What is Sierra (bullets) thinking? Their prices are ridiculous and I've had enough!!

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MCMXI

MCMXI

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The title just about says it all. I'm in the process of making up some loads for my .300 Win Mag and am currently using up some 190 grain SMK HPBT bullets. I have another box of 500 SMK HPBT 190 grain "moly" bullets but I want to move up to 210 grain so I started checking on bullet prices. Sierra 210 grain SMK HPBT bullets are $214/500!!! That's $0.43 per bullet!!! When you add 70 grains of RL22 powder, the cost of the round without even including the case is up to $0.76!! Sierra makes a good product but they'd better wake up in these tough economic times. Hornady makes a 208 grain BT bullet that gets rave reviews for target shooting AND hunting. Their bullet when purchased in boxes of 100 costs $0.30 per bullet. If I can find them in boxes of 500 or 1000 the price may be even cheaper.

So what it comes down to, the $0.13 per bullet savings I get allows me to shoot a top quality bullet in my .300 Win Mag and a cast lead bullet in my .45 Colt revolver for the same price as a Sierra bullet. :eek:

I'll be looking at Hornady and Nosler for 168 grain bullets too.

SIERRA ... if any of you folks visit this site ... WAKE UP!! :cuss:
 
You think sierra bullets are steep, check out the prices on Speer.

Oddly enough due to smaller price increases than domestic brand bullets going with Lapua is now a pretty good deal
 
krochus said:
Lapua is now a pretty good deal
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Those Scenar bullets are pricey though ... the 185 grain bullets (all I could find in .308) are about $0.40 each!!

I've used Sierra MatchKing bullets for years and Sierra makes a good product, but they have to realize, other companies are making equally good, or perhaps even better bullets for less money. Unless someone tells me that Hornady and Nosler bullets are banged out in China, I'll be buying them from now on.

:)
 
well don't have a stroke when other manufacturers prices adjust accordingly as well. For years and years component prices remained pretty static, what you're seeing right now is different manufacturers phasing in inflation at different rates on different offerings. Go check out the price on 100 Hornady 250grn .35 caliber bullets. Hornady's prices are increasing as well their phase in is just a bit slower than Sierra. If you'll notice any new introductions from Hornady seem to be on a much more expensive pricing scale.


I recently ordered a pile of 100grn Lapua .308 HP's from grafs for $21 per 100pcs. The 125grn Speer TNT's set me back $24 a box.:eek:
 
krochus said:
well don't have a stroke when other manufacturers prices adjust accordingly as well. For years and years component prices remained pretty static, what you're seeing right now is different manufacturers phasing in inflation at different rates on different offerings.
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I'm no economist but given the dodgy economy in the US, the huge drop in the demand and therefore cost of oil, rising unemployment, the insane Fed interest rate, the imminent withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops from the Middle East etc. is this the time to be increasing the cost of what for many is a luxury item? When a 50 round session at the range costs $50, many will simply leave their rifles in the safe and Sierra will realize that the supply exceeds the demand.

:)
 
It's not Sierra, bubba. It's the whole industry.



The industry is currently responding to the ridiculous pre-Obama buying craze. Not only are guns and supplies going up in price, but half of the inventory list is backordered.



So don't cry tears. Just be patient and wait. The market will come back to you as soon as the idiots stop their buying spree and cooler heads prevail in the marketplace.
 
I'm no economist but given the dodgy economy in the US, the huge drop in the demand and therefore cost of oil, rising unemployment, the insane Fed interest rate, the imminent withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops from the Middle East etc. is this the time to be increasing the cost of what for many is a luxury item? When a 50 round session at the range costs $50, many will simply leave their rifles in the safe and Sierra will realize that the supply exceeds the demand.
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Have you actually tried to buy ANYTHING gun related recently???

Lack of demand is NOT a problem for bullet manufacturers

is this the time to be increasing the cost of what for many is a luxury item?
Click to expand...

