If the shortage continues into the fall of 2022 and I can't get enough ammo for the entire season I will use what I have early in the season until it's gone. Then I will be done for the season. Not unless I can befriend a sales rep even lay some bucks on him to get me some trap loads.
I can always fall back on billiards and let the crow population grow until this ammo shortage ends.
What does this say about the shortage? Today on their Facebook page the shot shell maker RST Shells announced that they will have ammo to sell at the "Vintagers" Vintage Cup event in PA later this week due to being able to get some powder from members of the "Vintagers" (regular people like you and me). Limit three boxes per shooter, which is peanuts for what most people will shoot at the event. I talked with one of the RST reps in person at an event this past June and he told me the problem for them has been smokeless powder as they get their hulls already primed directly from Cheddite.
Pete, I don't see any results on Winchester, Remington or Federal's claim that they are working 24 - 7 to get shotgun ammo to the consumer. If you have enough for this season it could well be a banner season if other guys can't get any ammo. 2022 is what concerns me if things remain the way they are right now.
There is always 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball and 3 ball to play if the ammo goes south in 2022.
This ammo shortage has several facets to it. On the gunpowder topic mentioned by nhcrowshooter, last winter during the ice storm in Texas, the plant that made a large portion of the worldwide supply of nitrocellulose was shut down for weeks. This impacted ammo plants worldwide as it is a primary component of smokeless gunpower.
But a primary source of the shortage is from new gun owners. In 2020 there were 23 million guns (compared to 13.9 in 2019) purchased in the US, a large portion sold to 1st time buyers! Those new gun owners rushed out to buy ammo and PRESTO, inventory was all gone in an instant. That caught manufacturers by surprise and they are still working hard to make up the shortage.
Gun sales continue to be brisk. Plus, many other factors combined to exacerbate the problem (Covid, civil unrest, Remington plant closing, hoarding, etc.). The takeaway is that we can expect the shortage to continue for several more months, if not years.
Brace yourself, Guys, and keep looking. It is coming back slowly, but plan ahead...and buy what you need rather than stripping the shelves bare. And, if you wait, the prices will most likely be better than what they are right now.
Wish I had a better outlook, but thems are the facts, Y'all.
Demi
__________________
The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
