
Ive been telling all my friends to stock up while cheap and plentiful except for 22 rimfire as the Current administration will try something before he leaves office. You are right as Pmags, ammo is cheap right now, and most things are on sale annd stocked deep on the shelves. Buy now as it is a buyers market!
But think of all the french toast you can have after the storm!
Great post Jerry,
Doing some stocking in advance and keeping “hands off” of it does a lot for piece of mind during the random “crises” that spring up.
The thing I find most frustrating about hoarders is that they basically force regular people to become them.
During the Great Panic of 2008, before I reloaded, it was to the point that I would buy as much 9mm as I could whenever I could find it. Why? Because who knew when I’d be able to find it again? I wasn’t worried about ammo being banned. I was worried about all the paranoid hillbillies around here buying it all up.
Nowadays it’s basically the same thing except with powder and primers. I don’t want to be “that guy,” but I also don’t want to go without shooting for an extended period because I can’t find components.
Oh, and I still haven’t seen bulk pack .22 anywhere in like a year.
Lived in Chatanooga and worked at Aldi I couldnt agree more!
I have been stocking up for the last 20 years (ammo, that is). I only buy in bulk, and when I see a good price, I buy. Properly stored, it lasts forever, or at least my lifetime.
Ah, the days of American Eagle .45 ball for $200/1000 rd case…
My main LGS closed on Dec 24th 2014, and during the last day I was given some mind blowing prices on guns and ammo. I totally forgot about the 1K case of lawman FMJ in 9mm for $210 out the door. But on a positive note I sure got some fantastic gun buys and passed on one due to lack of funds, which of course I really regret not using credit card to get the last gun I wanted.