A lot happening in the big world outside of the Smith forum, things can change radically in hours. Some members are insulated with very deep packets and others are on a fixed income getting hammered by inflation. Smith members range from newbees with one new polymer auto and 50 rounds of ammo to the highly advanced collector with a prized collection of vintage Smith safe queens that will never be fired. My guess is a lot of members will cut back to using enough ammo to qualify each year like LE does and save a sufficient amount for a rainy day emergency. Would be nice to spend countless hours every week at the range blowing thru hundreds if not thousands of rounds of ammo but that's no longer practical or financially feasible for many. Much like gas at $5.00 a gallon people won't be going on joy rides.
Here we go again NO AMMUNITION
- Thread starter martyd
- Start date
THE PILGRIM
Member
Good amount here too.
Today I swung by Cabelas and the Warehouse.
Still no 38 Special.
Bought 100 Rounds of Fed 22 LR Punch at the same price I recently saw on the Fed online direct sales.
So I guess the Warehouse ain’t in the Gouge mode with Punch.
Today I swung by Cabelas and the Warehouse.
Still no 38 Special.
Bought 100 Rounds of Fed 22 LR Punch at the same price I recently saw on the Fed online direct sales.
So I guess the Warehouse ain’t in the Gouge mode with Punch.
And it never will be. Lots of drama for the drama queens. Buy a 9mm or .223/5.56 and be assured that you will always be able to find ammo for .25/rd. Even if you have to build it yourself, god forbid.
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Happened to go in 2 wal-marts today, plenty of 22 ,shotgun and even 30.06 and 308 hunting ammo. Looks as if the scalpers have laid off buying.
scoobysnacker
Member
Another reloading genius
Let's get an estimate on the costs of reloading this, ok?
For the sake of transparency let's give a real estimate, for someone starting from scratch.
Reloading tools, for whatever calibers.
Bullets- and give a true price. Not everyone smelts lead, or has tons of it laying around. For those who do, include the cost of molds, ladles, melting pots, etc. And whatever heat source you use to do so... we're not gonna do it on the BBQ grill.
Otherwise, include the cost of bullets.
Cases- and be open and forthcoming with this. Not everybody gets to scavenge other guys's range discards. If you're reloading your own cases, be sure to include the original price of acquisition. Be it Starline, or reloading some stuff you once bought new... we're starting from scratch, remember?
Primers- and again, we're not talking about what you have leftover from years past. You need to list current price if available.
Powder, same deal.
Now, do multiple calibers, so multiple dies, primer sizes, powders (*this is a big concern for new folk. You can't go taking any ol' powder and make it allpurpose).
I DON'T OPPOSE reloading, but there are folks who have been doing it awhile, that make it sound so easy and cheap. There are plenty of upfront costs, a learning curve, and time and workspace requirements that they fail to mention. In comparison, if you buy a case of ammo fully made, you just worry about where to store it.
5906fan
Member
yeah and now primers are very scarce - none at all available w/in 50+ miles of my home and online sources dried up.
charlie sherrill
Member
Didn't need it, but I bought another 500 rounds of Blazer brass 115 grain 9 mm yesterday to make up for what I shot in the last few days. I'm not hoarding but I will try to keep my stock up.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Another reloading genius
Let's get an estimate on the costs of reloading this, ok?
For the sake of transparency let's give a real estimate, for someone starting from scratch.
Reloading tools, for whatever calibers.
Bullets- and give a true price. Not everyone smelts lead, or has tons of it laying around. For those who do, include the cost of molds, ladles, melting pots, etc. And whatever heat source you use to do so... we're not gonna do it on the BBQ grill.
Otherwise, include the cost of bullets.
Cases- and be open and forthcoming with this. Not everybody gets to scavenge other guys's range discards. If you're reloading your own cases, be sure to include the original price of acquisition. Be it Starline, or reloading some stuff you once bought new... we're starting from scratch, remember?
Primers- and again, we're not talking about what you have leftover from years past. You need to list current price if available.
Powder, same deal.
Now, do multiple calibers, so multiple dies, primer sizes, powders (*this is a big concern for new folk. You can't go taking any ol' powder and make it allpurpose).
I DON'T OPPOSE reloading, but there are folks who have been doing it awhile, that make it sound so easy and cheap. There are plenty of upfront costs, a learning curve, and time and workspace requirements that they fail to mention. In comparison, if you buy a case of ammo fully made, you just worry about where to store it.
I'm quoting prices from Midway USA so they aren't the cheapest you can get if you hunt around.
