Bullets prices rising?

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've noticed recently that Xtreme's bullet prices are going up. I bought their 9mm 147gr RN HPCB bullets in June for $49.20/500, in October and November for $50.68/500, and today they are listed for $55.00/500. Similarly for the same timeframes, the 9mm 124gr RN HPCB bullets were $46.72, $46.72, and $49.00. I know copper prices have shot up recently, from about $2.20/lb to $2.55/lb and lead is also up, so that may be the cause.

Are other bullet makers raising prices similarly?

 

[berettaprofessor]

More likely a rise in lead prices. Over one year, lead has gone from approximately 80 cents/lb to $1.09/lb. That's a 38% rise by my calculations.

 

[longdayjake]

Xtreme/ammoload/freedom munitions, (HMT) group is going through some major issues. From what their employees are saying, they are on the verge of being taken over by the bank. They recently laid off more than a hundred employees. The owner was removed as CEO and a new president was named just before SHOT. They also just sent out demand letters to all the people who owe them money. They have no money and the shell game has finally caught up to them. They can't get more loans and their investors and lawyers have contacted people in the industry about possible buyouts. They tried to under price their bullets to screw the market and it has finally caught up to them. They let their quality go so they could meet contracted quantities and lost the contracts anyway because the quality was bad. They need more money to make their bank payments. That's probably why you saw 20% off coupons a lot lately. It's also why it's taking them a month or more to ship bullets to those who order from them. Their employee morale is in the toilet. It does not look good for them.

Everybody has their prices the same except Xtreme. This is a total guess but my gut tells me that soon one of the large coupons that they put out will be their last and most the people who buy will lose their money when the bank comes in and takes over.

 

[hdwhit]

longdayjake wrote:
From what their employees are saying, they are on the verge of being taken over by the bank.

Well, I will be sad to see them go.

But, when the panic-buying started declining after the Presidential election, it was pretty clear that anyone in the ammunition or components business was going to face some difficult times - all the more so if they were highly leveraged.

As longdayjake's post suggests, troubled companies will try to tap their inventories for liquidity by offering big sales. It's an opportunity to get some great deals if you can accept the risk that the company may already be out of business before they process your order and you'll have to file a claim with the Bankruptcy Court to get some of your money back. As a "bottom feeder", I have gotten some great deals from distressed sellers, but I've also been in the position where I got nothing except a two-year wait to get back 16 cents on the dollar.

 

[wally]

As longdayjake's post suggests, troubled companies will try to tap their inventories for liquidity by offering big sales. It's an opportunity to get some great deals if you can accept the risk that the company may already be out of business before they process your order and you'll have to file a claim with the Bankruptcy Court to get some of your money back

Pay by credit card. If they haven't shipped it in 30 days dispute the charge, you will get 100% of your money back. Been there done that.

The only time I ever got burned was when Northeastern Bullets went under, I called them up before I disputed the charge, they spun a yarn and gave me a partial shipment, so I "allowed" a back order for the rest, never heard from them again and after 60 days the credit card company can't help. I got about $0.70 on the dollar as the partial shipment was the bulk of the order and what was most important to me at the time.

 

[Bart B.]

Prices go up on everything since the best thing for ones financial well being came to pass.

There's one in each stage of product expense from raw material to consumer retail for everyone involved.

It's called a pay raise.

 

[Axis II]

So wait a minute extreme bullet company is going under?

I really like there bullets much more than berrys for the price and more bulk and accuracy. if this is true I'm going right to cabelas and buying all their stock. I cut my teeth on them and a little afraid of starting over with another brand.

 

[LiveLife]

I've noticed recently that Xtreme's bullet prices are going up.

Are other bullet makers raising prices similarly?

Over the past 25 years I have been reloading, bullet makers have been raising prices.

I used to pay around $40 for 1000 9mm lead bullets and $67/1000 for Winchester FMJ bullets. While I do not expect bullet prices to drop to those levels, I do expect bullet prices to climb in the future. When my wife asked me why I buy so many bullets, I tell her I am investing in precious metal. Yes, bullets last a long time and I am still shooting last of Winchester FMJ bullets.

If you want to save money, buy in bulk and many bullet manufacturers offer volume discount. RMR offers 4,000 115 gr FMJ for $306. With 5% THR discount, that comes to $72.67/1000. For 12,000 bullets, $71.25/1000 and 20,000 bullets, $70.30/1000 all with free shipping. You can do group buys to spread the cost of bulk purchase.

if this is true I'm going right to cabelas and buying all their stock. I cut my teeth on them and a little afraid of starting over with another brand.

I wouldn't. I have shot Berry's, Power Bond, Rainier, Rocky Mountain Reloading, Speer TMJ along with X-Treme plated bullets the past 25 years and X-Treme bullets are not the best in the industry.

As soon as rain season stops I will resume the plated/jacketed/coated bullet comparison testing using just about every plated bullet currently manufactured (I will be adding more bullets to test as I start jacketed bullet comparison test thread). So stay tuned.

List of bullets to be tested here - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ng-at-25-50-yards.808446/page-2#post-10346110

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

More likely a rise in lead prices. Over one year, lead has gone from approximately 80 cents/lb to $1.09/lb. That's a 38% rise by my calculations.

