What is our collective mantra as reloaders? "I reload because at some point I may not be able to buy factory ammo." That needs to change to "I buy factory ammo now because I cannot buy powder to reload, and I worry that I will not be able to buy factory ammo later." The domestic and geopolitical situations are rapidly moving to a state where you will not be able to buy any ammo or reloading components at any price. "Too much is never enough." Flame away, because I too I fervently hope that I am wrong.
Buy Factory Ammo Now
- Thread starter leefan
- Start date
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plmitch
Member
Is the sky falling again?
GBExpat
Member
I like to reload. I find it to be relaxing ... and I enjoy adjusting and creating my own loads.leefan said:
I currently do not buy factory ammo because it costs more than I am willing to pay ... which is why I stocked up years ago on beaucoup inexpensive milsurp and, in some instances, factory ammo.
CoalTrain49
Member
Well, I don't know if it's really that bad, but..... what you are suggesting is a possibility.
I'm a reloader. Not because I think factory ammo will disappear but because I like to save a little money and I enjoy building ammo to my specs. Back a few years ago I used to shoot a lot of trap and one could save about half the cost by loading their own shells. This isn't true anymore because of the price of components like lead and powder. Several years ago I started loading pistol ammo about the time the primer supply went south. Now we have a powder and brass shortage.
That tells me that at any given time there will be a shortage of some sort. So a prudent shooter would be wise to gather either factory ammo or components in an abundant supply or maybe both. I'm too cheap to buy factory ammo but I have 8 lbs of powder, 5000 primers, 5000 bullets and 1000 pieces of brass for every cartridge that I shoot. I also have 150 lbs of shot.
In these times I don't consider that to be unusual.
I'm a reloader. Not because I think factory ammo will disappear but because I like to save a little money and I enjoy building ammo to my specs. Back a few years ago I used to shoot a lot of trap and one could save about half the cost by loading their own shells. This isn't true anymore because of the price of components like lead and powder. Several years ago I started loading pistol ammo about the time the primer supply went south. Now we have a powder and brass shortage.
That tells me that at any given time there will be a shortage of some sort. So a prudent shooter would be wise to gather either factory ammo or components in an abundant supply or maybe both. I'm too cheap to buy factory ammo but I have 8 lbs of powder, 5000 primers, 5000 bullets and 1000 pieces of brass for every cartridge that I shoot. I also have 150 lbs of shot.
In these times I don't consider that to be unusual.
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Wait...WHAT?
This is one weird thread. Buy factory ammo whether you want factory ammo or not, because the sky is falling? Wow, just when the ammo panic is about over, now it's TEOTWAWKI? Dang.
345 DeSoto
Member
...TEOTWAWKI???...
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
The End Of The World As We Know It!
REM knew all about it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM knew all about it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I have more than enough powder/primers and other reloading components to last my lifetime so I won't be paying overinflated factory ammo prices any time soon thank you.
I do appreciate the advice though, even if it is very confusing...
I do appreciate the advice though, even if it is very confusing...
witchhunter
Member
Well, lately I have seen some factory loaded ammo for the same price as virgin brass.
Mohave-Tec
Member
Ain't worried 'bout a thang.
I am new to reloading and have been very frustrated with the shortage of powder. I can find primers and bullets and I have brass but finding powder is almost impossible.
On the other hand I have more than enough factory ammo, in all calibers but 380 and 22LR, to last me for a couple of years. I continue to buy factory ammo when I find it at a decent price.
On the other hand I have more than enough factory ammo, in all calibers but 380 and 22LR, to last me for a couple of years. I continue to buy factory ammo when I find it at a decent price.
jcwit
member
Impossible for me to use up all my components.
Life is Good!
Life is Good!
up 2 snuff
Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2014
- Messages
- 40
I like to reload because I like having ammo better than factory, and I find a lot of satisfaction in making a weapon function well with the ammo I make. It is also nice to save a little money in the process.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I hand load because I simply enjoy rolling my own and working up accurate loads especially for my rifles for target shooting. When I see what I feel is a good deal on factory ammunition or hand loading components I buy the stuff as it has a heck of a long shelf life. That being about as simple as it gets.
