Guns Gear & Ammo

When Will Ammo Go Back to Normal?

The short answer is that ammunition availability and cost will not return to prior costs anytime ever in the future. The availability will return when demand subsides after a Biden Administration is no longer in power. Pricing will only approach a fractional semblance of what it once was; this genie will not go back into the proverbial bottle.

Why so long? 

Well, just like the Obama years, demand will be driven by the specter and real potential of bans, taxation, and manufacturing restrictions.

What makes this current shortage and extreme demand so different?  

The entire supply chain is already empty to the point where a shipment of ammunition is gone within minutes at every level of the supply chain. Also, given the fact that there will be additional factors exacerbating demand ad infinitum, this shortage will continue for years.

Manufacturers are already experiencing limited capacity due to lack of workforce as a result of COVID restrictions, quarantines, and normal planned days off. Add in the raw materials shortages from COVID issues, and this whole choke point gets much, much worse.

Given the prior “Trump slump” in demand in 2016, most of the large manufacturers will not take the risks to expand capacity as they did under Obama; this has been explicitly stated in many industry articles. The US Consumer benefited from a glutted market that existed only due to 2014/2015 expansions and buildups of inventory which was often sold below production costs to pay for warehousing fees subsequent Donald Trump’s Presidency.

Ammunition will never be as cheap as it was 2016-2019. 

Why?!

Well, the very same factors that created the COVID demand are still in play: uncertainty in the economy, job market, self defense concerns, and political strife resulting in potential civil conflicts. All of these issues are still very apparent at this time. Enter Joe Biden.

Now, with the extremely real and apparent prospect of a Biden/Harris Administration, not only do we already have new forms of unconstitutional and tyrannous gun control bills already filed in the House of Representatives, but when the Senate reconvenes, the very same bills submitted in Virginia in 2020 will move forward in Congress when Senator Warner files them as he has promised to do. These bills will cause demand to soar again nationally because all three components of legislative government will be controlled by Democrats. There will be new laws.

Wait! It isn’t just new national gun control laws!

There are also at least three other VERY significant factors the Biden/Harris regime will push forward and control: Import restrictions, EPA regulations, and minimum wage increases.

Because of these factors, this shortage will become much, much worse. There will be no reasonable end in sight anytime soon.

With import restrictions looming, the once abundant Russian, Czech, German, UK, and Serbian ammunition will likely be either banned from import or virtually taxed out of existence. Remember, Sellier and Bellot would not build a multi-billion dollar US manufacturing facility in Arkansas if there is not an anticipated change in importation laws.

Add in the “New Green Deal” environmental BS. These environmental regulations will create a rabid version of the EPA and the already dwindling sources of raw materials will be further restricted/constricted – many mines were already shut down under Obama’s EPA leadership. Add to that more burgeoning requirements for manufacturing environmental standards and the costs producing every component in every US made product will soar.

AND, it gets better! 

With the push for a $15 minimum wage under the guise of “equality and equitability,” the costs of every single good, component, and item any level of business uses will go up greatly. This push for a greater wage is simply another way of stoking the treasury coffers via income taxation, sales taxes, and industry related insurances/permits/costs.

Buckle up America! Your Guns and ammunition will cost more for years to come. This shortage will be measured in years and decades, not weeks and months.

Buy your ammo now, for tomorrow it will cost more.

With the news media blazing reports that Biden is their projection for president-elect, we are already seeing a massive uptick in demand.

Be ready to accept the fact that the current short supply of high demand items will be a reality for the foreseeable future.

Wholesale was already depleted most of the popular items, firearms, and accessories. This shortage began with the start of the COVID-19 and became much worse with the riotous protests and uncertainty in the 2020 elections. As of the writing of this article, even AR magazines were out of stock or allocated on wholesale.

Production of ammunition, firearms, and accessories has continued, however, with COVID related social distancing, lead/copper mine shutdowns, and issues with keeping a full staff on hand in these production facilities, we have seen severe lacks of items every American wants to purchase in every sector.

Given the social unrest, potential for masses of people going broke and un-fed, and the looming prospect of a Biden-Harris gun control scheme, demand is far higher than ever before in history.

Throw into the mix the upcoming holiday retail season and we are looking at both a shortage of popular firearms/ammunition/accessories and pricing beyond what anyone has ever seen for the foreseeable future.

These are demonstrated facts at this point. 

