TDS COMM CENTER

Once In a Lifetime....

2012-05-25T18:41:28Z

Once in a lifetime doesn't quite cut it

Fresh on the heels of TDS cutting awesome deals with vendors, and revising our pricing on the special ammo we've been known for a couple trucks roll.

When the inventory was done two things were apparent.

One - I'm too damn old, fat and out of shape to be humping this much ammo around the warehouse.

Two - One of the vendors sent us too much.

I've always known that sooner or later someone will figure it out, so I got on the phone. I didn't order that much, budget wont hold it and I'm not owing someone because they can't count.

Bottom line is this - TDS is BLOWING ammo out the door at never before or again prices. Its cheaper for them to let us keep the rounds at a less than 1/2 price than to send another truck and ship them back so (executive decision) we're passing the savings on.

THIS WILL NOT LAST LONG!!! - YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOOSE

Do NOT email me about an order you just placed wanting a credit stuff like this is kinda like the KMart blue light special, when the light goes on its one price, when its off its back to what it was

www.tds-us.com

More Interesting Information

2012-05-24T16:52:36Z

Interesting Florida Crapstorm Articles........

2012-05-24T16:46:24Z

I've pretty much kept my mouth shut regarding the crapstorm down in Florida. I knew no matter what I said, it would be the wrong thing and also knew that as time went on the "facts" would migrate and change.
I still am keeping my mouth shut.

This week I received the latest copy of Shooting Sports Retailer magazine and was struck by a couple good articles/editorials which deal with the subject - I dont think they will mind if I re-post them.

Revised Pricing at TDS

2012-05-23T20:18:35Z

The accountant is officially tearing her hair out over this one

For many year TDS has been the #1 source for a certain variety of ammunition. We've kept the same product line when others couldn't lay hands on it. We've maintained the same markup since day one where others were all over the place price wise depending on where they could get it.
Recently we've been able to secure long term agreements that promise to stabilize our costs and inventory a bit so.......

I sat down with a laptop, a spreadsheet, and a calculator and then made several long calls to our suppliers and retailers we supply. From all this came a new business system so to speak.
Long story short, TDS is officially once again THE leader not only in inventory but in pricing.

(expect the others to be scrambling to re-price their inventory)

There will be some changes in the way TDS does business. One being that discount codes are a thing of the past. Going forward all existing codes are no good - its hard to give a % when the product is now marked where it is.

As re-supply happens the new pricing will be applied to those items. We have repriced the RA, HST, and GD products in the system and will be working through the rest as time permits.

Like every good idea, hopefully this one makes sense and hopefully we can maintain the pricing structure and inventory levels.

So this Memorial Day there probably wont be a SALE, but from now until we can't do it anymore, it'll be like everyday is a sale.

www.tds-us.com

Deja Vu all over again

2012-05-21T18:27:17Z

Homeland Security Announces Mammoth Contract With ATK

"Homeland Security (DHS) has chosen defense contractor ATK for the holy grail of government contracts (i.e. an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity agreement) for the manufacture of.40 caliber hollow point ammunition. U.S. agents will receive a reported 450 million rounds over the next five-year period.

Specifically, the contract appears to set maximum volume of purchase though the contract also contains several allowances for renegotiation. From press release issued by the DHS:

ATK was the incumbent and won the contract with its HST bullet, which has proven itself in the field… This contract features a base of 12 months, includes four option years, and will have a maximum volume of 450 million rounds.

Homeland Securities love of hollowpoints harkens back to 2009, when in a case of same place, different face, they ordered almost 200 million jacked hollowpoint rounds from Winchester. Why the sudden change in firm is a matter of speculation, though the press release continues to champion the integrity of the ATK version in the field.

Ron Johnson, President of ATK’s Security and Sporting group, told the press, ATK ammo is “engineered for 100-percent weight retention, limits collateral damage, and avoids over-penetration.” For their own part, ATK’s take on the classic self defense round is pretty… well… classic and could be said to even define the JHP principle.

Johnson also commented on his company’s recent hook up with border patrol, stating “We are proud to extend our track record as the prime supplier of .40 caliber duty ammunition for DHS, ICE.”

Though that may seem like a lot of rounds, all one needs to do is look at their budget calendar to see that there’s a fiscal reason for such a bulk purchase: if the DHS (or any law enforcement agency for that matter) does not use up their budget in expenditures for the year, they risk getting their funding slashed next year. What does this mean for the average Joe Blow shooter? Well, whether it’s the intended consequence or not, less rounds entering the retail market means less availability which means a rise in demand which of course means dollar signs, so when it comes to .40 caliber JHP, suggests you pray for sunshine but prepare for rain."

TDS NOTE - The last massive DHS contract created a lack of rounds on the market except for those of us who were tied into the "SURPLUS" market.

As deliveries were made in the front, surplus was flowing out the back. Serious as can be. Cases fresh from DHS showed up here and other places as fast as we could take them. Contacts at DHS had no idea why they were being sent "so damn much ammo". Kinda makes you wonder why someone would want to buy what isn't going to be used?

