Guidelines to use after the "Great Component Shortage"

[LiveLife]

Before the shortage of 2008, I used to keep enough reloading components to cover about 1-2 years of shooting. After the shortage, I increased my stock to cover 3-5+ years and thankfully, I have gone through the current "Great Shortage" without having the "need" to purchase reloading components because I "ran out" of particular component. I was able to make purchases the past 2 years because I "wanted" to when the price was good enough for me.

It is my opinion that we are near the end of the "Great Shortage" and to benefit THR members and guests, discussion of guidelines for what to keep on hand after the shortage may help others avoid the problem many faced in future shortage that we may experience. No, I am not a "prepper" but a realistic and practical reloader and shooter who doesn't like the inconvenience of not having ammunition of choice for my firearms.

So, what are some guidelines you plan to use to "restock" for your reloading in terms of components when the "Great Shortage" comes to an end? What tips would you offer to other THR members and guests who were not prepared for the past two component shortages? We should also discuss the virtues of certain powders that are capable of reloading many calibers when more popular powders sell out like Red Dot/Promo/Green Dot/Herco.

These are my guidelines for 380Auto/38Spl/9mm/40S&W/45ACP/.223-5.56/.300BLK/.308:

- Enough brass for each caliber to last 5-10+ years
- Enough projectiles/bullets to last 2-3+ years depending on caliber
- Enough primers to last 3-5+ years
- At least two 8 lbs of primary powders like Bullseye/W231/HP-38/Unique/Universal/H4895/Varget/RL15/H335/H110 depending on preference
- At least one 8 lbs of secondary powders like Red Dot/Promo/Titegroup/PowerPistol/CFE Pistol/WSF/300MP/A1680/H4198
- Consider one 8 lbs of tertiary powders like Green Dot/Herco

Tips:

- Set aside some money each month or use tax refund money to buy in bulk when components go on sale or come across buying opportunity
- Get together with other reloaders and set up group buys to reduce HazMat/Shipping costs
- If you shoot pistol matches, develop accurate match loads with primary powders but practice with accurate target loads using secondary powders
- When primary powders are hard to find, stock up on secondary/tertiary powders to slow down the use of primary powders
- When more popular powders are non-existent, powders like Red Dot/Promo, Green Dot and Herco can be used for 9mm/40S&W/45ACP

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO anything below 50,000 primers and 60 lbs of powder is too little.

 

[z7]

I got started in the shortage, but my lesson learned is to buy in bulk

 

[valleyforge.1777]

I could never understand why my local gun shops sell primers in the little 100 count trays. Particularly for pistol primers, but even for rifle primers, who the heck bothers to reload but only makes 100 rounds at a time and then goes back to the gun store to buy another 100 primers??

 

[joeschmoe]

Because I AM A "prepper", I had that entire guideline already stocked BEFORE the current shortage. I have not bought ammo or components in years. For the most part I have switched to Archery in the last few years to keep from depleting my stocks. When prices/availability return to "normal" I will go on "prepping" as before.


In my case I can add to that list;

buy quality re-loadable ammo in bulk
Limit caliber inventory
Buy small quantities of various components for testing, then;
Buy only premium components in bulk

I felt like I was sitting on a pile of gold because of the bags of Hornady 75gr BTHP I have stashed away.

 

[GJSchulze]

I shoot 9mm. I don't see brass as a problem. People tend to accumulate a lot of brass normally.

I saw bullets become available first, followed by primers, and we're still waiting for powder. Assuming the delay for each is caused by manufacturing capacity, I will prioritize my buying according to this. I looked at my bullet purchases for the last two years and will use this to determine how many rounds I need to plan for.

Although Obama was elected in 2012, the shortage didn't start until maybe a year later. I expect the next time a shortage will occur sooner, although this will be offset by people stocking up well before that. IOW, anyone getting caught short this time doesn't want to get caught the next time.

I want to get up to two years supply as soon as I can for bullets and primers. I want to get to three years of powder asap. After that I will build up slowly to three or four years of all.

I only use Power Pistol, but intend to find similar powder from two or three manufacturers. I think it's important that they be from different sources. If they can only produce a couple of different powders at a time, you have a better chance that one of your choices will be made sooner by one of the manufacturers.

