Russian Ammo BANNED

[Bullet Bob]

"(the Hornady was an early buy, before I knew better). "
______________________________________________

I'll apologize in advance for the thread drift, but what was, or is, wrong with Hornady steel cased ammo?

 

[scoobysnacker]

Too bad that the government has done that. I do not use any Russian ammo for it does not affect me.

Saying it does not affect you- that may not be entirely accurate.

Steel-cased ammo is often the cheapest complete ammo. If you remove that option, then those who chose to shoot the cheap stuff now face one of several alternatives;

1. Buy the new cheapest ammo. Depending on caliber, this may be another import, or it may well be an American brass brand. If you happen to shoot one of these brands, you now face competition for that
2. perhaps you do the math, and decide it is time to reload. For this, you need components; including primers and powder. If you reload already, there's now a good chance you will face increased competition for those components. And it's not like they're piled up on shelves, waiting for anyone who needs them

This isn't a small category of shooters, the number tossed around is something like 40% of the buying total.

 

[AJ]

Saying it does not affect you- that may not be entirely accurate.

Steel-cased ammo is often the cheapest complete ammo. If you remove that option, then those who chose to shoot the cheap stuff now face one of several alternatives;

1. Buy the new cheapest ammo. Depending on caliber, this may be another import, or it may well be an American brass brand. If you happen to shoot one of these brands, you now face competition for that
2. perhaps you do the math, and decide it is time to reload. For this, you need components; including primers and powder. If you reload already, there's now a good chance you will face increased competition for those components. And it's not like they're piled up on shelves, waiting for anyone who needs them

This isn't a small category of shooters, the number tossed around is something like 40% of the buying total.

I have felt bad for those that did not have the forethought or the funds to stock up when things were reasonable. I still shoot three days a week with my friends. Hopefully we all outlive our ammo components and have to resort to buying some in the future.

I see a lot of ammo nowadays from former Communist Block countries. I have a feeling these will help to fill the gap left by Russia.

 

[Rodan]

Every shooter in the US is going to feel the repercussions of this in the availability and price of the ammo they do shoot, because demand will remain the same with a smaller supply. Manufacturers will need to spend more time making the popular calibers, so the niche calibers will be harder to get. Increased production will affect reloading component price and availability.

 

[RCL-09]

The "I don't care" and similar attitudes helps the anti 2nd crowd.

 

[Grayfox]

I've only used the steel case stuff once. Years ago I bought some Wolf .30 Carbine ammo because it was cheap. That **** broke the extractor in my M1 Carbine not once, but twice! The first time I thought it was just a fluke. The second time I knew it was the ammo. I've never had any problems at all with brass cased ammo.
I haven't used any steel case ammo since.

While I do reload just about every caliber I shoot, I do see how this is going to effect me. In an already tight ammo/component market, this is just gonna make matters much worse.

Ain't it funny how the items .gov wants to ban fit right in with their anti-gun agenda?

 

[pharmer]

Regardless of the "reality" of Russian ammo, I find it ironic the . Gov will punish them by hurting Americans. Sad really. Joe

 

[luvsmiths]

Wait'll they start throwing a sin tax on it, like they did with cigarettes. couple bucks a pack to over 10 bucks. 500% minimum increase.
That would make that 10 dollar box of nine, just slightly higher.

And again..... NOT ALL RUSSIAN AMMO IS STEEL.

Wolf Gold is all Brass, for instance.

And some incredibly good stuff.

 

[RCL-09]

I have shot so much russian ammo in so many calibers and cannot say it was, reliability wise, any different from any other ammo. In particular the 9mm which I use in my SMGs.

 

[rockquarry]

Several years ago when I became interested in ARs, I bought samples of about eight or ten bulk, cheap ammos. All shot poorly from an accuracy perspective in comparison with match ammo or well-developed handloads.

I've stuck with my own accurate handloads without regret. I'd do without if I had to use any of the the cheap commercial ammo regardless of where it comes from. It's money well spent only if your interest in accuracy is very secondary.

 

[AJ]

The "I don't care" and similar attitudes helps the anti 2nd crowd.

I did not write that I did not care. I do not use Russian ammo as I consider it junk. For those that do use it, then this ban is a very large problem. I shoot the best ammo that I can make. At the rate I shoot I should be able to last about 10 years or so. The same for rimfire. Remember I shoot three day a week. Like I wrote I feel bad for those that did not have the forethought or the funds to lay in a goodly supply.

At some point the prices are going to come down. The buying at the panic prices of the last year can not last, unless folks are stupider than I think (though sometimes I wonder). Folks have just got to get some sense in their heads. All the ammo companies are doing is laughing at the public because of the profits they are giving these companies.

I worry more about what the government is going to do or try to do to the public that buys firearms and ammunition (legally). That is what we should be more concerned with. the giving away of handouts to the folks on the "public dole" and the illegals is what I am truly worried about.

 

[AJ]

Several years ago when I became interested in ARs, I bought samples of about eight or ten bulk, cheap ammos. All shot poorly from an accuracy perspective in comparison with match ammo or well-developed handloads.

I've stuck with my own accurate handloads without regret. I'd do without if I had to use any of the the cheap commercial ammo regardless of where it comes from. It's money well spent only if your interest in accuracy is very secondary.

