Ammo and reloading supplies

[Glenn54]

Seems that ammo is in very short supply and I hear that reloading supplies are also hard to find and going up in prices. Any idea how long it will take for prices on reloading supplies to return to normal? I know there is no way to predict exactly, just a good guess is fine.

 

[jc2721]

Hi Glenn, sorry to say that nothing is "normal" now. Assuming we get through this pandemic in a couple of months, we have the Presidential elections coming up and the past couple of elections were nowhere near normal as far as gun, ammo and component sales go.

It seems to me like it took a couple of years after the last election for the prices and availability of ammo and components to become reasonable/affordable to the level of pre-pandemic supply and demand.

I think the shortage and corresponding higher prices are not going to come down anytime soon, and if certain politicians get elected then this panic buying will seem like the "good ole days."

If events turn out pro-second amendment after the election I still think supplies will not keep up with demand for at least a couple of years; a lot of people will stockpile ammo and components whenever they can afford to do so (vowing "never again"). Then guess what? Time for another election and the cycle starts all over again.

Add into the mix another mass shooting and all bets are off--I think we can all predict what might happen if such were to occur.

So, to get to your question--I think maybe in a couple of years supply and prices might come close to the pre-pandemic levels, if we are really lucky. If prices come down and supplies increase, those with the determination and wherewithal to stockpile ammo and components will very likely do so.

 

[rwsmith]

I'd start now.....

...little at a time. There are a lot of components you can get that may not be too high if this pandemic levels off in a few weeks.

Get a reloading book with a good 'how to' section in front if it.

The big Lyman Manual has a good section and lots of data. (not the Lyman Cast Bullet manual)

You'll need dies and shellholders for the calibers you need to reload.

Powder, primers and bullets. If you buy coated case bullets they are about the cheapest. Look at your manual to see which primers and powder you need. Of course you need to save, collect or buy brass cases. I started with 2 powders for pistol Bulleye and Unique. Then I started rifle so I got some 4798. When I got into magnum pistol, I got some 2499.

You can start with Lee measuring scoops, but you'll need to know exactly what the charge is at some point. For that you need a powder scale. I do fine with a little harbor freight digital

A reloading press - the cheapest way to go would be a Lee single stage. If you want you can go for a turret or a progressive press which are faster than a single stage. Progressive presses make one cartridge with every pull of the lever, but they are more complex. Think about how much you shoot to make a choice. You'll need a sturdy bench to mount the press on.

Powder measure. Sometimes I still use my Lee scoops weighed on a scale, but a powder measure is a good thing to have. You need to check some rounds on the scale anyway for consistency and safety. (Note - be sure to put a baffle in the hopper. It improves consistency)

A way to clean brass. I washed them in a bucket, but eventually got a vibrating tumbler.

Chamfer tool for the case mouths.

If you do rifle ammo your will need a caliper.

Loading block, powder funnel

There are other handy tools for primer posckets and hand primer tools instead of doing it one the press

Labels and Boxes.

 

[gwpercle]

Once they go up they stay up until people stop buying .
When the stores are knee deep in expensive ammo they have a "SALE", and you get to buy ammo a little cheaper but not much .
By and large the prices will stay inflated as long as the ammo is selling and it never returns to pre-panic prices....NEVER !

Get a free catalog from Lee , Lee Hand Press is a handy thing to have.
You can reload sitting in your house at the kitchen/dining room table .
I have two for inside the house reloading .
Gary

 

[andy52]

Fortunately I already had a good supply of reloading components before this took place. I had a couple of buddies call me earlier this week wanting to know if I had any extra supplies because they couldn't find any at the LGSs. I gave them what I though was reasonable they were happy and I still have more then enough. To your question, the shortage will last a few months beyond the current pandemic and there is no way of knowing when that will be.

 

[Model52guy]

Over the last year or so I’ve been able to pick up lots of reloading supplies at gun shows from people who decided “reloading wasn’t economical” anymore. Yesterday I loaded 150 rounds of 9mm with bullets I picked up at less than 3 cents per (bought 2000 for $50) last November. I’ve picked up a lot of 223 bullets and brass plus 7.62. I’ve been reloading for 45 years so I’ve accumulated lots of dies, presses, scales, etc.

 

[andy52]

Over the last year or so I’ve been able to pick up lots of reloading supplies at gun shows from people who decided “reloading wasn’t economical” anymore. Yesterday I loaded 150 rounds of 9mm with bullets I picked up at less than 3 cents per (bought 2000 for $50) last November. I’ve picked up a lot of 223 bullets and brass plus 7.62. I’ve been reloading for 45 years so I’ve accumulated lots of dies, presses, scales, etc.

Question are those presses mounted that close together are they just setting side by side for display?

 

[reddog81]

My biggest concern is that the Corona virus has increased the chance that Biden will win the election and that'll drive panic buying for much longer than the current surge we are seeing.

 

[colt_saa]

Seems that ammo is in very short supply and I hear that reloading supplies are also hard to find and going up in prices. Any idea how long it will take for prices on reloading supplies to return to normal? I know there is no way to predict exactly, just a good guess is fine.

For decades, I have always kept two+ years ahead in my hand loading supplies

These days I shoot WAY less I used to. Back in the years we did demos, I could run through 30,000 rounds of ammunition in the course of a year

When I moved last year, there were over 96,000 handgun projectiles in the loading room with enough primers and powder to handle them.

Boxed bullets are on the upper shelves, the bulk cases are on the bottom ones

Every-time there was a deal, I scraped and found the money to buy it. Fortunately, I also had a place to keep the stuff. I understand not everybody has that option, or a spouse that is understanding enough to put up with it

More than once, I got my fellow shooters together and bought an entire pallet of bullets at closeout. I had the pallet delivered to my companies loading dock (I ran the distribution facility) and all my shooting buddies came over and picked up their stuff.

