I am now a little wiser...

[Johnny Polite]

Last night I met my wife at the local Wal Mart to help corral the kids while we did some grocery shopping. Before I had arrived, she had visited the sporting goods counter to see if they had any .40 ammunition for me. My heart sank as she told me that the employee had told her that Wal Mart no longer sold handgun ammunition.

“How could this be?” I sobbed as I made my way back to sporting goods to see if this was the case.

It was true. There wasn’t a single round of handgun ammunition on the shelves. Just as I thought I might break down, a kindly sage sauntered up to us. The young man was probably 25 or so. Only a couple of years younger than myself, but I could tell he had wisdom beyond his age.

I soon discovered that this was the man that said that they no longer sold handgun ammunition.

“Why?” I pleaded.

He informed me that the ammunition companies charged too much money to stock their products, so, in this economy, it was not profitable to sell handgun ammunition. He went on to tell me that they had not stocked handgun ammunition for a few months now.

Confused and scared, I blurted out, “But I bought a 100 count of Winchester about three weeks ago, and on Tuesday there were two boxes of 50 count Federal in the case.” I glanced at the price tags for the ammo still prominently displayed in the case.

The pity in his eyes he let me know that I was mistaken. Some enchanter who sought to make me look foolish had obviously bewitched me.

Another, older sage approached. Surely the two of them would be able to help me through this trying ordeal.

The younger asked the newcomer “When was the last time we received a shipment with handgun ammunition?”

The older, without pause, answered “Today. It was mostly 9mm”

He was obviously senile.

The wisdom from the younger then poured forth. He informed me that he would never use anything but defensive rounds through his gun. When I asked if that became expensive when he shot at the range, he replied, with the confidence traditionally reserved for more seasoned men, “Oh I don’t need to go to the range. I was in the Army, so...” and he gave me a knowing look.

And I knew.

The older gentleman rolled his eyes and gave me an apologetic look before walking away. He was clearly jealous of the younger man.

The young prodigy went on to tell me that I should never use reloaded ammunition in a handgun. Maybe in a rifle if you had to, but never in a handgun. Reloads apparently explode when you try to shoot them. I also learned that, no matter what the handgun, he had once owned it. He also gave me directions to the place where he purchases ammo, which is only 40 miles away.
I listened, eager to bask in this newfound fountain of knowledge.

I learned much more, but I have decided to keep some of this knowledge to myself, as I do not think the world is ready for the truth.

[Keith B]

Great story. Apparently due to the vast amount of firearms knowledge the younger employee was espousing, he must have served in Special Ops as a COOK!

[frazzled]

I'm confused (the wife would opine situation normal then):

Is Wally World still stocking or not stocking?

[The Annoyed Man]

You must feel a special privilege to have been allowed to bask in the radiance of the old sage's wisdom! You are blessed beyond all reckoning.

[DoubleJ]

[cowboymd]

I'm thinkin the younger fellow must of used someone elses specimen for his drug test...........

[bpet]

What a BOZO!

[Keith B]

Actually, the more I think about it, the younger guy may be Management Material!!

[dicion]

Great story... but one thing bothered me...

Reloads apparently explode when you try to shoot them.

I would hope so! Otherwise, what value would they be as a handgun round if they didn't have an explosion to drive the bullet down the barrel?!.
I wonder if he was actually implying the opposite, that factory rounds sometimes don't explode properly, and therefore should not be used?

[Johnny Polite]

As far as the reloads exploding, he was telling me that they would damage your gun and that could be dangerous. I'm glad I was able to relay this information before someone got hurt.

[dicion]

Ah, I see.

Well then, I thank you for enlightening me on this subject. I will be sure to only use reloads in a rifle in the future, and only "If I have to"...

[bpet]

Johnny Polite,

On behalf of the esteemed members of this forum (and the other guys as well), I thank you for the enlightenment and the shared experience. I have learned through my many years that it's always better to learn from the experience of others than to endure the consequences of the same mistakes.

I guess I'd best get busy now packing up my reloading equipment (wonder if Good Will will take it?), and safely discarding my primers and powder. Could be awhile. Be sure to watch the "Free" section of Craig's List for some really good stuff now that we all understand that reloads are hazardous to handguns.

Welcome to the forum and thanks for an entertaining post.

[joe817]

I'm confused (the wife would opine situation normal then):

Is Wally World still stocking or not stocking?

I think that was tongue in cheek humor. Of course W.M. is still selling ammo. I just bought 2 boxes of 9mm at W.M. at Collins & Randol Mill....right across the street from the "mother ship".

[AEA]

I got a little wiser reading this thread too!

I learned an new word: "sage".