Interesting observation concerning ammo today

[Alte Schule]

I went to my local Academy this morning. The ammo shelves were stacked tall and deep. Plenty of 9mm, 9mm +P and .380 ACP from $18 to $26 for 50 ct box. .357 Magnum and .38 Special for $30 to $35. Hornady Critical Defense in several calibers at about %15 above pre COVID prices. 5.56 and .223 took up two shelves as did .22 LR. Also had several rifle calibers such as .300 BO. .300 Win and 6.5. No 30.06 though.

What I found interesting was this. I found and bought 3 boxes of Aguila 32 ACP, which I was in dire need of and, at $28 a box, if I remember right, that is about $5 more than pre COVID. On line for the last several months and as of last Saturday using AmmoSpy.net, the only .32 ACP I saw listed was American Eagle for $65 and S&B for $99 a box of 50. Today AmmoSpy has five listings for .32 ACP from $37 to $44. .357 was almost non existent a couple of weeks ago now on line there are multiple listings. One for $29.

This makes me cautiously optimistic about turning the corner on this current ammo situation but I can only speak for the small corner of the lower 48 in which I live. South Central Texas. A bonus: Academy was only allowing two boxes per day per person of handgun or rifle ammunition and 5 boxes of shotgun ammo. New sign today states four boxes a day for handgun or rifle ammo and 10 boxes of shotgun.

 

[.38 Special]

I am seeing the same sort of thing, to a lesser degree, in California. Ammunition is becoming more available, though prices still vary - and are mostly higher than they used to be.

With the exception of .22, though, I just don't buy ammunition, and haven't seen any improvement at all on the powder and primer front.

 

[.308 Norma]

This makes me cautiously optimistic about turning the corner on this current ammo situation but I can only speak for the small corner of the lower 48 in which I live. South Central Texas.

Seeing the same sort of things when I was in Sportsman's Warehouse in Pocatello, Idaho yesterday made me "cautiously optimistic" too. It seemed like there was more ammo on the shelves than I'd seen in a long time.
I didn't pay much attention to the prices though. I was mostly looking at new handloading manuals - which there was a better selection of than Sportsman's in Pocatello has had in a long time also.
I like handloading manuals a lot. Alright, I'm kinda "addicted" to them, and Sportsman's had the latest from Speer, Nosler and Hornady yesterday. However, the one I liked the most was the Hornady manual, and it was almost $50.00.
I know I'll buy it eventually anyway. But this is the first of the month, there are bills due, and my retirement funds won't hit the bank account for a couple of weeks yet.

 

[jag1954]

I'm seeing things slowly turn around for the good here in Central Ohio ammo-supply wise, but prices still seem to be a bit all over the place.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

That's good to hear. I've taken a break from ammo hunting for the last few month's. Getting there a hour plus before opening was getting old.

Maybe I'll drive up to my local Academy and Bass Pro when they open on my next day off

 

[gobsauce]

Ammo supply is still ass in El Paso and Las Cruces. I have better luck finding ammo in Juarez.

 

[berettaprofessor]

32acp has been in stock at a local Academy for a couple of weeks..at $36/box. I’m proud of my local citizens for not buying it.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

It's nice seeing ammo on the shelves again. My LGS had powders too on the shelf.

 

[blackd24]

PSA is offering financing for purchases over $299… so that should tell you how their sales are going - see prices plummet.

and please - never finance guns or gun purchases, especially for $300.

 

[Gridley]

Anyone seen primers yet? I've been considering getting into reloading again...

 

[gobsauce]

Anyone seen primers yet? I've been considering getting into reloading again...

I paid 30$ for 100 when the pandemic was in full swing. I didn't know better.

 

[snowman357]

Looks like prices are coming down I watch sg ammo and the steel case 7.62x39 that caliber usually comes down before the others. I have gotten notifications of primers and some of the harder to find powders the last 2 weeks. I'm just waiting to see what the new normal will be. I reload a lot but have a hard time keeping up with my trigger finger with 5.56 and 9mm so I reload and but those calibers. The new normal will probably be high enough that I will not buy ammo except 22lr and steel 7.62x39. I keep 2 years worth of inventory but will increase that to 5 years once the prices settle out.

 

[Hartkopf]

Two years ago this was a terrible price


But now it’s a sure sign things are getting better.

 

[Blue Ridge Shooter]

The academy sports near me in western NC still has lines forming early in the morning before the store opens. You can never find pistol ammo there by randomly walking in but there is usually some rifle ammo. They have a limit of 4 boxes rifle or pistol.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I went to Academy tonight and they had diddly. Went to Bass Pro and their prices are still up. They did have some CCI primers but I didn't buy any. They had magnum small pistol, magnum small rifle and large rifle all for $65/1000.
SG Ammo had Blazer Brass 9mm for $369/1000. Not great but way better than it has been.

 

[FROGO207]

I paid 30$ for 100 when the pandemic was in full swing. I didn't know better.

OUCH!! Hope this never becomes a new normal.


I also remember that not too many moons ago that that 9MM blaser was $4.99 at WM.

 

[edwardware]

. . . in El Paso and Las Cruces. I have better luck finding ammo in Juarez.

Yeah, but I prefer my ammo come to me cool and at ~1ft/s, not hot at ~900ft/s.

 

[Trey Veston]

They did have some CCI primers but I didn't buy any. They had magnum small pistol, magnum small rifle and large rifle all for $65/1000.

I would happily pay $65 for 1000 small pistol CCI primers. Haven't seen them for a year in this area. And still no ammo or powder locally.

 

[Speedo66]

AIM Surplus has had ammo, and guns, for the last few weeks, and their prices are pretty good.

Worth a look.