Get your “other” ammo while you still can

[TTSH]

During the last ammo crisis, I bought ammo for guns I don't have, just to ensure my friends and family would be ok. This time, I am reloading like wildfire, laying in a supply of .357 and .45 that will last many years, even if I increase my shooting.

I'm still kicking myself in the pants (figuratively speaking) for having been so picky and selective during the Great Walmart Evil Ammo Sell-Off sale. There were some outstanding... 1/2 Walmart's regular price... deals on ammo that just wasn't quite my normal thang. It wasn't so much oddball calibers as it was different bullet weights & bullet types from my usual preferences.

Those prices can never be duplicated ever again. At a minimum, I could have used that ammo to trade for my preferred stuff.

 

[Dave Lively]

Good advice. I used to own an Anschutz 1502 in Hornady M2, a 22 LR necked down to .177. Nobody but me liked that caliber so it took a while before it all sold out during the 22 LR drought but nobody saw any reason to make more when they could sell all the 22 LR they could make.

I started reloading in the late 80s but about 15 or 20 years ago it went from an enjoyable part of shooting to a tedious chore for me. I found the guns I had to reload for sat in the safe because I did not want to load ammo for them. Factory was expensive and never seemed to have the bullet style and weight I wanted. The guns I could buy relatively inexpensive factory or surplus ammo in bulk for went to the range.

My solution was to sell the guns I owned in odd calibers. I only had a few of them. The closest I own to an odd caliber now is my M69 in 44 magnum. The factory 44 special and moderately loaded magnums I shoot through it are about $.55/round but I don't shoot a lot of it. The only rifles I own now are in 22LR, .223 and 308.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Much could go wrong, and that's the catch. Fulminate of mercury, ground glass, and whatever else is in primer compound is nasty stuff. My understanding of how it's made is that it is a wet process that allows mixing, molding and pouring into the final shape, then drying in place, but like most firearms related industrial processes, the actual procedure is proprietary. It is obviously dangerous, but solving the safety issue would unlock a big market, especially if conventional primers disappear.

Once upon a time.............There was a kit to reactivate primers with percussion caps from kids cap pistols......Just sayin......

 

[Drm50]

If you have components I wouldn't be in a big hurry to load them up. Why have hundreds of handloads sitting around? Best to hold onto your components until you see what you need. If things go south people are not going to be shooting up hundreds of rounds playing games and target shooting. Might be a good idea to invest in some bullet molds and sizing outfit.

 

[Turn4811]

I am shooting ammo I loaded 8 years ago. I have an ample supply of components for quite a few more years if I didn't have a well stocked ammo supply.

BTW: My cousin in TX tells me I am not stocked up well enough.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I still see plenty of 17.
Don't have one, but -
Did see a LH Savage with Laminated Stock!
But I already got a number of 22LRs, large store of ammo,
Buy more 22 ammo every time I see some.

 

[sparkyvega]

LOL, LOL!!

Flatten the fear.

 

[LostintheOzone]

If you have components I wouldn't be in a big hurry to load them up. Why have hundreds of handloads sitting around? Best to hold onto your components until you see what you need. If things go south people are not going to be shooting up hundreds of rounds playing games and target shooting. Might be a good idea to invest in some bullet molds and sizing outfit.

Bullets are still available but with a 4 week backlog. I don't sweat the bullet shortage nearly as much as the primer/powder shortage. There are many small bullet manufactures and some large ones also, like Speer and Hornady. The number of powder and primer manufactures you can count on one hand. They get crunched in these panics supplying powder and primers to ammo companies. The reason is hardly anyone reloads and when the well runs dry it takes them months if not years to catch up. I placed an order for bullets after the craziness started and I had them in 3 weeks. That isn't a big inconvenience for me because I order months before I get low.

 

[sparkyvega]

I'm starting to wonder...is there some Chinese component or chemical that goes into the manufacturing of primers?

 

[uncleted327]

I went into my local Bass Pro today looking for 30-06 ammo. They have been out of handgun ammo and most long guns for months now but as of a few weeks ago there was plenty of hunting ammo on the shelves. Today the 06 selection was down to 3 choices, 17 boxes total. Most every other caliber was also either gone or almost gone with the exception of 300 Win and 308...some of the WSM calibers. At this rate we'll be lucky to get the same weight hunting ammo we want, let alone a specific brand and bullet type...

 

[oysterer]

Thanks for the reminder but already have all the 257 Roberts, 25 Auto, 41 Special, 45 Auto Rim, 32 auto, 30-40 Krag and 6.5 Swedish I need till the rest of my entire life...

 

[biku324]

But I'm out of 8x58 Rimmed Danish Krag!!

 

[oysterer]

Worst case you buy a like new in box Schwarzlose on the web and use up you 8x50 Mannlicher instead.

 

[armenius]

I will paraphrase a long gone old friend of mine:
"Three things you should never turn down, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a pound of Maxwell House coffee, and ammo at a reduced price"
Several years ago I bought up several different calibers when a business closed, and you can't imagine the pleasure using a box of premium ammo I payed $8 for which now cost $30!

 

[TTSH]

But I'm out of 8x58 Rimmed Danish Krag!!

LOL!!!!!! You snooze, you lose!

 

[MyDads38]

Went to Walmart today for groceries, went past the ammo area and it's getting pretty bare except for shotshells. Picked up the last 2 boxes of Federal 308 on the shelf. No 22's now. Will have to check some of the other locations close to me.

 

[CCantu357]

I will paraphrase a long gone old friend of mine:
"Three things you should never turn down, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a pound of Maxwell House coffee, and ammo at a reduced price"
Several years ago I bought up several different calibers when a business closed, and you can't imagine the pleasure using a box of premium ammo I payed $8 for which now cost $30!

A pack of Camels, a pound of Maxwell House, and a box of ammo should be the American trinity.

 

[Nick B]

seems that 44 mag is one of the last to run out during the "rush"

also a great time to own a 41 mag and a 38 super!

My LGS is a very large two story gun store/range . I stopped there yesterday and the only pistol ammo they had left was a few boxes of .44 magnum .

 

[bushmaster1313]

My LGS is a very large two story gun store/range . I stopped there yesterday and the only pistol ammo they had left was a few boxes of .44 magnum .

No .455 Webley on the shelf?
Oh - The Horror!

 

[Warren Sear]

Much could go wrong, and that's the catch. Fulminate of mercury, ground glass, and whatever else is in primer compound is nasty stuff. My understanding of how it's made is that it is a wet process that allows mixing, molding and pouring into the final shape, then drying in place, but like most firearms related industrial processes, the actual procedure is proprietary. It is obviously dangerous, but solving the safety issue would unlock a big market, especially if conventional primers disappear.

"Fulminate of mercury"? LOL!