I've been watching people, including myself, stockpile ammunition.
The one thing I see people missing is the lowly 22 LR.
A 22 is a staple cartridge. It can kill small game, large game and people. Look at the great depression. People had at least two guns...a 12 ga and a 22LR.
Walmart has 500 round boxes for less than 20 bucks (about 15 I think) so it's easy to load up on a few thousand rounds. Cheap insurance!
Good point, Peter. We talked guns at lunch this afternoon. Everyone seems to think it is still time to stock up and -- keep your powder dry the US Vet said.
I think I have around 8000 -- lost count -- maybe I should get more just in case.
Even if you get overstocked, they are good trading stock for food - money -- labor or just for the safety of your friends and neighbors in case there are problems. A good investment.
Our neighbors here in the mountains are getting to know each other better - share numbers - info - offers of help when needed - offers of hospitality as the world we knew continues to go to hell in a hand basket.
And 22's are just fun, too. If you have guests you can go through a few 1000 rounds in a weekend.
I am buying stock in ammo manufacturers. They are the ones who will benefit from this panic buying.
Great Idea Pox. The areas that are more effected by the housing, banking, and manufacturing collapse tend not to be rural. These areas are probably the drop in consumer demand. The areas that collapsed tend to not be the areas were people are purchasing large quantities of firearms and ammunition, fearful of the new administration. The current buying spree could probably hold up this buying pattern for an extended time.
My three nearby Walmarts are virtually sold out of all ammo, except some shotgun loads.
lots of empty spots in the gun racks too.
Quote from: MountainDon on February 02, 2009, 03:23:57 PM
My three nearby Walmarts are virtually sold out of all ammo, except some shotgun loads.
lots of empty spots in the gun racks too.
Some are that way here too. I haven't checked in a couple weeks, but bought $135 worth then.
With all this stockpiling I thought of something. Does ammunition go bad? Is there any other enemy other than moisture?
I heard of someone being killed a few years ago by an unexploded civil war ordinance.
Quote from: Squirl on February 03, 2009, 08:45:49 AM
With all this stockpiling I thought of something. Does ammunition go bad? Is there any other enemy other than moisture?
I heard of someone being killed a few years ago by an unexploded civil war ordinance.
Temperature, humidity, sunlight will all degrade components. Use a vacume sealer for long term storage.
Ditto on Peter. Also temperature swings. But I have some 50 year old M2 Ball ammunition that is as perky as the day it was made.
So I wondered about Don's statement and stopped by Walmart last night to check them out. He ain't kidding! All the ammo shelves were bare, except for 4 boxes of 300 Win mag, and some misc. shotgun shells. Unbelievable. There were a few guns in the rack though. I thought that odd that they would have more guns than ammo. I looked at a nifty little .22 lever action marlin. It almost followed me home. When I left it was gently weeping in the rack. I may go back to check on it.
-f-
P.S. Good inventory on ammo online, but no price deals. Consider buying from the CMP (www.odcmp.com) if you are qualified.
Quote from: NM_Shooter on February 03, 2009, 10:27:21 AM
..... When I left it was gently weeping in the rack. I may go back to check on it.
If you go back often, handle it gently and say nice things to it, before long it won't be able to resist.
Oh dang it! That's one very sweet gun!!!
What was their price? NO don't tell me!!!!
Which Walmart? NO don't tell me that either!! d* d* d*
It was sub $300. Maybe $269 or so? Walmart by Home Depot near 10000 block of Coors.
:)
-f-
Whoops my bad. Henry model H001. $254
http://www.henryrepeating.com/h001_leveraction.cfm
Boys, boys, they probably have more than one.
Just read some reviews of the Henry, and they seem to be good. Downside is that receiver is aluminum, and feed actuator for magazine to chamber is plastic. But action is supposed to be very, very smooth right out of the box.
Race you over Don?
-f-
It's not a Marlin, though. :( :(
I've actually had an eye on a Marlin 983T, 22 Win. Magnum, bolt action... [waiting] ???
So far I can't decide if it's a good idea or not. ??? Ammo's more than 22LR, but still cheap compared to factory load center fire.
Quote from: MountainDon on February 03, 2009, 07:58:36 PM
I've actually had an eye on a Marlin 983T, 22 Win. Magnum, bolt action... [waiting] ???
So far I can't decide if it's a good idea or not. ??? Ammo's more than 22LR, but still cheap compared to factory load center fire.
I have a varmint master in 22 mag Don....and I love it. It gives you a lot more range and a lot more power for just a little more in ammo cost.
For things the size of coyotes and up to deer, it give a good margin of power over the 22LR. IMHO, you should have both.
I recommend against hollow points in either. Solids and precise shot placement are essential for anything larger than rabbits.
Thanks Peter. I've been telling myself basically the same thing; the 22LR and Magnum are complementary.
I love the 22mag... but for cheap, you can still load .223 with bulk winchester bullets for about $0.15 each.
0.10 for the bullet at midway. :-\ oh dear. :-\
0.30 for Wolf ready to go
but the rifle will cost more
Don, don't tell me you or your son don't have an AR15 between you? Jeez... that's depressing!