Weapon Shield

2012-05-21T16:59:47Z

1911, History, Reliability, and the word Acceptable

2012-05-20T22:17:11Z

On the TDS facebook page I put up a short video by Rob Pincus a trainer who I regularly refer folks to, regarding sub and compact 1911 style "defensive" guns.

After reading the comments on the TDS post and those accompanying Rob’s, it dawned on me that I had a lot more to say on the subject then space on either would probably allow.

At the risk of offending the other half of the gun toting world (I offended the first half long ago), I'm beginning to wonder if there shouldn't be some form of IQ test before one can buy a firearm. Of course if there was, I'm not sure I'd ever be allowed to touch so much as a mag. Honestly, the ideas some folks walk around with is just a brick or two shy of the folks that pray every night to the tooth fairy and offer up salt offerings to the spirits. So considering I'm not an "EXPERT" either, I'll toss my 2.5 centavos into the fray. I expect that this will be just the first article with a few more to come.
By the way EXPERT is two words - EX, a has been - PERT (pronounced spurt), a drip under pressure.

So this started off with the video from Pincus talking about mini 1911's.
Ready folks - he's right!

When you step out of the "I carry my gun daily" mentality and into the "I use my gun daily" mentality you might see things the way they really are.

Top trainers the world over all end up saying the same things. Some go a bit further than Rob, depending on the size of the cajones - take a set of considerable size to seemingly knock an icon.

Now before the entire 1911 loving world decides to crucify me, ask yourself this - what defines the reliability of your lifesaving device? After all its ALL about reliability.
If your answer is its been around for 100 years or John Browning was a genius, you belong in the moron club.
Only a fool relies on historical value as a standard of reliability. Oh and news flash - John Moses Browning did NOT design that which we know as the 1911!

Years ago I used to preach the word “acceptable”. The word applies here. What is the acceptable (insert your word here) of your weapon?

Is the accuracy acceptable enough from a Ruger LCP for you to use it on Bullseye night at the local range?
Is a .22LR an acceptable defense caliber?

Are 8 round mags acceptable for your environment/mission?

What is an acceptable sight picture?

What is YOUR standard of acceptable reliability?

Before I shoot a USPSA or IDPA match I put 300+ rounds through my gun. Not 300+ rounds from the day I buy it to the day before a match - 300+ in one session. Every match I shoot I bring 300 rounds. Everytime I go to the range I bring 300 rounds. Every week if I'm not lazy, I'm shooting over 900 rounds – still suck but I’m trying.
So reliability for me is 300+ rounds minimum.
Keep in mind oiling, cleaning, and adjusting are not included - load and fire, run drills, draw and shoot, then sweep brass. Clean and tweak is done at the shop. Oh and by the way, these are rounds fired under as close to match conditions as possible, not slow fire.
Keep in mind this is NOT my carry gun. This is simply a gun I compete with. If the SHTF this gun probably will not be my choice to save my ass.

If I demand 300+ rounds as a standard of "its ready to go" out a competition gun, its safe to imagine I demand far better out of one that could be called on to save my life.

My level of whats acceptable may differ from yours.

Now those who know me know that I own and occasionally carry a pocket 380 (no commercials here). Its small, fits in summertime shorts, and has a Wallet cover that hides its profile and provides a firing platform and enhances reliability. It is what it is – an “Oh Shit” gun. I know and have accepted that it will be effective within 10 feet and based on hundreds of rounds through it I know it will work through the mag.

It is acceptable for me to carry it because I have accepted it is NOT a combat pistol. I KNOW its limitations. I know that if I’m carrying it, I will be hauling ass more and firing less. Acceptability. More importantly – PROVEN acceptability.

I have owned in my lifetime numerous 45 caliber 1911's. I love the 1911 but I can tell you that not one of them could go up to or over 100 rounds before it jammed or failed somehow. This includes factory fresh, custom builds, and all iterations in between.

Almost every handgun failure drill known to man came from the 1911 platform. Find the old military 1911 training manual and you find a larger section on malfunctions than marksmanship.
Shooting one in competition the most valuable item is a bottle of oil. Every other stage its off to the safe table for a dousing to keep it running. Old Harley’s and 1911s must be dripping in order to function well. Follow any Single Stack or CDP shooter around and you’ll be able to identify the division and gun by the oil spots on their pant leg.

Granted the CCW folks will argue that the gun simply rides in a holster and an actual encounter probably will require far less rounds than a match. True. But look at any good 1911 maintenance guide and you’ll see where to put oil and where to put grease. Be prepared for the word LIBERAL, as in large quantities and the caution that without liberal amounts the pistol WILL NOT function. Unless you reapply daily you run the risk of the gun going dry and in “real life” there aren’t any safe tables.

Those of us that love our 1911’s should know that what we hold dear is NOT what John Browning drew up or designed.

I’ve held a near MINT authenticated 1911 (from a museum) and let me tell you by today's standards this thing is a POS! It rattled just rocking it in your hand, the barrel fit was sloppy and the bushing was almost pointless. This is the way Browning “drew it” (note the words drew it).

