.jpg)
Glamour's Women of the Year
UD vs. Northern Kentucky
Magic visits with area students
Cost of ammunition hinders police departments, gun owners
Related article: Gun owners feel the pinch
Comment: How are the rising ammo costs affecting you?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Kevin Bollinger, a Dayton police officer, loads up .40 caliber bullets in a clip as she prepares to qualify on the firing range. The officers are required to qualify with their weapons on a quarterly basis.DAYTON — Depending on whom you ask, the price of ammunition has gone up 25 percent, 50 percent, or has even doubled in the past several years.
The cause, like the price, seems to vary, from the soaring cost of commodities metals, like the brass, copper and lead used to make ammo, to the Iraq war and the need for more production of small-caliber ammunition to supply U.S. troops.
Distribution has also been a problem, affecting police departments as well as recreational shooters, gun shops and shooting ranges.
"We've not cut back, but we have to make orders much farther in advance," said Lt. John Barnes, Dayton Police Academy commander and range supervisor.
"Due to the (Iraq) war, vendors tell us it might be six to eight weeks before they can fill an order, Every vendor's different. It depends on how much is going to be requisitioned by the military. One vendor said it might be nine months before we can get an order."
They have to bite the bullet and pay the price, whatever it is, he said.
"We can't skimp on ammunition. We can't skimp on training," Barnes said.
Kery Gray, interim purchasing agent for the city of Dayton, said he tries to negotiate long-term contracts to hold prices down. They use lead-free cartridges on their practice range, not just for cost reasons but for environmental reasons, he said.
Depending on the type of ammunition, the cost has gone up 20 to 150 percent, Gray said.
The .40-caliber ammo the department uses most has gone up 37 percent, from $237 to $325.56 for a box of 1,000, from 2005 to 2008.
The .22-caliber ammunition has gone from $70 to $170 for a box of 500, a 146 percent increase. Also, 12-gauge buckshot rose 20 percent, $179 to $218 for 250 pieces, he said.
Jeff Pedro, owner of Sim Trainer, an indoor recreational and firearms training center on Dryden Road in Moraine, said since opening in 2004, he's seen ammo double in price.
"It's all a matter of supply and demand," he said. "The stated reason was they ramped up the production of military ammunition."
His business has slowed, but he blames the economy in general, the lack of disposable income, not just higher ammunition prices.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Dan
July 2, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
Katherine, please! It’s a magazine not a clip. Clip and magazine are not interchangeable terms! :-)
Dry firing, purposeful practice, and airsoft pistols are the answers.
It seems ok to me that us rec shooters might have to cut back some; it makes sense to me that the police and military is supplied first.
By Catman
July 2, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
It isn’t that things are more expensive, it is that your dollar is worth less, and quickly becoming worthless.
I read the article and it aggravates me to no end when people who know little or nothing about firearms write something and attempt to pass themselves off as, if not an expert, at least knowledgeable.
I see from the other comments that others have noticed the egregious errors as well. Those of you who are not fans of firearms, or do not need to use them in the course of your daily life should pay attention to these blatant errors.
These same people write about the “horrors” and “tragedies” of events such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and even common street crime where firearms have been used. The public and you would do well to research the errors and factual omissions in these articles as well.
It is called propaganda, and it is designed to herd the majority of the unthinking public along with the other cattle towards their doom.
By Catman
July 2, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
It isn’t that things are more expensive, it is that your dollar is worth less, and quickly becoming worthless.
I read the article and it aggravates me to no end when people who know little or nothing about firearms write something and attempt to pass themselves off as, if not an expert, at least knowledgeable.
I see from the other comments that others have noticed the egregious errors as well. Those of you who are not fans of firearms, or do not need to use them in the course of your daily life should pay attention to these blatant errors.
These same people write about the “horrors” and “tragedies” of events such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and even common street crime where firearms have been used. The public and you would do well to research the errors and factual omissions in these articles as well.
It is called propaganda, and it is designed to herd the majority of the unthinking public along with the other cattle towards their doom.
