Went to a gun show in Tipton, Indiana on Saturday. Crowd turnout was high and there was no dealer spots left empty. My observation and estimation was gun prices were still somewhat high for most guns, especially "black guns". There was only 2 dealers selling reloaded (high quality) ammo, and 1 selling reloaded lead plinking ammo. The rest of the ammo was old ammo from people selling from their private collection. No new Winchester, Federal, Remington, etc. ammo. There was only a few cases of military surplus ammo, and it looked to be corrosive.
What's the ammo situation in your area?
No shortages in the PA/NY area. All shelves of Wally world and hunting stores fully stocked. There are plenty of sales for hunting season. Non toxic shot seems high to me. Prices haven't dropped off, but I don't expect them too. Most outdoor stores are selling gun's 20-30% off MSRP. Most are in stock from the sales flyers when I go to visit. I think the higher prices are here to stay. I believe most of the price increase is the rise in raw material costs (metals) and the fall of the dollar. Massad Ayoob had a good article a few months ago how we were spoiled by cheap prices and corrected for inflation ammunition prices are still lower than they were 20 years ago. I never really bought used guns so I don't know the price change in those.
I've noticed that .45acp is still hard to find. .44 special is almost extinct.
The higher gun prices I'm referring to are not based on MSRP, but from the extreme prices of late fall/winter 2008, spring 2009. I've seen price's drop from those levels, but still not to spring 2008 levels. I agree the high prices are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. Plus the dollar is circling the drain. Probably already went down the drain, they just don't won't to tell the public yet.
No issues in TX.
Prices aren't bad here and there are a lot of sales. Handgun ammo is not everywhere and prices are high. Hunting ammo is plentiful.
Lead is getting harder to find as I expected.
I have thousands of empty 44 Mag and 45 ACP cases and maybe 5 thousand loaded 45 ACP rounds plus casting dies for every caliber I use and a few I don't use.
I don't worry too much about supply.
No issues in central/southern Indiana. My wife and I went to a gun store Friday where she bought me an early Christmas gift!! I'm the lucky new owner (Lucky because they get one of these only about once every 4 months even though they have a standing order) Kimber Pro Carry II. I like it VERY much. I must have been a VERY good boy this year.
Anyway....plenty of shootin irons in the store and the ammo shelves were full!! I even picked up a supply of Corbon ammo in 45acp in various loadings. If you wanna make the drive down here I can give you the name of the store in Mooresville, IN.
No problem in MS. Big seller for carry/automobile is the Taurus Judge/Public Defender. It shoots the 45 LC and/or 410 shotgun shell. Has slowed down carjackings. Tickhill