Ammo is getting to be outrageous in price. Maybe I'll stand on a corner with a sign that says "Will work for ammo...God Bless".
-f-
I have been lusting after a 3 1/2 inch 12 Ga for turkey season
I have read mixed reviews about the Remington auto ....
anybody have any input on this one
I have the worst luck hunting turkeys btw
Show of hands here .... how many dud shot gun shells have you had
pull trigger and click but no bang ...
I'll go first
one in my lifetime
the big old tom looked at the camoflaged dummy saying bad words and ran off
bad luck
won't buy Federal ever again
Quote from: Windpower on February 04, 2009, 07:20:44 AM
I have been lusting after a 3 1/2 inch 12 Ga for turkey season
I have read mixed reviews about the Remington auto ....
anybody have any input on this one
I don't own a Remington Auto Windpower...but I repaired a bizillion of them over the years. The biggest problem with them is the magazine cutoff. It's just staked in place and with the pounding an auto gives, they come loose and dump all the shells in your lap. This usually happens when you are on the hunt of a lifetime.
I have several pumps in 3.5 inch and for some game (like turkeys), they are great. They are also hard on my shoulder and I'm not at all recoil sensitive.
I agree with you on the recoil... a bit more abrupt than the 700 remington in 300 WBY I shoot (it has shot sub 1 inch groups at 200 yards when I do my part) The accuracy improved after I installed a black composite stock replacing the beautiful walnut stock that was shattered into 3 pieces by a pissed off pack horse in Alaska (it could have been worse, his hoof nearly got my knee)
anyway..
I was hoping the auto loader would smooth some of the recoil out a bit
but what I am hearing that they just aren't that reliable and with my luck on turkeys.....
and moose hunts and pack horses and .... well you get the idea
maybe go for a pump, I truly like my 870, we fit together pretty good
I have never had a dud shell yet.
On the turkey gun. Field and Stream had a great review this month on the Federal flight control wad ammunition. They said that it patterns so well, that you could hunt turkey with a 20 gauge no choke, and I trust Field and Stream. I checked into it, and it seams that a lot of boards on the internet are lighting up with rave reviews. You should look into it. It is expensive, but cheaper than a new gun.
Wow... google federal flight control. A few folks have had "no better than other loads" results, but most are glowing about the loads.
BTW... decent ammo inventory at Big 5 sporting goods.
-f-
I am still pissed about the dud Federal "premium turkey load"
4 days hunting dawn to noon ( did I mention the ticks) and it was the only turkey I even saw !!!
easily the biggest tom I ever had a shot at too
well it was 8 years ago maybe I should give em a break
Nah I don't think so
Federal SUCKS ! ! ! !
Hmmm... time to buy Olin Corporation stock? OLN
-f-
Quote from: NM_Shooter on February 04, 2009, 08:06:23 PM
Hmmm... time to buy Olin Corporation stock? OLN
-f-
It's just like everything else....52 week high/low 30.XX yo 12.XX
It's just idling now.
So I'm way guilty of thread drift / hijacking in this one. Back to .22s.
I saw bulk boxes of Winchester .22hp LR for $19.50 or so today. I have not bought any .22 ammo other than target ammo in a long time. What is a decent price for bulk .22? I remember when it was $9 for 500... but that was a bit ago.
-f-
LRN? Good price for today. :(
Big5?
Wal-mart is going up -- a few weeks ago it was about $14.50 for 550 .22 LR Federal I think. Had been around 12.50
Just a head's up. Davidson's has a February special on a Ruger 10/22, synthetic stock, stainless steel $230 at my local gun shop.
Look it up at Gallery of Guns (http://www.galleryofguns.com/Genie/Default.aspx), select Ruger | 10/22 | and enter your zip code and search
Might be a bit late in the discussion at this point, but if I was looking for a semiauto shotgun, I'd look at the Benelli inertia models. Don't know if they chamber them in 3 1/2".
Sonora,CA Wal-Mart - out of bullets per Whitlock.
I have a new one of those stainless steel / synthetic 10/22's coming. :)
Working on what scope I want... ??? ???
The stainless Ruger came in at last. ;D Now just waiting on the scope, mount, and a few odds 'n' ends.
Quote from: MountainDon on February 16, 2009, 09:29:19 PM
The stainless Ruger came in at last. ;D Now just waiting on the scope, mount, and a few odds 'n' ends.
What scope did you decide on Don?
I decided on the Nikon Prostaff 4X32 in matte finish, plus a Weigand one piece scope base that fits the Ruger screw pattern. I also ordered a Volquartsen extended magazine release and some spare Ruger brand magazines. And a grand assortment of ammo; we'll see what this one likes best.
(http://www.nikonhunting.com/images/products/riflescopes/prostaff/6305_4x32_prostaff_black_l.jpg)
(http://www.jackweigand.com/images/1022int.jpg)
and the gun (matte stainless)...
(http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/Products/109L.jpg)
I have that scope on a rifle and It's a good one. Good choice!