Overseas wars causing ammo shortages

[Terri]

By UPI Staff
United Press International
April 9, 2007

SAN JOSE, Calif. (UPI) -- With wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, police departments in the United States are reporting a shortage of ammunition needed for firearms.

The San Jose (Calif.) Mercury-News reported that in addition to overseas conflicts, an unprecedented rise in the price of raw materials is also contributing to the shortage of ammunition. Also compounding the problem are longer delays in the shipment of ammo. Police across the United States said that ammunition shipments that once took 45 days are now taking as long as six months.

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[Der Alte]

Probably has something to do with them being in CA and some of the weird CA rules and regulations. Here in NC there is no shortage and most of the gun dealers have ongoing sales for ammunition. I know a lot more gets used when we are at war but I have never seen the dealers with such large stocks and having sales.

[studebaker51]

I usually buy "surplus" ammo for target practice from an online source. I get a weekly newsletter with their specials.There have been several time when the selection has been slim. When I asked why there were no specials on 9mm ammo, I was told: "Due to instabilities in the world, our usual sources for 'military surplus ammo' have temporarily dried up. As soon as supplies ease, we will be offering super deals on such ammo". The same thing was true for "NATO" ammo.

I guessing that maybe other countries are offering more money for the available surplus, than my supplier. I know several law enforcement agencies purchase surplus ammo for range practice (it's usually cheaper & still good ammo)

[Charie]

Prices are said to have risen almost fourfold in the past 2 1/2 years, as demand for raw materials has surged in China and India.

So China and India use more of the raw materials needed for munitions? Wonder why. Whassup?

[Brian Mora]

Why are we selling so much of our scrap metal overseas? We should be selling that to OUR OWN COMPANIES FIRST. That might help our own supply issues.
Nothing against those in China and India whose economic standards are improving --- as a matter of fact it is commendable to see them even expanding their own highway systems as those moves have helped American companies to some extent, though too much of our own policies toward companies have hurt them in America itself.
Maybe if we got rid of the more arcane regulations across America we could fix the situation so that everyone could get the materials they needed when they needed them more easily!
Including our own ammunition manufacturers.

[OldBaldy]

So China and India use more of the raw materials needed for munitions? Wonder why. Whassup?

"Raw materials" must refer to copper and zinc.
Brass for cartridge cases is 70 copper/30 zinc.
Gilding metal for bullet jackets is 95 copper/5 zinc.

Obviously copper and zinc are used for many things besides ammo, especially in big, rapidly growing economies like in China and India.

[Thundercat505]

(So China and India use more of the raw materials needed for munitions? Wonder why. Whassup?)

baldy, you forgot that military ammo is comprised of a steel core as well.

much of their ammo is made for several different calibres just in their own country but much of it is also sold here in the states--mostly civilian ammo. check on the amount of sks and ak variants that are in the u.s., plus realize that they also make a great quantity of 9mm ammo for sale over here.

russia only takes up some of the slack with their golden bear ammo for various calibres.

the main producers of ammo are the u.s., eastern europe, india, china, israel and russia. what the military needs and can't make enough of might very well be bought from overseas. in particular the .223 from israel.

[OldBaldy]

baldy, you forgot that military ammo is comprised of a steel core as well.

OK, but steel is abundant and cheap. Much 7.62 x 51 and 9mm & .45 ACP ammo have lead cores. Lead is also abundant and cheap. A great deal of 7.62 x 39 ammo has copper clad, steel cases, especially that which originates in Russia.

[pdgraham]

There is also the issue of "Hording" to contend with.

When word spread that components were going to be in short supply a lot of reloaders, like me, started to stock up.

That drove prices up and that caused a lot of reloaders, like me, to stock up again before the price went up again.

That caused prices to go up yet again and that caused a lot of reloaders, like me, to stock up again before the price went up again.

and on.. and on..

A vicious cycle.

Where am I going to put all this stuff?

I'm glad my reloading room is on a concrete floor.