FREDERICK, MD - Across the nation gun stores are coming up with a shortage of ammunition, and now it's starting to hit local law enforcement.

Ammo that once took a couple of weeks to order and ship is now taking eight to 12 months.

NBC25 spoke with the Frederick Police Department, where officers say they order their ammo about a year in advance, but they are taking precautions to preserve what ammo they do have.

"We are changing to scenario-based training, which is using the air-soft, which are similar to the bb guns or the simunition guns, which shoot cartridges very similar to a live round," explained Scott Ertter, a firearms coordinator for Frederick Police.

Ertter says there are some downsides to the substitution.  For example, there isn't the recoil like a live fire weapon, so the officer loses a sense of muscle-memory for firing an actual weapon.

Officers say as long as they keep ordering well in advance, they should be okay.