[Afy]

habbit being affected by this economy?

I for one am not buying stuff... have even put off the the neck turner. Will live with plain old sub MoA until things improve.

I am also looking out for bargains... there is a ton os stuff people are disposing off here in Fr.

[qajaq59]

No, I can't say it has been affected yet. But the prices have really gone up so I'm sure it will eventually..

[moooose102]

sure, i am on a fixed income. so when the prices go up, i have less money to play with.

[Strongbad]

Mine have, dramatically. I'd say that conservatively I used to go shoot about 20x a year. Every weekend almost if not every other weekend. I've only been out a half dozen times maybe. It's not that I can't afford the range fees, it's that I can't afford the components. Even after getting rid of other bills, with the high cost of fuel etc. I still end up with less every month.

[Walkalong]

Of course. :)

[627PCFan]

The new wife has much more of an impact than the economy.

[mhillsing23]

Not really the economy, but I have cut back because our baby will be here in less than 2 months and my wife quite working. Going on one income has put a pinch in my reloading/shooting budget, but I still have enough for the basics.

[supham]

Its helping my gun collection. I bought two new guns from the pawn shop in the last 3 months.

[sargenv]

Um, yes and no.. I have plenty of supplies to keep me in bullets for a little while. I've chosen not to be at the range as often mostly due to burnout and hunting season that is currently upon me (duck season). I intend to start practicing and shooting regularly by the end of January.

I did want to get a case of Montana gold 9mm 115's recently but had to cancel my "order" due to several expensive outlays that need to happen first those being: A/C compressor on my vehicle, both vehicles we own need brakes, and wife needs to get a new piece of "durable medical equipment" for her sleep apnea. Insurance unfortunately does not cover it :(

[YodaVader]

You bet , not long ago I was planning on buying a .308 rifle again for use at long range target. The prices of the .308 Sierra match bullets were so high I said the hec with that and will just stick to my .223s - which are no longer cheap to reload , at least with match components - but less painful to my bank account than the .308 would have been. I simply find myself with far less disposable income in the last few years.

My most fired gun in that time has probably been my 22lr Ruger Single Six.

[Afy]

I need to get my wife outfitted for serious compitition... and am having trouble.
I will cut down elsewhere to ensure she has what it requires...

[saskboy]

Store bought ammo is so expensive now so I started reloading, now I am shooting about ten times as much because its cheaper and fun to shoot again. Most of all is the accuracy im getting now too, wish i would of started reloading years ago. Just wondering what ammo prices are in the states, a box of the cheap winchester 300 WSM shells (20 of them) are $38 plus tax in canada now

[ants]

Is my reloading and shooting suffering because of the economy?

No, but I think the economy is suffering because I reload and shoot less.

In the last forty years, it seems like I single handedly kept the economy afloat with my habit of loading and shooting, then loading and shooting some more. I need some help, guys. I can't keep doing this alone...

[ArchAngelCD]

Yep, it's really hard to buy what you need to shoot when the prices keep rising.

[Remo-99]

yep +1

I've been working on cast bullet loads for some of my rifles because of the spirilling costs of manufactured bullets. I shoot hundreds of rounds per month and a reduction in a major cost of a reloading component helps me buy more of other components such as primers and powder, which are also increasing on what seems to be a monthly basis.

There are sometimes some super specials on items as outlets are having closing sales, but the sad truth of that will be seeing the outlets that remain in business, able to charge higher prices, with a lack of competing businesses.

[longtooth]

Economy is going to get worse, I think. That means I am stocking WAY up on components. They will not get any cheper & if this election goes puke on us they may get scarse or real expensive.

[04JRB]

Im in Michigan, and it is bad here right now. I havent done a lot of shooting or reloading in the last few months. I am all stocked up, but havent been motivated lately. The economy plays a part in the motivation equally as the costs that doubled since I started.
My wife and I having our first baby on the way has curbed it more than anything though. More things to do around the house, like setting up a nursery and painting.

[USSR]

Is your reloading and shooting.....

habbit being affected by this economy?

Nope. Bought my components when prices were low.

