ammo pricing question

[old lady new shooter]

Speer website has raised the price of .223 Gold Dot 55 gr from $25.99 a box in June (which was bad enough) to $28.99 without ever offering any for sale the past month or six weeks. It's still showing as "currently unavailable".

 

[Archer]

Seriously folks... if you find yourselves ready to hit “buy” on an $800 case of crap ammo, you’re not trying hard enough. I scored another 500 rounds of CCI 115 9MM training ammo from Brownells this morning for $0.23/round. If you’re a serious shooter you should be willing and able to use the tools out there to find what you need at reasonable prices. It’s not that hard, even now.

And if you aren’t making the effort, you’re playing right into the hands of the gougers.

 

[ilbob]

Seriously folks... if you find yourselves ready to hit “buy” on an $800 case of crap ammo, you’re not trying hard enough. I scored another 500 rounds of CCI 115 9MM training ammo from Brownells this morning for $0.23/round. If you’re a serious shooter you should be willing and able to use the tools out there to find what you need at reasonable prices. It’s not that hard, even now.

And if you aren’t making the effort, you’re playing right into the hands of the gougers.

Some people might feel their time is worth more than hunting around for less expensive ammo and are perfectly happy to pay what you are calling a gouger. It is not like the guy is forcing anyone to buy the ammo.

I don't see how this is any different than someone buying stuff cheap at garage sales and selling them for more on ebay.

 

[George P]

Speer website has raised the price of .223 Gold Dot 55 gr from $25.99 a box in June (which was bad enough) to $28.99 without ever offering any for sale the past month or six weeks. It's still showing as "currently unavailable".

Which means they have had an increase in their costs and need to cover that expense

 

[ilbob]

Which means they have had an increase in their costs and need to cover that expense

or just raised their prices because they can. i don't see anything really wrong with adjusting your prices to the market. I bet you won't complain any when they lower them.

 

[CapnMac]

There is a very human reflex to ascribe malice or avarice to pricing events--when they are not in the buyer's favor.
Perfectly normal and almost predictable.

High case prices deter case sales, which inflates supply (slightly) because a a perfectly natural response to high bulk pricing is to buy in smaller quantities.

Brand new buyers have no idea what "normal" prices are, that $40 for a box of 9x19 is unusual. They are only going to buy that one box, too. The 2-3 years, they may notice when a box is only $20, they may not.

If you are a person who already buys by the case, you are going to be more invested (NPI) in case pricing. If you suspect you are going to shoot a case off before, oh, December, you may make a weighted decision that $800 now is better than $900 later. And, it's all a dice roll, too. Case might be down to $400 by December, too.

Retail ammo is a "chain" too. The manufacturer sells to a distributor, the distributor sells to wholesaler/bulk retailer, and the retail shop is last in line. The manufacturer see nothing of the price increase. Neither does the distributor, either. The wholesaler, though is stuck having to pay a premium to the distributor, to answer all the retailer demands for product.

It's a double-edged sword for retailers, too. High prices can keep single boxes on the shelf, but they decrease custom from those fuming about "being gouged." And the retailer is stuck having to pay what the wholesaler has to demand, or have no inventory. No inventory will see your custom dry up, too. Can't win for losing.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Which means they have had an increase in their costs and need to cover that expense

I am not dissing them for raising the price. What I don't understand is how they raise the price without making the product available.

 

[George P]

It is probably in the works; just like gas stations raise their price before they get the new higher priced shipment; they probably had increases in raw materials, utilities, taxes, etc. A lot of gov't tax type increases take place on July 1, so maybe - just guessing.

 

[ilbob]

I am not dissing them for raising the price. What I don't understand is how they raise the price without making the product available.

Might be the price is computer generated from some algorithm.

 

[WVsig]

I do not understand why people cannot find better deals on ammo even in this climate. I can link to 1000 rounds of 223 Shipped for $600. I can link right now to 9mm ammo @ $19.99 a box with free shipping over $100. Yes prices are insane right now. Both of those prices are more than double what I was paying 6 months ago but those are just off the top of my head. I have seen 1000 rounds for $.24 a pop. I have even seen cases sneak out at $200. I am not buying but I watch the number with interest. I think we are well on our way to $.50 9mm and $.80 223/556.

