Question for you guys. Looking to make a fairly large order for bulk 9mm fmj and bulk .223. Given current prices, policy’s, politics and supply, is now a good time in your opinion?
Prices on ammo have seemed to stabilize but unfortunately not getting any cheaper.
What are your thoughts and opinions?

I'm buying...9mm...10mm...223...it never goes bad..

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My Daddy was a pistol..

Yes, it is. Prices on everything go up quickly and down slowly if ever. Given inflation prices now are about as good as they are going to get. They might go down a little but could go up a lot if there is another series of riots or talk of gun control.

People tend to remember extraordinarily good deals and think they are normal when they are not. Ammo prices per-pandemic were a very good deal. What we are paying now is about normal historically.

Unfortunately ammo prices are a lot like the price of Bitcoin, with wild price swings based on emotion. Best to buy when the price is reasonable instead of waiting for a deal that will likely never happen. Ammo lasts a long time.

.223/5.56 is spendy right now. 9mm and .22lr are about as low as they are going to go. If you have "spare funds" (money not diverted from other uses) go for it. I've been buying monthly rather than large dump at a time. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

You guys are definitely confirming what im thinking. I reload but honestly, for the price of bulk 9mm its just worth buying factory rounds now. I haven’t ever reloaded rifle rounds but trimming rifle brass every time doesn’t sound fun. And then there’s the primer dilemma….
All for another topic.
Thanks guys.

I think so. You're right about 9mm. With current component cost you may not be saving anything by reloading factory equivalent ammo. You can maybe save a buck or two using commercially cast bullets. Hardly worth the effort. Save the primers for calibers that are more expensive.

Of course someone will chime in that their reloads cost $1.50 a box because they cast their own bullets with the 10,000# of free metal they got and the components they bought in 1964. But that's not relevant to the rest of us.

Maybe primers will come down someday. Could be a while. I think at least a two year supply would be good. At least we can get them.

Buy what you can. It's tangible wealth you hold in your hand.
And it doesn't eat much sitting on the shelf.

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never get out of the boat

I would say the prices are now about as low as they are gonna be. No - I do not have a crystal ball, but the ONLY thing that MIGHT change the situation is IF the WH changed hands in November. Even so, there might be a minuscule drop (might be) but not enough to truly matter. IMHO, buying what you will need for the foreseeable future would be prudent, comforting and take a load off your head. Politics is a strange bedfellow and you NEVER know what restriction, law or rule is just around the corner.

Only thing that I have purchases in bulk recently was 9mm. A cop shop in CO was selling 1000 for 250 +/-. They have really good prices and not sure you will find that else where in the states. I have seen online prices around 280+/- plus shipping. Global Ordnance has some for a brand I have never heard of, Igman. It is 249 for a case. Probably Turkey or some place like that.

My latest, before my "+" membership expires at the end of the month. Joe
TSC9115A500-BULK - C9115A500 Federal Training 9mm Luger Ammo 115 Grain Full Metal Jacket 500 Rounds Case-Case of 500 (1 Box of 500)-Free Shipping 1 $115.00 $115.00
SubTotal: $115.00
Shipping Insurance: $1.78
Discreet Overbox Packaging
Shipping: FREE SHIPPING
FL State Tax: $8.63
Total: $125.41

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Yesterday Bought 200 rounds of 9mm at Cabelas.
Will ammo go down? Maybe!
But IMO it’s more likely to go up and get harder to find.
But, what if it goes down?
I’ll buy some more!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Igman is made in Bosnia. Actually very good quality. The company has been around since 1950, and they export world-wide.

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Heavily armed old man.

I love people saying its not worth reloading the 9, yet they are paying .25/round. for 115 gr. fmj. while primers cost 8 cents right now and a good 124 gr. JHP for 10-11 cents. along with 3-4 cents in powder. I am reloading at todays price for under .25/round. the thing is my reloads are more accurate as they are tuned to my guns.
Prices are at a point where I believe you should buy what you can and then keep your eyes open and buy what you can find. This holds true with components for reloading also. Do I like paying 8 cents for primers, NO but I buy what I can when I can.
I say time to stack it deep.

I'm very blessed to have what I consider a "lifetime supply" of components and ammo. By that, I mean enough to last me at the current rate of consumption until I'm 80. I figure if I'm
still around at 80, my shooting will slow down significantly and I won't need much more anyway. With that in mind I still buy when I find
good deals, because you just don't know what the future holds. So buy when you can.

