The IRONY of ammo stashes.

I’m out once or twice a week to shoot a few hundred rounds. Last shortage I picked up about 7k rounds of mostly rimfire at near pre-panic prices to add to the 15k+ I already had. Some of it I sold, some was given away, but a reasonable amount was always used as intended.

I saw this one coming. I mentioned it here. Lucky guess maybe but I stockpiled again to the tune of 100k rounds. I shoot what I want when I want, and reload for those centerfires I shoot most often. Still plenty of primers, bullets, and enough powder to level the neighbors’ houses as well.

I saw this one coming too but I couldn't get fully stocked up in time since I only started shooting in early 2019. Just one year of good prices. In early 2020 I got told buying primers from BassPro for $45.00 per 1000 was ridiculous.

Many shooters are funny guys, bordering on OCD. Some of my friends:

"I'm not loading if I can't replace my components" I know this guy has shelves piled deep with powder and primers.

Another friend wanted to try some .22 match bullets in his AR. I proposed a trade for 100 68 HPBT's for some 30 caL 168 pulldowns that I know he got dirt cheap. His reply "I'm down to my last 2000, I don't want to do that."

During the Obama shortage, I was talking to a guy at the range about shooting .22. He said he didn't have any ammo. I asked him if he bought a case of the Remington surplus from the CMP a couple of years earlier. "Yeah, I still have that but don't want to use it."

You could be dead tomorrow. There's some stuff that I wish I had more of, but I'm going to keep shooting it until I run out. Then I'll worry or pay the scalper to get it replaced.

Laphroaig said:

Many shooters are funny guys, bordering on OCD. Some of my friends:

"I'm not loading if I can't replace my components" I know this guy has shelves piled deep with powder and primers.

Another friend wanted to try some .22 match bullets in his AR. I proposed a trade for 100 68 HPBT's for some 30 caL 168 pulldowns that I know he got dirt cheap. His reply "I'm down to my last 2000, I don't want to do that."

During the Obama shortage, I was talking to a guy at the range about shooting .22. He said he didn't have any ammo. I asked him if he bought a case of the Remington surplus from the CMP a couple of years earlier. "Yeah, I still have that but don't want to use it."

You could be dead tomorrow. There's some stuff that I wish I had more of, but I'm going to keep shooting it until I run out. Then I'll worry or pay the scalper to get it replaced.

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Very true. Some actually receive enjoyment from looking at the pile of stuff they will never use in their living years.

From the "sad but true tales," I'm a big fan of estate sales and auctions. Tough right now, as I'm competing against people who cannot pile it deep enough and are willing to pay. In more normal times, I get random plinking stuff, sometimes virgin first line stuff matching my known loads for pennies on the dollar. I'm still shooting 2 different very high quality cast .38 bullets I bought for less than scrap price. Scored some $8 cans of HP-38 in that auction that I have since expended. This was Jan 2020. Some poor guy couldn't take it with him. Now his next of kin are selling it to me. IMHO, ammo, components, gasoline, are meant to be used. They are also perishable. Shoot it!

I think the wide and widening variety of chamberings and the swarminig hordes that espouse autoloaders are the results the gun makers and ammunition factories conspired to achieve. The market for arms in common calibers was saturated. The only way to get people to buy new guns was to make them in magic new chamberings. The best way to sell more ammunition was to encourage people to shoot fast and copiously, so revolvers are fading away to autos. The AR family is the biggest boost to the ammo makers since the last war.

I have always been conservative with my shots. If I'm hunting, I want one shot to do the job. It always has on deer, moose and smaller stuff. I don't remember a second shot being required to kill an animal in 50+ years of hunting. Last November's deer succumbed to one 87 gr slug through the lungs fired by a .25-20. Didn't need bigger, heavier, faster or more popular round.

So, while I do burn a lot of powder through my .22 revolver in practice, my hand loaded centerfire supply has already lasted decades and should last me the next little while til my carcass gives up the ghost.

