Why is ammo still so much more expensive?

[Doug.38PR]

I know Obama did some things to affect prices with regulations on shipping an manufaxturing and, of course, the big ammo rush from a few years ago when gun rigts were threatened.
But i was just online window shopping and the big three (winchester, remington and federal) have ammo that is anywhere from .75 to $1.10 a round. I remember when such was limited to stuff like Buffalo Bore. Those companies used to be more like .15-30 cents a round.

I’m so glad I got into reloading years ago. Pays for itself mire and more each year. But for defense ammo...it’s ridiculous. You’d think under a “conservative” house/senate/white house things would reverse

 

[DWalt]

Good salesmaship. Everyone is looking for a cartridge which is as lethal as a mini-nuclear weapon, believes all the advertising, and is willing to pay whatever the price. Seems that at every SHOT show there is a new crop of (expensive) ammunition using much nastier-performing bullets and everyone simply must have some. Anyone seen those bullets which have little scoops on the nose which will turn a BG's guts into the consistency of whipped cream? Gottahavesome!! So what if they are $2 each.

 

[apollo99]

While the ammo makers can and do manipulate prices, the high prices of the raw materials comes into play, raw copper is high, brass is high. no getting around the prices of raw materials.

 

[Doug.38PR]

Good salesmaship. Everyone is looking for a cartridge which is as lethal as a mini-nuclear weapon, believes all the advertising, and is willing to pay whatever the price. Seems that at every SHOT show there is a new crop of (expensive) ammunition using much nastier-performing bullets and everyone simply must have some. Anyone seen those bullets which have little scoops on the nose which will turn a BG's guts into the consistency of whipped cream? Gottahavesome!! So what if they are $2 each.

Actually, I’m not talking about any new super bullet that blows up cars and makes heads explode.

I’m talking about tried and true rounds from said companies that have been arond for a half a century. Such as:.38 Spl in LRN, LHP IN 158 gr or 125 gr SJHP scalloped bullets or .357 Magnum 125 gr SJHP scalloped bullets or 180 gr.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Inflation?

They raised the prices when materials were scarce and now they are keeping those prices?

Pick one, or both...........

 

[italiansport]

IMO:There's no good reason for regular shooters to pay for factory ammo such as the 38spl. It's easy to reload and will cost about half of the factory fodder.
Jim

 

[Not Getting Any Younger]

Inflation?

They raised the prices when materials were scarce and now they are keeping those prices?

Pick one, or both...........

Just as gas prices go up when it is summer, ammo has learned what the market will tolerate.

I also think the increase in raw materials costs are a factor.

 

[MichiganScott]

Besides the increase in raw materials, I kinda suspect the ammo companies found what the wholesalers were willing to pay during the shortage years. They found no reason to reduce their margins back to the razor thinness that they were operating at prior to the shortages, just back far enough to balance supply with demand. Business is all about profit.

 

[Laketime]

Shooters did it to themselves by buying in hoards at scalpers prices . They saw we were willing to do now we have to live with it.

 

[HKSmith]

I don't agree that ammo prices are high. Current ammo prices are close to the lowest they've been in many years. Some current examples:

.38 Special 158 grain LRN - 0.23 per round
9 mm 115 grain FMJ - 0.18 per round
.45 ACP 230 grain FMJ - 0.26 per round

These are bulk prices from several online vendors. Even many of the high price self defense rounds are available in 50 round boxes at 0.50 - 0.60 per round.

Lead prices are about $1.06 per pound now and have been between 0.91 and 1.21 in the past year. The cost of the lead in a box of .38 Special ammo is about $1.20, or about 10% of the cost, so small changes in lead prices don't have a big effect on ammo prices. It costs much more to produce, market, and ship ammo than the cost of the raw materials.

If I take the long view, when I started shooting in 1964 a box of 9 mm hardball was $4.75. Adjusting for inflation that would be more than $34 in todays dollars, but you can get the same ammo for $9.00 now. We're actually living in the Golden Age of ammo prices now.

 

[cybermgk]

I don't agree that ammo prices are high. Current ammo prices are close to the lowest they've been in many years. Some current examples:

.38 Special 158 grain LRN - 0.23 per round
9 mm 115 grain FMJ - 0.18 per round
.45 ACP 230 grain FMJ - 0.26 per round

These are bulk prices from several online vendors. Even many of the high price self defense rounds are available in 50 round boxes at 0.50 - 0.60 per round.

Lead prices are about $1.06 per pound now and have been between 0.91 and 1.21 in the past year. The cost of the lead in a box of .38 Special ammo is about $1.20, or about 10% of the cost, so small changes in lead prices don't have a big effect on ammo prices. It costs much more to produce, market, and ship ammo than the cost of the raw materials.

If I take the long view, when I started shooting in 1964 a box of 9 mm hardball was $4.75. Adjusting for inflation that would be more than $34 in todays dollars, but you can get the same ammo for $9.00 now. We're actually living in the Golden Age of ammo prices now.