John Browning designed and submitted for the trials what he believed to work. The original design had no thumb safety, no grip safety, a near straight grip angle, no barrel bushing, no side mag release, and the worlds worst sights even by the standards of the time.

Do yourselves a favor and do some research. The 1911 is NOT John Browning’s design, it is the design that the military dictated. John Browning designed a machine that would work, the military redesigned what they would buy. In the end John Moses Browning drew the committee design and submitted it for patent for Colt.

I’ve been to the Browning Museum and from what I saw I can tell you that Mr. Browning is spinning in his grave everytime someone enters into the argument regarding the reliability and design of the 1911.

John Browning designed the Browning High Power, but that became a foot note in history even though its arguably the father of all Hi-Cap pistols. He also was the father of automatic fire with the Browning BAR. The 1911 is deemed by most as his crowning achievement even though the result was a re-design by committee far from his original.

John Browning and Colt submitted to the trials the model 1905 as their idea of a combat pistol. This was John Browning's design.

There are several videos and articles detailing the military trials, the progression of the design, and all supported by the truth of history rather than the Urban Legend of the 1911.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/trials-of-m1911/

The 1911 as accepted and designed by the military was a rattle trap with sloppy tolerances so designed to go bang and do so at close ranges.

So by now hopefully, there has been some light shed on the 1911 and history thereof. Lets jump back to the entire point - reliability.

Reliability and combat pistols should be synonymous terms. One should not exist without the other.

Of course the term combat pistol is often a misunderstood term. Everyone has their own definition and expectation.

To me a combat pistol fires until the target is dead. A combat pistol does its job by injecting pieces of foreign matter in the target. A combat pistol has an accuracy of minute of torso or minute of man. And by all the experts alive or dead, a combat pistol is designed to get you from point A to point B – point B is defined as another firearm or safety.

In other words a combat pistol is designed to be an “Oh Shit” item. As such, the word acceptable should be considered fully.

This is what the 1911 was supposed to be. What it has become is something far different.

After WWII GI’s brought home 1911’s and Harley’s. Both got chopped. Both got redesigned into that which they were never supposed to be.

In the case of Harley's and 1911’s it was the diehard believers that refused to give up on believing that with enough work you can turn lead into gold. Barrels were redesigned, slides tightened, tolerances re-figured so that a combat pistol could then be used for accuracy. That which it was never envisioned for.

Go back to the word acceptable and apply it to a combat pistol. Think about reliability and what you find acceptable.
Given that you've only got 9 rounds (normally) to work with how many failures can you LIVE with?
Can your favorite 1911 run through even 50 rounds without a stovepipe, FTF, FTE, double feed, lock open with one in the mag?

I'm sure if you visualize what combat means to you, you may easily be able to evaluate on your own.

So back to Pincus’s original point in the video – that of compact and subcompact 1911’s. I’ve talked to engineers at Para and Kimber about the sub versions. Ive had the conversation with folks at Colt regarding the Commanders. Without fail each time the subject of compact or sub comes up it always has to do with engineering nightmares, reliability and how to ensure it.

Not about its inherent reliability, but how to painstakingly maintain the pistol to ensure "acceptable" reliability. Frequency of changing springs, optimum loads, precise gripping, and liberal lubrication are topics they bring up. Each time the word acceptable is used to describe their pistols reliability.

Acceptable reliability in practice then becomes the subject. I’ve been to Pincus's classes as well as several others and I can guarantee you its not shooting and evaluating, shooting again. Its more like shoot dry, reload, draw, move, fire and reload. You and the gun get a workout. No time to clean guns or mags. You barely get time to reload the mags. You and the gun are there to work and work as prescribed - kinda like the way it is in a shitstorm.

A mistake by you can be corrected. A mistake by your weapon will always have the potential of getting you killed.

Just like you wouldn’t bring a 10/22 to hunt deer, bringing a gun that wont make it through 100’s of rounds at one of these classes isn’t a good choice. If its not a good choice for a class, maybe you should be asking yourself if its a good choice to save your ass.

If the reliability is acceptable for you then fine, but to not recognize or even test the limitations is pure foolishness.

Hopefully I got a bit of historical accuracy across and gave you something to think about in regards to reliability and acceptability. And hopefully haven't pissed of the entire gun toting world.

It's been a while.......

2012-05-20T16:54:46Z

Its been a while since I sat down and dedicated any real time to the COMM Center, and yes Ive heard from some of you regarding that.

The honest truth is there are so many methods of contact that its difficult to dedicate the proper amount of time to each without hiring dedicating someone to doing not much else.
Facebook, COMM Center, direct emails, YouTube and at least 4 more. The biggest problem is very few of them link to the other meaning you cant just do it once and have it show up everywhere.

Over the past couple months I've focused on a couple different venues and then sat and looked at the data generated. I sent out a poll and those results got factored in.

Without boring folks with facts, numbers and the like - The results are in as are some strategies that I'll be using going forward.

