How are you doing during this shortage?

[Hondo 60]

Seems every time I go to the not-so-local GS they don't have the powder or bullets I want.
(45-50 miles away)

So I started casting my own.
But that sets up another issue.
My load data has to change because of going from jacketed/plated to lead.

None of my tried & true recipes and/or powders will work.

For example - I used 3.7 gr of Tite Group under a 125 gr PHP.
Well the mold I have is a 158 gr RN.
(and tite group is soooo smoky with lubed lead)

I'm tryin REAL HARD NOT TO SHOOT LESS.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I've had plenty of opportunity to buy anything I could want/need at "normal" prices except maybe Unique and Bullseye and some XTP bullets I've wanted in various calibers.... just been short on funds when I find stuff. Took up casting myself to save money but I have recipes already and scored a good bit of free lead.

 

[morcey2]

The only thing I haven't been able to find that I don't have enough of is IMR4064.

And I haven't been able to find enough time to shoot, but that's probably made things easier.

Matt

 

[david bachelder]

I finally found some powder and primers, not exactly what I wanted but close enough. I was looking for Universal and settled on HP-38 and Tite Group. then I wanted Win296 and found some Hodgdon H-110. I'm fixed up for a while now.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Got bullets today and I already had primers and powder (Unique) and I have 1000 cases. I have everything but dies....and they are out of stock pretty much everywhere in .32 ACP.

Found a set of Lee Dies but I'm still looking for RCBS individuals or Lyman dies.

VooDoo

 

[Reloadron]

How are you doing during this shortage?

Not bad at all, pretty much unaffected. During the shortage I have managed to add more components than I have used. When I see something priced right and available I buy it. Not worried about running out of anything anytime soon and plenty to shoot before I even need to load more. Been fortunate I guess.

I wouldn't mind another 8 Lbs. of IMR 4064 though.

Ron

 

[Reefinmike]

I got in a pv order for 10k primers and 5lb powder day after xmas and managed to sneak another 10k order early august with just a thousand left. no large pistol and no powder but I picked up a couple pounds of both bullseye and unique from the lgs for $16 a pop. I dont like em as much as hp38... still havent found a good use for unique, trying out some 125gr magnums with 8.5gr tomorrow. I did find some nice 45 loads with bullseye though! I could have gotten some hp38 or 231 from my lgs a couple weeks ago but I just figured id let the panic settle and use up the BE and unique.

Shortly after I started reloading I knew I was in it for the long haul so I picked up casting equipment last summer.

I picked up interest in guns again in 2011 and had been oblivious to the 2008 shortage and was lucky enough to get into reloading april 2012 and smart enough to keep 8 months of weekly range ammo and 8 months worth of components on hand.

I guess im getting the worst of it now, im having to work up new loads with bullseye and unique for all calibers, kind of a pain in the butt when I cant just go shoot out in my back yard. The world is a cruel place...

 

[1SOW]

How are you doing during this shortage?

For Pistol: Twice got caught having to "limit" the amount of primers to 5K, so paid more in Haz-Mat and postage.
Bullet supplies got close to stressful, then all except some badly needed "S.D. 9mm" bullets came through---5K likely arrive tomorrow in the mail.

Other than some concern, I'm shooting a little more than normal throughout this craziness and using exactly my preferred components.
I'm still good for some time.

OH, I did buy 2K 124gr lead SWC that I've never experimented with. They are a back-up, just in case.

 

[Bud0505]

I'm doing okay. The day after the last presidential election I order 10K primers and 8 lbs of powder even though I didn't need it at the time. I've been able to order and receive lead bullets so life is good.

 

[blue32]

disregard

 

[jack44]

I need more .22 bricks cant find any! and Hornady .223

 

[PO2Hammer]

I stopped using my premium components until I can find more. (Universal, Hornady bullets, CCI primers) I still have plenty on hand, I just want to keep it that way.

I began using what I could find, IMR SR-4756, Rainier plated .357 bullets, and Tula primers. (not a fan of Tula) then I found some WSPM primers (nice).
I discovers that they shoot very well, so now I have a new pet load.

.357 brass, 158 Rainier RNFP, 6.5 grains 4756 and WSPM primers.
Shoots real nice in 2 revolvers and my carbine. Super clean burn.

I never would have know without the shortage.

