Don't feel bad. One round for my 9.3x74r, rifle costs $5.00 give or take a quarter or so. That is American made ammo. The European made ammo can cost even more. When you have to cough up a C note for a box of 20, you know ammo is expensive.
OH, cry me a river!
Thats not all that much.
Just under 16 years ago, I turned 50. And I realized I needed a new gun for my birthday. At the time I worked a lot of hours, but was salaried so it didn't make much difference. My office was directly across the hall from the owner, who had a reputation for being a grouch and mean. Well, we'd become kind of friends by then. So that day I stuck my head in and told him I was taking a long lunch. He was almost 90 then. He wanted to know what I was going to do. So I always felt honesty was the best policy, at least if it involved something he'd sanction. So I told him I was going to a gun store and was going to buy myself a new rifle! His only comment was "Good". That also gave me cover for however long I wanted.
What I bought that day was a Weatherby in .30-378 caliber. I kind of had to fight with the store to even get 2 boxes of ammo with it. The clerk was holding the ammo for a friend (who I presume wanted to rechamber a rifle he had). The store manager heard my threat and came over. If you want to sell a $1500 rifle, you've got to allow me to buy ammo for it. He agreed because he wanted to sell the gun. So I managed to buy 2 boxes of ammo for $80 a box. Do the math, 1998, $80 for 20 rounds = $4 each. But prices have gone up a "tad". Today the on-line prices are between $112.50 and $120. Thats $6 a shot.
Anyway, I bought it and went back to work. It seems someone was rude and commented loudly about my terrible work ethic, taking over an hour for lunch. The company owner blew a fuse! Everyone was afraid to even whisper when I got back. I had an ally. Worse, I stuck my head in the owners door and asked if anything happened. He laughed and said they all learned a lesson in manners. Then he wanted to know what I bought! So I told him and he said "that won't do it, go get the gun and show it to me." So I marched out to the Jeep and brought in the rifle (with one box of shells!) So after the dust up when I was gone, they saw me walking back inside carrying a rifle and ammo!
Yes, someone called the cops. They were making the run, but the owner had built the place in 1952 and also lived in the village. He was feared by everyone, employees and neighbors and well respected because of the tax base by the PD. So they very meekly came in and asked for him (and me I guess). We were back across the hall with my rifle, BSing with him holding the thing across his lap. They asked if everything was alright, and he said he was alright, he was the one with the gun (he didn't consider police handguns as worthy.)
But I can reload it for just about the same cost as a .30-06. The only real difference is it burns twice as much powder in the cases the size of old fashioned brake fluid cans. Some guns you just can't shoot unless you reload. Along the last 15 years I've picked up a couple more boxes of ammo and a couple of boxes of virgin brass.
Yes, premium bullets are getting expensive. I'll buy more when I run low on the ones I bought at the old prices. I'm sorely tempted to just cause more trouble and spend a bundle at current prices for components. I could use a 1000 large magnum rifle primers. I've got everything else, but maybe a 4# or 8# of suitable magnum powder would be nice. And a pot full of premium bullets just aren't going to ever be cheaper. When I up and croak, my son's will make a special trip just to try to clean out my gun room. Bad news, it'll take more than one trip.
I"ve been profiteering on the 22s. I've sold off maybe 20,000 of them I'd been getting from Walmart. I don't care, I'd never shoot that many. The only big users in the family are my grandsons.
How much ammo does an old man need?
I bought a new pistol Thursday. Its a .380 and I've got a few boxes of it. I'm turning over a new leaf. I haven't been dumping the ammo when I sell a gun. I have no idea how available the 100 bulk pack is, but I remember the self defense box was $25 for 20 of them. See, being a grumpy old man pays off.
However, some of us remember .22 LR at a penny each and the store would break a box and sell you as few as you wanted.
