Ammunition Shortage Solutions for Training
 

From Mike Seeklander's Shooting Performance January 2013 emailed newsletter:

+1 airsoft

:D

HATERS GONNA HATE

We went through a similar ammo drought when Obama got elected the first time. It took about two years before ammo availability setteled down. I suspect it will take at least as long this time.

Everyone should own a 22 pistol and rifle so they can practice inexpensively and then on a routine basis stop by a local store and buy a box of $500 for $20 or so. If you do this a couple of times a month you don't miss the money and start to build a resonable supply that will allow training to continue when shortages happen.

Bobby, you forgot the first rule of competitive shooting! Keep at least 2 years of components on hand. For you that should be about 60,000 rounds.........

Here's what Larry Vickers said a few days ago:

Here's what Rob Pincus said a few weeks ago:

That's smart to do but then again, even if you are setup, who are you going to compete against when your other shooters can't find ammo?
I went looking for 12 gauge bulk birdshot at WalMart this week and all the stores around me had nothing. Who the heck hoards bulk birdshot and what use is that gonna be in the revolution?

Don't you have an AAR to write, RamzAAR?

Indeed. Especially the John McPhee carbine class from this past weekend where I / we got some of the best pistol instruction and diagnostics ever!

I'm remiss in my AAR duties only because I'm so concerned about classes and ammo the next 6+ months!

The other smart shooters who also have 60,000 rounds. We should be able to do 6 stages in under 30 minutes.

I'm liking this quick 6 stage match!!!

As for alternatives: I dry fire and use airsoft at home. Airsoft is loads of fun specially on steel targets.

Reloading also helps when factory ammo is in short supply & high demand. Speaking of which, Highlander, have you used HP-38 in 9mm loads? If so, what's a good load using 115gr RN with 1.155" COL and Magnum Primers?

Here's what Jason Falla (Redback One) said a few days ago:

Several micro squads got thru Norco Running Gun in 60 - 90 minutes today because everyone is in Arizona for the Single Stack Classis and because the weather was not quite right.

Don't know about HP-38, been running TiteGroup for 15 years. 125 TC moly on top of 4 grains of TiteGroup at 1.155" goes about 1,200 fps out of the G34.

Check HP website and start with min, work up .3 grs to max, use same case for 6 each loads, check for accuracy.

Darn, I knew I should have gone there but wife n kids are sick so no pay for me!

Haven't used TG but have Hp38 and clays. Played around with loads and 4.0-4.2 seems to be the sweet spot using HP38.

This should be helpful for those attending Jason Falla's June 2-Day Advanced Carbine (RSS level 3) class at Angeles shooting range on June 1 and 2nd.

Anybody go to the Crossroads of the West Gunshows in Costa Mesa this weekend? Daily Pilot was reporting the following:

Ammo shortage may trigger gun show sales: Weekend's gun show owner says vendors from Northern California are bringing in large quantities to meet demand.

I didn't even bother. Reports http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=688779 say lines for ammo and entrance were 2-4 hours!!! As expected 9mm & 5.56/.223 ammo was in very high demand.

On a side note: I've noticed less people shooting 9mm in local range this weekend (both days) as evidenced by the types of casing on the floor. Lots of 40s and 45 however.

I figured as much.

I too have reserves of .40 & .45 that I have not tapped into in a few years. I guess once you deplete your 9mm you need to tap into the other calibers!

I checked LAX Firing Range for factory 9mm and it's $325 per thousand now. Before Sandy Hook it was $220! At least, it's available!

Ouch: we used to pay that much for 5.56 shipped to your door!!!

Yes and that was less than two months ago!

Here's what Kyle Defoor said a few days ago:

Here's what Magpul Dynamics said a few weeks ago:

Here's what Paul Hotaling of Alias Training said today:

.22 LR kit being ok sounds real good. Since Day 2 builds on Day 1 I can see starting off with .22LR for Day 1 and then sleeping on it and using your real load on Day 2.

Here's what Larry Vicker says about .22 LR weapons:

Sling shot division
Open - wrist assist (i.e. wrist rocket), tube bannds, with red dot or optical sites
Limited - wrist assist, tube bands, no sites
Production - wood sling shot with rubber bands
Single stack - wire hanger frame using spit wads

well ive got about 35k primers, 20k pieces .40 lead, 5k pieces .223 lead, 12lbs rifle powder, 8lbs pistol powder, 6 cases of 7 1/2 1 1/8oz federal birdshot and 3 cases of slugs.

i also have a couple thousand .40 and a thousand .223 loaded for the immediate future.

that should get me through superstition, area 2 multigun and multigun nationals. after that im gonna have to get some more birdshot and im hoping to take some primers off the prizetable as i did last year so that will help me re-cop.

plus i have to go to NYC for a month or two to work so i wont get to fire a shot during that time. so i think im good for this years season. i do however shoot alot more than you guys do so maybe i am gonna be in trouble and i dont know it yet.

i still shoot airsoft in the house a few nights a week regardless.