We have to remember in the last 18 months or so ammo has been a cheap as it has been in the last 15 years. I was buying 9mm on sale for $.12 to $16 delivered. This was brass cased 115 or 124gr. It was everywhere. There was tons of ammo following through the system. It was a buyers market. It has not turn into a sellers market. I personally think it is going to be at least 6 months before it starts to go back down and that is only if Trump is reelected. If Trump loses then we are looking at 12-18 if not longer depending on all sorts of factors. IMHO the outlook is not good.

If you need ammo right now $300 for a case of 9mm + shipping is a fair price. 223/556 the buy it now price is $500. If you need it. Buy it at those prices. I don't need to restock and this point so I am leaving it when I find it. The only way we get back to normal prices is when there is ammo still on the shelves and the supply once again outpaces demand. If we keep buying every single box as soon as it hits the stores prices will continue to soar.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I do not understand why people cannot find better deals on ammo even in this climate. I can link to 1000 rounds of 223 Shipped for $600. I can link right now to 9mm ammo @ $19.99 a box with free shipping over $100. Yes prices are insane right now. Both of those prices are more than double what I was paying 6 months ago but those are just off the top of my head. I have seen 1000 rounds for $.24 a pop. I have even seen cases sneak out at $200. I am not buying but I watch the number with interest. I think we are well on our way to $.50 9mm and $.80 223/556.

We have to remember in the last 18 months or so ammo has been a cheap as it has been in the last 15 years. I was buying 9mm on sale for $.12 to $16 delivered. This was brass cased 115 or 124gr. It was everywhere. There was tons of ammo following through the system. It was a buyers market. It has not turn into a sellers market. I personally think it is going to be at least 6 months before it starts to go back down and that is only if Trump is reelected. If Trump loses then we are looking at 12-18 if not longer depending on all sorts of factors. IMHO the outlook is not good.

If you need ammo right now $300 for a case of 9mm + shipping is a fair price. 223/556 the buy it now price is $500. If you need it. Buy it at those prices. I don't need to restock and this point so I am leaving it when I find it. The only way we get back to normal prices is when there is ammo still on the shelves and the supply once again outpaces demand. If we keep buying every single box as soon as it hits the stores prices will continue to soar.

I'm good on .223 range ammo but I would like to have more SD ammo. Looking for 55 grain if anyone has any suggestions.

 

[Alex Clayton]

Except it never quite goes back to what it was before. Ammo prices have steadily been increasing over the last 15 years. 15-20 years ago you could buy a "brick" (150 rds) of 12 gauge clay load for 10 bucks at walmart any day of the week. You could buy a "brick" (1000 rds) of .22 LR for 10 bucks anywhere any day of the week. Even pre-panic finding shotgun clay loads for under 2.50 a box was difficult (50% increase in price), and finding .22 LR for less than 40$ a brick is impossible (400% increase in price). I started reloading everything, and I don't shoot what I can't reload anymore (except waterfowl loads, because I don't trust my 12 gauge water sealing in marsh bogs), so it doesn't really impact me, but the prices have definitely be increasing at a rate several times inflation.

Not sure what's going on where you live then. Before last great panic I was paying $7.50 a sleeve for my favorite .22 ammo from places like Wally. Then the panic hit. I could still get it for that price but it was hit and miss. After that great panic was over it was $6 a sleeve delivered to my door. A couple kinds of brass case 9mm was $12 a box. Before the panic I was paying more than that. The last 1911 I bought, SA Loaded I bought about 15 years ago. Paid about $600 out the door. After last panic I was seeing NICE stainless 1911's for $400. It was really hard not to buy another or two. AR's? I had no use for another AR but they got so damn cheap I was VERY tempted to buy one. The same people who ignored these are the ones who now say price will never go back, after they ignored the stuff.
Now if what you mean is price never goes back to what it was in 1965? Then no, but my wages never went to what I was making in 1965 either. <shrug>

 

[Alex Clayton]

Then they seem to have found some sort of sweet spot for their pricing.