The moral of this story is that if you waited for the crisis to start stocking up, you are alredy too late.

When this crisis passes, do not stop buying supplies. Figure out how much you shoot in a year and find a place to store two years of components.

Make friends at your range or shooting club. Organize group/club buys. You will never have to pay the high prices during a shortage again

 

[oldman10mm]

Been reloading since the late 70s' and accumulating ever since. I've completed an inventory to see anything I'm short of. I'm good, nothing needed. My biggest surplus is primers, just under 28,000.

 

[arjay]

Seems that ammo is in very short supply and I hear that reloading supplies are also hard to find and going up in prices. Any idea how long it will take for prices on reloading supplies to return to normal? I know there is no way to predict exactly, just a good guess is fine.

There’s no telling when panic buying and hoarding will end,but when it does,stock up because it will happen again as we’ve seen over the last 20 years.People panic easily and get played over and over again...

 

[4barrel]

I was running a little low on sp primers and looked online last night and found none. I called my local hardware store 2 hours ago and they had some for $29.00 k.

 

[Model52guy]

Question are those presses mounted that close together are they just setting side by side for display?

Yes, they are mounted that close together. The only clearance issue is for the two RCBS presses. I usually drop the loading handle down on the one to the left of the one I am using. Plenty of room to work the press. They are mounted on a frame and I can either use them standing up or sit on a high stool. This is probably the third iteration of my set up over the years.

 

[Glenn54]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm hoping this corona virus scare is over soon. I will be ready to buy when and if the prices start coming down.

 

[Moe Mentum]

I always buy in bulk whenever I see a sale. I have enough to get me through this crisis. It will end, as these things always do, hang in there .

 

[mmb617]

I'm pretty new to reloading and read all these posts from those who've been doing it for some time about how you were already stocked up before the current crisis started.

So my question is who bought up all the reloading supplies? Powder is pretty much unavailable anywhere now. If you were already well stocked you didn't just buy it in the last week or so, right? And I'm sure the people who are buying their first gun due to the panic aren't reloading, so who bought it all?

As mentioned I haven't been reloading long so my supplies aren't in as good a shape as I'd like. I'll have to ration my ammo on my range trips till I see supplies becoming more available. I hope that won't be too long. I would expect the reloading supplies to recover a lot faster than the factory ammo since there should be less demand for them.

 

[colt_saa]

I'm pretty new to reloading and read all these posts from those who've been doing it for some time about how you were already stocked up before the current crisis started.

So my question is who bought up all the reloading supplies? Powder is pretty much unavailable anywhere now. If you were already well stocked you didn't just buy it in the last week or so, right? And I'm sure the people who are buying their first gun due to the panic aren't reloading, so who bought it all?

As mentioned I haven't been reloading long so my supplies aren't in as good a shape as I'd like. I'll have to ration my ammo on my range trips till I see supplies becoming more available. I hope that won't be too long. I would expect the reloading supplies to recover a lot faster than the factory ammo since there should be less demand for them.

There are almost 400 million firearms in private hands here in America. Obviously many Americans have more than one firearm

I would guess that there are at least tens of millions of hand loaders among those firearms owners.

Here on this Forum we probably have thousands of hand loaders

I would doubt that much more than a hundred or so of your fellow Forum Members here keep a large forward looking supply of components

It is all those remaining millions and millions of hand loaders that have gone into panic buying mode and emptied the shelves of the retailers

Hand loading supplies recover last, not first. All of the supplies manufactured are used to catch up the ammunition shortages first

 

[oldman10mm]

Yep, brass bullets and primers go to the manufacture of ammunition. Powders, the ones we use, catch up quickly as the ones we use are not used for ammunition, they may use something similar. For the last couple 'frenzies' not all powders on the shelves were totally gone and they were restocked fairly quickly coming from distributors. The Fin Feather Fur stores here in Ohio had low powder stock but never depleted.

 

[Step N. Mud]

Cautionary true tale. Have been a reloader for over twenty years and shot at many weekly matches and meet lots of fine shooters and folks that reload.
Over the years, I've known several acquaintances, that had major physical and structural fire damage apparently due to reloading supplies that some how where ignited.
My personal story is that I've mostly keep my reloading table cleaned off and good shape and used an open face tall bookcase on the opposite side of the detached shop to store primers only, and that worked fine for me.
My 20 something son, re-arranged a work table in the shop with the thought to make more room to work on his projects, and was so focused on using a angle grinder and throwing sparks directed towards my primer storage bookcase and he saw stuff flying by his face that wasn't normal. I had just returned home and see him come out of the shop with his hair standing straight up and deer in the headlight look. I knew he was OK and nothing looked out of place or on fire. The sparks from the angle grinder did indeed set off most of a hundred count pkg of primers but the many thousands of other primers remained un disturbed. Since then we have relocated the primers and remodeled the work areas. We were very lucky this time but a scary event
Also another thing that I would like others to pay attention to, is the powder storage and think about using a gun powder storage fire rated box. I made a 1-1/8" thick plywood rolling box with a hinged top lid that nicely handles all my gun powders. Just want reloaders to be safe and think about how they store their supplies.

 

[oldman10mm]

In July 2015, 16 months before the upcoming 2016 election, I took pics of the powders at Fin Feather Fur's Camp Perry store on manufacturers row. The opposite wall was full of primers and bullets.
Their stores were well stocked too.
Unfortunately they're currently closed due to COVID. They didn't have to close, strictly voluntarily for employees and public.