I would say that saving $1.50 a box isn't "saving much". While reloads can certainly be more accurate, that's not always the case.

I'm always on the lookout for deals. I buy when I see something I can use at a good price, and store it in a locker with a Goldenrod dehumidifier.

The best source I've found for shopping for ammo is Best Ammo for Finding Ammunition 2024 - Guns Mags Reloading |
AmmoSeek.com

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

I'd have a hard time paying $.50 a round for 5.56 ammo but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the cheapest it gets for the next year.

Same with 9mm ammo. I can and do reload for 9mm, but not really for the savings at this point.

If I was running low on components or ammo, I'd be buying now rather than crossing my fingers and hoping prices don't go up. I have been buying primers occasionally to replace stock I use up. Since 2021 I've been thinking it will only be a few more months of primers at $100 per brick. Now it's 2024 and primers are still selling at $80, $90 or $100+ per 1,000.

Ok guys. Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and placed an order for 9mm, 5.56 and large and small pistol primers. Btw- Natchez is offering today no hazmat fee on orders over $99.
Not sure if i can put the coupon code on here but when you go to their page, it’s listed on top.
Thanks to everyone. I hate the fact of 5.56 being .53/round too but i dont see it dropping below where its at now. And if it does, whatever.

I simply refuse to buy ammo. Besides, now in NY you have to go thru a NICS just to buy rimfire. I'll stock up and never have to have the government give me permission,

9 and 5.56 are the hot items. Few at my club reload so once fired brass availability has given me TWO lifetime supplies.

Yeah, primers are 8 cents. Sucks to be us. On the other hand small rifle and pistol seem to be the 2 flavors most produced, so availability (NOW) is not an issue.

Boolits for 9 are free. My supply of lead is huge and my Winter hobby is casting. 55 grain FMJ .223 prices are reasonable. I won't use lead in a gas fired rifle.

Reloading is ALWAYS a better deal.

If I play my cards right, I may have a lifetime supply on my belt right now......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

I have little interest in the 9mm cartridge, but do load for it occasionally. I do enjoy handloading and load development and making ammunition that is more accurate than commercial ammunition. Many who handload have little interest in handloading as a hobby in itself and about the same interest level in load development and making accurate ammo. That's fine.

If you like factory ammo, buy it. I don't know what it costs to handload, but I would guess there may be a savings in there somewhere.

I'm 72 and have had 2 heart attacks, the latest about 3 months ago. The covid period really cut my shooting down to almost nothing and the heart attacks haven't really allowed me to get back in to the groove.
Given the ammo (factory & reloads) and the amount of components I have on hand I am not really buying much of anything. Maybe a few .22lr & pellets for air guns.
When I get the time I intend to shoot a fair share of reloads and save the factory ammo & components as it will be easier for my heir's to sell.

I have stated many times on this forum, buy all the ammo you can afford and have room to store, and reload if possible. Way too many unknowns in the future to be caught short.

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OGCA Member.

That's the sticky bit when you're married.

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Release the Kraken

This is perhaps the greatest thing ever said on this site!!! Cheers to that!

My approach is buy the items I currently shoot in bulk at the best price I can find.

My components are reserved for when you CAN'T get ammo or if buying bulk ammo puts you on even more lists than I am sure we are all on today.

The time when big brother will come knocking on your door when you buy a couple thousand rounds of ammo are not to far in the future IMHO. Think Social Scorecarding- buying ammo won't be considered a positive.

So, I buy and shoot factory for now and am ready to reload anything I need in the future.

I have even stocked up on shotgun shells.

At 5 cents for primers3 cents for powder and about a nickel for cast bullets that is 6.50 a box. Best price in the last 3 months has been 10 bucks a box.a savings of 3.50 on best price. That is with free cases and not having to pay shipping. I can do it for a bit less if I cast my own but for a nickle I'll buy 'em. They said prices are going up...so...I bought a few thousand extra. but no more 9mm. I have a few thousand rounds and need no more. Now I wish I could buy LPPs at 5 cents. I have a couple thousand that cost 20 dollars per and couple thousand that cost 60 dollars per and one thousand that cost 5 dollars. I recently sold 2000 thousand LRPs and got an average of 180 dollars. the buyer set the price not me.... I load so few LRP s anymore so I sold them 2000.