 

[witchhunter]

Since I am getting close to retirement, I have been looking at having enough ammo to shoot the rest of my life. I have been trying to stock up an extra 20 % a year on my components. I started about 3 years ago. Bad timing, I know. So now I am having to settle for buying what I can when it is available. I look at some of my rifles that I shoot just for fun....25/35, 25/20, etc. I try to stock 10 years worth. I only have one deer rifle, so I bought enough powder and bullets to wear out the barrel with it's favorite load. But, I shoot prairie dogs, this year so far I've shot right at 5000 rounds in 5 guns. 1K per year. 20 years of this, makes it 100K. .35 cents a shot, works out to 35K. Anybody hiring part time? Will work for components....

 

[gonoles_1980]

I'm in the same boat as witchhunter, I'm 2-5 years out, depending on how much fun I'm having at work. I want to get enough supplies that I can cross that off my expense list. Right now I use about 2lbs of powder a year and close to 4000 primers. I figure I'll have 30 years to reload for. That's 60lbs of powders, seems like way too much, and 120,000 primers, and the same number of bullets, and really need to buy a bunch more cases. Maybe I'll shoot for 10 years at a time.

 

[RealGun]

I am more concerned about conspiracies to take away what I already have or to trace and record what I am buying. The future will not be like the past. I am not a young man, so I think there will be different perspectives.

 

[BullRunBear]

I pretty much agree with the OP but would add the ability to cast bullets for each caliber, both molds and metal, and to prep them as needed.

Partly to save components and mostly for fun, I am doing ever more shooting with muzzleloaders. I get black powder in bulk and can pick it up in person to avoid hazmat fees. I still have enough caps for the C&B revolvers for a few years and most rifle shooting is with flintlocks. I pick up more percussion caps whenever possible.

As Joe mentioned above, I am adding archery to the target shooting hobby. This will be the first time with a bow since Boy Scout camp some 50 years ago and should provide some humor if nothing else. The exercise will do me good and it will let me further stretch out the reloading components.

I'm enjoying this thread: a philosophical approach to preparations and some concrete suggestions about amounts.

Jeff

 

[LiveLife]

I pretty much agree with the OP but would add the ability to cast bullets for each caliber

I am planning to cast after retirement but did not add that aspect to the thread as future component shortage would not affect my stock of lead alloy.

As many successfully demonstrated, powder coating bullets is a viable option for me to pursue also and will cast/powder coat as time allows for me to build up my stock of projectiles for pistol and rifle.

My primary objective with this thread is to help prepare THR members/guests for if/when the next shortage hits us, we won't need the "Where are there reloading components" thread as much. Instead, I hope we can enjoy the "Who prepared for the current component shortage?"

 

[kcofohio]

bds, I agree. I don't want to see another "Where is/are the...." thread, and be searching the post.

 

[Wildbillz]

I would add to the list.

Learn how to cast your own bullets (if you don't all ready)
Buy quality components and keep a rotation of them on going.
If we ever see USGI pull down bullets at a decent price again. Stock up till it hurts.
Keep your supply's organized.
If you do get caught short think outside of the box.


Oh ya, and buy twice as much 22Lr as you think you'll will ever need.


WB

 

[witchhunter]

I used to live by a store that carried 22 LR and some reloading stuff. I started buying a brick of 22 and a brick of primers of one size or another every time I went in there, about once a month. That was in the 80's. My son is 27, he has never had to buy 22's in his life! I still have a few bricks of primers marked 9 dollars. My grandson gets a brick of 22's for every birthday, Christmas etc. He has 8 or 10 bricks with his name and the date given. He is 3. I have given a few to guys with kids lately, just so the kids aren't caught up with no ammo for their new 22 in this shortage.

 

[jmorris]

I follow the same one I had before the AWB from Clinton (and still have stuff from before that time).

Don't buy it like food, it won't spoil and won't get any cheaper. That said don't panic buy as you are going to pay the price for the artificial shortage not only at the time but as the manufacturers realize they can get more money for the product if they don't make as much.

You create a "win, win" for them and a "loose, loose" for you and your reloading brothers and sisters.

 

[moonman16]

Purchase what you use and A SMALL BIT EXTRA to start a stockpile.

Over time your stockpile will grow and YOU do not become subject

to these shortages and political games.

Have a steady LONG TERM PLAN and stick with it.

 

[cfullgraf]

In 2008, I planned on about 1 year of shooting. In 2012, that increased to about 2 years worth.

But, I find that I am shooting less for a variety of reasons but not because of a lack of components. That will stretch my supplies. For instance, I stocked up to a two/three year supply of 30-06 ammunition a few years ago but have not shot any since then.

