Where have all the bullets gone?

 

 

Where have all the bullets gone,

long time passing-

Where have all the bullets gone,

long time ago...

Parody on Where have all the flowers gone?

This is not intended to be a conspiracy theory post. However with that being said, most people that use firearms have noticed since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, many different types of ammo is very hard to come by. In fact, at many stores, ammo is impossible to come by.

First a bit of government procurement history. This may or may not have something to do with the shortage of ammo. The United States government uses what is called the Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) to buy material from contractors. The DPAS rating is put front and center in all government solicitations, whether they be IFB (Invitation for Bid), RFQ (Request for Quote) or RFP (Request for Proposal). Anyone submitting a proposal in response to a government solicitation needs to be up to speed on the basics of the system.

Most procurements are what is called "DO" actions. They are routine, non emergency procurements. Next up the line are "DX" actions. These take priority over any "DO" procurements. In other words, if you accepted orders for both "DO" and "DX" procurements, the "DX" would (by law) have to be filled first. Once in a while the President can mandate a priority even higher than "DX". Most of the time it is called a "BRICK BAT". Although very rare, a "BRICK BAT" rating will trump everything else.

Now is where we go from fact to conjecture. The Department of Homeland Security has recently placed orders for 1.6B rounds of ammo for be delivered over a period or five years. This amounts to five rounds for every man, women and child in the United States. What is really strange about this procurement (DHS has redacted part of it so it can't be read under FOIA) is many of the rounds are hollow point. The purpose of this procurement was mostly for "training". Hollow points are seldom used for range practice as they cost more per bullet.

So what gives? DHS is not the only agency who has recently bought large quantities of ammo, they are just the largest. Is it the government procurements that are causing the shortages? Are the government procurements given a very high DPAS priority to keep them ahead of any civilian procurements? Is the government trying to create an artificial shortage thereby driving the price of ammo sky high? Or is it just the gun owners hoarding that went on after the last election and Sandy Hook that caused it. Whatever the reason, the shortage is real, and is felt in most every store that deals in firearms.

I am going to keep snooping around on this one. If I come across more tidbits, I will have a follow on post. For now, my range time is at a minimum until I am able to buy adequate amounts of ammo at a fair price.