Don

[ArchAngelCD]

Reloading components and equipment are probably the best choice for everyone's Christmas list this year. I usually leave a list laying around so my wife can tell my 3 grown and working son's what would make a good gift for their good-ol-dad... :p

[ADKWOODSMAN]

I'm retired but the wife works. You should all try this, it really works.

I have been purchasing my cast .357,.44.& 45 bullets. I am now looking for molds and am dusting off the old casting stuff.

I have stockpiled lead, linotype and related for years.

[Crazy Fingers]

The odd part is that as the economy was going in the toilet, the prices of commodities were going up. This is because the rich folks, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, etc. knew what was happening and moved their money to a safer place, such as oil, copper, gold, lead, corn, etc. They knew that you would, in the short term, keep buying these products as demand is inelastic.

Now it's been a couple years and the demand has had time to fall. They are running scared and selling EVERYTHING just to hold the cash. At this point, the ammunition and component manufacturers are setting on lead, copper, and zinc that they paid too much for. They don't want to lose money on the it (although they loved to make money by marking up components they bought for cheap.) So now we need to force them to mark it down by not buying it at the higher price. The lack of demand must drive down the price of the finished product in the same way that it drove down the raw material cost.

Fortunately, ammunition and component prices have come down some, and I suspect they will continue to do so. However, they will come down faster if you REFUSE to pay outlandish prices. For example, lead shot is still ridiculously high at $40 a bag, even though spot lead is at 54 cents a pound. Historically, this should translate to a $20 bag of shot. Copper has recently lost 50% of its value and is now trading around $1.85/pound. Yet copper bullets are still high as ever.

Don't buy it until it sells for what it should sell for.

[The Bushmaster]

NO...Reloading components and food are a necessity in this house.

[308sc]

NO...Reloading components and food are a necessity in this house.

hahah....It has not affected me as the price of components around here has not gone up or down, but I have not checked in awhile. Maybe I need to stock up now.

[Galil5.56]

No, not for cast pistol/rifle loads at least. I have a shooting range in my back yard with an earthen berm, and I recycle cast bullets taken from it and of course I keep all my brass. Still using primers I got for $14/1000, and bulk powder bought at $10/lb... Still cranking out 9mm, 45 auto and 44 mag for less than $2/50. My cast bullet loads for 30 cal rifle are the same cost, and a bit more if using gas checks.

Even with today's costs for primers and propellant, it would only add a little bit more spread over the total cost for me. Now if I shot jacketed bullets only and had to buy lots of brass, then yes, I would probably cut back a bit.

[tiger rag]

I can't buy any new toys now . But fotunatley I have plenty of supplies and equipment to keep me entertained.

[XD-40 Shooter]

It hasn't really affected me, as I have been stockpiling powder, primers, and bullets for my 40 S&W stash for quite awhile now. I've spread it out over time, so the cost doesn't hit me all at once. Even if they banned pistol ammo tomorrow, I'd be shooting my 40 for about 3 years.:D

[1858rem]

ya know what makes saving lead real easy..... make a mold or use a pie pan and cast a big 2-4 inch thick slab just a bit bigger than your targets and shoot that. it absorbs/catches the lead so you lose none and after once firing your store bought lead you now have free lead!:neener:

[evan price]

It has meant that I don't dare go crazy because money spent today may not be available tomorrow. I've been stocking up on basics and spent this year trimming my inventory down to only a few types of powder, a certain type of bullet for each caliber, etc.
I found that experimenting (buying 500 of these bullets, a pound of that powder, etc) was eating up more than I realized of my budget. Once I standardized and settled on one 9mm bullet for example, I could buy in bulk and save the most- buying 5000 versus 500. Plus, when you change stuff you have to rework and recheck loadings- takes time, takes supplies. Stick to what works, spend less.

For example I discovered a 5# keg of 700-X for $60- normally, a good deal, but this time I was thinking, hey, I don't use 700-X and while it's good powder, I'd have to rework all my loads to use it properly...nevermind, spend money on powder I use normally.

Also scrap metal went in the toilet so my reloading budget is going down in flames. I budget my reloading mad money from what I get for selling scrap metal and reloading brass.

[jhansman]

Yes. I am at the reloading bench more, mostly to escape a reality that is to depressing to consider.