Todays ammo might be high in price to some but
it is nice to at least have some ammo on hand;

then you can sit back and see if things get better.

If not, you can put on a BIG smile.

My prediction ... I'm over 70 and have seen a lot of cycles .

Prices are always quick to go up and slow to drop ... But

If we can get some new ( not Joe) leadership in the White House ...

We will see things turn around and a slow fall in prices on ammo and reloading components ...

But we talking 3-4 years of time ... and then ... things could all fall apart and go to Heck in a Handbag !

I would buy enough to meet my annual needs and hope for some new leaders who can stablize the economy .

I started reloading and bullet casting in 1967 and have never had one regret . I also have stockpiled all the lead wheel-weights , powder , primers and brass I will need for the rest of my life !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I'm also 70, have the tools for reloading just not the time. This is it for me, "+" membership about to expire at the end of the month. Target Sports already sent "order shipped" text 10 minutes afer I placed it. UPS guy will hate me again. I can shoot all I want for 5 years (next 2 election cycles). After that I'll recon I reckon.

PS, I wanted to try the "GGG" (Lithuanian) .308 just for S&G's. Joe

TSGPX11 - GPX11 GGG 308 Winchester Ammo 147 Grain Full Metal Jacket-Box of 20 5 $17.62 $88.09
TS5201 - 5201 CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Luger Ammo 124 Grain Full Metal Jacket-Box of 50 10 $11.96 $119.60
TS725-BULK - 725 Federal 22 Long Rifle Ammo 36 Grain Copper Plated Hollow Point Value Pack 325 Rounds-Case of 3250 (10 Boxes of 325) - FREE SHIPPING 1 $185.38 $185.38
TSF12700 - F12700 Federal Power-Shok 12 Gauge Ammo 2-3/4" 00 Buckshot 9 Pellets-Box of 5 10 $4.14 $41.40
SubTotal: $434.47
Shipping Insurance: $6.73
Discreet Overbox Packaging
Shipping: FREE SHIPPING
FL State Tax: $32.58
Total: $473.78

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Same here. I'm shooting my reloads first. Then I'm using my components up. Eventually I'll just be shooting factory ammo I have stockpiled.

One tip for Seniors is shoot up the Magnums first.

The 9mm make or buy question has been going on for as long as I've been a reloader. It's always been a close call and a tough apples-apples comparison. While the savings by reloading can be minimal, what is certain is the prices of both solutions have gone way up. What was a close call then, is still a close call now.

I enjoy most reloading, but pulling the handle on a Dillon for a couple thousand loads isn't my idea of a good day. For plate matches, commercial FMJ is just fine.

I have 9mm carbide dies and a big pile of brass once fired by me over the years. But I foresaw the shortage and high prices coming and stocked up on 9mm when it was about $169 a case of 1000. Probably have at least 15K and so I have never loaded a single round of 9mm.

I have to admit I never reloaded 9MM or wanted to. Guy says he is coming in under the 25 cents per round line by reloading. He forgets his time and labor, unless he really loves cranking that handle all day. I like to reload revolver and some rifle but it has to be when you got time for it. Basically been in the recent past buying 9MM ball ammo on sale when it shows up. Letting the brass fall where it may, chasing brass sucks too.

Cheapest factory 9s I have cost 4.44 on closeout. most paid in the last 8 or 10 months was 11.49 box/. I still don't load the 9. the components cost more than the loaded ammo. 5 cents for the primer 12 cents jacketed bullet actually more. 4 cents for the powder. 2 cents for my time and a couple or 3 cents for brass wear and tear on the machine and other odd costs. Yes you do have to add time,etc,etc. so at least 25 cents apples to apples. And component cost continue to rise... inflation still continues. I will spend my component costs on ammo that I get more return on percentage wise. 357 35 a box...5 cent primer 20 cent bullet 5 cent powder...same fixed costs...40 cents each. 20 dollar a box 15 dollar savings instead of a break even game...And it goes up from there....I.E. the savings of reloading splained. BTW...rifle reloading is a bit different game as is shotshell loading

and because you reload,,, youll be the "evil crazy survivalist nutjob whacko" and loose custody of the children, and have to sell the "evil stash of reloading supplies" to pay the alimony and child support.

Freedom Munitions.

115 grain FMJ. $.22 a round.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!