Ammunition Costs

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

i cannot belive the cost of ammo now. i can recall back when i got my first gun (marling model 60 .22LR 3 years ago) that is was only like $6.00 at wally world for the federal bulk pack of .22's now its up to $12. it just amazes me as well as 9mm went from 6.50 for 50 to 11.50 for 50.

i just finally talked my wife into letting me stock pile. i have about 9 military ammo boxes and they are getting filled fast before the pricing can jump again like its soposted to later this year.

i wonder if they are going to make a jump from brass to aluminum now and less FMJ's but rather RNL's to cope with pricing.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

If you're still stockpiling at higher prices, what is the incentive to move to cheaper materials?

 

[trbon8r]

We are getting ripped off folks. I understand there was justification for price increases as component costs for lead and copper rose sharply. Starting last November the price of lead has dropped substantially, and copper is also trading lower from its highs last summer.

http://www.infomine.com/investment/...d&u=lb&submit1=Display+Chart&x=usd&r=1y#chart


Yet ammo and bullet prices keep going up? Rainier just jacked their bullet prices up another 25% if you go by the pricing at Natchez Shooter's Supply.

Again, why are prices going up? Because they can raise them and people will pay it.

I just made a deal for 300 lbs. worth of lead ingots. The guy was going to give them to me for free, but I told him I want to at least give him a little something for them. I'm going to start casting my own bullets. The bullet companies can go stick it in their ear.

 

[30 cal slob]

well, mfrs. are slow to lower prices on the way down. just like the gas stations and heating oil dealers drag their feet when spot prices come down. margin capture.

also, don't be so hard on the ammo guys. some of them may have forward agreements that stupilate that they buy x copper and y lead at z date that may not coincide with current spot prices ("spread" or lag).

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have been buying ammo and reloading components in bulk for years and have never been sorry I did.

For instance,
I'm shooting 7.62x39 Wolf ammo that cost me $54/1,000 rounds.

I have thousands of 9mm WWB that cost $86/1,000 rounds.

For some years to come most of my reloaded centirefire ammo will continue to cost about $4.00 a box.

Last week I bought out three Wal Marts of 22LR Remington 550 round boxes and I'm intending doing the same the next trip to town.

As my friend says, "If you don't like the price of ammo today, you are really going to hate it next year".


In a small article in this month's Rifleman they said in the last year the cost of lead has gone from about $400 a ton to over $3,000 a ton.
That alone could have the potential to make a $10 brick of 22's cost $70.
The Aguila 22LR I shoot a lot has gone from $10 to $22 already.

 

[WayneConrad]

trbn8r, Any time there's an inequity in a free market economy, there's a business opportunity. Why not exploit it and get rich?

 

[Nomad101bc]

Dont forget the federal 12% tax attached to every ammo sale. States most likely tax ammo as well so there could be plenty of non raw material charges as well.

BTW if you are making you own ammo can i place an order for about 500 in .40 S&W?

 

[trbon8r]

trbn8r, Any time there's an inequity in a free market economy, there's a business opportunity. Why not exploit it and get rich?

I don't have either the time or the desire to get in the bullet selling business. What I am doing is putting my money where my mouth is and making my own bullets instead of getting fleeced.

I figure the 300 pounds of lead I'm buying should be good for over 10,000 cast 200 gr. bullets. Total cost, $25, only because I'm a nice guy and didn't want something for free.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Starting last November the price of lead has dropped substantially, and copper is also trading lower from its highs last summer.

Giving the benefit of the doubt to the manufacturers here but they are likely locked into long term contracts to secure materials.

In my business I am in the same boat; my company can buy materials (electronic chips mostly) at the market rate and have make quick price adjustments but then I have no guarantee of availability.

If I buy on a long term contract at a fixed price both my company and my suppliers know we will have a steady revenue and component stream for some period of time.

In most cases companies will choose the latter, especially if they have stockholders to keep happy.

It's much worse to say you couldn't sell product because you didn't have the foresight to obtain materials than to say you had to jack the price up.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I figure the 300 pounds of lead I'm buying should be good for over 10,000 cast 200 gr. bullets. Total cost, $25, only because I'm a nice guy and didn't want something for free.

You didn't add in the cost of about 30 pounds of tin and $3.00 sticks of bullet lube and the electricity.
Pure lead makes poor bullets.


Yeah, I've gone back to casting to.
The store bought cast bullets I've been buying for years have gone from $14/500 to $35/500.
But I've got many thousands of the $14/500 put aside.

And except for stocking up on 22's I haven't bought any factory ammo in months and if the price stays high I doubt I will buy any for years to come.

 

[Zip06]

Some calibers seem to rise in price much quicker than others. Seems to me that if the price of components are more expensive the price rises for ammo would be uniform across the board. They are not.

