Ammo prices from around 1984/1985

[Tu_S]

Sample of some stuff with price tags that Dad had stored away. Found it in a pair of toolboxes this weekend

Looking at the receipts the prices would be from 84/85, with the box for $9.37 being 20 rounds of 30-06.

 

[GypsmJim]

Had to check some records....

My current "salary" (SS and pension) is now 3 times what I made in 1984. So I guess those prices aren't that good after all.

$0.50 x 3 = $1.50 / round. Just a quick look up and I guess $1.00 - 1.25 is the going rate these days.

Funny thing, though, since I reload 30-06 with home brew boolits and pre-pandemic component prices, I turn them out now for about 10 cents a piece.

Everything is relative. I had an ongoing discussion with my Grandma when I graduated from college and told her I made $10K a year. "Well, you are rich...Grandpa only made 35 cents an hour".

Nevertheless, yes, I wish those prices would come back.

 

[Bald1]

I remember paying $8.99 for Remington Core Lokt non magnum calibers then getting a $2 rebate in the 80s……. Remember Jim, back when Dicks sold guns and ammo.

 

[luvsmiths]

I could swear I was paying about 15 a box for SJWC in 44 Magnum- Winchester White box, about then. ( 1984)

 

[pharmer]

Had to check some records......My current "salary" (SS and pension) is now 3 times what I made in 1984.

This is the only "record" I have. I checked and dang if'n retirement pay isn't 3X. Shows how "short" current dollars are. I have a more recent invoice with better prices. Joe

 

[Bald1]

Damn pharmer!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one stacking up overtime like that. 60-70hr weeks were the norm for me. Most people just aren’t willing to do that nowadays.

 

[pharmer]

Damn pharmer!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one stacking up overtime like that......

I was 28. I could work 5/12's, 8 Saturday & 8 more Sunday if'n I was lucky. I have this stub because I was shorted quite a bit. I could also "party" until 1 or 2 am, get a couple hours shuteye, hit it again. Then again, I could put a 94 lb. bag of "Rinker Portland" on my shoulder and run it up a "gang ladder." Not 1 functioning brain cell @ the time. Joe

 

[AJ]

When I was in the Corps as a S/Sgt. and making a bit over $600.00 a month, I thought I was in "High Cotton"!

 

[luvsmiths]

Damn pharmer!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one stacking up overtime like that. 60-70hr weeks were the norm for me. Most people just aren’t willing to do that nowadays.

They will if it's "remote"....

 

[cmj8591]

That box of 9mm Blazer from 1984 would cost 23.32 today adjusted for inflation. $1 from 1984 is worth $2.96 today. You can buy a box of 9mm Blazer ammo for about $13 now so those prices are only cheap if you compare them to today dollars.

 

[GypsmJim]

Damn pharmer!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one stacking up overtime like that. 60-70hr weeks were the norm for me. Most people just aren’t willing to do that nowadays.

My last job before retirement had no overtime capabilities. They gave me a cellphone and I was expected to be available 24/7/365. I often got calls at 3AM. If I couldn't resolve their problem on the phone I had to come in. If I was on vacation they didn't expect me to come in, but nevertheless I had to respond. ISO regulations would accept a verbal approval, as long as I signed the paperwork when I returned.

My ONLY exception to the rule was when I left a message on my voicemail that I would be at my camp, where there was no cellphone coverage. (I never told them when they put in a new tower on my mountain....LOL)

But, you know, I knew all that going in so I can't complain. Plus, I was paid well and I truly enjoyed a new challenge every day.

 

[Buzzzer]

That box of 9mm Blazer from 1984 would cost 23.32 today adjusted for inflation. $1 from 1984 is worth $2.96 today. You can buy a box of 9mm Blazer ammo for about $13 now so those prices are only cheap if you compare them to today dollars.

Funny, the 9mm and 44 Magnum are about the same. However, back then 9mm was the "new kid on the block", so to speak, at least here in the mainstream. Now 9mm is everywhere and it seems most use it to some extent. 44 Magnum ammo, on the other hand, has shot through the roof for the exact same reason as the 9mm was comparatively more expensive in '84-85. Not many use it so it commands a "premium"...

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Sample of some stuff with price tags that Dad had stored away. Found it in a pair of toolboxes this weekend

Looking at the receipts the prices would be from 84/85, with the box for $9.37 being 20 rounds of 30-06.

$7.89 for a box of Blazer 9mm. In 84/85 9mm was still not that common and expensive so I started reloading 9mm.

35 years later (2019) When Walmart stopped selling handgun ammunition, my local one was closing out 9mm at $6 a box for aluminum or steel cased and $7 for brass cased.

 

[oldrookey617]

I will put in my 2 cents, I have a old CCI 22 Mini Mag 100 box, and a CCI 22 Stinger 50 box, with the orange K-Mart stickers on them, $1.99, the Stingers $1.49, not sure, I think from the early 70's, did not hunt or shoot for years, just worked to many hours for years, just checked, I shot those up, still worked great that old, no mis-fires, have been using those boxes for new 22 ammo, wore the stickers off, bought a new M617 a few months ago, for target shooting, nothing like weighting over 50 years to get good with a handgun, was pretty good with a rifle or shotgun back in the 60's and 70's.. that was a long boring story ..

 

[Patrick L]

I remember back in that era, every deer season all the sporting goods stores ran the same sale. .30-30s were $6.99, and .30-06, .270, and .308s were $8.99 everyplace that sold ammo.

 

[venomballistics]

That box of 9mm Blazer from 1984 would cost 23.32 today adjusted for inflation. $1 from 1984 is worth $2.96 today. You can buy a box of 9mm Blazer ammo for about $13 now so those prices are only cheap if you compare them to today dollars.

That is probably the most interesting specimen pictured.
That WAS the cheap stuff of the day.
Somewhere along the line that cartridge's price fell through the floor to become the most cost effective centerfire on the shelf.

 

[llowry61]

I remember the low prices, but I shot all my ammo back then so no old boxes. I Bought what I was going to shoot mostly shotgun shells. I remember when steel came out and a box of three inch magnums went up to about 10 bucks a box.

 

[Claymore33]

And Model 27 was $375.00 in 1982

 

[reddog81]

Is the box of 44 Mag $7.99 or $17.99? If $7.99, that’s the most surprising to me. Now those are pushing $50 or more for a box.

 

[GypsmJim]

I will put in my 2 cents, I have a old CCI 22 Mini Mag 100 box, and a CCI 22 Stinger 50 box, with the orange K-Mart stickers on them, $1.99, the Stingers $1.49, not sure, I think from the early 70's, did not hunt or shoot for years, just worked to many hours for years, just checked, I shot those up, still worked great that old, no mis-fires, have been using those boxes for new 22 ammo, wore the stickers off, bought a new M617 a few months ago, for target shooting, nothing like weighting over 50 years to get good with a handgun, was pretty good with a rifle or shotgun back in the 60's and 70's.. that was a long boring story ..

In 1970-71 most every Friday after work and on the way to the range I would stop at KMart and buy a 100 CCI Mini-mags (in the amber plastic box) for 99 cents. I saved every box. Now I
shoot Federal Bulk and have enough boxes for over 5 bricks.