Has 9 mm reached the new normal?

[kbm6893]

There is simply no way that the ammo manufacturers did not maintain a very safe profit margin during the so called pandemic.

They made a killing. And the videos they made saying they’re running 24/7 were nonsense. Two and a half years into this. Their profits have never been higher, even when you factor in the higher cost of business. And now that things are stabilizing as far as availability, they’re gonna charge double what they used to because they know people will pay it. They’re laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[kbm6893]

Hopefully a lot more people geared up to reload during China Virus, so demand for new ammo may be dented.

If they were stupid enough to buy equipment when components weren’t available then they’ll go right back to buying factory. I’ve advised several people not to get into reloading until components become available.

 

[Racer X]

It is cheap, but the user reviews are not very good.

$100 of the price is just the primers!!!!!

 

[BC38]

I hadn't bothered to reload 9mm for years because it was so cheap it just wasn't worth reloading. At least not for FMJ. The current 9mm price is so high it would have been worth it to reload. Unfortunately, the cost of primers has gone so high that it's just barely worth reloading.

Yeah, unless you were of a mindset to reload 9mm BEFORE the current component shortage - and stocked up accordingly. I have everything I need to reload thousands of rounds of 9mm for a about ten cents apiece - but that's ONLY because I bought the components back when "it wasn't worth it to reload 9mm because factory ammo was so cheap". Personally, I've got no regrets about my investment...

 

[9mmPatriot]

I struggle with estimating the cost. Should I use the pre-Covid cost that I paid for the components or should I use the current value of the components?


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All of my supplies were purchased post-pandemic. Earlier purchases were less than the current prices and I'm dreading the prices I'll encounter when I use up my current meager supply.

 

[pittpa]

Yeah, unless you were of a mindset to reload 9mm BEFORE the current component shortage - and stocked up accordingly. I have everything I need to reload thousands of rounds of 9mm for a about ten cents apiece - but that's ONLY because I bought the components back when "it wasn't worth it to reload 9mm because factory ammo was so cheap". Personally, I've got no regrets about my investment...

I did the same thing before the shortage because I was cheap. But at $.17 around and getting once fired brass after I used it it wasn’t worth it to me to reload.


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[Paul in Nevada]

There is simply no way that the ammo manufacturers did not maintain a very safe profit margin during the so called pandemic.

Well, these are businesses, not charities. One lesson we all should learn from the last few years is the danger of consolidation. There are only a few domestic ammo/component manufacturers now. They don't need to undercut each other.
I have said it before on these forums but I also believe the manufacturers are looking ahead to a time where their customers are exclusively government agencies and not civilians. It costs $6 to shoot a 17rd 9mm magazine at the range. We have a lot of new gun owners lately and a lot of panic buying of ammo but I don't think that's sustainable. I know people who used to shoot 200 rounds a week. That's $70. They don't shoot any more. They aren't taking their kids shooting. And if those kids aren't learning to shoot, they probably won't be pro-gun voters, either.

 

[BC38]

I did the same thing before the shortage because I was cheap. But at $.17 around and getting once fired brass after I used it it wasn’t worth it to me to reload.


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WASN'T then - but how 'bout now?

The last 9mm I bought was 11 cents a round - a Remington Range Bucket. At the time I figured it cost me 9-10 cents a round to load it myself, so the juice wasn't worth the squeeze as they say.

BUT, I still have all those components and can load as much as I like and what I spent on them hasn't changed. I calculate my cost based on what I paid - not on the current prices, 'cause I didn't pay current prices, and have enough that I will never need to. I'll never use up what I have in my lifetime, short of a zombie apocalypse or our society completely breaking down into total anarchy.

 

[drumminor2nd]

They made a killing. And the videos they made saying they’re running 24/7 were nonsense. Two and a half years into this. Their profits have never been higher, even when you factor in the higher cost of business. And now that things are stabilizing as far as availability, they’re gonna charge double what they used to because they know people will pay it. They’re laughing all the way to the bank.

Vista Outdoor, home of Federal/CCI/Speer/Remington/etc., had a profit margin of 15.7%. Olin Corp. (Winchester) is 16.13%.

Your local grocery store and Walmart? About 1.5%.

 

[9mmPatriot]

To be clear, I'm not against anyone making a profit. I'm just disgusted by how long it's taking to see prices return to (what I feel) are reasonable levels.

 

[AlHunt]

I struggle with estimating the cost. Should I use the pre-Covid cost that I paid for the components or should I use the current value of the components?


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Unless you're in that narrow window of life where you don't expect to outlast your ammo/component supply, use the replacement cost.

 

[kbm6893]

To be clear, I'm not against anyone making a profit. I'm just disgusted by how long it's taking to see prices return to (what I feel) are reasonable levels.

Neither am I. I am aware the days of $35 bricks are gone. But $100? Come on! And it’s not about customers paying it so it continues. There is no stock on the shelves. Maybe if you have a big box store like Cabelas or Bass Pro near you, you can sometimes find some. The three local shops I used to buy from have zero. Nothing. It’s not about hoarders buying them up when they arrive. They never get to the shops. It’s all going to loaded ammo? Where’s the shortage of that now? Ammo is everywhere. Higher priced, but it’s there.

Either they’re holding back production or shipment to inflate the price, or they’re using the primers for loaded ammo so they can charge more, but there is no doubt the market is being manipulated to maximize their profits to screw the consumer. If they’re using all the primers to make loaded ammo, there should be so much of it that the price should fall. Yet it’s not. 9MM is double what it was three years ago. If and when this settles, the new normal
Will be $75 a brick. More than double what it used to be.