Buy Factory Ammo Now

[Storm_Shadow]

Where i'm at powders are somewhat scarce. Rifle powders are plentiful but shotgun and pistol powder are almost non existence. Even though I just got into reloading I find it relaxing and gratifying to make my own ammo. I still buy factory ammo if the price is right, but if its not I pass it up.

 

[PJSprog]

Still trying to figure out why someone with a screen name like "leefan" would write such a post in the reloading forum. Strange.

Graf's Reloading posted on Facebook earlier this week that they're limiting powder sales to 1lb/visit until the current situation gets better. They did this with primers last year (200/visit), and always had them in stock. They have also been posting their daily shipments received, and are apparently getting in powder just about every day.

I'm left wondering how much of this shortage has to do with the manufacturers, and how much of it is artificial panic.

 

[jrdolall]

I can find rifle powder at 3-4 local places any day of the week. Multiple types and size containers. Pistol powder around here is non-existent.

I will go ahead and try to order online and pay the hazmat fee for one pound of powder I guess. I have plenty of primers.

 

[dickttx]

I really don't think you will find the 1# pistol powders on-line either.

 

[RussellC]

I dont buy much factory ammo anymore. Maybe if I pick up a new caliber. My rule on that is I would buy it if the price per round was very close to what the same factory brass cost. I would buy Winchester white box value packs of 100 at walmart for 24.49. Winchester brass alone for 9mm sells for around 22.00, so why not shoot them first? Well, now that I have thousands of 9mm casings in their infancy, I no longer have interest in it at even that reasonable walmart cost.

I am about at the same place with .223. Their are several on line locations where once fired military brass can be had for a song, so I have lost even that "If its cost is close to their price for brass alone" buyer mentality. Would I start buying ammo under that rule if I picked up a new caliber? I doubt it. These same sources can provide me with that as well.

I say its all good, it frees up ammo for those who dont reload but like to shoot.
While I horde powder, primers, bullets and brass, (I have enough even to get through a term of Billary Clinton) I no longer horde factory ammo...well, except .22 LR, and I sure havent had much of a chance to "horde" any, but would!

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

I really don't think you will find the 1# pistol powders on-line either.

Agreed. I scan all the regulars daily for the more popular pistol powders, and have even added a few I wasnt familiar with, but now cant find them either. Fortunately, I bought pistol powder back not long ago when it was way more plentiful. Primers and bullets were hard to find them. Now you trip over 5000 primer bricks and 1000 lots of bullets easily. I am buying primers and bullets now, while they are plentiful. Later, they will dry up and powder will be plentiful, or some variation on that.

Another good place to spend money now is brass. Stock up on whats available, the powder will return...but it is bleak now. Other items will be bleak later!

Russellc

 

[Nordeste]

I reload because:

- I get my ammo at about half the price the cheapest factory ammo would cost me.

- It's plain fun.

- My ammo is high quality. Much better than most factory ammo I've shot.

 

[handloader357]

Ive been reloading since I was a kid, because it was fun with my dad. I hadnt loaded any ammo in about a year or so because I had enough loaded ammo (factory and reloads) on hand. Then a few weeks ago my 7 year old took an interest and I've been loading like mad since then just to teach her and spend time doing something that we both enjoy. Finished product aside, its extremely rewarding just to teach the next generation a skill that she'll have for a lifetime.

 

[Rico567]

Just what the forum needed....another hysteria thread.

 

[leefan]

"Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Let him who has eyes to see, see."

 

[Dave Dembinski]

Wait...WHAT? This is one weird thread. Buy factory ammo whether you want factory ammo or not, because the sky is falling?

Wow, just when the ammo panic is about over, now it's TEOTWAWKI? Dang.

Yeah, I must have missed something. Just seems like a springtime Saturday from this end.

That said, prices on a lot of factory stuff are about as good as I can remember them being, adjusting for memory inflation. This might be a darned good time to stock up if you want factory centerfire ammo. That's an "if", though. I suspect a lot of people were turned on to reloading last time around and care more about the brass than the blast now.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

I just bought 50 rounds of factory loaded .45 ACP because my supply of ammo is getting really low in that caliber and my LGS was completely out of powders suitable for .45 ACP. That's the first time I bought factory ammo in a while. Of course, I didn't really buy it out of fear or panic, but because I might decide to hit the range soon.