You may be asking “Well how does that effect my hobby/pastime and the ability to protect my family?”

The answer is simple; if you need a gun, Ammo, or supportive accessories, finding them will be increasingly difficult. The old focus on cheapest pricing will result in an empty hand and likely an empty box this holiday season. 

Be willing to accept a hard to get item when you find it in stock- 99% of firearms are allocated at a wholesale level and there are serious limitations on how much any dealer can receive. Keep in mind that often a pallet of guns at the wholesale level of distribution doesn’t go far when 50-100 sales reps have to split the 40 or so popular items among each of their hundreds or thousands of accounts.

To help with both self defense and Christmas related purchases, yes, we accept transfers from online purchases- again, if you have found that perfect item online, don’t wait, get it ordered as soon as you see it. Even that may not guarantee a purchase as we have seen many cancellations from over sales of the same inventory from other suppliers/retailers since March.

As for ammunition, start looking now. It will undoubtedly become both more expensive and scarce as we approach both Christmas and a possible Biden Inauguration.  

As many hunters are finding out now, that favorite brand, bullet type, weight, and style, will often not be available at any price. Be willing to accept what is available. Remember, any bullet will make a hole. Note: most FFL dealers do not have ammunition contracts and are literally buying from retail to stock retail. It is irresponsible to not keep ammunition on hand for new customers- any bullet is worth an infinite amount of money if it saves yourself or a loved one from assault, rape, or murder.

With the announcement of Biden as the projected president-elect, we are already seeing a massive demand uptick for AR-15’s, AK-47 variants, AR shotguns, Defensive shotguns, and popular pistols. All of these items will be difficult to get in the coming weeks. If you find what you are hunting to purchase, do not wait. Be willing to take a similar item if it alternatively is available.

This serious uptick in demand will prove to be a long one and gain in severity if Biden is installed as US President #46.

We all can weather this time of extreme demand, but we also have to consider that millions of new gun owners both need supplies and training. Be willing to show these new potential 2A supporters the better side of our community. We will only get a small window of opportunity to convert them to supporters if Biden fulfills his plan to enact unconstitutional gun control.

Remember, an armed society is a polite society. We should all endeavor to keep it that way.

We are all in this fight together!

Give hope, not excuses!

Time for a hard conversation that will likely upset many folks.

As we all know, “Lord” Northam and his Democrat run General Assembly has “decriminalized” marijuana possession to the point where a possession charge only carries a $25 fine.  This change has many Virginians celebrating.

Well, how does this involve firearms? 

Simple, there are a couple already existing laws and consequences which will come into play when both a legally owned and purchased firearm and a simple possession charge are both present in the same place of legal interaction. Remember, lawyers are not cheap.

The General Assembly Democrats already know that the people who will use marijuana more openly due to a willingness to pay a $25 fine will do so both in vehicles and at home. 

These Democrats also created laws requiring the use of background checks and de facto use of Federal 4473 forms.

These Democrats also created a voluntary “do not sell to” list which the Virginia Stare Police will use to deny potential legal firearms sales.

These Democrats also knew that a marijuana charge conviction will cause the offender to be prevented from legal purchase of a firearm for a period of 1 year.

So, this means: 

Getting caught with a marijuana possession charge on your record will cost far more than $25.  Thank “Lord” Northam and his Democrat run General Assembly.

This is how a simple $25 fine may play out:

A citizen is stopped for a traffic infraction or calls the police to assist at his/her home with an unrelated situation.

Upon discovering the odor, pretense, paraphernalia, or admission of marijuana use, the officer has the right to search said private property.

The citizen who is more than willing to pay his/her $25 fine forgot about that legally purchased firearm sitting on their dresser or legally in the vehicle openly carried.

Now, the officer confiscates both the firearm and the illicit marijuana. The officer is acting properly within the scope of the law and doing exactly what the Democrats wanted him/her to do.

Now, the citizen who thought a simple $25 charge was the only consequence of possession will found out the consequences are far worse.

1. The 4473 question 11 e. Was answered “NO” to purchase said legal firearm.
2. Lying on the 4473 form is a federal felony.
3. Possession of firearms by a user of illegal substances is potentially a federal felony.
4. Even if a federal charge is not levied, a possession charge is going to prevent purchase for at least a year.
5. Presence of both a firearm and marijuana will likely create a plea bargain where the prosecutor offers a “voluntary” placement of the offender’s name on a “do not sell to” list where the person voluntarily signs away their constitutional rights to avoid a federal firearms charge.

