Here we go again NO AMMUNITION

[Greyman50]

When I happen to go in a local wally world, always check the ammo. For past few weeks every one has Plenty of Fed 325 boxes and CCI standard vel. as well as some 308 , 30-06 and even 243 once every few days. Yesterday a friend sent me a pic of the local Academy’s ammo shelf ful of assorted 22, 9 mm and 5.56/.223. Going by today to check just for fun. Been busy getting ready for MVPA swap meet this weekend, a Big Time will be had. BTW, last year quite a few firearms for sale too.

 

[Smokester653]

Those type of ammo buyers do exist, no doubt. But you won't find many of that type on this site. You will find a lot who have been keeping a good ammo stock since the first years of the Clinton administration, or before.

We saw what was happing, and planned ahead. It only made sense to do so. Lots of us don't have to buy ammo now, and don't. Only a few years ago, I encourage people to buy ammo during the good times, knowing something would again, as so many times before, cause a run on ammo.

I don't know if prices will ever return to what they were before. I hope they do, it's better for all of us. But I'll continue to encourage people to buy whatever they can afford, and have room to store, same for reloading.

It's as it was long ago, the sensible thing to do.

I hope many don't have that mindset anymore however I have went toe to toe with a few in the past I don't know if there is a search engine on this site but I've been told things like "it's capitalism" and "my right to buy all I can" etc etc which are bot true but certainly don't help. For me it's simple it's the old supply and demand when demand spikes and stays high the price probably won't go down on something like ammunition. Does inflation raise the price? Yep. Does the price of metals raise the price? Yep. Does the rumor of "no more ammo" because the war started or there was a mass shooting raise prices when demand goes up? I will let you ponder that. Me I have bought and encouraged others to do the same when times are good so we don't have to be the ones that run store to store or post they scored a thousand rounds before Joe could get any. Plus it's way less stressful to have what you need. It just threads like this pop up and that chosen few spin out next thing you know we are back to square one waiting.......

 

[Muddyboot]

I hope many don't have that mindset anymore however I have went toe to toe with a few in the past I don't know if there is a search engine on this site but I've been told things like "it's capitalism" and "my right to buy all I can" etc etc which are bot true but certainly don't help. For me it's simple it's the old supply and demand when demand spikes and stays high the price probably won't go down on something like ammunition. Does inflation raise the price? Yep. Does the price of metals raise the price? Yep. Does the rumor of "no more ammo" because the war started or there was a mass shooting raise prices when demand goes up? I will let you ponder that. Me I have bought and encouraged others to do the same when times are good so we don't have to be the ones that run store to store or post they scored a thousand rounds before Joe could get any. Plus it's way less stressful to have what you need. It just threads like this pop up and that chosen few spin out next thing you know we are back to square one waiting.......

You can't control what folks do or say, so no reason to worry about it.
Though I will ponder your response with a quality bourbon.

 

[Mark8]

Some current info from across the pond regarding ammo availability. I can only report about the situation in Switzerland, but that should be a good indication about how things are in the rest of Europe:

We do actually have an unexpected shortage, lots of ammo is out of stock. When it comes to the popular calibers .223 and 9mm, the selection has become very limited, you have to take what you can get, and some dealers are already limiting the number of rounds per customer (have seen 50, 100 and 150 round limits), and one dealer sells the remaining .223 only to customers who buy a rifle.

I have no idea if this is caused by panic buying or if there actually are changes in the supply line because of the war, but at least for the popular calibers, the shortage is real in this neck of the woods.

 

[Empe]

I stopped in at a somewhat local to me gun shop here in SE Pennsylvania over the weekend. They had a pretty good supply of ammunition ....9mm at $20.00/50....45 ACP & .357mag at $28.50/50 and .38 special at 26.50/50 ...all Remington brand. Also CCI Standard Velocity .22 at $49.95/500 and CCI Mini Mags at $59.95/500 . No limits on how much you buy. The prices aren't great but it is available.

 

[ddixie884]

You can't control what folks do or say, so no reason to worry about it.
Though I will ponder your response with a quality bourbon.

Me too but make mine Raynal Brandy...........

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I stopped in at a somewhat local to me gun shop here in SE Pennsylvania over the weekend. They had a pretty good supply of ammunition ....9mm at $20.00/50....45 ACP & .357mag at $28.50/50 and .38 special at 26.50/50 ...all Remington brand. Also CCI Standard Velocity .22 at $49.95/500 and CCI Mini Mags at $59.95/500 . No limits on how much you buy. The prices aren't great but it is available.

Actually, those prices aren't so bad these days but for the rimfire ammo. $28.50 for 45 ACP and .357 Magnum anno isn't all that bad. $26.50 for the .38 Special ammo is a bit high.

