Bittersweet justification?

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plodder

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Anybody out there like me who remembers people questioning my powder, primer & bullet acquisition habits over the past 2 years or so and why I thought I needed such an arsenal? After all, what was there to be afraid of?

One of the few times in my life I bet on the right horse! (But I'll have to admit, I am anxious for things to get back to near normal on the supply side)
 
Supply and demand has it's ups and downs. Reloading for the last 30+ years has taught me that buying at today's prices will only save money in the future. My goal is to keep at least 2 years ahead of use with anything that will not spoil and it has served me well in the past. Still there have been times I could not spare the cash to supply ahead and have ultimately had to go without or pay more. I feel sorry for the new firearms owner that can't even buy a box of ammo to test out their new purchase. Hopefully it will be back to some sense of normal in a few months.
 
I have to admit, I saw the ammo/component shortage coming, but never thought about dies and tooling! Thankfully, I'm well stocked with components and have tools and dies for everything I need. Lightman
 
I have been picking up primers, bullets and powder almost every visit to my LGS for years. Just about everyone I know has criticized me for wasting money on components, as if I needed them or something? But now that I'm able to load at will and am for the most part unaffected by the buying craze, I feel like they just might be a little bit envious. The onyl real component I got low on was SP primers, but I really didn't have any problem finding them.

GS
 
Q: Why do you need all that stuff?

A: Cuz I want it.

...

I am ok, not hurting a bit in the current panic nor paying exorbitant prices. I really could care less what others think about my guns and components collections. I have been able to support my shooting habit right on through this current mess.
 
You were smart to have the reserve. I've always felt like have 6 to 12 supply on hand was wise. If nothing else, prices only go up and not down.
 
As an old Boy Scout, I like to be prepared as well. It always pays to have a little stock on hand for the ups and downs of the supply chain.

Far fewer people we caught short handed this time around. :)
 
Nothing wrong with basking a little. I know the feeling and well, it feels good! Going back to '94 I have always made it a practice to be well stocked, as in a lifetime supply. Use 1,000 bullets or primers and replace with 2,000 slowly building a mountain for times like this. Lessons learned over 40 years.

I was surprised when the loading hardware began to vanish. Before Christmas I ordered a complete Rockchucker setup for my brother who was just getting into loading. Everything was back ordered and fortunately made it in time for Christmas. Fortunately I have been able to give my brother plenty of brass, bullets, powder and primers also. Not to mention .22 ammunition for plinking.

So while basking in sunshine is not likely here in Cleveland, Ohio during February, March at least as the good weather rolls in I will feel real comfortable going to the range. Not smug about it but sure happy. :)

Ron
 
I just feel so lucky that I got into reloading last year and had been picking up a box or two of "stuff" every week over that year. I really didn't have my eye on the ball with what was coming and got lucky when the SHTF that I was pretty well stocked up.

This is one good example of my OCD paying off! I'm a little low on 9mm bullets but have an order in and I'm sure they'll be here in plenty of time. It's nice not having to pay panic buying prices for primers if and when you find them.

My LGS still has a good supply of LPP at pre panic prices and I'm still buying a brick a week. My supplies are actually increasing vice decreasing right now, except for powder, that's impossible to find locally right now, but I have at least an 18 month supply on the shelf.

But to answer the question, yes, my lovely wife was definitely questioning my sanity as my stocks were increasing over the last year!

Oh BTW, Midway just shipped all my back ordered casting gear on Friday! I can't wait to start that process as well!!!

Just found this site a few weeks ago and have spent that time going through all 117 pages of the reloading bench thread, lots of nice sit-ups. I'm going to rip out my bench next week and start over.
 
I have run low/out of a couple things I like but push come to shove I have enough brass, bullets, powder, and primers to tide me over until the next president.
 
gamestalker,

I have a buddy that asked me the same questions about 2 years ago, buying .224 bullets in 500 rd. packs. Midway had a good sale on them, the same week a flier showed up in the mail, saw some other brand had a heck of a sale, 500 more showed up about a week later. NOW, guess who wants to know if I have any bullets/primers I might want to sell ?? I didn't have the supply I wanted when this charade started, but am working on it, lb. of powder here, 1K primers there, same ol' buddy, "You paid what for those primers? I'll wait til they come back down before I'll pay that." Guess who's still wanting bullets and primers?
 
It's been some time since that was possible on a large scale. Maybe the deal here or there.
 
After getting into competitive shooting and going through the 08 drought, I learned to stock up. I buy primers 10-30k at a time, powder 8+ pounds at a time, and bullets 1-10k at a time. Sometimes I split orders with other people I know. It is cheaper to buy in bulk when product is available. I did overpay for 22lr during the last scare. $27 per brick of 22 was high, but I was using it a lot and didn't want to be without. $15 to $20 was normal. Now $27 seems like a steal, but I am still stocked up.

I have bought a few primers and a couple single pounds of powder at the LGS. When I like a product, such as trail boss powder, I buy it in bulk. A 5 pound can from powder valley is much cheaper per pound than a single pound can at the LGS, and a big order splits up that hazmat across multiple products.

I did jump on the whole AR 15 bandwagon. I already thought about getting one within the next year as I wanted to shoot 3 gun. The threat of a ban just caused me to get there sooner. I shoot a lot of 223 compared to when I just had a mini 14 Target Model, so I need to stock up on components for that when things get better. I had supplies to put together 4500 rounds of 223, before this mess started last fall. I also ended up getting around another 3k rounds worth of components from my grandfather. I will be set for a while, but the last scare in 08 seemed to take about a year to really settle down.

I read about all of these people who can't find ammo to buy or who can't find components and I don't feel too bad. It is a bit annoying to listen to them whine. On the other hand, it sucks for those who are new to the sport and also those who did not already know about the roller coaster that is our ammo supply.
 
I picked up a few dozen bricks of .22 a few years ago and am glad i did. i gave a few to buddies and still have more than i need!
 
Time to consider the next step: casting your own.:)

Don

I've been panic buying for four years. Surprisingly, the one thing I'm anywhere near short of is bullets. :(

Went to recycle my plastic & cans today & wound up coming home with 100# of diving weights, ingots and fishing weights. :D

They've tried playing the EPA card to restrict our ammo once already. Didn't fly but "they" have a supermajority now so...


For a long time I've kind of wondered at the people saying "reloading 9mm isn't worth it." Well, I guess it is. ;)
 
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