So, a simple $25 charge now becomes a possible federal felony, a potential permanent loss of rights, and may even become incarceration.

“Lord” Northam now gets to incarcerate the very inner city, low income, and Democrat voters who have a greater likelihood of conviction. The very population of people who elected both Governor Northam and the Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly got the shaft; these Democrats just dangled a carrot to their constituents who though a $25 fine for a simple possession of marijuana charge was good for their communities.

It was never about deregulation.

It was never about helping people.

“Lord” Northam simply wanted to fund the courts, incarcerate people, and disenfranchise constitutional rights to keep and bear arms.

Keep voting for Democrats and watch our rights and freedoms disappear.

Enjoy that $25 fine, possible federal felony, and loss of rights. That was always the plan “Lord” Northam demanded be put in place.

Here is the reality:

If you like firearms, leave the pot alone.

We are all in this fight together!

Give hope; not excuses!

We are all tired of COVID-19 Chinese Beer Flu; lets do something to keep our minds off the government mandated shutdowns and social distancing!

Since we have one left, we decided to offer it as a promotion!

Nothing better than a free AR lower!

Plus, this great AR-15 lower has already helped support the VCDL!

So, if you were wondering how you can get your hands on this great Virginia Flag inspired lower, it is easy!

1. Like our Facebook page (if you haven’t already)
2. Share this Post
3. Tag 3 freedom loving friends!

Make sure you share this post! 250 shares will be required for the drawing to occur!

Just remember, this is a receiver and all firearms regulations apply; Must be 21 years or older to pick up. Also, we will gladly allow this unit to be shipped to any FFL holder; shipping is not included. The winner must arrange and handle any shipping/transfer fees. Unit must be picked up or arrangements must be made for shipping within 14 days of the winner announcement.

We will announce a winner on 4/15/2020 based on the the criteria and 250+ Facebook shares!

Note: There is a slight rollmark defect on the graphic; part of the “Virginia” is missing. This is a cosmetic issue only and certainly will not effect the application of this great lower in a boogaloo approved firearm!

If you aren’t already a member of the VCDL (http://VCDL.org), consider joining them; this advocacy group is the only Virginia ONLY oriented group we have!

The discussion we are all avoiding.

*NOTE: This is a hypothetical and we all wish to avoid this outcome!*

            With the great movement and mobilization of Virginia’s firearms owners, Governor Ralph Northam has been given a clear and public mandate to back down with respect to his proposed agenda which would eviscerate the Second Amendment Rights that all US Citizens possess.

Not only have more than half of the Commonwealth of Virginia localities have adopted resolutions, but these localities will make enforcement of Ralph Northam’s proposed gun control items problematic. The body of the citizens has been activated and they are angry beyond measure. Tyranny will not be tolerated in any form; either Northam will back down or he will be undermined completely and/or removed from office by the citizens of Virginia.

            Yes, the Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions *were* largely symbolic to start with, however, now that Virginia Citizens, Statesmen, and Patriots have reached a “critical mass,” it is well apparent that ZERO new firearms laws will be tolerated by the people. Unconstitutional laws have real consequences; dire ones as a matter of fact.

            While it is the expressed hope of all Virginians that Ralph Northam will back down from a Virginia Revolution, this is the giant elephant in the room which no Virginian wants to discuss. Several counties have already adopted militia clauses, the Citizenry is chomping at the bit and angry, and Northam is pouring gasoline on this fire. When a Delegate from the Norfolk area has already warned of the conditions that contributed to the Civil War, would it not be wise for a Virginia Governor to value the peace and unity of this great Commonwealth over his Bloomberg funded campaign compromises?

            Not only has the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement woke a sleeping giant, it has led to the Virginian Patriots who comprise it to be well connected, organized, and ready to fly a new version of the Gadsden Flag; Virginia will not accept any compromise on our Virginia Constitution or US Constitutional rights. Our legislators would do well to recognize the growing number of counties who have adopted Second Amendment Sanctuary status, the sheer number of righteously angered patriots which Northam has set aflame, and the tenacity which all of these patriots will defend their rights. Short answer: Stand down Governor Northam.