 

[Lennyjoe]

That's why I reload!

 

[Gordon Fink]

I have noticed that ammunition packaged for sale to law-enforcement agencies hasn’t gone up in price nearly so dramatically. Five years ago, boxes of 50 9×19mm JHP cartridges went for about $20 each, and they can still be had for under $25 each.

~G. Fink

 

[TexasRifleman]

Seems to me that if the price of components are more expensive the price rises for ammo would be uniform across the board. They are not.

You will notice though that components used in mililtary applications are rising faster since companies are bidding on them.

.30 and .22 caliber components and military ball type powders are going to be higher usually and it seems those are the components going up higher and faster.

Try buying .308 bullets. Lots of times you can't find them in stock at ANY price.

It's awful.

At the end of the day it's hard to blame the manufacturers themselves when there are so many other things going on;

Fuel, Taxes, Retailers, HazMat fees every time you blink for lots of components.

It sucks and I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I tell people that this is where my paranoid side comes out; that it won't be gun legislation that gets us it will simply get to a point where you can have any gun you want because you won't be able to get ammo for it.

Watch for some kind of ammo tax in the next year or 2.

Gun control then becomes a moot point.

 

[trbon8r]

You didn't add in the cost of about 30 pounds of tin and $3.00 sticks of bullet lube and the electricity. Pure lead makes poor bullets.

Thanks. Like I said I'm a newbie to casting. I am researching what the best equipment to buy is. I'm going to be spending money I otherwise would have spent for bullets on the casting equipment.

Where is the best place to buy tin at?

 

[Onmilo]

There is a young Democrat in the House pushing for a law to serial number all bullets and cases.
If you think ammunition is expensive now think five dollars a cartridge for 9mm should this goofy idea come to pass.

 

[trbon8r]

There is a young Democrat in the House pushing for a law to serial number all bullets and cases. If you think ammunition is expensive now think five dollars a cartridge for 9mm should this goofy idea come to pass.

They just introduced that crap here at the state level in Maryland. HB 517. The letter writing and email campaign is in full force.

 

[M2 Carbine]

trbon8r

Thanks. Like I said I'm a newbie to casting. I am researching what the best equipment to buy is. I'm going to be spending money I otherwise would have spent for bullets on the casting equipment.

Where is the best place to buy tin at?
__________________

I've had several melting pots over the years and the inexpensive Lee works about as good as any I've used.

You have to get a sizer/lubricater and dies for each bullet size you cast. I use Lyman but any name brand should be good.

See if you can find the history of that lead you bought. For instance if it's wheel weights it's hard enough to cast bullets as is.
To add hardness to lead, see if you can find old Line-O-Type metal. It use to be used to make printing plates and type on the old printing presses.
50-50 solder (bars) are half tin, but expensive.

Check out the internet for bullet casting. You will pick up a lot of info.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is the lead is close to 800 degrees. Dress as if you may splash a few drops on you. Also wear goggles or face shield and gloves. Don't allow anyone, especially kids or pets around when you are casting. You can't be too careful. That lead will give a terrible burn.

 

[Brenainn]

Just a quick tip, I don't reload, but I know someone who goes to auto garages and gets buckets of free lead for reloading. I don't know what the parts are called, but it's the weights that balance a car tire I believe. Evidently, most garages throw that stuff away, but I hear it's perfectly fine for reloading.

 

[tomh1426]

I reload and I buy alotta bullets from Mike at http://www.mastercastbullets.com/
now that I have all the equipment it cost me less than $7. to make 50 .45Colt.
But even reloading components are getting expensive

 

[Zedicus]

Question on Casting, how do you go about making your own FMJ's?

 

[tnieto2004]

If you're still stockpiling at higher prices, what is the incentive to move to cheaper materials?

You nailed it dead on .. I wouldn't lower prices if I was selling the same if not more

 

[gym]

It's funny I looked at Pistol Ammo today, I see about a 30% increase in the last ten years. That's a rough average. It's just like everything else, and there was a thread the other day, about the lack of shooting ranges. That is probablly why, the average guy isn't going to the range, in most cities, because it's too damm expensive. Say 3 or 4 boxes of 45" or 40's it's going to cost a hundred bucks for half an hour. Multiply that by 3 or 4 times a month, and you have a car payment.

 

[fugi99]

Question on Casting, how do you go about making your own FMJ's?

http://www.corbins.com/howto.htm

 

[george29]

When gas is already $6 / gal in some countries and food costs what it does (I was in Wally World yesterday and couldn't believe the price increases...and this is one of the cheapest places in Albq) what do you think is happening with all the other commodities? The Dems will probably take the election, and then watch ammo triple itself at least.