I thought the same, but I just checked the price of some MBC coated bullets I bought last July and the website prices are the same today. Maybe it is the company problems at Xtreme others have mentioned. I'd be sorry for that to be true, as I really like their bullets.

 

[ReloaderFred]

It sounds like Extreme's business model has finally caught up with them.........

Fred

 

[Jonesy814]

I have loaded and shot around 10,000 Xtreme bullets since I got into reloading 3 years ago. I have never had any quality problems and would hate to see them go under.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

RMR hasn't raised their prices, kudo's to them. I've become a customer for life at RMR, no need to look anywhere else.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

RMR hasn't raised their prices, kudo's to them. I've become a customer for life at RMR, no need to look anywhere else.

I'm about to place my first order with RMR. Ive been using Hornaday, Berrys and Everglades.

Everglades and RMR seem to be very competitive with each other with one bullet being a few cents more at one and cheaper on another type.

Either the THR discount RMR's prices are a bit better. And since Jake is a member here and RMR gets great reviews I'm going to give them a try.

And just for the record Everglades has been excellent so I'm not slighting them in any way.

Personally I love having options especially when both are excellent choices

 

[higgite]

FWIW, despite the doomsday news posted above, I ordered some X-treme 9mm HPs during their Valentine's sale and got a notice from UPS that they shipped out Friday.

 

[hdwhit]

ohihunter2014 wrote:
So wait a minute extreme bullet company is going under?

Nobody said that. Longdayjake cited reports from unnamed employees that there had been some problems with the company. A lot of companies go through turmoil when their environment changes. Some survive, Some reorganize under supervision of the bankruptcy court and Some just don't make it.

The business environment for everyone in the gun, ammunition, components and associated fields got more challenging after the election as the panic buying in anticipation of a Hillary "gun grab" faded and people now have to spend that money on a newer car, a new clothes dryer or new shoes. Any business that went into 2016 without a strategy for what to do if Trump won - and the cash reserves to execute that strategy - is facing some significant challenges today and whether any of them can survive those challenges remains to be seen.

 

[JO JO]

Same here I ordered Valentine's Day and they shipped Friday with tracking #
I agree prices have gone up, I have always had fast shipping from them?

 

[longdayjake]

That's a good sign. Let's hope that means the rumors aren't true.

Same here I ordered Valentine's Day and they shipped Friday with tracking #
I agree prices have gone up,

 

[higgite]

That's a good sign. Let's hope that means the rumors aren't true.

Let's also hope the rumors don't scare off any of X-treme's customers, needlessly making a potentially bad situation worse for them.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Let's also hope the rumors don't scare off any of X-treme's customers

I started to give up on Xtreme when their shipping times got longer and longer.

Having friends receive undersized jacketed bullets (.354" 9mm 124gr pills) and being told that they were "in spec" was bad enough. Having them then have to wait 2 months for a refund really pushed me away.

Discovering that coated lead bullets gave me better performance (more speed w/less powder) than their plated .38Spl pills was what finally weened me away from them

 

[JO JO]

Internet rumors "fake news" is everywhere anymore I hope it is untrue
Hate to see American business have trouble, that said I ordered less from them this time due to the price increase and may start looking at coated bullets going forward

 

[FROGO207]

Well as long as they still offer them I will buy their 30 cal plated for the 30 carbine and the 7.62 plated for the 7.62X39 as they are great performers. As long as the price stays a bit below the FMJ versions of the same. Just sayin.

 

[higgite]

I started to give up on Xtreme when their shipping times got longer and longer.

Having friends receive undersized jacketed bullets (.354" 9mm 124gr pills) and being told that they were "in spec" was bad enough. Having them then have to wait 2 months for a refund really pushed me away.
..........

Your friends' .354” bullets were well within SAAMI spec of .3525-.3555 for 9mm Luger bullets. I remember a thread about that a few months back. Not sure if it was here or another forum.

The FMJs that I bought from Xtreme about that time were also under .355 (.3542-.3454) but still within SAAMI specs. I probably overreacted and complained to Xtreme. They sent me a prepaid shipping label to return them and refunded the full purchase price within a week.

 

[9mmepiphany]

That is what he expected to happen also...it was the 2 month delay that had him worried

 

[Axis II]

Nobody said that. Longdayjake cited reports from unnamed employees that there had been some problems with the company. A lot of companies go through turmoil when their environment changes. Some survive, Some reorganize under supervision of the bankruptcy court and Some just don't make it.

The business environment for everyone in the gun, ammunition, components and associated fields got more challenging after the election as the panic buying in anticipation of a Hillary "gun grab" faded and people now have to spend that money on a newer car, a new clothes dryer or new shoes. Any business that went into 2016 without a strategy for what to do if Trump won - and the cash reserves to execute that strategy - is facing some significant challenges today and whether any of them can survive those challenges remains to be seen.

thanks for clearing that up. i love their bullets. was just asking not trying to cause turmoil.

 

[headednorth]

Theyve always been ok with me, hope they stay around.

I had a shipment come from them that had a couple of the boxes torn open with bullets rolling around inside the bigger box the shipment was in. Decided to do a count of the open boxes and found ~25 of one bullet and ~40 or so of the other were missing. Iirc, there were around 60-70 or so total I was shorted in an order of probably 2k total. Sent Xtreme an email basically saying, "Not a huge deal, but I'd like the rest shipped please." I got 100 of each bullet in the mail a few days later.