Time to stock up?

[Dave Lively]

I think it is.

I was hoping 9mm might get down to $240/case but haven't seen much movement in the price. At this point the problem is inflation, not prices jacked up by fear. Prices might decline a little but there is a better chance they will go way up.

The price of other calibers I shoot also seem to have bottomed out. A lot higher than they were 4 years ago but those days are gone forever.

It is possible to get slightly better prices by searching online and buying from new merchants and manufacturers but I prefer to stick with companies like sgammo, targetsports and Georgia Arms that have been around for years and have a consistently good track record. I will buy from Underwood on occasion but not in big quantities due to the price. Same goes for manufacturers. There are new companies making ammo, most of which is probably fine. But once again I prefer to stick with brands that have been around for a while.

I quit reloading because to me it had become a dreaded chore I avoided to the point it kept me from shooting. So I don't keep up with component prices anymore. But I suspect they are not going to be getting any cheaper either.

 

[DGNY]

Indeed, much to what you say. Although it was a hard lesson, I learned long ago, especially in respect of what many would call specialty items, that if you see it, and you need it, and you can afford it, buy it.

 

[CH4]

I am always in the stock up mode. Won’t pay the crazy prices, but searching for deals.

This week’s haul:

$180 for all of it

*All 357 mag - 38 +p are 50 rd boxes

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Many investment advisors suggest their clients follow the "dollar cost averaging" concept in long-term investing. Purchasing in increments over time (months or years) as prices fluctuate up and down. Assuming a beginning market value of $10 per increment that then fluctuates upward and downward between $6 and $15, one increment purchased at each dollar point, we now have 10 increments at a total cost of $105, or an average cost each at $10.50. If market price at the end of those periods is greater than $10.50 we are in a profit mode; if market value is lower than $10.50 then we have a loss.

Buy it cheap and stack it deep works nicely also!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Yes, overall price trends are up, not down.
If you see something you use and have the money, buy some.

 

[GypsmJim]

I don't buy ammo except for rimfire, so nothing to stock up with. The time to stock up rimfire has past. Availability now is good, and it doesn't look like the price will come down.

Primers are my only future need. I still have 2 years left. Availability is finally getting better, with a slight price decrease, so my guess is there WILL be a better time to buy. Current price is as low as $5.60 / 100, but there are limits.

 

[smoothshooter]

Buy as much as you can afford. Especially rimfire.
There will likely be a lot of social turmoil over the next 2 years regarding the elections and other issues. If so, ammo will dry up again, and prices will shoot back up.
Inflation is a major driver of price increases too.
$100 will buy you more ammo now than it will a year from now.

 

[rockquarry]

I seldom shoot factory ammo and usually keep only a minimal supply as I shoot handloads about 98% of the time. I try to shoot at least twice a week and often make that goal.

What has worked well for me, especially since the intermittent shortages began in the mid-'90s, is to stay about three years ahead on components. The recent unavailablity of components affected me little, though at one point I did have to trade large rifle primers for large pistol primers, but my shooting trips remained the same and I could shoot all I wanted. I hope to keep it that way during future shortage periods.

No need for fanatical stockpiling; that makes it tough on others. Buying when necessary is sufficient. The same applies for factory ammo. Just buy it and don't worry about the perpetual Internet ammo and component shortage threads. They're not productive.

 

[TheTinMan]

The 44th President taught me painful lessons. The COVID pandemic was even worse but I was mostly prepared.

Large rifle primers have been unobtainable for 3-1/2 years. Did I pay too much for the CCI #34 primers that just recently came on the market? At this point I don’t care - I have more now.

Anyone who doesn’t think those who want to disarm us won’t come after ammunition and reloading components sooner or later is misguided. It’s only a matter of time.

 

[tlawler]

I voted yes. While I don’t really “stock up” per se, I do take every opportunity to add to my reloading supplies when the price is right. Just yesterday I bought several hundred once fired 10mm cases that included 500 Starline and a couple hundred mixed, mostly Winchester, for $60. It also included eight plastic MTM 50 round ammo cases. I’ve been able to keep my primer stock up at $.08 per…I know, I know…it seems like too much for long time reloaders, but it’s just a sign of the times. I’ve been reloading just long enough to remember the $.02 primers. Back in ‘18 I bought several thousand (I think it was 30-35K) from a retired LEO who was selling them for his former partners widow. He had a small walk-in closet that was packed floor to ceiling with cases of primers. Oh, for a crystal ball…I would have taken out a second mortgage and snagged them all if I had known then what I know now.

 

[Rudi]

Yep, always on the list.

