Ammo Shortages

If you are a regular shooter (at least in the US), you have probably noticed ammo shortages are pretty much the norm lately. While I don't usually encourage people to buy things when everyone else is buying said item in a panic (thus lowering supply and increasing demand/price), having plenty of ammo on hand is fairly important. Here's some ideas:

• Learn how to reload your own ammo.
• Find out when you local ammo outlets (WalMart, sporting good stores) get their regular shipment (ie: Wednesdays) and make it a habit to stop by the store each week on your way to work or on your lunch break.
• Purchase a firearm or two that use unusual (and thus less in demand) ammo.
• Make friends with your local ammo outlet owner or manager (a more realistic possibility when dealing with smaller shop owners) and have them put some ammo aside for you when new shipments come in (note that everyone is probably doing this so whether or not this tip works is not guaranteed).
• Take what ammo you can get. Even if you don't own a .380, if you go to the store and they don't have the caliber ammo you are looking for but have a stack of another type of common ammo (ie .380), pick some up to use for barter.
• Take what ammo you can get part 2. While you may be looking for a specific hollow-point, high grain ammo for protection, if they only have low grain, jacketed ammo that you would usually use for practice, grab it anyway. Some ammo is better than no ammo.
• Buy ammo when you travel to a foreign country and bring it home with you (legally).
• Purchase ammo from a foreign country and import it (legally).
• Wait until the shortages subside and then buy your ammo.