By Tony
July 2, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
We got people moaning over the price of everything these days. Why should ammo be any different from the rest of the mess. The economey is messed up all around period. And as for the post from Someone:: i hate guns, and though guns are meant for responsible people, they always end up in the wrong hands. guns are the worst thing that this country has allowed! << Wake up smell the coffee if it wasn’t for guns you’d be one of the first ones wanting one when somebody is harming you or your family.
By East Dayton Tucky
July 1, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
With the high cost of ammo, I cain’t no more hold up them Atta Boy stations out in East Dayton…
By Jon
July 1, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
I buy American made ammo and I don’t pay that much more for it vs. the comparable foreign made. (when we become dependent upon other countries for our ammo put a fork in us we’re done) I also buy by the case from a supplier in West Virginia via the internet. However I shoot a German made Steyr M1-A 9mm because I like the quick trapezoid sight acquisition and instant point ergonomics. Up until recently (Kimber) the design of this grip was not available in American made handguns.
By NotTucky
July 1, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Looks like craigaloo@msn.com (as “someone”) has anger-control issues and us-vs-them class or race hate issues. However, DDN’s intent with this story is to pander to him. Chris Rock said the “n-word type people” wouldn’t shoot so much if a bullet cost as much as their hoopty.
By Gus
July 1, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Response to “Someone” Hopefully, this person does not drive a car, ride a bus, or live in a neighborhood that has people. Hopefully a retirement community with guards. For the rest of us out here in the real world, there are bad people who do bad things to people. The police department does an excellent on crime scene reconstruction, after the fact. Ex: bad person walks up to your car window @ a stop light, gun in hand; what do you do? Roll down the window and have a talk?
By someone
July 1, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
people that shoot guns, except for hunting, can GO TO HELL!!! i hate guns, and though guns are meant for responsible people, they always end up in the wrong hands. guns are the worst thing that this country has allowed! yeah, get mad at me if you want but i hate guns and i hate you. poop on you and shut up
By Citizen
July 1, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
The prices have been going up and availability going down for years. Now with inflation on the rise (thanks, Federal Reserve), OPEC claiming $170/barrel by the end of summer, and plans to attack Iran before the election, it may help to keep a couple boxes in storage, just in case.
By Derek
July 1, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Tom, I found the errors too. The editors for Dayton Daily News really need to get on the ball here. That goes for ever article in their newspaper and on the website. There is a massive difference between a .22 and a .223 Remington.
By HuberTucky
July 1, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
I can no longer afford to hold up gas stations.
By Gun Junkie
July 1, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Problem isn’t with the cost of ammo, it’s the cost to drive to the range that’s hurting me. I used to go 4 days a week and now we go once a week. It’s going to hurt more you know because Greag at the range is going to make less because we go less. Now HE ALSO has less money in his pocket. The economey is messed up all around. I shoot a 357.
By Tom
July 1, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
It would be nice if the editors would proofread these articles.
The Dayton Police Department doesn’t use .22 ammo, but .223 ammo for their rifles. Big difference there.
DPD handguns don’t use “clips”. They use magazines. The last major firearm in the US to use clips was the M1 rifle, and that was replaced by the M14 in 1957.
Finally, I don’t think someone named “Kevin Bollinger” is a she.
By Ma Ubu
July 1, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Papa Ubu shoots off his mouth ‘round the clock. His ammunition is the self-satisfied fops of South Farce and the SnoreAgainDistrict; both are plentiful and cheap!
By Barry
July 1, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
I have cut back on the number of rounds I take to the range with me. I still love my .357 and my 12 gauge, I just can’t afford to feed them as much
By Steve
June 30, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
The prices in your article don’t reflect what the normal consumer pays. The everyday shooter is paying more than the cities because we don’t buy in large quantities or have the luxury of negotiating long term contracts.
Our family shoots about 10,000 rounds a year. In the past, we only bought American made ammunition but the prices have increased to the point where we are now buying ammo made outside the U.S. because it is a better value.
We now shoot more .22’s and have started reloading. We also get with other people and buy case lots to get better pricing.
I applaud Lt. Barnes for not skimping on either ammo or training. That shows a commitment to the police force and the people of Dayton.
By April
June 30, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
Iraq isn’t the only problem. I am sure we supply steel to other countries that will pay more for it than those who make ammunition.