I have a cousin who has far more ammo on hand than he can ever use--Says he just can't pass up a bargain. That said, he probably won't be buying under these market conditions. :-(

Newtosavage said:

Poor excuses if you ask me. Unless someone is just all thumbs and failed every math class they took, reloading is a pretty simple process that only requires some devotion to attention and safety.

I've had no real problem sourcing supplies, even through all this. But then I'm willing to try different powders when the need arises. Some are not.

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The up front cost, if you don't shoot alot, is a pretty big barrier to entry. Just reading around online for recommendations for a basic no frills setup that's actually worth it and won't be a pain, most setups I'd be looking at $500-800 minimum. For someone who shoots less than once a month (didn't at all last year outside of my CCL requalification), it would be quite a long time before I made my money back on that if I ever did.

The safety aspect makes me a little nervous, but I felt the same way when I first started carrying so I imagine I could get over it.

I can relate to that. I've got alot of ammo, but if I was shooting as much as I'd like to, I wouldn't have it for long. It's a commodity and I know as an investment if I decided to sell, I'd make alot of money but that's not what I want to do, I'd rather shoot it sparingly and have it for emergency purposes. I don't imagine I'll ever, ever be without ammo until I'm dead. I'd like to think I'm storing and planning for the future and my kid, grandkids, etc.....certainly not a bad thing to have, just like Gold or Silver, I can't imagine a scenario where it becomes worth less than what I paid. I will shoot some every now and then while slowly adding to it and while I'm sorry for you all who are still dealing with outrageous prices, I can replace what I have, but not triple or quadruple the price. Replacement for me is about double, which sounds bad, and is bad, but in this market, $320/1000 is not un-doable. I can live with that, the $.60/rd and up is egregious though. Can't do that.

Newtosavage said:

Poor excuses if you ask me. Unless someone is just all thumbs and failed every math class they took, reloading is a pretty simple process that only requires some devotion to attention and safety.

I've had no real problem sourcing supplies, even through all this. But then I'm willing to try different powders when the need arises. Some are not.

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What simple for some is complex to others. Same way quantum physics is easily understood to some and others can't wrap their head around the basic principles.
How much did cost you to buy a press and the rest of the gear needed JUST to start reloading. Then the primers, powders, bullets themselves and the brass. Combine that with the possibility of making a bench for that if not a new workspace entirely. As well as the time needed to actually make reloads.

That's a hefty price for many. Yeah, I know in the long run, you'll save more but that upfront price once again can just be spend on a crate or two of x39 or 400 rounds of 357.

Mullo98 said:

What simple for some is complex to others. Same way quantum physics is easily understood to some and others can't wrap their head around the basic principles.
How much did cost you to buy a press and the rest of the gear needed JUST to start reloading. Then the primers, powders, bullets themselves and the brass. Combine that with the possibility of making a bench for that if not a new workspace entirely. As well as the time needed to actually make reloads.

That's a hefty price for many. Yeah, I know in the long run, you'll save more but that upfront price once again can just be spend on a crate or two of x39 or 400 rounds of 357.

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Check garage sales, estate sale, pawn shops and buy.

My Rock Chucker is 45 years old. Not shiny and new, but works exactly the same.

Bought a Pacific press from a pawn shops for $40. It is 70 years old.

Single stage presses are simple, chunks of steel.

A set of dies can be had for $20-$40.
A small digital scale is in same price range.

No other equipment is REQUIRED.
Lots of other equipment can be slowly added to enhance your loading, but is not required.

Buying components is not different than buying ammo. Save brass, buy powder, bullets, primers.

Buying a new, progressive or massive kit can be expensive. Cost prohibitive is a cop out. Some people don't WANT to reload. Pure and simple.

Seedy Character said:

Check garage sales, estate sale, pawn shops and buy.

My Rock Chucker is 45 years old. Not shiny and new, but works exactly the same.

Bought a Pacific press from a pawn shops for $40. It is 70 years old.

Single stage presses are simple, chunks of steel.

A set of dies can be had for $20-$40.
A small digital scale is in same price range.

No other equipment is REQUIRED.
Lots of other equipment can be slowly added to enhance your loading, but is not required.