So, if you were a dedicated COMM Center follower for what its worth - I'm sorry for neglecting you.

Stark Equipment AR/M16 Grip

2012-05-20T15:18:08Z

One of the best AR grips I've seen. TDS has fully adopted these grips and uses them almost exclusively.

News of the Industry

2012-04-28T19:56:41Z

Just got this from Frank Brownell.........

"Two things stand out from this year’s NRA Show, worth passing along to all of you.

First, this year is the most successful start of a year for the industry, ever. From all accords, it beats the 2008 build-up to Obama’s election. Frankly, we believe the possibility of a second Obama term is driving a large portion of this bump; however, we have observed the largest entrance of new shooters through the conceal carry market we have ever seen. So this increase is really much more than a political bubble, it is what we are calling a “conceal carry surge”. There are some very significant nuances of this – some pretty far reaching. For instance, people are realizing with the ever-tightening restrictions of law enforcement funding, they are even more responsible for protecting themselves and their families. Further, as the castle doctrine becomes more widespread, they have better ability to do so. Another major factor is the huge urbanization of the firearms culture and market. Here in Des Moines, Iowa, alone, there are two indoor shooting clubs and retail stores looking for space so they can start serving this ever-growing market. And every class our local sheriff or other qualified trainers hold on our range for conceal carry training is full for the foreseeable future. We know this is the same situation in many urban areas across America. Also, note the stock prices of the publicly-traded firearm companies are up significantly. Smith and Wesson has surged 83.5% since January, and Ruger stock has increased 60%.

One of the really big happenings in our industry right now is that the ammo for the very popular calibers − .223, .40, 9mm, .38 and .380 – is becoming more and more scarce. Lead times from the factories are extending out to 3rd and 4th quarter, even into 1st quarter 2013, and the “pipeline” from the factory to the retail store is drying up. What this means is every person who is interested in having these calibers to shoot over the summer appears to be buying as much as possible right now, when they can find it, for fear it will not be available or prices will increase to the point of being ludicrous. Our guys who attended the recent Tulsa Gun Show told us pallets of .223 ammo were disappearing within a day. This bump looks like it will be just like, if not greater than, the 2008 ammunition bump. We also get reports that it is very hard to have AR-15 rifles in stock and the smaller conceal carry firearms are moving in huge volumes this first quarter. We expect that pattern to continue throughout the summer if not all the way to the end of the year."

Inventory

2012-03-24T15:07:06Z

As things heat up a bit be it due to summer coming or the election, we're again receiving increased level of calls and emails all asking the same thing - "Is XYZ in stock?"

I've answered this numerous time over the years on the website, in the Comm Center, and of course via email and phone call. Apparently its time to do it again.

If you are able to put an item in your cart then it IS in stock. If you are able to place 5 of the same item in your cart then there are 5 in stock.

That said it amazes me that apparently there are numerous companies out there that advertise items, let you pay for them knowing that they don't have them. To me this makes no sense.
As you can imagine, when someone uses a credit card to buy something on our site we are charged a transaction fee along with a percentage.
Should we need to issue a refund, we are charged a transaction fee. Simple math indicates that if we were to sell something we don't have it actually ends up costing us. Do this numerous times and it can conceivably end up costing quite a bit.
It makes no sense to allow this to happen knowingly.

TDS takes great pride in not letting this happen if we can help it. Orders are checked numerous times daily and should there be a problem we have the ability to void the order so nothing leaves your card.
Mistakes happen but they are the exception.

So the answer to the question is "YES ITS IN STOCK".......

WOW!

2012-03-21T15:23:08Z

Yesterday I got a call from a department asking for a quote on Gold Medal Match .308. I started making the calls to my LE distributors and was BEYOND SHOCKED at what I heard.

I've been told my whole life that a picture is worth a thousand words so here are two that honestly have me damn near speechless.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What your seeing is the CURRENT dealer price from 2 of the largest distributors on the planet.

This is before shipping and before any form of markup - lest you think that anyone sells anything at cost.

Now I recognize that this will ignite all the conspiracy theorists once again with all the back door gun control stuff, that's not the point here. The point is for me nothing more than less than 3 weeks ago I ordered GM and with markup have it on the site for well under $30.00 - what the hell happened in the time from then to now?!

If you look at the information in the photos you'll see what I deal with every damn day. The second photo is from a distributor that hasn't updated their site since the last time the received an order from Federal.
When they received the last shipment Federal had the MSRP at $47.95.
The first photo has the MSRP at $64.42 - this is based on a shipment the JUST received and the information from Federal.

Another point to note is that they only have 1000 boxes - that's all and that's IT. No idea when they or the other guys will see any more. Wanna put a bet on the price dropping?

This isn't done guys - it's just begun and it promises to be far uglier than last time around.

Stayed tuned - more to come............

WOW is an understatement - HOLY CRAP would be more accurate!

Advantage Arms

2012-03-08T15:19:25Z

.22 Glock/1911 Conversion

Several models in stock and ready to go
FIND YOURS

March Mailout

2012-03-07T16:18:38Z

Glock Specials

Oddly enough we ended up with Glocks we didn't order but now owe for.

