Pickin' and choosin': or snoozin' and losin'

Guns Magazine, August, 2009 by John Connor

At this writing, several major distributors report they have no ARs, AKs or variants in stock, and not a single full-capacity magazine for them. Many ammunition wholesalers have no ammo in 5.56mm, 7.62x51mm, 7.62x39mm, .45 ACP or 9mm on their shelves--zero rounds, folks. One giant firearms maker says they have 185, 000-plus guns on back-order, and another reports at full manufacturing capacity, it will take over a year to fill current orders.

Each month since last November, Americans have broken long-standing records in firearms purchase background checks. The message ain't lost on the DC Beltway Bandits and the media's Talking Heads, and that's a good thing--but it leaves a lot of would-be buyers frustrated and feelin' like, if they didn't "get theirs" during the November-to-May Firearms Frenzy, they're not gonna get the guns, ammo and accessories they want.

There's no way to count the number of people who searched for but couldn't find the products on their wish lists. I think it's safe to estimate the figure at hundreds of thousands--or even millions--and the frenzy goes on.

Many readers have asked for my take on the situation, and recommendations on what they should buy. True, I have some "industry inside" information sources and my own opinions, but remember; we're dealing with unprecedented conditions. Never before has the election, succession or appointment of a head of state set off a nationwide tsunami of firearms and ammunition purchases--never; not in any country.

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The pressure pushing the first wave was fear of an immediate, wide-ranging, extremely restrictive package of anti-gun legislation; essentially, the disarming of the peasantry. Socialist rulers are uncomfortable around rifle-bearing riff-raff. Go figure, huh? But that hasn't happened yet, and current conditions suggest there won't be much power behind laws like our past thankfully-dead "Assault Weapons Ban" for a while yet.

For one thing, several key Democrats, including Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, are facing serious battles for re-election in 2010. They can hardly afford to sign, much less co-author and champion, anti-Second Amendment bills. Political polls paint them as suicidal moves. I'm told they have communicated this to the White House, and orders have gone out to back off any tough talk about such legislation. Second, the administration is already stretched by widespread anger and opposition to trillion-dollar so-called "bailouts," and rapidly growing grassroots dissent efforts like the "tea party" movement.

We may--just may--have a reprieve until after the general elections of 2010 before draconian gun laws are imposed. Key "leaders" like Reid need the emotional security of being anointed for another term in office before they blindside their constituents with unpopular positions.

Better Excuses?

Too, the administration needs to find better excuses for disarming us. The "Crime Control" banner didn't fly, because the areas with the stiffest gun-control laws are also the highest in crime and victimization. Now, the "destabilizing our good friend Mexico" excuse ain't goin' over too well either, because it's simply so stupid. Mexico isn't threatened by the kinds of guns sold at Ted's Thunder Guns of Tucson; it's threatened by 200 years of oppressive corruption and mass desertions of Mexican Army troops and federal police selling out to drug lords, many armed with select-fire weapons and high-tech equipment paid for with US aid funds. Give 'em time; they'll find better excuses ... not valid excuses; just more salable ones.

Meantime, ramped-up production to meet overwhelming demands is resulting in small, seemingly nonsensical spurts of deliveries to dealers. In some ways, the old rules of distribution and sale are gone, but here are some tips for getting what you want, be it AR or AK clones, 30-round magazines, case lots of ammo, or collapsible buttstocks.

Tips Of The Trade

Makers are hard-pressed to satisfy their contractual or traditional obligations to proven, trusted distributors and dealers. For example, due to demand, MagPul has had to drop online retail sales and concentrate on stocking their long-time distributors and dealers. From most makers, they will get at least "token" or "survival" shipments and others will get nothing as long as production can't meet demand. Depending on his relationship with makers and/or distributors, your exclusive relationship with good ol' Fergus at "Fergie's Firesticks" might leave you empty-handed. Sure, if he can fill your needs, buy from him--but if he can't, go where the cupboards ain't bare.

Go to the Web site of the maker of the gear you want. Find out if they sell "dealer-direct," exclusively through distributor(s) or both. If they sell dealer-direct only, they often list their dealers, and sometimes just their "stocking dealers." A stocking dealer is a dealer who has a minimum-sales and minimum wholesale purchase agreement with the manufacturer. They are more likely to get products than a non-stocking dealer.