Ron
Ron
sauer1911
Member
In California .45acp sells for about ¢.45 new.
I can build a .45 bullet for less, alot less
Brass used - free
primer ¢.04
powder ¢.02
projectile ¢.10
total ¢.16
Pretty much the same scenario with 9mm.
Its fun and I save ALOT of money.
be safe
I can build a .45 bullet for less, alot less
Brass used - free
primer ¢.04
powder ¢.02
projectile ¢.10
total ¢.16
Pretty much the same scenario with 9mm.
Its fun and I save ALOT of money.
be safe
il.bill
Member
Does leefan work for one of the commercial ammunition manufacturers?
If things get that bad, methinks future purchases of ammo/components would not be my top priority in survival
.While there have been and still are shortages, it seems reloading components do eventually come back. Primers were very hard to get recently, but there's plenty now. At one time bullets were also tough to find, but I'm now getting emails to purchase at discounts. And I'm relatively new to reloading.
Perhaps, one can buy these now instead of waiting for the next woe is me
. Last year pistol powder was somewhat more available, and that was the time to get them. And if you can score just one 8 lb jug of W231 or HP38, you can make ~12,000 pistol rounds. Using 357 mag (in my case), 12,000 factory rounds on hand doesn't seem as economical or as easy to store.
More importantly (for me), one can customize the cartridge to one's tastes. I load 38 special -to- 38+P pressures in 357 with plated bullets. My setup is in reverse from a past adage: I practice with 357 cases, but my designated SD (hope it never happens) load is 38+p. I don't have to worry about cleaning chamber rings.
blarby
Member
*unfolds his morning tinfoil*
Nope, still can get powder with but a single phone call.
*folds the foil back up, goes back in the cave*
Nope, still can get powder with but a single phone call.
*folds the foil back up, goes back in the cave*
Kingcreek
Member
Over the last 25 years, I've bought more than enough components whenever available and convenient. I've never purchased during panic runs and shortages. I seem to have more on hand right now than I've ever had at any other time.
I don't see the problem.
I don't see the problem.
Greg Mercurio
Member
Maybe the "impossible to find powder" is a regional thing. I live in MT and travel to WA, ID, and OR regularly. In all of these states, supplies of powder, primers, bullets and factory ammo are all relatively good. One particular store in ID has an impressive selection of powders again, but YMMV. My reloading room has all the supplies I'll ever need.
I buy a couple pounds of powder whenever I pass thru. By no means am I panic buying, but I am replacing what I use pretty regularly. I haven't bought factory ammo for years, and don't intend to pay a buck a shot for any reason. The prices of factory rounds is obscene. And I doubt it is the factories that are marking the prices up. I suspect it's a supply/demand thing, with the distributors causing most of the gouging, creating a beautiful scenario for the store owners. They didn't create the problem, but they are probably not whining about the situation either.
Case in point: On Wed I stopped at a store in MT, saw a couple of boxes of Missouri Bullet Co. Keith 240g cast bullets. Priced at $69. MBC sells these for $49 on their website. I don't know if there's special jobber pricing, but $20 markup over retail is just a little extreme for my tastes. Clearly a case of pricing at what the market will bear.
I buy a couple pounds of powder whenever I pass thru. By no means am I panic buying, but I am replacing what I use pretty regularly. I haven't bought factory ammo for years, and don't intend to pay a buck a shot for any reason. The prices of factory rounds is obscene. And I doubt it is the factories that are marking the prices up. I suspect it's a supply/demand thing, with the distributors causing most of the gouging, creating a beautiful scenario for the store owners. They didn't create the problem, but they are probably not whining about the situation either.
Case in point: On Wed I stopped at a store in MT, saw a couple of boxes of Missouri Bullet Co. Keith 240g cast bullets. Priced at $69. MBC sells these for $49 on their website. I don't know if there's special jobber pricing, but $20 markup over retail is just a little extreme for my tastes. Clearly a case of pricing at what the market will bear.
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