Using airsoft for rifle is great if you have a nice AEG that shoots in an accurate manner. The ones I have have the same fire controls as my AR15s (excepting the fact that my AR15s don't have select fire automatic).

Using airsoft pistols are another matter. The current one I have, a CM 023 isn't that accurate and doesn't hit hard enough. Maybe it's just a question of quality as this particular one was only $50, and Cyma's well known for being cheap.

This from Stan from The Academy of Saint Crispian:

Bring what you have: .22LR etc.
You can always half ration the drills or skip repetitions.
I have two tricked out Ruger 10/22s to rent (Tapco stocks, red dot sights, etc.)
Some training is better than no training at all.
And I do offer non-kinetic classes like the emergency medicine series and SHTF lecture.
I see a rise in shotgun classes for the next 6 months to year.

Ramzar, thanks for the thread. Here is what the Falcon Team has to say via today's press release:

**********

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING TRAINING AND AMMO AVAILABILITY

The Falcon Operations Group (FOG) team recognizes the need for our students to remain current on their training. Not only do our civilian students need training to protect their families, our Military, LEO and Contractor students need to stay sharp to prepare to go on duty or overseas.

The following press release is related to AMMUNTION AVIAILABILITY for FOG students who are attending one of our courses. If you are not attending our courses, ammo will not be made available to you.

Here is availability and pricing on FACTORY loaded ammunition. This is not reloaded ammo.

Factory .223 / 500 rds = $257.50
Factory 9mm / 500 rds = $149.35
Factory 40cal / 500 rds = $169.95
Factory 45cal / 500 rds = $206.00

Please add 3% if purchasing online of paying via credit card to cover our fees. These prices are the best in town and are still comparable to before the ammo scare when considering the current situation. FOG is not profiting on this ammo. This is simply a pass-through from our agreed supplier to you, the student.

Ammunition will only be provided to you the morning of the class (not shipped or prior to class), and you will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 1k rounds per class day.

Additionally, we are going to lower our round count for 1-day courses to 500 rounds per day to counteract excessive use of this now-precious commodity.

In addition to lower the round counts and providing ammo direct to our students, we are also incorporating UTM ammo for certain courses such as Home Defense to help keep the cost low and the SAFETY paramount. UTM shoots a 4" grouping at 50 yards with a 5.56 round and pistol is accurate out to 25 yards so don't worry about accuracy or the level of training dimensioning simply because we are incorporating UTM's into the picture. During UTM training, we will have a lockout on regular ammo, so there will be no chances to compromise our students’ safety.

Lastly, if you plan on attending our courses on Feb 16 (thread here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=687980) for Pistol or Feb 17 for Carbine (thread here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=688007) we suggest you hurry up and register for those courses. We will be sending an email and a link to purchase the ammo via our online system (link is here: http://falconops.net/products-page/ammunition/).

THE DEADLINE FOR AMMO ORDERS FOR THE 2/16 and 2/17 classes will be FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8th. The ammo will be picked up at the end of next week and at class the morning of just like usual.

If you have any questions please send us an email via our general email box at info@falconops.net, visit our website at www.falconops.net and please like our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FalconOperationsGroup.

Thank you all for your patience during this difficult time. Together, we can continue to get high quality training and drive-on with our personal goals.

Respectfully,
Falcon Team

Nice. Note that the pricing is for FOG students ONLY.

We should be hearing soon from Chris Costa (Costa Ludus) and Travis Haley (Haley Strategic Partners) regarding the ammo situation.

I'm using airsoft for the upcoming Tac1 Classes...;)

Noticed this on Frank Proctor's FB page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Way-of...643728?fref=ts

"Due to recent market pressures, ammunition has become relatively scarce (and expensive). As a result, we have had to reschedule or cancel several of our mobile training courses. That said, we do have a consistent ammunition supply for our home courses in Oxford, AL, and we will provide ammunition to course students at the following rates: $360.00 per case of 1,000 for 5.56 and $240.00 per case of 1,000 for 9mm. Purchase limit is one case per student, and we will only sell the type of ammunition required for each course description. "

It makes allot of scents for vendor/trainers to supply the ammo for classes. Trainers can buy in bulk and save there students from running all over the country.

Push for Tougher Gun Control Sparks Ammo Shortage

California's state Senate Democrats roll out big gun control package

Is Frank going to have this offer for his CA classes?

It applies only to his local classes in Alabama and within driving distance. Sorry.

Going after the ammo for gun control: bullet control (taxing bullets/ammo, tracking/limiting purchases, etc.):

Overkill: If You Want to Stop Gun Violence, Start With Bullets