Aluminum is the new gold
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Recently bought some Blazer Aluminum Case 380 at the Warehouse.
Also pricey!
Also pricey!
The President of Goya foods was on TV this week...... stated that "his" price for cans was going up 60% the first of 2022.
Jerry M
Member
Keep looking, better prices are available.
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Quite honestly, I have never bought an aluminum case in my life! Not reloadable and that's where this hobby is going assuming one can get Primers. Powder seems to easier and bullets and once fired Brass are not a problem.
Even at inflated prices, Primers are the one component that will make or break your ability to reload ammo. As long as you don't pay way way too much, I'd recommend getting enough Primers to keep you cranking when you can. Not only does it let you make ammo when it is not commercially available it will also allow you to customize loads and keep costs down. You will not be reliant on what is available.
Let's say you can get Primers at the inflated price of $100 /1,000 - basically triple normal prices of only a few years ago. That means your reloaded ammo price per round will increase 6 cents per round, assuming everything else remains constant. So in stead of costing 10 cents a round for 38 spl. it would cost 16 cents per round $8/box of 50). Still a bargain in today's market.
Just my opinion, but while no one wants to be ripped off, there is something to be said about having the ability to be self sufficient and not having to worry about the supply chain.
If you absolutely, positively have no interest in reloading then you need to put the full court press on for somewhat reasonable Factory ammo. I do not have a crystal ball and do not know when the bottom is bottom. If you can find somewhat palatable prices I would think of buying a bunch. Sort of like dollar cost averaging in the stock market game. There are some that will absolutely refuse to buy ammo at more than they paid a few years ago - those will be the ones begging for it in the future and not shooting because they don't have an adequate supply.
Just my theory - I have no crystal ball either!
Even at inflated prices, Primers are the one component that will make or break your ability to reload ammo. As long as you don't pay way way too much, I'd recommend getting enough Primers to keep you cranking when you can. Not only does it let you make ammo when it is not commercially available it will also allow you to customize loads and keep costs down. You will not be reliant on what is available.
Let's say you can get Primers at the inflated price of $100 /1,000 - basically triple normal prices of only a few years ago. That means your reloaded ammo price per round will increase 6 cents per round, assuming everything else remains constant. So in stead of costing 10 cents a round for 38 spl. it would cost 16 cents per round $8/box of 50). Still a bargain in today's market.
Just my opinion, but while no one wants to be ripped off, there is something to be said about having the ability to be self sufficient and not having to worry about the supply chain.
If you absolutely, positively have no interest in reloading then you need to put the full court press on for somewhat reasonable Factory ammo. I do not have a crystal ball and do not know when the bottom is bottom. If you can find somewhat palatable prices I would think of buying a bunch. Sort of like dollar cost averaging in the stock market game. There are some that will absolutely refuse to buy ammo at more than they paid a few years ago - those will be the ones begging for it in the future and not shooting because they don't have an adequate supply.
Just my theory - I have no crystal ball either!
Years ago, I could buy aluminum Blazer 9mm for $3.86 a box. I bought and fired thousands of rounds without any problems. No reason to reload then.
I did have to drive to Nashville to get it at Academy. It worked out well as I was driving to Talladega twice a year and always stopped. One year I was probably the only guy at the race with a Sig, 3 magazines and 8100 rounds.
I did have to drive to Nashville to get it at Academy. It worked out well as I was driving to Talladega twice a year and always stopped. One year I was probably the only guy at the race with a Sig, 3 magazines and 8100 rounds.
Green Frog
Member
When cleaning out my parents' basement recently I sold a multi-year accumulation of aluminum cans and other aluminum (foil, pie pans, etc) which had to be separated so they'd be accepted. My S-10 pickup bed was just about full and the whole batch brought me… $28.10! 
The price of aluminum is "up" to $.40 per lb.
Froggie
The price of aluminum is "up" to $.40 per lb.