So we can move them but not violate MAP pricing, we've hidden the sale price on the site. Take a look and realize once they are gone at that price they will be back to MAP.

If your thinking about a Glock - now's the time!

We still have some left

DEALS

These are CASH deals - credit card purchases will cost you more - prices shown on the site are credit card prices. First person to email me owns it - only one in stock or at this price, so don't wait.

ATI GRAND VAZIR 12G 5 SHOT PUMP

$165.00 plus shipping

ADKAL MK1919

$695.00 Shipped

The way a CASH deal works is we take a credit card to hold the item, you send a check or money order and we ship it to your FFL.
Shipping is about $25.00.

New Items at TDS

Take a look at the

STARK AR Grip

iTAC DEFENSE Holster

TurtleSkin Gloves

TDS-CSP

TDS is proud to have some of the top shooters nationwide wearing our logo.
In an effort to build recognition for gun sports and reward the efforts of the folks that spend all season running and gunning on their dime we're announcing the TDS Competitive Shooter Program (CSP).
Like everything, it's a work in progress but I think we've got a good start. While your shooting matches, your racking up points towards prizes awarded at the end of the season and gaining recognition for your increasing skill level. As the season progresses we'll announce prizes to be awarded at the end of the season, unveil a web page with photos and updated standings, as well as periodic discounts just for the CSP members.

The CSP season kicks off March 1st so get your application filled out soon

More information and links to the application can be found

HERE

GLOCK MAGS

We got a really good deal on FACTORY Glock mags and as result mags that used to be $26.00 are now several dollars cheaper. As more come in more calibers will drop in price as well. All are Gen 4 compatible.

I Hate It When I'm Right

A week or so ago I posted a Comm Center piece entitled Here We Go Again. In it I explained what we were about to see in the industry and cited other folks who were expecting the same things.

Since then the insanity escalation has jumped to full bore.

I called Stag Arms Monday to check on an existing order and got an answering machine. I got my call back this morning (Wednesday). The answer was an echo of what I'd received from YHM earlier this week - all new orders are backordered SIX (6) months!

YHM wont even take an order for lowers stripped or completed. Uppers are capable of being ordered but delivery can't even be quoted.

Part of the joys of running TDS is the daily phone calls to and from distributors. I'm hearing the same song over and over - no 5.56/223, AR's out of stock and ammunition supplies dwindling.

Aside from my advice from 4 years ago, that being to Calm Down, do yourselves a favor and learn to forecast. Figure out your projected needs over the next 6 months to a year and then plan to have that on hand. If you reload, now is a good time to put in an order with your favorite source. If you have courses or matches scheduled, get your supplies ordered.

If you absolutely have to buy your 17th AR in preparation for the end of the world, well your on your own.......

Here We Go Again.....

2012-03-01T17:16:17Z

Say what you like about the future, politics and the upcoming Mayan Zombie Apocalypse, the one thing that rings crystal clear and true is this – “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”.

I’m sure Edmund Burke was talking about distant history and envisioned a far more intelligent populace than it would seem we are currently burdened with. The history I find myself referring to is a bit shy of 4 years ago.

Those folks with the required functioning brain cells will recall ammunition shortages, black rifle frenzies, hi-cap mag panics. This was fueled primarily by gun-loving ya-hoos who were as convinced that the incoming administration was going to wave a magic wand as they are that the Mayans are right.

As I write this the date is March 1^st and already history has begun to repeat itself.

On the black rifle front prices from distributors are inching upward. From the manufacturers lead times are growing.

Hi-cap mag orders are increasing. PMags are being ordered in multiples of 10 rather than 2 or 3 at a time. Glock extended mags are flying off the shelves.

And ammunition – well to quote several industry leaders - “Here We Go Again”.

Frank Brownell - Brownells

“So, for a quick update: specifically, over the last 30 days, while we were following our own advice and preparing for 2012, we have observed that the ammunition manufacturers productions are at an all-time high and that the customer demand for ammunition is going to more than likely supersede the 2008-2009 “Election-Year Bubble”.  

I checked in with one of our bright kids here to find out just what he was getting from his contacts in the industry – what he was hearing – and here is a condensation of what he told me.   

General Industry Sentiment – During the SHOT Show we began to hear rumblings that ammunition was heating up and that scarcity would likely be a concern as the year progressed. This has begun to manifest itself in major ways already. A few examples:   A great friend of ours reported: “Just returned from all the buyer-group shows and they were crazy busy. It’s starting to look like 2009 over again; we’ve been overwhelmed since December 1st. If it continues at this pace, we are going to see some major holes in inventory. The ammo guys are talking about shortages in .223 already . . . here we go again.”  

Additionally, we have heard directly from one of the most prominent ammunition manufacturers who is reporting that they are a minimum of 60 to 90 days out on new purchase orders as of today.   Quantities of .223 and 5.56 that seemed to manufacturers at the SHOT Show like they should be plenty for the year are depleted already. Another great friend of ours had an entire warehouse of 5.56 go out in ONE purchase order!”