That's my experience as well.

 

[Not Getting Any Younger]

I don't agree that ammo prices are high. Current ammo prices are close to the lowest they've been in many years. ...

...

.... We're actually living in the Golden Age of ammo prices now.

My problem is that I shoot more now than I ever used to!
(Good thing I reload!)

 

[Steve912]

Federal green-tip 5.56 is going for $300/1K; I
can recall maybe five years ago, you couldn't
find the cheapest Tula or Wolf 5.56 for under
$325/1K.

 

[Doug.38PR]

I don't agree that ammo prices are high. Current ammo prices are close to the lowest they've been in many years. Some current examples:

.38 Special 158 grain LRN - 0.23 per round
9 mm 115 grain FMJ - 0.18 per round
.45 ACP 230 grain FMJ - 0.26 per round

These are bulk prices from several online vendors. Even many of the high price self defense rounds are available in 50 round boxes at 0.50 - 0.60 per round.

Lead prices are about $1.06 per pound now and have been between 0.91 and 1.21 in the past year. The cost of the lead in a box of .38 Special ammo is about $1.20, or about 10% of the cost, so small changes in lead prices don't have a big effect on ammo prices. It costs much more to produce, market, and ship ammo than the cost of the raw materials.

If I take the long view, when I started shooting in 1964 a box of 9 mm hardball was $4.75. Adjusting for inflation that would be more than $34 in todays dollars, but you can get the same ammo for $9.00 now. We're actually living in the Golden Age of ammo prices now.

I know there are a lot of Joe Blow’s Garage Ammo compaines in America or Chef Boy’R D Fettuchinni compaines in Europr out there now that produce dirt cheap ammo on cheaperthandirt and midway. But I’m talking about the above said American companies that have been known for 150 years

 

[500SNW]

Good salesmaship. Everyone is looking for a cartridge which is as lethal as a mini-nuclear weapon, believes all the advertising, and is willing to pay whatever the price. Seems that at every SHOT show there is a new crop of (expensive) ammunition using much nastier-performing bullets and everyone simply must have some. Anyone seen those bullets which have little scoops on the nose which will turn a BG's guts into the consistency of whipped cream? Gottahavesome!! So what if they are $2 each.

Bullets are all the same. It's all a marketing technique. Just like CREST brand toothpaste nowdays comes in 31 flavors...and you can get "tartar control" and "extra whitening" and "sensitive tooth formula" and "breath freshener"...plus different combos of the above. Forty years ago the original CREST did all those functions...alone. Same story with today's bullets. A bullet is nothing more than a piece of lead of a specific weight and diameter traveling at high velocity. It's that simple. I'll put my cast bullets from my 50 year old Lyman mold up against anything the market has to offer today...and they'll perform as well or better than anything gimmicky like Lehigh Defense has to offer.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

Albeit prices are not the best at the moment, the question I have is, how often are people purchasing personal defense ammo?

I have one box, and that's it. Well, and one clip already loaded with said ammo (Federal Premium 124 Grain HST).
All other ammo is range ammo; 'cheapish'.

 

[500SNW]

Albeit prices are not the best at the moment, the question I have is, how often are people purchasing personal defense ammo? I have one box, and that's it. Well, and one clip already loaded with said ammo (Federal Premium 124 Grain HST). All other ammo is range ammo; 'cheapish'.

And that "cheapish" range ammo will do just fine if called upon for self-defense.

 

[HKSmith]

I know there are a lot of Joe Blow’s Garage Ammo compaines in America or Chef Boy’R D Fettuchinni compaines in Europr out there now that produce dirt cheap ammo on cheaperthandirt and midway. But I’m talking about the above said American companies that have been known for 150 years

I don't know anything about Garage Ammo or ammo from Pasta factories, but American made 9 mm ammo from Federal, Winchester, Speer, and CCI is currently being sold for $0.18-0.20 per round at SGAmmo. In the last few months I bought 2000 rounds of Winchester .45 ACP Service Grade from them for $0.23 per round. They also have Speer Gold Dots in boxes of 50 at $0.60 per round and Remington Golden Sabers at $0.36 per round. Other online vendors may have similar prices.

 

[oneounceload]

And some folks just don't understand business and economics........

This isn't 20 years ago

 

[cybermgk]

I know there are a lot of Joe Blow’s Garage Ammo compaines in America or Chef Boy’R D Fettuchinni compaines in Europr out there now that produce dirt cheap ammo on cheaperthandirt and midway. But I’m talking about the above said American companies that have been known for 150 years

Where are you looking online. I don't even pay the prices your talking about at the Range for those brands.

Right now at my primary site, I can get Remington, Federal and Winchester 38 spcl for $0.26 or less, .357 magnum for $0.39 or under. I can even get Sig Sauer (which is pricey) for that. Remington 45acp for $0.23. 9mm similar. You get the point.

The only think I pay $0.70 or more a round for is some of the higher level 30-06 etc.