Where's All The Ammo Going?

Where's All The Ammo Going?

A friend points out that in a recent comment thread concerning the guns and ammo runs, someone claimed that the ammo is all going to Mexico "where there is a civil war going on."

That's a tempting explanation, and it might explain some of the shortages in military calibers such as 9mm, .45 ACP, 7.62x39mm, or .223. But .380 ACP (a relatively low powered pistol cartridge) is one of the very scarce calibers right now--and I suspect that the drug cartels aren't going through enough .380 ACP to make much of dent in U.S. production. In addition, I know some people who have been stocking up--it's not going south.

UPDATE: I had seen this news report, but assumed that it referred only to artillery shells and such. Apparently not!

mailto:SurplusNews@govliquidation.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 5:34 PM
To: rlepage@usa.net
Subject: Important Notice to Scrap Metal Buyers!

http://www.govliquidation.com

Dear Valued Customer:

Please take a moment to note important changes set forth by the Defense Logistics Agency:

Recently it has been determined that fired munitions of all calibers, shapes and sizes have been designated to be Demil code B. As a result and in conjunction with DLA’s current Demil code B policy, this notice will serve as official notification which requires Scrap Venture (SV) to implement mutilation as a condition of sale for all sales of fired munitions effective immediately. This notice also requires SV to immediately cease delivery of any fired munitions that have been recently sold or on active term contracts, unless the material has been mutilated prior to sale or SV personnel can attest to the mutilation after delivery. A certificate of destruction is required in either case.

Thank you,

DOD Surplus
15051 N Kierland Blvd # 300
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

At the same web site is a letter from the Montana Shooting Sports Association to Senator Baucus (D-MT):

Against this background of ammunition shortage, about the only ammunition that continues to be somewhat available is that from second tier manufacturers who are remanufacturing ammunition from once-fired military cartridge brass. As of yesterday, that supply came to an end because of the DLA administrative decision to destroy (”demil”) all fired military brass.

Max, I have a lot more information about the national ammunition shortage, too much to put in one email. It is both a supply and demand problem. Without that lengthy detail, take my word for it that U.S. gun owners are very at-risk for their effective RKBA because of existing ammunition shortages. This administrative decision by DLA places a log on the back of a camel already sagging in the middle.

We sincerely hope that you can do something to turn DLA around, and reauthorize the flow of once-fired, undestroyed military brass from the military to civilians and civilian entities.

One final thought. The military can sell reloadable brass for $2.00 per pound. Brass that has been destroyed for reloading purposes and value sells for about 35 cents per pound. So the DLA is expecting taxpayers to pay DoD extra to make reloadable brass unavailable to civilian gun owners.

If this is correct, our government is actively aggravating the ammunition shortage and wasting our money. Maybe there's some non-RKBA hostile reason for DLA to do this, but for right now I am having to assume enemy action by the Obama Administration.

It is time to ask members of Congress why, in a time of economic crisis, DLA is actively destroying something of economic value.