Has there been a run on 12ga ammo?

Damn_Yankee

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I was thinking of adding a shotgun to my small collection. Has there been the same run on shotgun ammo as there is with other calibers?
 
Yes, there has been a run on shotguns and shells!
 
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A friend of mine in upstate NY decided that now would be a good time to stock up on 12ga shells for his old shotgun. Called me to tell me he could only find bird shot, and wanted to know if it worked for SD.

I have to give him credit for finally deciding that having a gun around is good for protecting the family. I told him birdshot would do the job at close range, but it wasn't ideal. I haven't gone to the store myself to see, but from what others are telling me, a lot of shells have been sold out.
 
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Or you could use a cut shell.
11004d35790590577c181f5a09508126.jpg


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Or you could use a cut shell.
11004d35790590577c181f5a09508126.jpg


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Or you can make Gulf Whammy Slugs. Basically cut open a shotgun shell with say 7 1/2 or 8 shot and pour out the shot leaving the shot cup untouched. Then mix it with melted paraffin wax (remember good old Gulf Wax?) then pour it back in the shotgun shell to harden and you have a semi-slug. The shot cup will keep the ignited powder from melting the wax when the trigger is pulled. They are pretty much a fragmentation type impact slug ... hits, goes in 6” or so and frag.
 
I was thinking of adding a shotgun to my small collection. Has there been the same run on shotgun ammo as there is with other calibers?

As others have stated, yes. It appears in my observations that Walmart was cleaned out first followed by Academy (Apex store). The more expensive stores like Cabelas (Garner store) had plenty in stock, in store wise, especially premium shells.
 
If you cant find buckshot even the numerically lower bird shot will put a hurt on someone at close i.e. inside the house range. I'd have no qualms dispatching a uninvited guest with BB to #4 shot. Shot pattern with a modified choke at 5-10 yards is going to be less than 10 inches. Beyond 10 yards , house distance, I'd definitely be wanting at least #4 buck . I dont put a lot of credence in the "everyone knows birdshot isnt good for home defense" thing. Theres a huge difference between #2 or #4 bird shot and #8 bird shot as far as performance on objects close by. A load of 3 inch magnum #4 isnt going to bounce off of someone 25 feet in front of you.
 
Shotguns are socially acceptable for the left leaning. You don't even have to shoot it. You just cock it and they run. -Joe Biden
HAHAHAH... My gun-control-democrat next door neighbor asked me this weekend if he could borrow a "double barrel shotgun"
 
If you cant find buckshot even the numerically lower bird shot will put a hurt on someone at close i.e. inside the house range. I'd have no qualms dispatching a uninvited guest with BB to #4 shot. Shot pattern with a modified choke at 5-10 yards is going to be less than 10 inches. Beyond 10 yards , house distance, I'd definitely be wanting at least #4 buck . I dont put a lot of credence in the "everyone knows birdshot isnt good for home defense" thing. Theres a huge difference between #2 or #4 bird shot and #8 bird shot as far as performance on objects close by. A load of 3 inch magnum #4 isnt going to bounce off of someone 25 feet in front of you.

Yup...despite the naysayers, birdshot at <5 yards is really just a frangible round...while not as good as buck or a slug, it would certainly remove a chunk of flesh at bad breath distance.
 
I have a decent amount of 12g set aside...I used to grab the $20ish dollar 100 round cases at Walmart every few weeks in the thought that I one day may get more into skeet shooting with my dad. We never have, as we thought the skeet range had closed.

I never really considered 12 gauge the best "prepper" item to stock up on, as a box of 25 shells weights about as much and is the same size as a 500 round brick of .22, and if things get THAT bad, I wont be wing shooting...Ill be shooting stuff off wires, the ground, my neighbors hen house...

As far as self defense, I have a pretty good Mossberg 590 set up, and its a blast to shoot. But I cant think of many situations in my home that it would be preferable to my AR pistol.
 
I was surprised. Since I've got more home time - still working from home but I get 2 hours a day back from the missing commute - I thought it might be fun to get the girls into skeet in the back yard since I've got an electric thrower. Figured I'd get some lite loads for them so it would be more pleasant starting out. Went looking for some at the mocksville walmart.....nothing. Shelves are bare.
 
