Packing up my reloaders and putting them away

[Okiecruffler]

Went to Sportsman's warehouse today to pick up some bullets. Thought I'd pick up some shot too and load up some dove loads. WRONG!!!!! $37.50/25#. It was $25 not 6 months ago.

 

[wdlsguy]

That's what happens when lead hits $1.32 a pound.

 

[Okiecruffler]

And to think I've got about 500# of lead ingots in the garage I've just been turning into bullets.:banghead:

 

[Dave McCracken]

Prices up all over. Primers, wads and powder up also.

When I started reloading shotguns shells 5 years ago, I could make a box for about $2.75. Now up over $4.

 

[scout26]

WOW, only $37.50 for bag of shot, John you passed up on a deal. Last week at Bass Pro in Bolingbrook, Il it was $54.99 a bag.

 

[mcooper]

Where is a good place to order shotshell components from?

 

[coxhw]

If your in the Houston area Marburgers in Kehma has 7 1/2 for 30 something. Catrer Country is 10.00 more.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I tell you, that .410 is looking more and more attractive all the time. I've already gotten rid of my semi-auto rifles and my 444 pistol because I couldn't afford to feed them. Looks like the 12ga will be the next to go. Just to the back of the closet, can't get rid of it.

 

[redneck2]

too bad my paycheck hasn't gone up 600% in the last year.

 

[MCgunner]

Christ. Last time I bought a bag of shot it was 16 bucks for 25 lbs. Yeah, it was a while back. LOL I gave up reloading shot shells a long time ago. I think you have to be a big time trap and skeet shooter to really justify it and then only because you can tailor your loads and produce better patterns than you can buy. Cost wise, it's a dead end deal.

I get lead for my pistol reloading pretty cheap, as in free from the backstop at the range. About 30 minutes and I can pick up a big coffee can full, about 15-20 lbs. I once saw a shot making machine, but it was rather expensive and I seriously doubt the quality of the shot it could produce. All in all, I'd rather just go buy shot shells at Wallyworld. Hell, I shoot more steel than I do lead now days anyway. I shoot lead on dove, but mostly duck hunt. I've been duck hunting for 40 years and can't shake the habit.

 

[BlisteringSilence]

Where is a good place to order shotshell components from?

I get my wads from Gander Mountain. I have a store here now, so I buy via the catalog and then ask to pick them up. My primers, I shop around, but usually end up at Midway, and get the winchester 209's. I get my powder from the factory, outside of Joplin, Missouri. It used to be Hercules, and now it's Alliant.

And for my shot, I go about 10 miles east of town, and buy it from the Remington Ammo plant there. They'll even sheet metal test my shot for me to ensure its nice and round.

And I get my hulls from their on-site range. They give them away (unlike Olin, outside of STL where I grew up). And I love to reload Premier cartridges. Those hulls are awesome. Just as good as old AA's.

 

[johnmcl]

For the past six months I've been shooting AA shotshells in my trap league. The primary purpose was to build up an inventory of shells for reloading. With the current price points for reloading components I believe that strategy has come to an end.

I have a kitchen garbage bag full of AA shells.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Save the shells for now. Eventually the price of lead will come down OR the price of shells will go way up. Things will change......(hope springs eternal......)

 

[ilmonster]

With lead at $39/bag, I can still reload 7/8 oz skeet loads at $4.00 per box vs. $6.99 per box at my local Gander Mtn. for Win. AA loads. I'm sticking with reloading (do the math, there are plenty of shotshell reloading calculators on the web)

 

[velojym]

Darn, and I was bemoaning the fact that I can't afford a good gold investment!
Looks like lead's been the hot property this year.

 

[davinci]

I'm going to stop shooting as well.
I've decided to do work around the house with my weekends instead. It's cheaper and more productive.

I hate to see the prices so high. Either the demand for lead is through the roof (Darned China!) or the supply is really low (nobody wants to be miners any more)

 

[Oldnamvet]

The local newspaper had an article recently that ammo was getting difficult for the local police depts to obtain and more expensive. This made practice a luxury for some depts., a bid situation. Cause -- the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. And of course China is sucking in metals of all types as fast as possible. They need the lead for their paint.

 

[ArmedBear]

They need the lead for their paint.

LOL

Only the paint in kid's toys.

I wonder if it's also getting harder to buy formaldehyde. They seem to be using a lot of that stuff, too, in everything from pajamas to food products.