The Lee 4 hole Classic Turret Kit costs $249 which includes:
Turret Press with Auto Index
Auto Drum Powder Measure
Large and Small Safety Prime System
Safety Powder Scale
Case Conditioning Kit (Including: Case Trimmer Cutter and Lock Stud, Chamfer Tool, Large and Small Primer Pocket Cleaner, Lee Case Sizing Lube)
Modern Reloading 2nd Edition, Revised Reloading Manual
Next you will want a set of calipers which will cost you $22.99
A 4 die carbide set of handgun dies from Lee will cost you $48.38 but can be found for less.
Ammo Blocks - you can use the plastic trays from factory ammo.
Brass - you probably saved your brass from factory ammo
Bullets - 500 Cast bullets will cost you $36 (Missouri Bullets)
Primers - 1000/$79 but can be found for less
Powder - 1lb will run you $28 to $40, $35 for the purpose of this post
I think that is the minimal needed to start reloading 38/357, 45 Auto or 9mm ammo.
Total will be $470 which isn't all that bad considering the prices for components are inflated right now.
If you load 500 rounds of 9mm instead of buying for $16.50 a box (cheapest I've seen online) that covers the first $165 of the equipment and components. Midway has 50/FMJ rounds cor $21 so that covers the first $210 of the cost to reload for starters.
The price for a box of 50 counting components only will be $12.50 at those prices which is still under retail for the same box of ammo. If prices for primers come down to $40/k and powder to $25/lb the box will run you only $7.50.
Since I'm one of the long time reloaders and have components I can still load the same box/50 for only $5.50 but I'm sure that will never happen again once I exhaust my supplies.
I'm still using the Lee 4 Hole Classic Turret Press and Lee Deluxe Carbide handgun dies.
When I started reloading I was in the green in only 6 weeks.
And comparing costs for reloading 9mm is the most conservative cost comparison available. Wasn't but a couple years ago, even with costs down, that it was cheaper to buy bulk brass cased 9mm than to reload for it.
Now if someone wants to see a much larger difference in cost, try comparing reloading 44 mag to buying factory rounds in today's prices.
Or maybe some higher priced rifle rounds. Especially if you consider your tools already paid off by loading bulk pistol rounds.
Now think of the more long term possibilities, should we live that long. When the next generation takes the reins, which is happening in some larger cities, you be lucky to get ammo or reloading supplies at all.
Now if someone wants to see a much larger difference in cost, try comparing reloading 44 mag to buying factory rounds in today's prices.
Or maybe some higher priced rifle rounds. Especially if you consider your tools already paid off by loading bulk pistol rounds.
Now think of the more long term possibilities, should we live that long. When the next generation takes the reins, which is happening in some larger cities, you be lucky to get ammo or reloading supplies at all.
cmj8591
Member
All these posts are making me think twice about getting into shooting to supplement my income.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Google made this photo pop up on my phone this morning, a year after I took it.
I'd made the rounds of Palmetto State Armory, Cabela's, and these are the ammo shelves at Academy.
The other stores just had empty shelves, but Academy put pictures of ammo on the shelves.
Since then, the ammo that has made it to the shelves was first 3x the old price, now it's double.
Ah, the good old days.
Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
I'd made the rounds of Palmetto State Armory, Cabela's, and these are the ammo shelves at Academy.
The other stores just had empty shelves, but Academy put pictures of ammo on the shelves.
Since then, the ammo that has made it to the shelves was first 3x the old price, now it's double.
Ah, the good old days.
Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I completely agree but just to keep in the spirit of the question of startup costs I went with one of the most common rounds bought today.
When reloading cor the 44 Magnum and the 45 Colt and a few others ?you will save a lot of money.
A few years back simple lead cast 45 Colt ammo was $50/box. I was able to load the same box of 50 for $17. That enabled me to shoot my single cation 45 Colt revolvers without hearing the cash register ring on every shot. I just looked online and that same $50 will buy you only 20 rounds who h is a big nut to crack. Forget about trying to buy 454 Casull, 50 AE, 460 S&W Magnum or 500 Magnum ammo today!
I save money on all my loading but the 45 Colt and 30-06 ammo saves me the most.
World affairs being what they are, I went online and ordered 500rnds of 9mm 115grfmj just in case. It came in 4 days and cost $191.00 delivered. This is not cheap and I don't own a 9mm but several of the younger folks in my family do and I don't want there to not be a little ammo just in case..........
luvsmiths
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I agree it's not the best price around but $19/50 rounds isn't all that bad these days.
Natchez has Blazer Brass 115gr FMJ ammo priced at $349.99/1000 rounds. That's 34¢ a round instead of 38¢ a round that you paid. $17 a box beats $19 any day.
I'm not trying to push a site, I'm only trying to save our members some money.
John Patrick
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On the other hand, if “they” are buying it and “they” have it, you are the one with the shortage and the crisis. “They” don’t have a shortage and it’s not their crisis.
John Patrick
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Unless, of course, you shoot.
