Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might have picked up on the fact that a commodity, namely firearm ammunition, that was available in profusion last year at this time, is rarer than hen’s teeth today. For those who haven’t anticipated this day by making a weekly pilgrimage to the ammo counter for the previous “fat” years, a trip to the range with your new Axeon handgun light is out of the question-- or is it? Yes, times are lean now, but there are a few ways to score some boxes of ammo should you be in the need.
1: Subscribe to Ammo Retailer’s Email
I know, twenty years ago we were all griping about having a mailbox full of junk mail. Today, the inbox with 200 to 300 fresh emails every day is the digital equivalent of the junk mail of yore--BUT, if you are paying attention to certain emails and open them WHEN they arrive, you might just catch your favorite cartridge in stock! A quick search and a skim of a gun blog will reveal some online ammo dealers, like the 9 Best Places to Buy Ammo Online published by Pew Pew Tactical.
2: Social Media Gun Content Creators
Who isn’t completely burned out on social media? It’s pretty disgusting what is happening to the freedom of speech on social media platforms, but there is value in keeping up with some of the heavy hitters in the world of GunTubers, Instagrammers, and Facebookers. These folks often have the hook-up on ammo in-stock notices. Pay attention to their posts and be ready to act instantly. While you’re at it, follow Axeon Optics on Instagram.
3: Backorder Ammunition and Wait
Some ammo retailers will allow you to backorder ammunition. Now this will be an exercise in faith and it is certainly not an instant solution to the problem, but it does work. To underscore this, I put in an order for a little 5.56 in July of 2020. Just about four weeks ago the order finally arrived. Now I don’t have to feel so bad about going to the range a few times. Not too long after I placed that order, I placed a subsequent order which has not yet arrived. Yes, that order is going on seven months old, but it will resupply my recreational shooting stash for a good while once it arrives.
4: Be Ready to Pay the Asking Price
If your centerfire ammo of choice does happen to be in stock, buy it. Now is not the time to haggle on price or wait for a deal. While the price increases at the wholesale level have not been extraordinary, raw materials have been going up, demand is white-hot, and the distribution network is strained. There are some retailers that are scalping the prices and as such they always have stock. If you are absolutely destitute in the ammo department and your ammo cans are to the minimum-- you gotta do what you gotta do. But the idea is to find rifle and handgun ammunition without dumping your entire account. You have to be ready with either cash in hand at the retailer or fast with the digits the second you see a notice that a retailer has your favorite pew pills in stock.
As the SEALs motto goes, “the only easy day was yesterday.” Times are tough and every indicator is pointing in the direction of everlasting perdition. In other words, it would behoove you to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Prioritizing your purchasing power is of the essence. Make some margin in your budget for things that matter. This might mean passing up on that overpriced cup of coffee or making those shoes go a few more months but find that margin somewhere.
Mark Davis, avid outdoorsman, family man, and outdoors writer is the social media specialist for Axeon Optics.