 

[Clark]

And they said we hoarders were crazy.

We hoarded for Clintonomics.
We hoarded for Y2K.

You Obama hoarders..... GREENHORNS!!!

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Yeah, but what can I say, I was only 8 when Clinton was elected the first time. Just started high school around y2k. I only started reloading 18 months ago and had no idea about shortages. Lesson learned though. Unfortunately I had to sell some CFE223, 16lbs worth because this year got a little rough for me 2 months after I bought it. Oh well, didn't lose any money on it and helped out some other reloaders in need for a non-gouging price and what I have should last me until next summer at this rate.

 

[41 Mag]

Learned my lesson during "Clintonomics".

Haven't had any issues since....

 

[GLOOB]

I have only shot a few times since this whole mess started. The price hike was probably a part of the reason. I have been enjoying other pastimes, particularly woodworking. I still have a huge stock of components on hand. Going through my taxes, I noticed I spent around 3k on components in 2012. So far, only ~300.00 in 2013, just some primers, one 8 lb bottle of powder, and a box of gas checks to balance out my inventory.

 

[moxie]

First "shortage" I experienced was '92 after Clinton was elected. LGS was rationing primers by the hundred. Always prepared since then.

 

[RugerBob]

I have been looking to buy some powder at the 2 local places here in Maine, Cabelas and Kittery Trading Post. They are always out of the powder I want, Unique, 700x and Trail boss. Not hurting though as I stocked up in 08.
Kinda low on small pistol primers, the rest ok.
Sure would like to find some 22 ammo. Use it when I take the grandkids out.
And I have been casting for quite some time, so very ok there.

 

[dickttx]

Went into this OK on primers and powder, but I never have enough bullets.
Ordered 4K from MBC Tuesday morning and received 2K yesterday afternoon. Other 2K today, hopefully.

 

[fguffey]

Reloading, I want for nothing, I get a phone call, someone on the phone ask me If I need anything, the last call involved a machine shop, part or all. Before the call I was inquiring about a mill, the man said "I found two". I took pictures, three lathes etc., etc..

The shop was owned by a reloader, for me it was another wake up call.

F. Guffey

 

[SuperNaut]

I finally ran out of powder last week. I know I've made it to the tail-end of the shortage but I was quite worried I wouldn't be able to find anything. On a whim at lunchtime I rolled into Sportsman's Warehouse to see if they had anything. They had one 8# keg of IMR4064 and two 1# kegs of VVN310.

I'm good for a while.

 

[RealGun]

PO2Hammer - <> I began using what I could find, IMR SR-4756, Rainier plated .357 bullets, and Tula primers. (not a fan of Tula) then I found some WSPM primers (nice).
I discovers that they shoot very well, so now I have a new pet load.

.357 brass, 6.5 grains 4756 and WSPM primers.
Shoots real nice in 2 revolvers and my carbine. Super clean burn.

I never would have know without the shortage.

You didn't give the bullet weight. I use that load for 158 gr, either lead or XTP. I bumped up the 125gr XTP load for the smaller gun ( SP101) to 7.0 gr. I haven't tried the mag primers but have them and might check it out.

 

[ares338]

Just about the only thing that is remotely hard to find now is powder and I can usually find what I need at a gunshow. New brass is a little tight also but I still have 4 or 5 more loading s on my current brass. All in all looking a little better.

 

[jr_roosa]

I'm not flush, but I have enough to get by. If there is no resupply in the next few months then my pistol primers are going to get tight. In the spring I'll need more rifle brass and primers.

I'm waiting for things to get close to normal so I can stock up with 2 years of components. No need to do that mid shortage.

22lr on the other hand is very tight.

I might break down and get a nice air pistol if there is no letting up after the new year.

-J.

 

[RealGun]

I have had to be patient sometimes and willing to pay the price, but as long as I can provide the money or the credit I can find what I need and more online. If I tried to get by on what I find in stores or at gun shows, I would be hurting, I'm sure. So, the trick seems to be buying on line and having the money ready to go on a moment's notice.

I'm a bit of a prepper, especially living near a nuclear power plant, and with the constant threat of an imperial, illegitimate presidency, so this stuff has hardly caught me off guard. I just have to figure out how to pay for it, when supporting a substantial number of calibers and special loads for specific guns, all components bought somewhat in bulk.