Shotshell Sticker Shock!

[Snarlingiron]

I have been buying ammo at Academy here in the DFW area. Last weekend I bought a case of Remington Heavy Dove Loads 2 3/4", 1 1/8 oz, 1250 FPS for $39.99. Went in today to pick up some more with a friend of mine and the same stuff is now $58.95. Holy COW! That's nearly 50% increase in 4 days!! The Winchester Super Target was only $54.95. We decided to go check out Dicks, and found some Remington "On Sale" for $54.95. We decided it looked like that was about as good as it was going to get, and started to load up what they had in stock when I noticed that there were only 20 shells per box. I know everyone keeps saying that ammo is going to continue to go up, but this is ridiculous. Going shooting Sunday anyway, but I had to bellyache a little.

 

[bofe954]

I am hoping some of it is seasonal, but I bet it isn't. I buy estate target shells whenever I stop in sportsmans warehouse and stack them in my garage. I have some marked less than $4 a box and the last ones I bought are over $6.

 

[trinydex]

so what exactly is the typical per box cost? because i'm pretty shocked too...

at the prices i'm seeing no one should be doin' this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=s13Y7SKrFls

 

[Titan6]

Honestly I am not surprised. You might try Walart. They were running about $34 a case last year, but I can't imagine it is not more now.

 

[Snarlingiron]

In this area the Wally Worlds only carry the 100 round value packs, and they are going for ~21.00 each. That puts 250 rounds at $52.50, just about like everybody else.

I do think it is partly seasonal. When Dove season rolls back around here they usually go on sale, but that's September.

 

[classic095]

shells

Lead has gone up 200 percent in the last 6 months increasing the price of shotgun shells.. I reload everything, and make our own shot, Not saveing much due to the price of lead..

 

[45auto]

I think shotshell loading will have a "rebirth" again.

Lead prices finally "caught up" with new shells. Buying lead in "futures" kept new ammo prices down last year I believe.

 

[Pete409]

Last weekend I bought a case of Remington Heavy Dove Loads 2 3/4", 1 1/8 oz, 1250 FPS

That ammo is much too heavy in the recoil department to be shooting on a regular basis at clay targets. It may not bother you now, but remember that recoil has cumulative effects over a loooong period of time.

If you are going to shoot the 1 1/8 ounce loads, get the ones that are 2 3/4 Dram Eq which puts them at about 1145 fps muzzle velocity. Better yet, get the 1 ounce loads at about 1185 fps.

To see the effects of heavy recoil over years of shooting, you only have to look at many of the older trap shooters who shot heavy loads for many years. Many of them have flinches so bad that they can't even pull a trigger anymore. They have to resort to using release triggers. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with release triggers, but shooting heavy loads generally hastens the day that flinching becomes a serious problem. Once a shooter starts flinching, it is very difficult to stop.

 

[saltyphotog]

Blame it on China?

I too was shocked at the price when I went to Dicks this weekend. I asked the clerk what was the reason and he said, (insert banjo background music here) "China is buying up all the lead in the world because they are building a new nuclear reactor and need it for lining the walls."

A 100 round "value pack" was 29.95!!! We all shot a few less than normal on Sunday.

 

[Titan6]

Glad I stocked up a few extra cases last year. Won't be able to shoot it till next year though. By then it should be priced about $70/case. But there is no recesssion or stagflation. Someone told me the president said so.

 

[theCZ]

And I'm seeing that for the first time that I can remember, 410 is cheaper than 28ga! But at $110 a case for 28ga AA, it should be gold plated shot, thank God I reload subgages!

 

[Hornet 6]

I bought 250 Express 12ga 1 1/8-oz No7shot 2 days ago.
Cost £65.00, yes that is about $130.00 US
The worst part is I only have 50 left after a days Pigeon shooting.
Good days shooting though
Neil.

 

[ocharry]

well guys it won't do any good to go to walmart,, shotgun shells went up around here a few weeks ago,,,,same range from 37 and change to 58 and change

and i don't know about reloading them,,,, i haven't bought any shot for awhile,,but i was talking to a bud of mine and he was telling me that shot was in the 50-60 dollar range!!!!!PER BAG

WOW is all i can say,,,i got me a gold mine in there in the loading room

the old saying is still good

BUY IT CHEAP AND STACK IT DEEP

good luck finding a deal,,,,,,,course in a few months 58 and change may be a DEAL

ocharry

 

[Snarlingiron]

course in a few months 58 and change may be a DEAL

I suspect that will be the case, and is why I am stocking up now. Bass Pro has Remington 1 1/8 oz. #8 1250 fps. for $57.80, but all ammo is 10% off, so that is $52.02 per case. A week ago I would have said "What a ripoff!". Today, I'm saying, "Pretty good deal!".

Thank goodness I recently stocked up on 9mm.

 

[ledbet]

I have been buying and shooting a lot of shotgun shells over the past 10 years. About 3 years ago or so the price pretty much hit the bottom. I was buying decent imported shells for about $28 a flat. Today the same shells are about $50 a flat. Three years ago I could buy Remington STS or Nitro's for about $45 a flat, today they are about $63 a flat.

I think the days of cheap shells is gone. Once I shoot the 100 flats or so that I have, I will break out the reloaders again. Hard to stomach shot at $35 or so a bag, but it is cheaper than buying loaded shells.

 

[Oldnamvet]

If you get shot at $35/25lb bag, you are getting a VERY good deal.

 

[BruceRDucer]

2 3/4 Dram Eq

2 3/4 Dram Eq

What does that mean? I'm new, so I don't know what DRAM EQ is.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Dram equivalent was a system of equating the velocity of a load using smikeless powder with that given by a certain amount of black powder. IIRC, 2 3/4 dram eq worked out to 1145 FPS in 12 gauge.

It's antiquated, awkward and misleading. Some makers have begun using speed ratings in simple FPS. Good move.

 

[Pete409]

IIRC, 2 3/4 dram eq worked out to 1145 FPS in 12 gauge.

Well, you've got that partially correct. That is correct provided it is a 1 1/8 ounce load. If it is a 1 ounce load, then 2 3/4 Dr Eq is 1185 fps.

 

[scout26]

<------[Goes and hugs his last 200 lbs of <$25 bag shot]

 

[ocharry]

yeh i know scout,,,i got about 20 bags left over from the old days,,,IIRC i was thinking that i gave around 13-14 maybe 15 dollars a bag!!!!

was talking to old friend of mine(the wife and i moved to Missouri from Ohio about 8 yrs. ago) that i shot trap,skeet,sportingclays,,and any other shotgun sports with,,we were talking loading and such,,so the price of materials comes up,,why that d$%# head told me he was going to rob me

lol oh well,,,,BOYS hang on to your wads lol

ocharry

 

[XON]

Wallyworld rumint

I was talking to an older gentleman manning the sporting goods section at the local WM two days ago. He said that the manufacturers just stopped eating the transportation costs. Apparently, when gas was cheap and money was fast, transport costs were easy to absorb. Now, with gas and lead both expensive, courtesy begins to mean something different.