Bud’s Guns

“After spending the first six weeks of 2012 attending various firearms industry shows, including the NSSF Shot Show in Las Vegas with the highest dealer attendance of record, there was one obvious recurring theme from every manufacturer we visited with...."we just can't make enough firearms". Although we fully expected another surge later in 2012, it has already started as the ATF continues to report all time record highs in background/NICS checks as well as Conceal Carry/CCW permit applications.   

We are also experiencing record high actually breaking our all time single day sales records TWICE this month ! Considering we had no special promotions going on, and we exceeded every sales record dating all the way back to 2003, it seems pretty clear ......"Here we go again !"   

As the national media and general public become increasingly aware of the deteriorating supply and demand issues.....we ALL know what comes next....higher prices !

To many customers, and even those outside the firearms industry, it would appear that gun dealers like us are primed and ready to take advantage of situations like this. Although there is admittedly opportunity during these times, it is nearly impossible for us to predict and adequately prepare for the sudden and extreme increases that can occur with nationwide internet sales. You do not have huge increases in sales without also having huge increases in phone calls, emails, shipping, etc.....so it can very quickly become overwhelming.

Here's the deal....it's probably going to get worse before it gets better. Every contact and indicator we have tells us that guns and ammo are selling MUCH faster than they can be manufactured. Our suppliers inventories are dropping drastically every day and they are already quoting 4-6 month back orders on all new orders !   

Like it or not (and we don't)...."Here we go again !"

In addition to all the fear exhibited by folks regarding the future, the other things that are going to affect us all are:

· The military recently turned in the largest ammunition order known to man.

· BAE partnered with Winchester to win the Lake City operations contract. Lake city produces the XM855, 193, and a few other numbers for the military. Winchester is traditionally more expensive that Federal on its products and BAE is no fan of reasonable pricing.

· Stockpiles of existing stock at manufacturers and distributors is growing thin and being re-priced to reflect manufacturers whim pricing.

Every major distributor is out of 223/5/56 and even Tula is in high demand. Federal told one major player to expect it to be A YEAR OR MORE before they got any more for the civilian market.

Add all this to the returning hording mentality and it doesn’t look pretty.

TDS has had a Shelf Clearing sale going on for a while hoping to reduce inventory levels on specific items. We had hoped to convert those items to “ship from distributor”. What we’re seeing is that since we had brought those items in at a phenomenal price and were selling right, there is a DRAMATIC increase in pricing once those convert from shelf to SFD. Remington Golden Saber selling for under $20.00 a box has increased to over $30.00 with current pricing!

Seems we haven’t needed to buy any for the last umpteenth price increases.

Our Shelf Clearing is coming to an end effective today. And our bunker mentality is returning.

During the last insanity we adopted an order limit on ammunition. Expect this to make a return appearance.

Expect that TDS will NOT jack prices! If it gets too stupid, we’ll just stop carrying it. We did this last time and it saved not only our sanity, but our reputation.

Nationwide there were crap stripped lowers going for $250.00, hollow points for $60 a box and AR mags for $30.00. We called BS on that and if we couldn’t get them or sell them for reasonable we were just out of them. Nothings going to be different this time around.

I’m dusting off the postings from 4 years ago and getting prepped. I hope the industry is wrong, but honestly I figure history is something we as a nation forgot so like the other folks, I’m pretty sure “Here We Go Again”…………

Smith & Wesson Congratulates Winners of 2012 IDPA Indoor National Championships

2012-03-01T13:58:40Z

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 28, 2012) - Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced the successful completion of the 2012 International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Indoor National Championships over the weekend. Marking the 15th anniversary of this prestigious event, competitors traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts, from around the globe to compete in what has become one of the top inaugural matches of the competitive season. Held at the Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center, the three-day event concluded with five division titles and 10 special category winners being named from the 300+ competitors.

With some of the biggest names in the shooting sports competing in this year's match, it was no surprise to see many competitors hovering at the top of their respective leader boards throughout the event. Competitors included past division winners and Smith & Wesson's own Jerry Miculek, Dan Burwell and David Olhasso. After the last round was fired and final points tallied, it was previous four-time champion Robert Vogel who once again posted the fastest overall time while also claiming the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division title.

Following Vogel's overall score of 129.26 was Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) Champion Glenn Shelby with a cumulative score of 154.91. Rounding out the top three positions was Smith & Wesson Team Member David Olhasso. Competing with his M&P45 pistol in the Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) Division, Olhasso's score of 157.17 was enough to earn him the High Industry title while finishing third overall.

Just behind Olhasso was fellow teammate Dan Burwell who finished the match in fourth place overall. Burwell, who competed with a Smith & Wesson M&P9L finished with another strong performance this time competing in the Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) Division. Burwell's score of 158.05 was enough to narrowly edge out second place competitor Dean Brevit, earning him the ESP Division win.