            Here is how this crisis *possibly* may play out should the General Assembly blatantly ignore the will of the people:

            January 2020: General Assembly passes a portion or all of the proposed anti-Second Amendment gun control bills and Governor Northam immediately signs them. Great cheers from the left erupt as AR-15’s AK-47’s and common pistols are outlawed while making millions of Virginia Law Abiding Citizens felons with the stroke of a pen. No longer will Virginians be able to teach their children the joys and responsibilities of firearms ownership as they once had; Virginia has become some amalgam of California, New York, and New Jersey gun laws which undermines the very tapestry of Virginian culture.

This is the point where tyranny is no longer tolerable or acceptable to Virginia patriots. These clear attacks on inalienable rights have gone on long enough. No longer will they be tolerated within this Commonwealth. When an elected official has made it clear that their intention is to pass legislation which is blatantly an affront to the Virginia and US Constitution, they have violated their oath of office. The people have the expressed right to remove such a politician from office by any means necessary; ask George Washington how he handled the British who demanded disarmament of the colonies?

On the right, there is an immediate mobilization for local militias; many of which already exist and have been training for decades. New members and militia men will be in no short supply. These patriots will follow the footsteps of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lee, Stuart, Jackson, and many other great Virginians. These patriots are already armed and well prepared. They outnumber Governor Northam’s forces 15:1 at the minimum by many current estimates. A quick check of Virginia Hunting License issuance numbers will verify this statistic. These militias do not discuss business, readiness, or membership online; nor do they openly recruit. They exist and exist for the sole purpose of guaranteeing constitutional freedoms.

            At this point one or two things will happen. Either the officials who voted and signed these treasonous laws into existence will be removed by the very boards and citizens who voted for Second Amendment Sanctuaries peacefully via public pressure. Or the newly formed militias will make a not so polite demand in Richmond. Remember, Treason is a capital offense; the oaths of office include a strict adherence to the Virginia constitution – ALL OF IT. If the courts will not uphold God Given rights which are enshrined in both the US and Virginia Constitutions, the people and the militias will.

That scenario can be averted! The Patriots are asking Richmond to follow the constitutions of this land now!

            There is a severe divide within the people of this Commonwealth – as is within the United States in general. No longer is civics properly taught in schools, no longer is there a commonality and unity in national goals, no longer is there a reverence for the founding forefathers and their original tenets of national government. This nation has arrived at a point in reality which was hoped never to come; a government which expects to be served by the people at the people’s expense. The politicians who have looked to undermine the will of the very people they serve via courts, redistricting, voter laws, and illegal immigration policies have created this tinderbox. It is in the hope that these very same politicians can rule with reason and keep their treasonous agendas within a proper cable tow; that this “Giant Elephant in the Room” is discussed openly in this printed hypothetical discussion will serve to encourage them to act accordingly to avoid war.

When the common man has begun to openly suggest “marching on Richmond,” “Tar and Feathering,” and “Hanged for Treason and High Crimes,” there exists a divide that will not heal as the side which stands on the constitution will do so until death.

            Remember, the conditions for war have long been boiling under the surface. It is the hope of every Virginian that Governor Northam sees the turmoil which he has created. Northam needs to realize that the unity of this Commonwealth rests with his actions.

            Governor Northam started this fire; Governor Northam can put it out as well. The people are ready and willing to hold Richmond to its constitutional promises.

Closing Prayer

I pray for peace and unity in this Commonwealth of Virginia; I pray that the horrors of war will not visit this land. I pray that our elected official will consign their efforts to more noble acts such as economic growth and a continued excellence in mankind’s welfare as a whole. Our nation is at a crossroads in history, the decedents of present day Virginia patriots and statesmen will look to how these situations have been handled which will be written in the history books and will be studied far into the future. Let us pray that war may be averted by those who God has allowed to be in charge for a season.

Free Sig Sauer Pistol Contest! 1000 share marathon!

Time to run a BIG giveaway promotion!

1. Like our page Guns Gear & Ammo on Facebook
2. Tag 2 Friends and comment “Done.”
3. Share this post!
4. BONUS: Register on our website (in case you see something you like).
5. BONUS: Visit our partner USCCA

We will randomly draw a winner once we hit a minimum of 1000 unique individual shares on Facebook. Make sure your share is public, we can’t count it if we cannot see it! Our website tracks the bonus actions, so don’t miss out of the extra chances!

Be sure to tag a couple friends and comment “done” so we can hit the minimum share threshold quickly!

The winner must pick up their prize in person within 14 days of the winner announcement on Facebook or arrange for shipment to their FFL dealer (we do not cover the shipping).

