Buying 450 Million New Bullets

[Remmah2]

"The Department Of Homeland Security Is Buying 450 Million New Bullets"


http://www.businessinsider.com/us-immigration-agents-are-loading-up-on-as-many-as-450-million-new-rounds-of-ammo-2012-3


Over the past couple of years due to fluctuations in metals prices as well as political rumors prices on ammunition have spiked along with complete buyouts of manufacturer's inventory. 450 million rounds? Now that's hoarding. What I do see happening is the hoarding cycle will start again.

[zbdent]

1. okay, you do what you want with the MegaMillions jackpot, I'll do what I want ...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Multiyear IDIQ contract that covers multiple law enforcement agencies...

It is only for one kind of ammo and when you run the numbers, it seems sensible.

[hack89]

3. The Coast Guard, Secret Service, ICE, Border Patrol...

we are talking about some big agencies with a lot of people requiring firearms training.

And it is also a multi-year contract.

[jeepnstein]

4. Cheaper to buy in bulk.

It's really not that much ammo when you think about training, qualifying, practice, issue, all that sorts of stuff. It's just a big order for office supplies, that's all.

[Remmah2]

6. That's 900,000 cases.

A reloaders dream!

[Glassunion]

5. They also bid out 250,000 meals

for disaster victims.

Also, ICE in the Tucson area spent $80,000 on Low Sodium meals for detainees.

[ZymZym]

7. Training?

Yeah, I often use premium ammunition for target practice when I could spend 1/4 the amount of money to shoot target loads. The "it's for training" argument doesn't hold up to logic.

This is one of two things:

01.) Misappropriation of funds
02.) Another "investment" kickback to an industry from our gentle president

I'm leaning toward 02.)

Strange thing is ATK is laying off workers in the Midwest... just announced today/yesterday. I guess they can all try to get jobs at a solar panel company or... what? Closed? Dang... guess not.


Zym'

[PavePusher]

8. My bet is really sloppy reporting.

I doubt someone would waste money buying only HST rounds for training. But this is the government, and I've been wrong once or twice before...

[fightthegoodfightnow]

12. So.......

......is government really the problem?

If you want less regulation and/or government, please comment on what truly lawful purpose he bought these bullets for since you called into question whether or not they were truly for training.

[PavePusher]

13. Huh? Your question makes no sense? "he" who?

This is a government purchase, for government agencies, presumeably lawful.

My point was that if they are buying premium self-defense/LE ammo for practice, they are spending way too much money on something that is not particularly suited for training purposes. They certainly don't need that much premium ammo for daily operations use.

Hopefully they are getting cheaper ball ammo for practice, and ammo suitable for operations use, and the original article was in error.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

16. Ok

Points taken. My mistake. Missed it was a govt purchase.

[PavePusher]

17. Ah, O.K., I was starting to wonder what was wrong with ME.....

and down that road lies only darkness...

[fightthegoodfightnow]

18. Also

....if stand your ground laws are needed (and I disagree with you), it might beneficial to be an advocate for their fair and impartial enforcement of their use......rather than bias, stereotypes, race, and a host of other factors making their use often inconsistant, inappropriate or just plain wrong.

But I'm not hearing a lot about that.

[PavePusher]

19. "But I'm not hearing a lot about that."

I post the quote as evidence that you are not actually serious here.

There's been pretty much nothing here in the 'gungeon' but condemnation for the police and all the LE agencies that haven't properly done their job in this incident.

The only two possible conclusions are: 1. You. Haven't. Been. Paying. Attention.

or 2....

[fightthegoodfightnow]

20. Yes

.....there's been some but I would not characterize it as a lot.

And no ..... Your graphic joking picture doesn't make me laugh so perhaps you should stick to a discussion of guns......at least it would be relevant to the board discussion.

[PavePusher]

21. Yes, there has been. LOTS.

And, touche, well said.

[Remmah2]

9. Training Ammo

My brother-in-law works at Attica. For training and qualification they use inexpensive LRN .38's and low recoil shotgun rounds. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it has to do w/the lack of firearms experience/training by management.

[jeepnstein]

10. We have to use duty ammo for training and qualifying.

It's based on some fear of liability. We must use the exact ammo, holster, weapon, everything exactly as it is at work including full uniform. I'm surprised they let us use ear protection. If, heaven forbid, one of us ever winds up having to actually shoot someone they want records on everything including ammo.

Besides, if you don't train with your street ammo how are you going to have any idea of how reliably it feeds and functions?

[PavePusher]

14. As long as the training ammo has the same bullet weight/powder load as the daily ops stuff....

it should be fine for similarity in use. And ball ammo is far cheaper for training than premium duty ammo.

[spin]

11. It surprises me that no one has mentioned that these are hollow point bullets ...

From the article in the OP:

The high performance HST bullets are designed for law enforcement and ATK says they offer "optimum penetration for terminal performance."

This refers to the the bullet's hollow-point tip that passes through barriers and expands for a bigger impact without the rest of the bullet getting warped out of shape: "this bullet holds its jacket in the toughest conditions."
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-immigration-agents-are-loading-up-on-as-many-as-450-million-new-rounds-of-ammo-201

I remember in the good old days those who opposed firearms often called hollow points "cop killer bullets".

[ellisonz]

15. It's so they can suppress your fire to...

...to get the jump on you to grab your guns. :sarcasrm: