Eugene gun shop manager: Ammo shortage due to "panic buying"

EUGENE, Ore. -- The Walther PPK, gun of choice for fictional spy James Bond.

But if Mr. Bond were to come looking for ammo for his gun at the Baron's Den in Eugene, he'd be out of luck.  The gun store and shooting range is nearly cleared out of small caliber bullets for personal handguns.

Check the shelves at a local Wal-Mart: no 9 mm or 22-caliber bullets. Ditto at Bi-Mart.

"Part of it could stem from when they were barking about the excise tax," said Raye Gunter, manager of the Baron's Den, "which would raise ammo prices. A lot of people started panic buying."

There has been no formal legislation to raise the excise tax on ammo, but that has not stopped people from stockpiling bullets - just in case.

Gunter said bullet manufacturers just weren't prepared.

"Nothing like spurring the economy," he said, "scaring someone that they can't get something."