 

[max503]

I don't buy ammo except for rimfire, so nothing to stock up with. The time to stock up rimfire has past. Availability now is good, and it doesn't look like the price will come down.

Primers are my only future need. I still have 2 years left. Availability is finally getting better, with a slight price decrease, so my guess is there WILL be a better time to buy. Current price is as low as $5.60 / 100, but there are limits.

This is me. I plan to buy more primers next time I see some on the shelf. Even if they are a bit high.

I don't see anything coming down much in our present political climate, and I've been around long enough to know that that is the driver of prices and availability.

 

[kamloops67]

Always stock up when it’s available
When it’s cheap buy all you can
When it’s expensive but available buy what you can to replace what you use
There may come a day that you can’t buy anything . Period .
This is coming from a Canadian , we know all too well what a mess our governments can make

 

[trapshooter870]

My LGS is selling Fiocchi 115gr FMJ for $240 per 1000 rnd case. No limit.

 

[serger]

After living thru the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act
and it's weapons/magazine availability impact, "I" decided not to let the unavailability
of items to ever (EVER!) impact me like that time did. (Billy Jeff is not my friend).

Since then, I make sure the minimum amount of gear and expendables is always kept.
If I luck into a good deal I might get more. When primers came back I started buying.
Same with powder. I am well aware they cost more than a few years ago but it's better
to have it in hand.

Or put it this way, how much do you trust any of the clowns out of your immediate
circle of family and friends to have your best interests at heart? Choose wisely.......

 

[robrossk]

Prices so seem to have bottomed out. With the exception of 22LR, I have not bought any retail store or online ammo for a couple years. I have though made a lot of buys from private sellers. My last buy a week ago was 500 rounds of 20 gauge at $8 per box. I am always looking for deals.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I think it is.

I was hoping 9mm might get down to $240/case but haven't seen much movement in the price. At this point the problem is inflation, not prices jacked up by fear. Prices might decline a little but there is a better chance they will go way up.

The price of other calibers I shoot also seem to have bottomed out. A lot higher than they were 4 years ago but those days are gone forever.

It is possible to get slightly better prices by searching online and buying from new merchants and manufacturers but I prefer to stick with companies like sgammo, targetsports and Georgia Arms that have been around for years and have a consistently good track record. I will buy from Underwood on occasion but not in big quantities due to the price. Same goes for manufacturers. There are new companies making ammo, most of which is probably fine. But once again I prefer to stick with brands that have been around for a while.

I quit reloading because to me it had become a dreaded chore I avoided to the point it kept me from shooting. So I don't keep up with component prices anymore. But I suspect they are not going to be getting any cheaper either.

I STAY stocked up.........The lows of the past haven't affected me in the least. Plus I reload everything but .22LR. I cast bullets and pour my own #8 shot...........Iffen you plan to stay in this game. History has shown you need to stay stocked up..

 

[The Preacher]

The time to stock up was years ago....That being said, Yep, there are some deals out there now and if you find them "stock-up". And I don't mean a few hundred.

 

[Rpg]

My view has always been to buy ammo and components when I see them at a price I’m willing to pay. I’m not going to run out of ammo anytime soon, so I’m in no rush to buy more.

Over time, I’ve ended up with plenty of ammunition on hand.

I don’t shoot the extraordinary amounts of ammunition I sometimes see folks here describe shooting on a range trip.

Some folks seem to think shooting less than hundreds of rounds per trip is a waste of gas. I’m not interested in that kind of shooting (nor am I interested in being at a range with that kind of shooter).

I focus on skill development and retention, not just making noise at the range.

 

[rockquarry]

My view has always been to buy ammo and components when I see them at a price I’m willing to pay. I’m not going to run out of ammo anytime soon, so I’m in no rush to buy more.

Over time, I’ve ended up with plenty of ammunition on hand.

I don’t shoot the extraordinary amounts of ammunition I sometimes see folks here describe shooting on a range trip.

Some folks seem to think shooting less than hundreds of rounds per trip is a waste of gas. I’m not interested in that kind of shooting (nor am I interested in being at a range with that kind of shooter).

I focus on skill development and retention, not just making noise at the range.

I'm with you on developing skills. Regrettably, many seem to have no interest in such. I feel like I shoot a lot, but maybe I don't in comparison with others.

With handguns, any handguns, I become sufficiently fatigued after an hour of shooting. I can easily see this on my targets as group sizes enlarge. At that point, it's time to go home rather than waste ammo.

It's a bit different with rifles shooting from a benchrest. Fatigue doesn't set in nearly as quickly, but I fire far fewer rounds than with handguns. I can easily spend two hours or maybe a little more on the rifle range.

With handguns, I just try to make a lot of trips.