 

[7mmb]

The domestic and geopolitical situations are rapidly moving to a state where you will not be able to buy any ammo or reloading components at any price. "Too much is never enough." Flame away, because I too I fervently hope that I am wrong.

Really? Because the last I checked the Senate couldn't even pass background checks, let alone ammo bans, which were never even proposed. Nothing was ever brought up in the House. Methinks you underestimate the NRA's lobbying power, and overestimate their fear-inducing propaganda power. The NRA is great at protecting our rights but take the hyperbole in their fundraising letters with several grains of salt.

 

[Potatohead]

I love REM, great band.

I reload because it's fun and I need a testosterone outlet since Im married. (yes, that's what I meant)



I'm also the goofball who still buys factory ammo. I just love ammo I reckon..

 

[DeadFlies]

The OPs entire premise is incorrect, right from the outset. I reload to keep my ammo costs down and because I enjoy it tremendously. Not as some kind of tinfoil-wrapped, pre-SHTF survival strategy.

Maybe that's why the OP reloads but it's hardly "our mantra". Speak for yourself.

BTW, doomers have their own forums. This aint it. Can't believe this thread still has a pulse.

 

[moonman16]

Vivid imagination by some with little to do in life.

I reload because I'm retired, find it relaxing and SAVE MONEY.

Did I say save money? Yea, to purchase more reloading stuff and components,

TO SHOOT EVEN MORE with all those savings.

Some folks with the SHTF or END OF THE WORLD PHILOSOPHIES have many other issues.

The Internet gives these folks an outlet to express their inner frustrations with life itself.

Some folks have capitalized upon the fears of others and turned these fears into a COTTAGE INDUSTRY.

Mainly to try to earn an income as many live in out of the way areas and interactions personally with society are few to say the least.

The many PREPPERS who have legitimate fears, Forrest/Wild Fires, Earthquakes, Floods, Volcanoes are just looking for an insurance policy in life.

The Preppers who look for other things are just the folks lost within society generally. JMHO.

 

[GBExpat]

Well said, moonman16!

 

[RealGun]

BTW, doomers have their own forums. This aint it. Can't believe this thread still has a pulse.

I would disagree, thinking that whatever ones premise for being in reloading, this is the place, as long as we are indeed discussing reloading.

 

[al123]

I really don't think you will find the 1# pistol powders on-line either.

There may be some relief coming for pistol powders. In the comments section on Powder Valley's Facebook site, there is a blurb (Apr. 8) on what's causing the shortage beyond just increased demand. Hodgdon since Dec. 2012 has had their supply from Australia cut in half. Apparently this will be resolved in the "very near future". Of course nothing is definitive.

Getting pistol powders right now is like looking for meteorites. They flash 'in stock' brightly for a short time then disappear. Example at Recob's, Hodgdon Longshot 1lb was in stock for at least 3 hours last night/early morning.

In my case, it's been easier to get powder than low cost 22lr (<$0.06/round). But that's a whole 'nother story.

 

[leefan]

We will be at war in about 30 days. The MSM ain't alerting you, I am. Do your due diligence. When it happens, you won't be able to buy a head of lettuce, much less a round of 9mm.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

That's OK too. I have 20,000 heads of irradiated lettuce stashed under my bed. Bring it.

 

[Rule3]

It's to late to buy ammo NOW. Shoulda bought years ago when you could afford it. Same with components.

Only ammo I would think of buying is cheap steel 7.62 x 39.

Kinda like saying buy 22 LR now.

 

[RealGun]

Maybe some shooters are caught up in their competition schedules and don't really pay attention to wordly matters. There are good reasons to be ready for bad things. Take a lesson from Katrina and go from there.

 

[blarby]

So, whats the signal in this thread ?

Is there one ?

 

[jrdolall]

When it happens, you won't be able to buy a head of lettuce,

Based on the market for lettuce over the past year there are a lot of farmers who are begging for a reason to raise prices.
The world doesn't stop revolving because a war breaks out.