Buying components is not different than buying ammo. Save brass, buy powder, bullets, primers.

Buying a new, progressive or massive kit can be expensive. Cost prohibitive is a cop out. Some people don't WANT to reload. Pure and simple.

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True but you also have to factor in the prices of now than yesteryear. That's still a good price to pay over a box of ammo ready to shoot .

I actually want to reload but the only thing keeping me is space really.

Mullo98 said:

True but you also have to factor in the prices of now than yesteryear. That's still a good price to pay over a box of ammo ready to shoot .

I actually want to reload but the only thing keeping me is space really.

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A young guy, I shoot with, has a small place.
He found a Rock Chucker at a garage sales.
When he gets ready to load, places a 12"x12"x3/4" board on his kitchen table. Position the RC on the board and using 2 "C" clamps, secure the press.
He loads .45-70.
He will tell you it is not ideal, but it works, for now.

You could always use a Lee Loader---the whack-a-mole a lot of us started with.

nofendertom said:

You could always use a Lee Loader---the whack-a-mole a lot of us started with.

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My first loader was a whack-a-mole.
Loaded 10 rounds. Started searching and bought a Rock Chucker
Still have both, have never used Whack-a-mole again.45 years ago.

Mullo98 said:

True but you also have to factor in the prices of now than yesteryear. That's still a good price to pay over a box of ammo ready to shoot .

I actually want to reload but the only thing keeping me is space really.

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The other thing to consider is checking garage sales, pawn shops, etc, if you aren't already into reloading are you going to know if what you're buying is junk or good? Not to mention, I've never seen reloading equipment at local pawn shops or at garage sales (and I'm always on the lookout for gun related stuff). Must not be alot out there in Northern Illinois.

If I were to happen to come into a good but extremely cheap (or even better free) reloading setup, I'd take it up in a heartbeat if for no other reason than it seems like an interesting and useful thing to be able to do. In that, though, I wouldn't want a bare bones setup. I'd want something that would actually make it worth the time and investment.

"I'd want something that would actually make it worth the time and investment."

Most of us do a lot of things that are not really worth the time--such as TV entertainment. We can carry nothing away from watching a ball game, except perhaps a load of calories.

I consider it a useful exchange to reload shells instead of sitting doing nothing.

Moving away from reloading. One thing that many with an ammo stash don't consider is proper storage of said ammo. Many, myself included to be honest, just stuff it a surplus can or aftermarket storage case and forget it.
This can lead to some rusty or nasty cartridges.

I quit reloading and casting 30 years ago since I no longer shot in leagues, and it was easier to buy as I used ammo. Eventually I got rid of my shotgun and rifle reloading equipment stash of primers, lead and components etc. I am considering getting equipment, but the shortage of components is a problem. I have enough to last awhile in most rounds. I have a couple bricks of good 22lr but regretfully I thought I had another brick of Center-X. I didn't. It and other really good quality target ammo is really high. I will have to use cheaper stuff to practice.

I reload & have a decent stock of reloaded rounds, what quantity I shoot I reload but what I don't reload I have stocked up on, like this 5.45x39.
All sealed in spam cans, you can't get better storage for ammo.

.455_Hunter said:

For many generations of Americans in the past, a box or two of ammo might last years- 1 to 3 rounds fired for hunting season (1 to check sights, 1-2 for actually shooting at game) and 5-6 rounds of revolver ammo fired at the 4th of July family picnic behind the garage with Uncle Bob until Grandma yells to "Cut that out!".

We may be returning to those days again.

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That kind of sums up the way I shoot these days...except I'm a LONE GUNMAN! ;-)

Here and there I'll squeeze off a few shots in the woods with no one around and thats that. Then I'm silent for weeks at a time. I'd love to shoot more but it is what it is. I buy a few boxes of 38, 9x19, 9x18, 7.62x51 and x39 when it's a relatively good deal...and I just make sure I'm not shooting more than I'm buying. Actually through the pandemic I've increased by several hundred rounds in those categories. I haven't added any new calibers since the pandemic started, although I've looked at a few.

