Ammo is plentiful!

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I stopped at Academy today to see how the ammo shelves looked. And they looked better than they have in about four years! Lots of everything, including .38 Special and even some .357. I saw .32 S&W Long, .45ACP, and FN 5.7. Loads and loads of .22LR. As for prices, well, they weren't as bad as they've been, but they will NEVER be as low as four years ago I don't care what all the curmudgeons grumble about. Dream on, it ain't happening. Federal 9mm FMJ, 200 pack, $75. That's as good as it's going to get, folks. Stock up, the time has arrived.
 
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Respectfully, $375/case for range 9mm isn’t “as good as it’s going to get.” In fact, it’s already considerably better.

While I absolutely agree that for those whose stocks are running low it’s time to start buying again, I don’t recommend paying a $5/box premium at a sporting goods chain.
 
Respectfully, $375/case for range 9mm isn’t “as good as it’s going to get.” In fact, it’s already considerably better.

While I absolutely agree that for those whose stocks are running low it’s time to start buying again, I don’t recommend paying a $5/box premium at a sporting goods chain.

I get e-mails almost daily for $240/k free shipping on 9mm cases. Brass, American made.
 
Ammo is back, but prices are high. Oh well.
 
I can find 9mm for 11.95 a box all day. A $10 box of 9mm in 2019 would be $11.89 today, adjusted for inflation. Barring another Chicken Little Panic we are almost back where we started.

Ah, but what is it? I certainly cannot buy 9mm ammo I would want to use at that price here. Mind you, I'm picky, and there is a lot of 115gr plinking fodder I won't use, especially in a gun I intend to carry or keep handy for self defense. For that kind of practice I prefer 124gr, and if it's NATO spec all the better.
 
Availability is up, and prices down on some of the common stuff - .9mm, 5.56, ect. Problem is most everything else is way up, well past the rate of inflation.

Pre-China Virus, when .9mm ball was about $10 a box, 30-30 SP hunting ammo about $12. You can find 30-30 for about $25 a box now. It was higher and harder to find last year.

It makes sense ammo like .9mm, .223, .22lr would show up first, and eventually drop in price first as well due to demand. I am sure a lot of hunters who do not reload will be glad if and when the manufacture of classic sporting cartridges returns to "normal".

Larry
 
I don’t remember ever seeing 9mm at $10 a box, in the 14 years I’ve been shooting, but maybe it’s just where I live.
 
I went in one yesterday near Houston and found the same. I saw some (wouldn't say a lot) Remington in .38 Special and other calibers. I guess those boys are back up and running.
 
Ah, but what is it? I certainly cannot buy 9mm ammo I would want to use at that price here. Mind you, I'm picky, and there is a lot of 115gr plinking fodder I won't use, especially in a gun I intend to carry or keep handy for self defense. For that kind of practice I prefer 124gr, and if it's NATO spec all the better.

I have found some brands like Winchester white box are loaded weak and if it is available at the same price prefer something like Speer Lawman or NATO spec. But even with WWB its not like practicing with a 22 and carrying a 9mm. I will pay a little more for ammo closer to what I use for carry ammo in terms of power but there is a limit.
 
I can find 9mm for 11.95 a box all day. A $10 box of 9mm in 2019 would be $11.89 today, adjusted for inflation. Barring another Chicken Little Panic we are almost back where we started.
In addition to inflation those of us that buy in bulk online need to remember that shipping is now typically included in the price. I looked at some old invoices and was usually paying about $18/case for shipping on orders I placed pre-pandemic. UPS charges by the pound and ammo is heavy.
 
Well, my crystal ball isn't working properly so I don't know where the bottom line pricing on ammo will be. One thing I am confident in is that it prices won't be where they were 5 years ago! I have bought what I need to insure my next decade or so of shooting will be hassle free. I am not telling anyone here what or when to buy, but to me personally, it's not worth the gamble of a few bucks here or there to run out of ammo and or components. I am also confident that if and when I am old too shoot anymore, I will be able to get al least what I paid, probably more.

I've read here on the Forum that some people just refuse to pay more than X amount for a particular item and draw their line in the sand - they are usually the same ones who complain that they can't shoot because they've run out of ammo or are getting low. Again, not pointing fingers, but I always live by the 6 P's. Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. I never thought I'd pay what we do for groceries, clothing, insurance, cars and taxes - but we do! Ammo is no different, accept besides the inflation factor we are also dealing with political agendas and procuring ammo and components in the near future may not be so easy, not to mention the cost of shipping and hazmat fees.
 
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Probably 25 or so years ago, I could buy Blazer aluminum 9mm for $3.86 a box. I had to drive 4 or 5 hundred miles to Academy in Nashville to get it however. At the time, I was going to Talladega twice a year and it wasn't difficult to stop. The only problem, was did Academy have the amount of ammo I wanted? I always called them in advance, but it didn't seem to matter. One year, I also had to stop at the store in Gadsden, but I was the only guy at Talladega with a Sig, 3 mags and 8,200 rounds.


I don’t remember ever seeing 9mm at $10 a box, in the 14 years I’ve been shooting, but maybe it’s just where I live.
 
The one thing I have found difficult to find is 410 gauge shells. Local store put out some tungsten turkey shells out the other day. They are unbelievably expensive. $44 for five shells.


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I can find 9mm for 11.95 a box all day. A $10 box of 9mm in 2019 would be $11.89 today, adjusted for inflation. Barring another Chicken Little Panic we are almost back where we started.

Ah, but what is it? I certainly cannot buy 9mm ammo I would want to use at that price here. Mind you, I'm picky, and there is a lot of 115gr plinking fodder I won't use, especially in a gun I intend to carry or keep handy for self defense. For that kind of practice I prefer 124gr, and if it's NATO spec all the better.
I only use 124gr round point for practice and there are a few U.S. made makers who have it for $12-$13 / 50-round box, with Free Shipping on a $250 order.

As for the next Chicken Little Panic... 2024 Elections are coming and people will start 'manufacturing' a Dem-Panic in 2023, when people start announcing for Office and the Liberal nominees start their Gun Control rhetoric.
Hopefully, the usual panic won't happen this time, but it's happened during the last 4 elections.

While there's no need to panic buy now, it would be wise to buy as much ammo/reloading supplies as one can comfortably afford now, so you don't have to panic buy later.

Side Note: There were a LOT of reloaders who thought they had more than enough supplies before COVID hit, that found out that they ran low on certain items before manufacturers re-opened.
 
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