Yep, had a guy I worked with 20 years ago rush out and buy an 870 Saturday and wanted me to give him a lesson in long guns. He had never fired one. Fortunately he had a concealed carry, so was familiar with the basic safety protocol. The shop he bought it from sold him Federal 7.5 game loads and told him they would "cut a man in half" if they came in the house. Won't necessarily disagree, but after I got him comfortable with the platform, I send him on his way with a box of buckshot. Sure they sold it to him since it was all the shotshell they had in stock.
 
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HAHAHAH... My gun-control-democrat next door neighbor asked me this weekend if he could borrow a "double barrel shotgun"
You should tell him that anything more than a single barrel is reserved for 2A supporters. ;)
 
When I was at Academy a week ago all/most of the 12ga was out

So, yes, I believe that there has been a run on them.

Probably not as bad as trying to find 9mm right now though ha
 
A crazy off beat hypothetical thought that wouldn’t happen ...

IF you wanted to sell at current market demand prices your AR’s, AK’s, HD shotguns, Sigs, Glocks and other tactical “panic driven” type high demand firearms and then sell your ammo stash off the same way ... how happy would your wife be with that windfall?
 
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A crazy off beat hypothetical thought that wouldn’t happen ...

IF you wanted to sell at current market demand prices your AR’s, AK’s, HD shotguns, Sigs, Glocks and other tactical “panic driven” type high demand firearms and then sell your ammo stash off the same way ... how happy would your wife be with that windfall?


She hypothetically wouldnt find out about it.
 
At the start of this mess, looks like the toilet paper hoarders thought they needed to protect their stock so they bought up every bit of ammo including bird shot. This irritated the heck out of someone like myself that likes to go skeet shooting. About a week ago, bass pro in Concord had birdshot in stock and on sale. 3 days ago I was in Wally world and they had a limited supply of bird shot there so it looks like the gun world might come back in balance soon.
 
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If I couldnt find any buck shot this would be my go to load for home defense action. 3" BB shot tungsten which is smaller than #4 Buck shot at .180" pellet size but its really moving at 1450 FPS and theres a bunch of then going in the same direstion.

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/hev...ungsten-lead-free-bb-shot-50308-p-109869.aspx
you would be insane to pay $35 a box for that stuff!!! Then again if you are just now shopping after years of cheap ammo then you deserve to pay crazy prices!
 
you would be insane to pay $35 a box for that stuff!!! Then again if you are just now shopping after years of cheap ammo then you deserve to pay crazy prices!

I think people are insane to pay $20+ a box for a box of 20 "self defense" 9mm or 45 ammo. Its one of those things you load in a mag and never, ever use. Same with home defense shotgun loads.
 
I think people are insane to pay $20+ a box for a box of 20 "self defense" 9mm or 45 ammo. Its one of those things you load in a mag and never, ever use. Same with home defense shotgun loads.
the difference is that those are duck/watefoul loads and people blow through them blasting the sky. $35 is alot for sky blasting.
 
It does not matter what gauge. I have noticed a lot less shotgun ammo over all.
 
the difference is that those are duck/watefoul loads and people blow through them blasting the sky. $35 is alot for sky blasting.

For the most part, I agree...skyblasting is often a waste. But consider the hunter that may only get 2-4 days per year to head down to the coast to shoot the lil'birdies. You've dropped a few hundred in waders, jackets, guides, hotel, gas, tips, gear...and then skimp out on budget shells. If Im only going to get 10-30 shots off, may as well make em count.
 
just found a case of Federal #8s I didn't even know I had. Maybe I should list them in the Gunjoker or on the BS-T :D

FWIW I checked a few months ago and the price of reloading stuff for shotshells were insanity. Especially for used hulls.
 
No doubt... for a long time it cost more to roll your own than to buy ammo.
 
I was in Walmart in Cary a moment ago. Saw plenty of federal and Winchester 12 ga, 21.74 for a box of 100.
 
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