There are lots of folks that just come out and blast away. No real thought as to accuracy is in their heads. At our county range this is evidenced by all the holes in the target carriages, overheads, baffles and even the benches. Their targets look like swiss cheese and their weapons handling is not much better than the Taliban. Good thing we have at least two range officers on each line trying to keep it safe.

 

[RCL-09]

To paraphrase Pastor Niemöller...

First they banned Russian ammo, and I did not speak out—because I don't shoot Russian ammo.

Then they banned "assault rifles", and I did not speak out— because I don't own "assault rifles"

Then they banned small concealable handguns (pocket rockets), and I did not speak out—because don't carry a firearm.

Then they came to bann my firearms-and there was no one left to speak for me.

Little by little, chip by chip, inch by inch, they are looking to end the 2nd. If we only fight for what we "like" we are giving them and easier path.

 

[RCL-09]

I did not write that I did not care. I do not use Russian ammo as I consider it junk. For those that do use it, then this ban is a very large problem. I shoot the best ammo that I can make. At the rate I shoot I should be able to last about 10 years or so. The same for rimfire. Remember I shoot three day a week. Like I wrote I feel bad for those that did not have the forethought or the funds to lay in a goodly supply.

At some point the prices are going to come down. The buying at the panic prices of the last year can not last, unless folks are stupider than I think (though sometimes I wonder). Folks have just got to get some sense in their heads. All the ammo companies are doing is laughing at the public because of the profits they are giving these companies.

I worry more about what the government is going to do or try to do to the public that buys firearms and ammunition (legally). That is what we should be more concerned with. the giving away of handouts to the folks on the "public dole" and the illegals is what I am truly worried about.

I mentioned no one in my post.

 

[Oracle]

I have been tempted to buy the Russian steel case ammo during this latest ammo drought. Quality control distrust has kept me from running their less expensive ammo through my much more expensive guns.
The major impact of this ban is going to fall upon the shoulders of the American citizens who either don't share my QC distrust or who simply buy the most affordable ammo for whatever reasons. Another impact could very well be manufacturers taking advantage of the reduced choices market to maximize their profit margins.
The reloading sectors will be seeing increased rookie reloader purchases and increased purchases from veteran reloaders.

 

[AJ]

I have been tempted to buy the Russian steel case ammo during this latest ammo drought. Quality control distrust has kept me from running their less expensive ammo through my much more expensive guns.
The major impact of this ban is going to fall upon the shoulders of the American citizens who either don't share my QC distrust or who simply buy the most affordable ammo for whatever reasons. Another impact could very well be manufacturers taking advantage of the reduced choices market to maximize their profit margins.
The reloading sectors will be seeing increased rookie reloader purchases and increased purchases from veteran reloaders.

Chief,

I have to agree with you. The only ones I see losing in this whole deal is the end consumer (read us). The manufacturers, distributors and the store owners (Mom & Pop or Big Box), they all will make a bigger profit.

I do worry about loosing places to shoot. The lack of shooting public is liable to cause ranges to close. Our local range has 160,000 registered users (maybe a quarter of those actually use the range yearly). But where I use to see 50 or so a day, I now see less that 20.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Personally, if this is true, I consider it good news!

Every range that I know of that allows either public access or unsupervised member access is littered with the worthless steel cases from this junk.
I am sure there are safe and responsible shooters, like the OP, who use the Russian stuff for fun.
But, it seems that anytime somebody sneaks an old TV, computer, or other household item onto the range to shoot up, there's a pile of those Russian steel cases that are left behind as well.
Countless times I've seen guys show up, blast through 100 rds or so of this Russian stuff, then quickly grab their stuff and drive off, leaving quite the mess in their wake.
In these parts, there have been a number of range closures due to the immense amount of litter and destruction, in no small part involving voluminous quantities of fired Russian steel cases (not to mention a lot of misfires from defects!).
I make an effort to clean up after these slobs, so it doesn't get out of hand, or get more ranges shut down.
Again, I'm sure there's "good guys" that like this stuff.
But, if this ban puts the kibosh on the slobs, then all I have to say is:
Good riddance!

I shoot at an unsupervised private rang. Probably 2x steel case goes into the buckets as brass. That was before the election and covid. Now there's no brass but still plenty of steel case. Lots of it never gets picked up by the slobs that shoot it. It's usually the work parties that have to clean it up.

 

[surfgun]

Yet Biden enabled the Russians to sell as much Natural Gas to the Germans as they will take. This will finance the Russian War Machine much more than allowing Americans to buy ammunition for their Eastern Block weapons.

 

[AJ]

I shoot at an unsupervised private rang. Probably 2x steel case goes into the buckets as brass. That was before the election and covid. Now there's no brass but still plenty of steel case. Lots of it never gets picked up by the slobs that shoot it. It's usually the work parties that have to clean it up.

Tell them to get a rolling magnet like roofers use for picking up roofing nails. Our range uses the heck out of the couple that they have. They use them in front of the shooting bench's and behind the bench's for sitting on behind the lines. All other brass/steel cases in between are the responsibility of the shooter. One or two passes usually gets all the steel cases. Been used to find missing gun parts too!

 

[glenwolde]

Knowing the Russians they'll just export it somewhere else and repackage it. Probably one of the 'stans.