In the revolver discipline, Smith & Wesson's Jerry Miculek once again proved that he is the competitor to beat in any wheel gun competition. Competing in the Enhanced Service Revolver (ESR) Division, Miculek extended his dominance in the event by claiming the division title for a remarkable eleventh time. With his Smith & Wesson Model 625 revolver, Miculek handily captured the ESR title with a 71 second lead over the closest competitor. The final division title was awarded to Joe Linskey, who competed in this year's Stock Service Revolver (SSR) Division, Master Class. With a final score of 202.85, Linskey earned the division title over Team Smith & Wesson's Josh Lentz who posted a final time of 205.03 seconds.

"On behalf of Smith & Wesson, I would like to congratulate the 2012 division winners and thank all of the competitors who traveled to Springfield for this year's match," said James Debney, Smith & Wesson President and CEO. "It is a great honor to be able to host this match for a fifth consecutive year and I would like to acknowledge all of the men and women who worked diligently behind the scenes in order to make it a tremendous success. From the event coordinators to the range safety officers and volunteers, there were countless people who worked long days and nights, always with a smile. Their tireless efforts made it possible for us to host a match of this magnitude."

Debney continued, "We continue to hear from numerous competitors and spectators that they especially enjoy this match and the use of the facilities at the Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center. We remain committed to reviewing new ways to improve the IDPA Indoor Nationals, which is generally recognized as the top event of the season."

The 2012 Indoor National Championships featured 12 exciting courses of fire involving low-light and no-light conditions, moving targets and defensive shooting scenarios. Smith & Wesson, working in conjunction with IDPA, also hosted two disabled veterans who competed in the match, including Team Smith & Wesson member Trevor Baucom. Baucom, who was competing in the IDPA Indoor Nationals for the first time, used his M&P9 Pro Series pistol to complete the 12 stages of fire.

"Smith & Wesson did an exceptional job as the host for this year's match and through their efforts and those of the IDPA, myself and another veteran were able to compete in the event for the first time," said Trevor Baucom. "I'm extremely pleased to be associated with a company that is actively looking for ways to bring in other wounded warriors to the sport. After discussing the match with Joyce Wilson, I'm also excited to report that the IDPA will begin trying to make more matches accessible for shooters in wheelchairs and each match will be advertised as such."

In addition to the three-days of intense competitions, participants had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including Smith & Wesson factory tours and training seminars.

Smith & Wesson would like to congratulate and recognize all of the Division Champions and Special Category Winners:

CDP Champion: Glenn Shelby
ESP Champion: Dan Burwell
SSP Champion: Robert Vogel
ESR Champion: Jerry Miculek
SSR Champion: Joe Linskey
High Senior: James Martino
High Lady: Randi Rogers
High Law Enforcement: Robert Vogel
High Press: Scotty McGregor
High Industry: David Olhasso
High International: Juan Carlos Gonzalez Valdez
High Junior: Tori Nonaka
High Military: Rob Tate
Most Distinguished Senior: Ray Duroy
Most Accurate: Dean Brevit

(Editor's Note: Image Caption - Team S&W member Trevor Baucom shares a laugh with IDPA Director Joyce Wilson during the 2012 IDPA Indoor Nationals. Photo courtesy of Yamil Sued. For additional images, please contact Blue Heron Communications)

Smith & Wesson Congratulates Winners of 2012 IDPA Indoor National Championships

TDS Competitive Shooter Program

2012-02-24T18:23:27Z

TDS Competitive Shooter Program

At TDS we’ve got a strong handle on LEO, CCW and Operator programs, but we’re known to step out and run and gun. TDS is proud to have some of the top shooters nationwide wearing our logo. In an effort to build recognition for gun sports and reward the efforts of the folks that spend all season running and gunning on their dime we’re announcing the TDS Competitive Shooter Program (CSP).
Like everything, it’s a work in progress but I think we’ve got a good start. While your shooting matches, your racking up points towards prizes awarded at the end of the season and gaining recognition for your increasing skill level. As the season progresses we’ll announce prizes to be awarded at the end of the season, unveil a web page with photos and updated standings, as well as periodic discounts just for the CSP members.

More Infomation

CSP APPLICATION

Mags and News

2012-02-24T18:18:00Z

Glock Specials

Oddly enough we ended up with Glocks we didn't order but now owe for.

So we can move them but not violate MAP pricing, we've hidden the sale price on the site. Take a look and realize once they are gone at that price they will be back to MAP.

If your thinking about a Glock - now's the time!

We still have some left

DEALS

ATI GRAND VAZIR 12G 5 SHOT PUMP

$165.00 plus shipping

COLT LIGHTWEIGHT COMMANDER 38Super

$850.00
Used but in excellent shape

The way a CASH deal works is we take a credit card to hold the item, you send a check or money order and we ship it to your FFL.
Shipping is about $25.00.

New Items at TDS

Take a look at the

STARK AR Grip

iTAC DEFENSE Holster

TurtleSkin Gloves

TDS-CSP

More information and links to the application can be found

HERE

GLOCK MAGS

Specials, Deals, Thoughts 2/11

2012-02-11T17:49:43Z

Glock Specials

Oddly enough we ended up with Glocks we didn't order but now owe for.