Note: You need to be 21 years of age to pick up a pistol per federal law.

Free Sig Sauer Pistol Contest! 1000 Share Marathon!

Good luck!

How often do I need to change my carry ammunition? We get this question all the time at the gun counter. The story often leads off with a question about abnormal cartridge appearance, a function issue, or sometimes our on-hand gunsmith spots a “problem cartridge” when a pistol is dropped off for cleaning. Regardless of how this conversation is started, the answer is alway the same: Ammunition is like underwear, you do need to change it out from time to time.

First off, if you have taken the time to purchase a pistol, take training courses, apply and receive a CCW permit, and adjusted your clothing choices to accommodate your method of carry, well done; you are statistically in the most law abiding group of US Citizens out there. Now that you have acclimated yourself to the laws, equipment, and methods of carry, there are a few pointers that will serve you well in maintaining your readiness to meet some unforeseen threat. Remember, if your everyday carry pistol doesn’t function due to poor quality or worn out ammunition, there is little purpose in carrying your pistol every day.

Above, here are a few examples of some 45 ACP rounds which have been carried in several EDC pistols. Three of them look relatively normal and would pass the muster test for most people looking for ammunition to shoot or carry on first glance. All of these rounds have something in common; they all were overdue to be relegated to target practice only, and in one case, removed for pulled components only. The cartridge with the most potential for a catostrophic failure is the second one from the left; this was a RIP round which was recovered from a customer who dropped his pistol off for cleaning. The projectile in this unit had likely been chambered and removed many times in the same pistol; remember, repeated chambering and removal of the same round into your EDC pistol can create enough force to set your projectile deeper into the casing; this creates a potentially unsafe situation in that the case pressures for the cartridge increase when this occurs. Most firearms have very finite and pre-determined limits which they can handle without case pressure causes a chamber rupture, vented propellant gas, or other undesired malfunction. If your ammunition ever looks like this, immediately remove it from service and DO NOT FIRE IT.

The other cartridges above were all removed for their age; we recommend changing ammunition at least once a month if you carry daily; more if you deal with humid climates or perspire heavily when carrying. Your ammunition is only good when it stays dry. Both sweat and humidity can break down the compounds in primer or powder and render your ammunition worthless in a self-defense situation. While many defensive rounds do have sealed crimps and primer pockets, nothing out there is 100% effective at preventing deterioration in ammunition that is carried on your person everyday. Don’t forget that oil/lubricants which are over applied or repeatedly exposed to ammunition can ruin powders and primers as well.

Above, this example fo a 9mm (9BPLE) carry round has been deformed during its duty carry. Many times, the ammunition either becomes deformed in the loading/unloading of the round from the chamber, or in the instance for this unit, the damage was from being the top round in a spare magazine for too long. This round experienced a drop or was pressed too hard against something else; either way, it was overdue to be retired from everyday carry. Also as shown below, it appears the casing has minor wear which would also be a good reason to swap it out for a fresh round.

Ammunition that doesn’t function as intended is no laughing matter in a defensive situation. Inspect your cartridges often and change them if there is any variance in appearance to new ammunition. Remember, you can use your retired rounds for target shooing to aid in training; but never fire a round that is severely deformed, set back, or otherwise malformed from carry. While many of our customers chamber a round only once before retiring it, others do not; our recommendation is that your carry ammunition should be changed at the minimum once a month and inspected often. Use the old adage: When in doubt, change it out! And your EDC with your favorite ammunition will never fail you when you need it!

Seal 1 Complete Care Facebook Giveaway!

Win a Seal 1 Complete Care Kit! Just Like us, Tag a friend, and Share this post!

We are just excited to have Seal and products available in store!

How to be entered:

Just Like us, Tag a friend, and Share this post!

Seal 1 is the best cleaning, lubricating, and protectant product we have found! Stop in and let us show you the difference! Note, if you bring you gun, Matthew will clean your weapon while we talk at the counter for $10 per firearm! Seriously, after using Seal1, none of our staff will go back to the products they were using before!

We will randomly draw a winner on August 3rd (08/03/2019) from all entrants. We will count the shares and credit all entries to each person.

The winner must pick up their prize in person within 14 days of the winner announcement on Facebook or arrange for shipment (we will not cover the postage). After 14 days, we will re-award this kit to another lucky individual!

Good Luck!