lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,042
I haven't been to a LGS store in a little while, but I could see the 40% number being sales OR stock in 2020 and 2021.
The Russian steel is "ONLY" 9mm, 223, 7.62x39, 308, 9x18, 45acp, and 5.45, right?
9x19, 223, 7.62x39, 45acp, and 308 are very likely the top 5 centerfire cartridges in terms of bulk sales. Those are your primary pistol cartridges, and your 3 major semiauto removable mag (military-style) cartridges (AR, AK, and MBR).
If you go plinking outside of 22lr, you very likely do so with 1 or more of those. 100 rds of 30-30 can last a long time; 100 rds of 308 with a FAL, G3 style, or M14 (or AR10) could be a range session. Definitely the same with 223 and x39. And again, definitely the case with 9mm or 45.
I have good stock of all of those, but I've watched the market. I did go outside those a couple times; picked up 4 boxes of 30-30 when I saw it at Walmart for $14 or so a box. Picked up some surplus Largo and Tokarev, when those slipped below the price of 9x19.
But my strong preference is going to be the listed calibers. I'm good on 9, haven't bought anything this year. Last purchase was probably a case of Tula for under $160. Wish I'd bought more, now that I'm shooting it (saving the brass). Only brass 9 I've shot is some old Aguila my late cat peed on about a decade ago, found in a closet (it shoots and smells ).
Last year the bulk of my 223 was steel, under $300 a case. I recently bought a case for under $350, thought it was a fair price end of July to top off the supply (it definitely was, in hindsight). Bought some x39 at the same time, for under $270. Both were higher than I wanted, but not so high that I refused it; and I feared another panic with the new covid wave. I'm not buying brass at today's prices, and the steel shoots.
Long story short, people may buy a box or so of other stuff, but they buy these calibers in bulk, and the steel prices were blowing brass away (and were definitely available). 40% of overall sales sounds right, maybe a little low to be honest.
The Russian steel is "ONLY" 9mm, 223, 7.62x39, 308, 9x18, 45acp, and 5.45, right?
9x19, 223, 7.62x39, 45acp, and 308 are very likely the top 5 centerfire cartridges in terms of bulk sales. Those are your primary pistol cartridges, and your 3 major semiauto removable mag (military-style) cartridges (AR, AK, and MBR).
If you go plinking outside of 22lr, you very likely do so with 1 or more of those. 100 rds of 30-30 can last a long time; 100 rds of 308 with a FAL, G3 style, or M14 (or AR10) could be a range session. Definitely the same with 223 and x39. And again, definitely the case with 9mm or 45.
I have good stock of all of those, but I've watched the market. I did go outside those a couple times; picked up 4 boxes of 30-30 when I saw it at Walmart for $14 or so a box. Picked up some surplus Largo and Tokarev, when those slipped below the price of 9x19.
But my strong preference is going to be the listed calibers. I'm good on 9, haven't bought anything this year. Last purchase was probably a case of Tula for under $160. Wish I'd bought more, now that I'm shooting it (saving the brass). Only brass 9 I've shot is some old Aguila my late cat peed on about a decade ago, found in a closet (it shoots and smells ).
Last year the bulk of my 223 was steel, under $300 a case. I recently bought a case for under $350, thought it was a fair price end of July to top off the supply (it definitely was, in hindsight). Bought some x39 at the same time, for under $270. Both were higher than I wanted, but not so high that I refused it; and I feared another panic with the new covid wave. I'm not buying brass at today's prices, and the steel shoots.
Long story short, people may buy a box or so of other stuff, but they buy these calibers in bulk, and the steel prices were blowing brass away (and were definitely available). 40% of overall sales sounds right, maybe a little low to be honest.