Crazy pricing for new ammo!

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Shrinkmd

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I just got the Natchez email flyer, and it looks like ammo is 50% higher than before!

They have American Eagle 115 fmj 9mm for 15.49 a box! That is about $310 a case! I think 9mm is officially worth reloading these days.

And you don't want to even know how much they want for Magtech 45acp hardball is (try $482 a case). Compare that to reloading 230 LRN (heck, even put fancy Montana Gold 230 JHP in there for $160 or so. Plus $40 for the primers (delivered, haz mat figured in, roughly) and use Power Pistol instead of Bullseye, it is still a super bargain, almost $250 or so cheaper.

You can seriously pay for your reloading setup, and not a simple one, with maybe 2 cases of ammo. And if you shoot 230 LRN instead of FMJ...

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I'm amazed at the price difference. I'm so glad I'm a reloader now!
 
Supply and demand my man. Some how we have turned into the new oil business. Demand goes up due to politcal propoganda and us the cosumer buys into. Slow production down and throw in the panic of the nation, which equals prices on all components (guns and ammo) 2 times the reasonable price of what it should be. Resource prices are down (metals and fuels), so why are prices absolutely sky rocketing in the shooting world?
 
my cost for a box of my reloaded 45 acp w/ copper jacketed round nose 230 grain bullets is $8.25 a box or $165.00 a case.

Natchez can suck it :)

Once my powder valley order comes in that cost drops some more......

my cost for 44 magnum reloads is $3.50 a box 240 grain LSWC or $70 a case....
 
"They have American Eagle 115 fmj 9mm for 15.49 a box! That is about $310 a case! I think 9mm is officially worth reloading these days." That is still about $10 - $15 a box cheaper then anything around here.
 
Handloading 9mm is always cheaper. You can save at least 50% off retail if you buy new components. Shooting lead and using range brass cuts your cost; casting cuts costs even less. I'm loading 9mm and 10mm for about 4-5 cents per round. That's $40-50 per thousand.
 
don't forget to pay yourself for the time spent loading. unless you make minimum wage or have a progressive press your output could be limited to 100 rounds an hour at a labor cost of 10-20 bucks. factor in component cost 5-10 dollars a hundred depending on what you use and you come out with 15-30 bucks a hundred and you haven't begun to factor in the cost of the press and dies. your results will vary personally I enjoy reloading and do it in front of a movie so that time spent is not a factor. I'm just submitting that reloading may not be as cheap as it seems, nor the answer for everyone. especially busy people or people who make lots of $$. I find time is something new reloaders don't often factor in.
 
Exactly. Although working the single stage is maddening in large batches (don't ask how I know...) and I can't wait until my LNLPTX and Powder Cop die come, hopefully very soon, so I can fire up the progressive. Making a case of ammo over one or two nights of work is very different than making a hundred or two over the same amount of time.

Even if you can make big $ at your job, this is hobby "fun" time. Same as making your own coffee in the morning instead of stopping for it. It isn't just the money you save, it's living you life and doing for yourself. I am just considering it another part of the hobby, extending the fun at the range, so to speak.

Although I must admit I can't wait to do it in a progressive fashion. Single stage is fantastic for learning about reloading, but not the best way to crank out the pistol ammo!
 
Reloading is a relaxing and productive hobby - my time is not a factor, never was. I have been handloading 9mm for a few years now, and casting my own bullets for a year or so. It's worth it, one, cost wise, two, fun wise, three, I have ammo when others don't
 
A hearty welcome to all the new reloading guys.

As ArmoredMan and ShrinkMD note, it's not just saving money, it's a whole new rewarding adventure. I'm glad you guys discovered it.

Now we know why components are in such short supply, and component prices are skyrocketing. With millions of new reloaders at their benches, there will continue to be heavy demand for components. Just hang in there for a few years and everything will settle down.

I'm kinda anxious to see if some new manufacturers will enter the component market. Maybe some folks like Montana Gold or Zero Bullets will start making primers. Or Remington will start to market powders. Or companies who are in lagging industries like aircraft, or tool-and-die makers, or newspaper printing press manufacturers, or precision instrument companies discover that we have a good thing going here and switch their technologies to reloading component production. That would be cool.
 
personally I enjoy reloading and do it in front of a movie
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Thats not such a good idea. I like to focus when I am reloading. I try to do it alone with no distractions no phone calls. The last thing you wanna do is double charge a round because you were watching the matrix while loading you favorite caliber.
 
CZ reads his reloading manuals. Like your guns, fingers, and care about the safety of others huh?

That's so old fashioned! haha
 
The last thing you wanna do is double charge a round because you were watching the matrix while loading you favorite caliber.
Click to expand...

What if you are watching 'The Matrix Reloaded'? Sorry, I had to.
 
I bought all the ammo I will ever need in my lifetime back in the 1980's and 1990's. This will hold true if I do not buy another caliber of firearm. I was however shocked at the costs of ammo now, I was at a Gander Mountain in Elyria Ohio and looked at the costs of .38spl and 30-06, when I die, I realize now, my kids will be rich if they sell what I have left them. I have not bought any in 20 years at least. I did buy back then also a reloading center, basic set up along with the bullets, primers, powder and all but as of yet never even took it out of the boxes, someday I need to take it all out and learn how to do the basic stuff with it. Gotta love the good ole days.....
 
saveing money is possible with cast 'practice rounds' of course but when the 'premium' slugs are carefully loaded a real saveings can be realized. many of them sell for near or more than a buck a round!:what:
I load premium slugs in 9 Mak, .380acp, 9mmPara, .357 mag/.38spcl, and .45acp, +P and Super for close friends and family members (sisters, B-in-laws, nephews and wives - the women all prefer the .380acp w/one exception - she says 'too much recoil/muzzle blast' and keeps a .32acp that I load XTP's for)
 
I am reloading 9mm for about 9-10 a box. It is lead but I have shot nothing but lead for a few year now. I can do 100 rounds from start to finish in about 15 minutes so it is worth it for me. It will go faster as soon as I get a case feeder for my Hornady LNL
 
How do you load 9mm for 10 bucks a box with cast lead? You must be using new brass.
 
Quote:
The last thing you wanna do is double charge a round because you were watching the matrix while loading you favorite caliber.

What if you are watching 'The Matrix Reloaded'? Sorry, I had to.
Click to expand...

There is a slight chance you might die in the name of morpheus.
 
im retired and it helps fill in my time. The reason i got into reloding was for saveing $$ witch is true. also for performance.. my lever guns have never shot so well. in savings ive paid for my press and all my dies.as for my time how can you put a price on enjoyment..
 
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