223/556 Ammo Shortage. Can You Buy Ammo Where You Live?

**Dr. Bullseye** · 07-20-20, 13:10

In California there has been no 223/556 ammo for a month. There may be some steel out there but it is even rare. My gun store tells me it is everywhere. They say it may be a year until this ammo returns. I check in Arizona and they have no ammo either. Dipping into my stockpile is something I do not want to do for practice. What is the situation where you live?

**MountainRaven** · 07-20-20, 13:14

The halflife of 9mm and 223/5.56mm (and most other service weapon-type ammunition, including buckshot and slugs for shotguns) on the shelf is extremely short, here.

It can be found. It tends to be more expensive than usual (prices pushing back up to what they were 6-7 years ago). But you have to show up within a couple of days of it being put on the shelf. And that's with purchase limits put in place by the stores.

**Circle_10** · 07-20-20, 13:21

I almost never buy .223/5.56 in stores, so I dunno what the shelves look like but I’m guessing the local shops are pretty cleaned out.
The online retailers I use are pretty cleaned out, and when stuff does come into stock the price is high.

Same situation with 9mm.

I’ve severely curtailed my rifle shooting as a result but don’t have the luxury of being able to do that with handgun. I’m really trying to get better and stay better with a pistol and in order to do that I need to shoot regularly, like *at least* 50-100 rounds per week.

**TBAR_94** · 07-20-20, 13:33

I've had a tough time finding bulk ammo near me, whereas 6 months ago I could find XM193 and M855 bulk cans everywhere. A lot of the smaller shops have ammo, but it's 50rd boxes and if you don't show up early you have to wait in line.

**Biggy** · 07-20-20, 13:51

Ammo prices are going up in my area and not much out there in the way of 9mm, 5.56 and .223 either.

**Colt Carson** · 07-20-20, 14:11

At my LGS they told me I could either buy one 20 round box, or one 1,000 round case. I didn’t need ammunition though.

**Eurodriver** · 07-20-20, 14:16

Ammo was incredibly cheap and plentiful for all of 2018 and 2019.

Who needs ammo now and why?

**markm** · 07-20-20, 14:27

Originally Posted by Eurodriver

Who needs ammo now and why?

Ammo and Clips!! I only get 'em in panic buys!

**1168** · 07-20-20, 14:42

Originally Posted by Colt Carson

At my LGS they told me I could either buy one 20 round box, or one 1,000 round case. I didn’t need ammunition though.

Yeah, last time I went to a store, thats what they told me. So I bought a case of XM193 for like $330, which is silly.

Originally Posted by Eurodriver

Ammo was incredibly cheap and plentiful for all of 2018 and 2019.

Who needs ammo now and why?

We’re reloading with bulk powder and I have a stash that can be best described as “deep”, but it won’t last forever. I still grab a little here and there.