I do watch what vendors have and have buying components when i see them for a reasonable price.

Panics and frenzy buying are one thing, but I am not sure how I will deal with a ban on ammunition or components. Unless I start stocking up now, I will probably miss that train.

 

[jmorris]

But, I find that I am shooting less for a variety of reasons but not because of a lack of components. That will stretch my supplies. For instance, I stocked up to a two/three year supply of 30-06 ammunition a few years ago but have not shot any since then.

This is why I have a lot of components vs loaded ammo.

.223, 308 and 45-70 can all use the same powder for example. Load all you have in any and you will likely be out of what you need.

 

[gahunter12]

I started loading back in early 2008 before Obama was elected. At that time I only kept on hand 2-3k primers in each size, and 8lb of each powder I used. I learned a big lesson when I couldn't find primers, and if I did they were $80-$100/1k.

Since then I decided to stock up, and spent the next 3 years doing so. At the end of 2012 I had 72k primers, and 64lbs of powder. I figured that would be plenty to last me till this shortage passed, but boy was I wrong! I used up all my H335 back in January, and I'm down to 11-12lbs of Titegroup. Lucky me H335 has been easy to find, buy Titegroup has been very hard to find. I did receive 8lb back in June that I ordered Dec last year.

Going forward I will work toward my new goals

48lb of Titegroup - I use about 16lb per year
48lb of H335
16lb of Retumbo
16lb of H1000
16lb of W231/HP38 - if any ever shows up.
16lb of WST
80k SPP
60k SRP
30k LPP
5k LMRP

As for bullets I always buy bulk at the beginning of the year, then again around June. I will try to keep a years worth of bullets for each caliber I load for in the future. I never would have imagined bullets being hard to come by last year.

 

[cfullgraf]

This is why I have a lot of components vs loaded ammo.

.223, 308 and 45-70 can all use the same powder for example. Load all you have in any and you will likely be out of what you need.

I agree, I bought 30-06 surplus HXP ball ammunition for the cases plus I get to "unload" it in the bargain.

Price from CMP was less per round than new factory cases.

 

[joeschmoe]

Panics and frenzy buying are one thing, but I am not sure how I will deal with a ban on ammunition or components. Unless I start stocking up now, I will probably miss that train.

I don't think outright bans are a serious threat. Thanks to Supreme Court cases that make clear that a right to arms is a protected Constitutional right. That must include ammo or else a gun is just a paper weight. There are other ways that the other side can make life difficult for us; restrictions, complicated licensing schemes, costs, shortages, access, availability, etc. They can make it "hard" but not impossible.
This last shortage was a "perfect storm" of commodity shortage, economic downturn, weakening dollar, panic buying, etc.

Even if we assume (pray it's not) two or three times as long, more severe and coupled with some draconian laws and bizarre licensing schemes... eventually we must still be able to legally acquire guns and ammo. Federal law, the Constitution and the Supreme Court are on our side.

I hope this shortage has taught everyone that they need to stock up on everything you need when the getting is good. For the very wealthy or well connected nothing is ever unobtainable. For the rest of us... shop smart when the time is good and hang tough through the bad times.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Having gone through the shortages in 1968, 1996, 2008 and the present one, I was well prepared for this one, and I'll be well prepared for the next one. What I have on hand is nobody's business but mine, and the amount of ammunition I can produce is also nobody's business but mine.......

With over 200 bullet molds and a good supply of alloy, I can make just about any bullet I need, and for jacketed in handgun calibers, I can swage them.........

Those who depend on the local store always having what you need will always be in need........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[USSR]

I will simply say, the bullet is the most expensive component of any ammunition and you can make your own bullets quite easily. To all you guys who reload but are buying bullets, consider casting your own bullets and take yourself one step closer to selfsufficientcy. Just MHO.

Don

 

[RealGun]

the bullet is the most expensive component of any ammunition

Big bore revolver brass is not available off the ground for free, and it's not cheap. Also, anyone loading for SD in any caliber might be well advised to use new brass.

 

[USSR]

Big bore revolver brass is not available off the ground for free, and it's not cheap. Also, anyone loading for SD in any caliber might be well advised to use new brass.

Ah, but once-fired brass is available for a very reasonable price, and when you amortize the cost of the brass over the number of reloads your will get from it, brass cost comes into the same cost range as primers and powders. The only new revolver brass that I have ever bought is for my .45 Colt, and then it was only because I wanted Starline brass for high end loads.

Don