Ammo $$ going up??

[TractorLegend]

It seems in the greater Seattle/ Tacoma area we are seeing shortages of bulk South African .308 and pretty much all ammo prices are going thru the roof and shelves bare of lesser cost stuff.
Some gun dealers think its a government conspiracy to get us to quit shooting.
I'm not sure how the gov't can manipulate ammo prices?
Cheapest box of 20 at Sportsman Warehouse was 13.99
Federal Way gun was 8.99 for Sellier and Belot- so I got some of that.
Do you people use mail order for ammo?
Thought maybe theres some places I am unawares of.

 

[Podunkadunk]

I hear you! I have a Remington Model 700 5R Milspec .308 caliber. I recently ordered (online) 6 boxes of Federal Premium Gold Sierra Matchking Boattail Hollow Points in 175 grain for shooting paper. They were 33.00 a box of 20!

I used The Trophy Bonded Bear Claws 168 grain for shooting the deer around here, they were 28.00 a box of 20.

Of course, these are "tack driving" boxes of ammo.

It's outrageous. I often wonder if it would be cheaper to reload. (?)

I order all my ammo online these days. It's more economical, shipping is cheap and I live so far out in the boonies, it's worth it. There is cheaper ammo out there I could shoot, but won't.

 

[DieselPower]

One reason I no longer buy loaded ammo and have been hand loading for years. It's more accurate, more powerful, tuned to each weapon it is fired from, cheaper and just fun to do.

 

[Ifixcars]

Hand loading prices are up too, lead is very pricey and I'm told it's going higher soon. I load my own shells for trap/skeet/sporting clays, and it's the lead prices that are driving my reload prices up. I saw a 20% jump this year in the cheap factory loaded shells that I also buy.

 

[Dozernut]

I heard a rumor that they (DNR) were going to mandate steel shot for field loads and lead would not be allowed. Has anyone else heard of this? If true ammo for shotguns will go up considerably more.

 

[DieselPower]

Lead, copper, brass, all metal prices seem to be on the rise. On the bright side, scrap metal prices are up to.

 

[gordon21]

9MM $8.00 for 50 target reloads at the local gun range. The brass stays on the floor for them to re-use.
22LR $8.95 for a Remington brick of 500 at a chain store Couple afternoons worth.
30-30 $13.00 for 20 at a chain store A years worth

The 9MM is important since we will shoot 6-10 boxes per month. That useage covers me and my wife.

 

[DieselPower]

9MM $8.00 for 50 target reloads at the local gun range. The brass stays on the floor for them to re-use.
22LR $8.95 for a Remington brick of 500 at a chain store Couple afternoons worth.
30-30 $13.00 for 20 at a chain store A years worth

The 9MM is important since we will shoot 6-10 boxes per month. That useage covers me and my wife.

Holy smokes Batman. That wouldn't even get me started for one day's shooting with the 30-30.

My last reloading supplies order from Black Hills Shooters Supply was:

Bullets
9mm Winchester 115 Gr. STHP 1000 ea. @ $107.50
270 Nosler 150 Gr. BT 50 ea. @ $13.38, ordered 400
338 Nosler 225 Gr. PAR 50 ea. @ $34.21, ordered 150
9mm Hornady 124 Gr. XTP 100 ea. @ $11.33 ordered 500
38-357 Hornady 140 Gr. XTP W/C 100 ea. @ $12.09 ordered 500
.17 Hornady 25 Gr. V-Max 100 ea. @ $12.67 ordered 300
6.5mm Hornady 129 Gr. SST 100 ea. @ $19.47 ordered 300
.30 Hornady 155 Gr. A-Max 100 ea. @ $19.98 ordered 200
.30 Hornady 180 Gr. BTSP W/C 100 ea. @ $18.69 ordered 200
416 Hornady 400 Gr. RN-IB W/C 50 ea. @ $45.55 ordered 150

Powder
Hodgdon Varget 8 lb. Keg $112.70
Hodgdon H4350 1 lb. Can $16.61 ordered 2
Hodgdon H110 1 lb. Can $14.82 ordered 2
Hodgdon HP38 1 lb. Can $13.61 ordered 2
Norma MPR-2 1 lb. Can $22.61
IMR Trail Boss 5 lb. Keg $73.85
Accurate Nitro 100 12 oz. Can $12.27 ordered 2
Accurate MagPro 8 lb. Can $123.35

Brass
7.62 x 25 Tokarev Starline 1000 ea. @ $138.10
30 Carbine Remington 500 ea. @ $66.25
338 Win Mag Winchester 500 ea. @ $179.45
338 Lapua Mag Lapua 100 ea. @ $157.30
416 Rigby Norma 100 ea. @ $190.35

Already have enough primers to last me till next year probably.

This should be enough to keep me busy for a while. My next project is a enclosed heated shooting bench. The open air one is rather cold right now.

 

[gordon21]

Dieselpower: It looks as though you might be more than the occasional shooter. For my puny useage, I will gladly pay $0.16 per 9MM round. Yours are costing $0.1075 for the bullet alone, plus primer, powder and the time. That has got to come to at least $0.14 each.

A brick of 22's provide a ton of fun for me and guests visiting for under $10. Thats why I stay with cheap calibers. It allows to you shoot as much as you want cheaply.

Aren't most reloaders are looking for extra accuracy and not savings??

I'm puzzled by your 30-30 comment. One box of 20 lets you sight the gun in in the fall, fire ten practice rounds and still leave enough ammo to bring home 5-8 deer...................

 

[DieselPower]

"Aren't most reloaders are looking for extra accuracy and not savings??"

True, but I can still make ammunition that is more accurate for less by handloading. Besides, I just enjoy handloading. It's fun to be able to shoot what I load myself.

"I'm puzzled by your 30-30 comment. One box of 20 lets you sight the gun in in the fall, fire ten practice rounds and still leave enough ammo to bring home 5-8 deer..................."

Yeah but it doesn't do anything for my addiction with punching holes in paper.