 

[Rudi]

I got a box of 20 Remington 30.06 180grn today for $23.95. First .06 I've seen in a long time. Don't think prices will come down on those anytime soon.

 

[cmj8591]

I got a box of 20 Remington 30.06 180grn today for $23.95. First .06 I've seen in a long time. Don't think prices will come down on those anytime soon.

I bought a box just before the scamdemic. I think I remember about 17$. $24 seems about reasonable these days.

 

[GypsmJim]

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 started reloading in 1970 with a $9.95 Lee loader. Used it for many years. As time went on I added a $25 press and $30 dies, and then later a $50 press and dies in another caliber.

In 1975 I got a huge supply of lead for free from a gas station that closwed down, and started casting my own boolits. I still have lead left. I don't need to buy bullets.

I'm not a real big shooter, but I do reload everything except .22 LR. I keep good records and in my 54 year career in the hobby I have reloaded over 40,000 rounds. At that level my equipment is totally amortized.

My last component buy was March, 2020, when I bought powder and primers on sale. With that price point I now am loading centerfire pistol cartridges for $1.50 a box (i.e., 3 cents a piece).

If I had bought a simple Lee Loader in March, 2020 for 30 bucks, I would have paid 33 cents per round for my first 2 boxes, and everything made after that would be for 3 cents each.

Reloading doesn't require a Dillon that costs thousands of dollars. It does require a little time and effort, plus a willingness to do it. Who knows, it might just end up as being yet another rewarding hobby.

 

[fiasconva]

A month or so ago Ammoshoponline was running a sale for norma 9mm, 115 or 124 gr fmj for a little over $15.00 per box with free shipping for any order over $150.00. I figured at the current pricing this was a pretty good deal and bought a case of 124gr. I saved about 30 to 40 bucks in shipping alone. With what's going on in the world lately I have a feeling prices are only going to go up again.

 

[Muddyboot]

Even if reloading doesn't save you a lot of money, it does have other advantages. The first is allowing you to shoot more and experimenting with different loads.

A big advantage is shooting oddball loads, like the .41 Long Colt in my case. Or as GypsmJim pointed out, a rewarding lifelong hobby.

Not everything we do with this hobby is just about the money.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Right now, ammo is not my greatest concern. My brother has sufficient and more for a company of rifle men and a platoon of shotgunners. I'm a little light on defensive handgun ammo in .38 Spl and that's about it. What is worrying me is fuel prices, & my Cherokee averages 30 mpg day in day out. I just ordered a fat tire e-bike that I can charge with a portable solar generator with a cargo kit. I'm pricing bike trailers, too. Now I need to find a handlebar ATV long gun mount for my SU-16C & Maverick 88 Security 12 ga. My brother & I can outfit or supplement 1 or 2 squads worth of adults (I've already given guns to my daughters,1 son-in-law, 2 grandchildren & my grandson-in-law. Most of the men have military (some combat) experience as does my granddaughter. We have 6 mos to a year of food 25 year food stores & water filtration equipment. Living in the country has advantages. This is out my back door.

 

[Rudi]

Lots of ammo in some calibers now. Who knows when it could dry up. Good to be ready.

 

[fiasconva]

Rudi, that's exactly why I decided to bite the bullet and buy some ammo at the higher prices so at least I'd have a pretty good supply in case the availability dried up. I'm pretty good to go now.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I think I might just wait a little bit longer...........

My wallet would take a heck of a beating if I had to shell out $1.60 per round
for a box of 50 rounds of .357 Magnum ammo.

 

[Greyman50]

Local wally world has quite a lot. Lots of 22s, even 28 ga. shot shells, 350 rifle, 243 and .308 and 7.62 ball. CCI standard velocity still $4.83/50.

 

[quikdraw67]

Natchez Shooters Supply has CCI Blazer brass 9mm 115gr FMJ 1000rds 339.99 and free shipping.
It is bulk though.
Other ammo on sale as well.
Over $200 for free shipping.

EDIT- I had the wrong price posted.

 

[Rlg#17]

No telling where this this train is going to stop. Primers @ $120/+shipping, cheap ammo is considered .37 cents a round for 9mm?
Wife and I went to a match in Ga two weeks ago and regular gas was $4.35. Thankfully I was good and made it to a more reasonably priced station.

Try buying a car for anything close to list price without fees added on!

Idk where it will end up!

Regards,
Rick Gibbs

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Local wally world has quite a lot. Lots of 22s, even 28 ga. shot shells, 350 rifle, 243 and .308 and 7.62 ball. CCI standard velocity still $4.83/50.

The first 50 round box of .22 LR "hi-speed" hollow points I ever paid for cost me a whole $0.59 in 1962.