Froggie
Once upon a time, aluminum was a rare metal and very, very expensive. The top of the Washington Monument in D.C. is topped with a solid aluminum pyramid.
The Washington Monument Was Completed
The Washington Monument Was Completed
DWalt
Member
Making commercial quantities of aluminum at a low cost is relatively new as compared to iron, copper, tin, zinc, etc. Processing Bauxite (aluminum ore) and refining it into aluminum metal is very complex and wasn't practical to perform on an industrial scale until the late 19th century when abundant electricity sources became available. Before then, it could well have been considered a precious metal as it was so difficult and expensive to convert Bauxite into aluminum.
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Some ranges dont like aluminum or steel on their floors
Not quite. Alum. cans are worth about 0.53//lb. Spent brass cases are 1.63/lb. These are current scrap prices. The reality is nobody is leaving cases on the ground at ranges like they did 2 years ago before the troubles. People still just recycle alum. cans like I do. The scrap price isn't worth the effort.
Unfortunately this is the new reality. If you can't reload you get to be the guy that searches for ammo endlessly or pays the LGS owner to send his kids to college. Bulk buying on the internet no longer exists because you can't order 5K of primers or a 5K case of ammo.
This situation will not change anytime soon, if ever. JMO.
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No disrespect but people said the exact same thing about 22LR during the 2-3 year drought.
It came back and for about 6-8 months before this pandemic shortage started 22LR could be had in case quantities for as little as 2-3 cents a round.
It may take a while but this drought too shall pass.
I had a box of Blaser aluminum 357 shells and they eject OK from my son's 686 but not from my 28-2. It looks like the difference is that the 28-2 has recessed chambers and the 686 does not. Has anyone here experienced this also?
I was going to put a box of 45acp in my oldest son's stocking to feed his new Springfield 1911 this year.
The only place local that I could find any online was Cabelas. They showed Blazer aluminum cased in stock for about $35 a box of 50. Pretty spendy for non-reloadable ammo.
I went ahead and made the 40 mile round trip to get some. By the time I got there it was all gone. Apparently they stock the shelves first thing in the morning and their system doesn't do an inventory update until after closing time. When I got there around 1pm the shelves had been picked clean.
Lesson learned. When they show something I want/need in stock I'll call ahead to verify it is actually there and get someone to set it aside for me to come pick it up.
The only place local that I could find any online was Cabelas. They showed Blazer aluminum cased in stock for about $35 a box of 50. Pretty spendy for non-reloadable ammo.
I went ahead and made the 40 mile round trip to get some. By the time I got there it was all gone. Apparently they stock the shelves first thing in the morning and their system doesn't do an inventory update until after closing time. When I got there around 1pm the shelves had been picked clean.
Lesson learned. When they show something I want/need in stock I'll call ahead to verify it is actually there and get someone to set it aside for me to come pick it up.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I reload so I rarely buy factory ammo but when aluminum case ammo is on sale I usually buy some for the times I shoot in a lost brass situation. It doesn't hurt like when you have to leave brass cases on the ground. 
Ditto that. I generally avoid places that won't let me retrieve the brass I bought and paid for. But there are also those outdoor venues where grass and terrain mean that brass losses are high. That is where I use aluminum the most.I reload so I rarely buy factory ammo but when aluminum case ammo is on sale I usually buy some for the times I shoot in a lost brass situation. It doesn't hurt like when you have to leave brass cases on the ground.
Funny thing is the difference in cost between aluminum and brass is pretty negligible these days. Two or three bucks a box savings looks a lot less attractive at $40 a box than it does when the ammo is $15 a box.
One can only hope but the Rona changed a lot of things. Some things I've never seen in my lifetime and I've been around since 49. Expecting ammo prices roll back 3 years is a bit like expecting new construction and new car prices to roll back. For that to happen the fed needs to get inflation under control and I just don't see that happening any time soon. If anything it will get worse.
Here's a sobering thought.
Forbes
I think we all knew this was coming. If we didn't we should have. If you want to buy ammo, you should buy it NOW.
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