Yep couple days ago when I saw this post I checked a couple places I buy from. They both had some name brand brass case 9mm again. The stuff that was $12 a box was now $25 a box. Not for me but I checked the next day and both places were sold out at that price. As long as people will pay that price it will keep selling. Sooner or later people will not and price will drop again. When it does most will ignore the stuff as shelves are full and stuff is on sale. Until another panic goes off. They will then act like they never saw the ones before.

 

[WVsig]

Not sure what's going on where you live then. Before last great panic I was paying $7.50 a sleeve for my favorite .22 ammo from places like Wally. Then the panic hit. I could still get it for that price but it was hit and miss. After that great panic was over it was $6 a sleeve delivered to my door. A couple kinds of brass case 9mm was $12 a box. Before the panic I was paying more than that. The last 1911 I bought, SA Loaded I bought about 15 years ago. Paid about $600 out the door. After last panic I was seeing NICE stainless 1911's for $400. It was really hard not to buy another or two. AR's? I had no use for another AR but they got so damn cheap I was VERY tempted to buy one. The same people who ignored these are the ones who now say price will never go back, after they ignored the stuff.
Now if what you mean is price never goes back to what it was in 1965? Then no, but my wages never went to what I was making in 1965 either. <shrug>

Yep couple days ago when I saw this post I checked a couple places I buy from. They both had some name brand brass case 9mm again. The stuff that was $12 a box was now $25 a box. Not for me but I checked the next day and both places were sold out at that price. As long as people will pay that price it will keep selling. Sooner or later people will not and price will drop again. When it does most will ignore the stuff as shelves are full and stuff is on sale. Until another panic goes off. They will then act like they never saw the ones before.

And the worst part is everytime there is a panic we rinse and repeat. In this one I am seeing a lot of new shooters who have no frame of reference on what ammo should be costing them but they just bought a gun and they need to feed it and have something on hand because you know the world is ending.

 

[Alex Clayton]

And the worst part is everytime there is a panic we rinse and repeat. In this one I am seeing a lot of new shooters who have no frame of reference on what ammo should be costing them but they just bought a gun and they need to feed it and have something on hand because you know the world is ending.

Yep the new people I feel for. They just jumped in. What is so dam frustrating is the people who have lived through multiple panic shortages and every time they are over they go to sleep again. Then next panic they start in again with hair on fire.

 

[Mars5l]

I want to know whats up with all the Russian steel ammo. Seems like thats all thats mostly available for the common calibers even the price has gone up. Are the Russian factories just running more full bore than US factories?

And for me, I check ammo prices everyday on a few sites. Not looking to buy a case unless it's that pre-covid price of less than $200 for 9mm. So im looking to grab a handful of boxes at a time. Seems the only way thats worth while for me is to wait to find it locally at an okay price. Every place I see online is about $25+ for brass cased 9mm and since its not bulk I'll have to pay an extra $15 for shipping.

 

[Old Dog]

While it's true the prices of range ammo (FMJ/ball, etc) have about doubled as offered by many retailers, some of the specialty ammo, e.g., premium JHPs, prices seem to have remained pretty consistent. I just picked up two boxes (not that I needed them, but they were there) of Federal Premium "Punch" 230 grain JHPs for $15.95 at a local Bi-Mart, about what they've always sold for ... It's almost funny that duty/personal defense handgun ammo sold in 20 or 25 round boxes -- when you can find it -- hasn't (in many places) seen the wild increases in price that range ammo in 50 round boxes or by the case has.

 

[Old Dog]

What is so dam frustrating is the people who have lived through multiple panic shortages and every time they are over they go to sleep again

Data to support this assertion? Perhaps these people believe that TEOFWAWKI is really upon us and ammo won't ever be available again ... I dunno, anyone else been watching the news lately?

Anyway, the people I know "who have lived through multiple panic shortages" did not go to sleep again and seem remarkably well-prepared these days.

 

[Swampman]

I know prices are high right now but I was just looking at a site that says they have 40 cases of Magtech 9mm......for 800 bucks a case.

Is anyone likely buying ammo at this price? Is this kind of pricing just to scare up more business for the cheaper brands or what?

