I don't agree that ammo prices are high. Current ammo prices are close to the lowest they've been in many years. Some current examples:

.38 Special 158 grain LRN - 0.23 per round
9 mm 115 grain FMJ - 0.18 per round
.45 ACP 230 grain FMJ - 0.26 per round

These are bulk prices from several online vendors. Even many of the high price self defense rounds are available in 50 round boxes at 0.50 - 0.60 per round.

Lead prices are about $1.06 per pound now and have been between 0.91 and 1.21 in the past year. The cost of the lead in a box of .38 Special ammo is about $1.20, or about 10% of the cost, so small changes in lead prices don't have a big effect on ammo prices. It costs much more to produce, market, and ship ammo than the cost of the raw materials.

If I take the long view, when I started shooting in 1964 a box of 9 mm hardball was $4.75. Adjusting for inflation that would be more than $34 in todays dollars, but you can get the same ammo for $9.00 now. We're actually living in the Golden Age of ammo prices now.