That's the way I've carried on. Just a few shots here and there to make sure it'll still go bang and that I can still put em pretty much where I want em.

I'm kind of curious if the pandemic has or will put any calibers which were formerly fairly common into obscurity.

Reloading is easy to advocate…. And can help you take control of your ammo supply to some extent. But I’ve been trying moderately and have been able to get exactly 2,000 SPP since things really dried up. Not a huge amount. If you plan to reload a bunch of 9mm or another common high volume caliber to save money you’ll find it doesn’t save nearly as much as you would think, at today’s prices and availability. It’s also a hobby in and of itself watching for components to pop up either online or in real life.

Reloading is great when you have a brick of large rifle primers and don’t want to pay $65 for a box of .45-70, .30-06, or whatever.

BigBL87 said:

The other thing to consider is checking garage sales, pawn shops, etc, if you aren't already into reloading are you going to know if what you're buying is junk or good? Not to mention, I've never seen reloading equipment at local pawn shops or at garage sales (and I'm always on the lookout for gun related stuff). Must not be alot out there in Northern Illinois.

If I were to happen to come into a good but extremely cheap (or even better free) reloading setup, I'd take it up in a heartbeat if for no other reason than it seems like an interesting and useful thing to be able to do. In that, though, I wouldn't want a bare bones setup. I'd want something that would actually make it worth the time and investment.

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I have bought it garage sales and pawn shops. But, finds are few.
Estate sale are a better source. Plus, you can get a complete set up our, at least, several pieces.

Go to a LGS that had reloading equipment. Study it. Ask how it works. YouTube is your friend. You may decide to buy new.
A Lee turret press is about $100 new.

Skylerbone said:

I’m out once or twice a week to shoot a few hundred rounds. Last shortage I picked up about 7k rounds of mostly rimfire at near pre-panic prices to add to the 15k+ I already had. Some of it I sold, some was given away, but a reasonable amount was always used as intended.

I saw this one coming. I mentioned it here. Lucky guess maybe but I stockpiled again to the tune of 100k rounds. I shoot what I want when I want, and reload for those centerfires I shoot most often. Still plenty of primers, bullets, and enough powder to level the neighbors’ houses as well.

Click to expand...

I knew Nov 2020 was going to mean no primers or ammo on the shelf for a couple years so I had planned to start stocking up that summer. Then a guy named George Floyd got killed and everything disappeared 6 months early. I didn’t see that coming.

Mullo98 said:

The issue with that is getting the equipment, supplies and room to reload. Then learning how to load properly and safely. That's a ton of upfront cost and effort for some. Who would be better served by just buying a case or so of factory ammo. That's the main reason why I buy factory ammo.

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When’s the last time you priced a case of 44 special ? Or seen a case, or a box for that matter? The last I seen was something like $50/50. So a case would be bout $1000. I have maybe $300 in a full reloading and casting setup, buying used and scrimping.

30-30 is what, $30 a box now. With powder and primer, and cast bullets at full power I’m at $6.40 a box at current prices.

For me, well, I’m poor, if I didn’t reload there is no way I could have a stockpile of ammo.

Bazoo said:

When’s the last time you priced a case of 44 special ? Or seen a case, or a box for that matter? The last I seen was something like $50/50. So a case would be bout $1000. I have maybe $300 in a full reloading and casting setup, buying used and scrimping.

30-30 is what, $30 a box now. With powder and primer, and cast bullets at full power I’m at $6.40 a box at current prices.

For me, well, I’m poor, if I didn’t reload there is no way I could have a stockpile of ammo.

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To be fair, most of those rounds always befitted from handloading . The rounds I mainly use is cheaper to buy than reload but that's one of those YMMV than anything.

Mullo98 said:

To be fair, most of those rounds always befitted from handloading . The rounds I mainly use is cheaper to buy than reload but that's one of those YMMV than anything.

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I understand that. If I was into mainly 9mm and 223 I’d probably not reload. For a long time I was like that. But even 45 auto and 357 benefit greatly from the cost savings.

My buddy doesn’t load. He would never consider a gun in an off caliber, regardless of the deal it was.