I seriously doubt it.

It's not like Magtech is considered a "premium" brand.

 

[FFGColorado]

Bet it won’t last long at that price given the current situation.

The 'current situation' has been going on for what, almost 6 months? Manufacturers will 'catch up', this desire to hoard will diminish..the sky isn't falling..IMHO

 

[Alex Clayton]

Data to support this assertion? Perhaps these people believe that TEOFWAWKI is really upon us and ammo won't ever be available again ... I dunno, anyone else been watching the news lately?

Anyway, the people I know "who have lived through multiple panic shortages" did not go to sleep again and seem remarkably well-prepared these days.

If we really are in the "end times" it will not matter. If anyone thinks the world as we know it has come to an end why are they on the net complaining? If we are all going to die they have nothing better to do than complain?
So for those who really believe the sky is falling why are you here? Shouldn't you be setting up a cave or something? I'm sorry I am too old to play this game any more.

 

[Alex Clayton]

I had a FFL back in the 80s and 90s; I had an ammo log in my book. I was one of those "Kitchen Table" FFLs, but I had to log every round, even .22lr.

Yep many have either forgotten this or they were not around for it. I remember after I turned 18 I could buy .22 ammo at "some places". The FFL had the option to ask if the ammo was for a long gun or hand gun. If buyer said long gun the FFL "could" let it walk without logging the book. Some would, some would not.
Even after they stopped bothering with this the Wally's here had a trigger on the register. When I would buy .22 ammo the register would ask the clerk to ask if the ammo was for a hand gun? If so is buyer over 21? Many of the clerks would not say a word, just hit the button. Some of the new ones would freeze, you could see them reading the screen. I would say, "yes its for a hand gun, and yes I am over 21". They would then smile and finish the sale. Sadly I suspect many dealers will be all in on the laws going back to this as they will of course be the only "game in town" when it comes to buying ammo again. Like all gun laws this will do zero for crime. So the same law makers will want another and another law. Unless gun owners wake up and stop it? They have only themselves to blame. <shrug>

 

[Old Dog]

If we really are in the "end times" it will not matter. If anyone thinks the world as we know it has come to an end why are they on the net complaining? If we are all going to die they have nothing better to do than complain?
So for those who really believe the sky is falling why are you here? Shouldn't you be setting up a cave or something? I'm sorry I am too old to play this game any more.

Apparently, you have no sense of humor. And I haven't seen any complaining (in this particular thread, anyway); the OP started with a very simple question relative to pricing ...

You seem to be the one with the complaints, specifically all blaming gun owners for the current situation, as well as painting with a broad brush and stating that no one has learned from the previous ammo panic-buying and shortages. Just acknowledge the huge increase in the numbers of new gun owners and those who weren't part of the gun-owning community during the last shortages and move on. Let those of us who want to help those in need of ammo do so without the incessant negativity.

At any rate, I'm seeing more questioning and and a lot more analysis (some spot-on, some misguided, as usual) than I am seeing complaining.

 

[tws3b2]

Was at the gun shop today. I was looking for a certain gun and not ammo but I did notice they had plenty of ammo on the shelves. I didn't look to see what all calibers were there but all the shelves were full. I did notice a sign that said 50 round box of 9mm was just under $26. I don't have a 9mm so I don't know if that's a good price or not. I was in the same gun shop a couple months ago looking for a pump 12ga and the walls were pretty much bare. No shotguns and few rifles. Today the walls were full. At least a half dozen shotguns just on the walls and plenty of rifles of all kinds. Handgun cases full. I sure hope all this crap is over soon and people can at least start acting like they got a little bit of sense.

 

[lsudave]

I know prices are high right now but I was just looking at a site that says they have 40 cases of Magtech 9mm......for 800 bucks a case.

Is anyone likely buying ammo at this price? Is this kind of pricing just to scare up more business for the cheaper brands or what?

Understand first off, Magtech IS one of the cheaper brass-cased brands. I'd put it near the bottom of "acceptable", and the least desirable brand from CBC- they also make Sellier & Bellot and MEN. $800 is 5x the price I'd pay for it.