So we can move them but not violate MAP pricing, we've hidden the sale price on the site. Take a look and realize once they are gone at that price they will be back to MAP.

If your thinking about a Glock - now's the time!

DEALS

Springfield M1A SOCOM II

$1829.99 plus shipping

ATI GRAND VAZIR 12G 5 SHOT PUMP

$165.00 plus shipping

The way a CASH deal works is we take a credit card to hold the item, you send a check or money order and we ship it to your FFL.
Shipping is about $25.00.

New Items at TDS

Take a look at the

STARK AR Grip

iTAC DEFENSE Holster

TurtleSkin Gloves

Thoughts

Not too long ago I posted a rant that at one point mentioned me being a "card carrying member of The Grumpy Old Farts Club". I'm here to tell you that I think I'm now qualified for Gold Card status.

I cannot believe the silliness I run into on a daily basis!

One of the many silly things I encounter has to do with these emails. In an effort to put at least one moronic/stupid/ignorant/bassackwards (you get the idea) thing to rest, I present the following:

I offer apologies to those illiterate folks who cannot for the life of them figure out how to remove themselves from the mailing list. Apparently Hooked On Phonics did them no good and they feel their only recourse is to complain to the President of their shooting club, their ISP, their shooting buddies, and on rare occasion me. I'm fairly sure there are on each email 4 available links which when used properly will allow you to either confirm continued delivery, change where it goes, or unsubscribe. Unsubscribe means you wont get them anymore.

TDS does NOT buy email addresses, does NOT sell addresses, and tries to not send to folks that don't want to receive. The list is nothing more than email addresses and that makes it hard to cull, If you don't want to hear from TDS, get off my list!
How you got on is fairly simple - you bought something from us, expressed an interest in us, signed up for the list, or were given to us as someone who has an interest in what we do.
Getting off is real simple and has nothing to do with whining.

More on this subject can be found HERE.

TDS EMAILING LIST

2012-02-11T17:09:32Z

Not too long ago I posted a rant that at one point mentioned me being a "card carrying member of The Grumpy Old Farts Club". I'm here to tell you that I think I'm now qualified for Gold Card status.

I cannot believe the silliness I run into on a daily basis!

One of the many silly things I encounter has to do with these emails. In an effort to put at least one moronic/stupid/ignorant/bassackwards (you get the idea) thing to rest, I present the following:

First let me apologize to those folks who find these emails arriving in their mailboxes and cannot figure out who they are from. If I'm not mistaken the logo, link, return email address, and the like are clear and visible on each email sent out.
For the life of me I cannot comprehend why I get emails from people every couple weeks wanting to know who we are and why were sending them emails about gun related things. I haven't found one yet that when I plug their name into the who's ordered from TDS portion of the system doesn't come back as a customer. But then again they don't know who TDS is?!?
Once they figure out that they ordered from me before they then switch from "butt hurt" and want to ask me about this or that product as if that's what they got in touch with me for.

I offer apologies to those illiterate folks who cannot for the life of them figure out how to remove themselves from the mailing list. Apparently Hooked On Phonics did them no good and they feel their only recourse is to complain to the President of their shooting club, their ISP, their shooting buddies, and on rare occasion me. I'm fairly sure there are on each email 4 available links which when used properly will allow them to either confirm continued delivery, change where it goes, or unsubscribe. Un sub scribe means you wont get them anymore.

TDS does NOT buy email addresses, does NOT sell addresses, and tries to not send to folks that don't want to receive. The list is nothing more than email addresses and that makes it hard to cull. If you don't want to hear from TDS, get off my list!
How you got on is fairly simple - you bought something from us, expressed an interest in us, signed up for the list, or were given to us as someone who has an interest in what we do.
Getting off is real simple and has nothing to do with whining.

For the record, TDS has a SPAM rating of ZERO. Pretty damn good all things considering.
The TDS contact list is primarily built by folks joining it. Options to join are on the website, Facebook page, and on each email sent out.
The secondary method of getting on the list is the email addresses from orders are automatically transferred.
On rare occasion membership groups will provide contact information believing that the services and products offered will benefit their members. On rarer occasions, TDS will accept these contacts - more often than not we don't. In such a case their is a CONFIRM link right above the UNSUBSCRIBE link on each email.

Now I know that there is no such thing as a perfect system and occasionally I will look through the thousands of email addresses and see one that I actually recognize and wonder just how the hell it got into the list.
Every time I mail out there is an average of 10 unsubscribes and 50 new subscribers. Once a month we transfer the information from the ordering portion of the system and the list grows.
Everyday we see new subscribers from the sign up applications on the site and Facebook.

In closing, I know there was a perhaps a more professional manner in which to present this, but those who know me well, understand that I often prefer a more direct and base approach.
I apologize to those who this applies to, and sincerely hope that you can find someone to help you remove yourself from the offensive TDS list.

Hopefully this eliminates one silliness from my world - yeah right, and I believe in Santa Claus too............