.223 ammo hullabaloo

That's one reason I bought a case of XM193 last year before I even had a rifle to shoot it. Was $149 for 500 on 8/11. I also purchased a bunch of .22 so it looks like that might be the way to go for a few months here.

Good time to start reloading.

Good time to start reloading.

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That would be true except if you would have checked you would have found all the componants are sold out too.

It would seem that only "cheap" .223 is sold out. I got a new case of Black Hills delivered today, as far as I know Midway still has plenty in stock.

It would seem that only "cheap" .223 is sold out. I got a new case of Black Hills delivered today, as far as I know Midway still has plenty in stock.

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oops

Black Hills is gone too
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/391844/black-hills-remanufactured-ammunition-223-remington-55-grain-full-metal-jacket-box-of-50?cm_vc=subv11836593674

Why did you wait til now to buy? There have been plenty of other wake up calls. You are probably better off just sitting tight til the current panic is over. Of course, that may be 2016 before it ends, and its also possible nothing you can buy now will be legal to buy then. You may have missed the boat on this. Have you considered taking up other hobbies, like crochet or gourmet cooking?

Just bought another K of 62-gr steel cores along with a K of processed brass, $125 ea. Already have 8 lbs of Varget and a K of CCI small rifle primers.

I've got about 800 rounds of Federal to turn into brass, and I recently started reloading again. So, I have 2000 primers, three different powders to work with, and about 1000 bullets in various weights and types, and a couple hundred new brass. Every week or so I pick a couple hundred more bullets, once I get to 2000 on them, another 1K on primers, more bullets, ....

I don't shoot much rifle in the winter, but getting ready for spring.

I've been reloading since 1979.

I always chuckled when people said that "x cartridge" was "too cheap to reload"...

I can't find any .223 reloading stuff anywhere. If anybody knows where I can find some bullets and brass, please share.

As a guy who reloads all calibres for all my firearms except .22 rimfire, I strongly advise that nobody take up reloading at this time. (that way we who have been prepared for just this type of incident will not have to compete with the masses for reloading supplies)

the 5.56/.223 ammo prices mean the ARs will stay locked up for a while. A few weeks ago i found a NIB Mossberg MVP at a gun show...it uses AR mags so i'm good there, and much easier on the ammo usage count. All it needs is a good scope..it will make a nice coyote plinking gun.

Well plodder, my reloading equipment has been dormant for a couple years. I was thinking of dusting it off, but what's the point can't find bullets.

.22 LR is getting scarce too

LubeckTech said:

.22 LR is getting scarce too

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This is why you should not wait until you're empty before filling the gas tank.:banghead:

I would like to have more than I do, but I have enough until the rush is over.....I was planning to get my wife an AR/AR lower for Christmas. I'll just have to wait now.

LNK

Graf & Sons still shows about 50% of their 239 varieties of .22 bullets in stock, admittedly some results for .22 caliber are not the .224 used for loading .223 Rem, but there are many good choices still available there. Cabela's on line has less available, but they do have stuff available

Believe me when I say that the frenzy is at it's worst here in CT, even so, I have purchased primers, powder, and bullets as recently as yesterday, and by no means did I buy out the last stuff on the shelf. I check 2 fairly good sized gunshops and Cabela's about weekly for reloading stuff, and normally buy something(s) every week. I prefer the less widely available 55-60 gr bullets, and still no problem.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/913?

I was able to get some 75 grain match bullets at a decent price to reload, which I've been wanting to anyway to see the capabilities of my AR with something other than 55g, or 62g bulk.

I always chuckled when people said that "x cartridge" was "too cheap to reload"...

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I rarely bothered to reload plinking ammo for 5.56 and 9x19 until a couple years ago. It really was cheaper to buy loaded ammo than components. Even when it was a penny or two a round higher it was still more practical to buy rather than chase down brass and spend the hours doing prep & loading.

Now? A short time ago I ordered 2k once fired brass and 2k 55 gr. FMJBT. A few months earlier, I had ordered quite a bit of WC844, and I routinely grab a brick of primers whenever they're in stock. I'll be shooting $0.23/round 5.56 while everyone else is spending $0.60-$1.00/shot.

I got my wake up call pre-Y2K

I purchased:
- 4 Bushmaster complete lowers @ $209/each direct from them using the club FFL - minimal shipping charge (UPS Ground)
- 50,000 primers at gun shows @ $55/5000 ($60/5000 for 209s)
- 2 cases of Win. 5.56FMJ-55gr bullets (~ 15,000) from Midway - free shipping @ .028/each
- 30,000 hard cast lead (Valiant) bullets: .45-200gr @ $23/1000, .40-140gr @ $21/1000, .38-158gr @ $19/1000 and various others. Free shipping since the owner was kind enough to meet me on the highway along his route to a gun show.
- 32 pounds of Accurate 2200 Data Powder (great for .223) @ $4/pound from Graf at closeout plus shipping and hazmat = ~ $6/pound
- Range Brass: >10k .223, >5k .45, >5k .38 - free for the picking. I may sell 5k of the .223 brass on the buy/sell site on this forum, but nothing else.

Cost per reloaded round: .223 @ $0.06/each using FMJ-55gr and .45 @ $0.055/each using SWCL-200gr

I've shot up about half of it to date and I think I'll be able to weather a few storms.

Point being: I'm sure that you'll never see these prices again, but you might be finding some "bargains" after (if?) this panic buying settles down. Start then and you won't be the one crying next time.

The election a month ago pretty much cleaned out the 5.56 and 9mm online. When this happened no one had anything resembling large stocks of ammo on hand and it went fast. I seriously do not understand why everyone is so surprised that there is no ammo available. People were predicting it six months ago.

I got lucky. I just started reloading this year and hit the mother lode at a yard sale. Dozens of unopened 100ct boxes of .224 dia bullets from 40gr -75gr @ $5 a box Several pounds of unopened powder of a few different varieties @ $5 a lb. 1k boxes of cci and winchester SR primers @ $10 a box. Not to mention equipment a 1/10th the original price. I spent $400 and left with it all you do the math and let insults begin! Oh and before the panic my LGS had once fire LC brass in 1k bags for .03 per piece of brass I'd pick up when I'd drop in there. FYI crimped primer pockets suck but I quit complaining about them last week. Soooo I'm good for a while.

Update on bulkammo.com - 1000 PMC @ $620.00. This is getting crazy. Glad I don't need anything.