When manufacturers are running at 120% and still failing to keep up with demand and all the costs involved in manufacturing have gone up you bet your A$$ it's time for price increases. The economy as a whole is having a bit of a low patch, the shooting industry however is seeing record buisness
 
is this the time to be increasing the cost of what for many is a luxury item?
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I work in a bakery. We specialize in sweet stuff, rather than stuff like breads. So by your logic, we're probably in the business of making and selling "luxury items" as well. Does that mean that we're somehow obligated to take a bite out of our profits and sell our products at less than market value because the economy is in the toilet and people shouldn't have to pay as much for a danish in the morning before work?

I mean, it's not like our raw material prices aren't going through the roof, and our costs of operating (and living) aren't rising as well, even though the paychecks we make are worth less and less, right?

Sorry, that's not how it works. If you don't want to (or can't) pay the price, don't pay the price. Everyone who works in the bakery has to make a living, just like the folks at Sierra. Sometimes prices are good, sometimes they're bad. Them's the breaks.
 
A To add to Kingpins comment it's not like the gravity of the current economic situation isn't over hyped by a least a factor of 10

For christs sake you have talking heads in the media comparing this to the depression. I don't know bout you fellas but I haven't seen many soup lines stretching round the block or mass migrations in search of work. :rolleyes:

We,re just spoiled and think the world is coming to an end if the economy doesn't grow EVERY year
 
it is basic supply and demand economics - costs are up, demand is up, supply is tight - means prices will be up

If you do not like the prices that are being charged, YOU have the choice NOT to buy their product.....:banghead:
 
krochus said:
Lack of demand is NOT a problem for bullet manufacturers
Click to expand...

It soon will be ... hey, I have no problem finding bullets to buy ... they're readily available ... my problem (as I mentioned in my first post) is that there are OTHER, LESS EXPENSIVE, EQUALLY GOOD options and if Sierra doesn't wake up to that they're going to be in for a shock.

kingpin008 said:
Does that mean that we're somehow obligated to take a bite out of our profits and sell our products at less than market value because the economy is in the toilet and people shouldn't have to pay as much for a danish in the morning before work?
Click to expand...

I guessed you missed the point ... if there's a bakery next door to yours selling pastries that are just as good as yours but cost 30% less, where do you think the customers are going to go?

kingpin008 said:
If you don't want to (or can't) pay the price, don't pay the price.
Click to expand...

That's EXACTLY what I'm going to do ... I'll be buying Hornady and Nosler until Sierra comes to their senses. The bad news for Sierra is that I may discover what others already claim to know, that Sierra bullets aren't worth the extra cost.

:)
 
oneounceload said:
If you do not like the prices that are being charged, YOU have the choice NOT to buy their product
Click to expand...

... isn't that what I said.

This isn't a discussion about me not buying bullets ... this is a discussion about Sierra charging 30% more for a product that isn't 30% better and my contention that they're going to price themselves out of business if they're not careful.


krochus said:
Have you actually tried to buy ANYTHING gun related recently???
Click to expand...

Uh ... yeah! Do you want me to make a list? :D
 
This isn't a discussion about me not buying bullets ... this is a discussion about Sierra charging 30% more for a product that isn't 30% better and my contention that they're going to price themselves out of business if they're not careful.
Click to expand...

I am quite confident that Sierra will monitor sales and react accordingly

I remember when Sierra gave you 101 bullets in a box so you had one to seat in a dummy round - they are still the most accurate in my 7 mag, but I load a Nosler 160 BT or Partition as well
 
krochus said:
???????? Do you think that's something new?
Click to expand...

New? Maybe not. Annoying ... yes! Particularly since I've been shooting Seirra bullets for 20 years and I don't like change. There was a time when Sierra was SIGNIFICANTLY better than the competition ... now that their competitive edge has gone, maybe it's time to stop charging a premium.

:)
 
h ... yeah! Do you want me to make a list?
Click to expand...

obviously not much. Recently my reloading purchases have been largely dictated by whats actually in stock, again where is this magic place where you buy things and everything is still in stock. I would have liked to order some 170grn sierra 30-30 bullets none of the online distributors even had those

Order from grafs.com and you have to check a box stating that you're aware of significant delays due to unprecedented demand
 
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I would have to add the cost (in cleaning time) of switching to Hornadys. Hornadys shoot good in my rifles but they sure copper foul up my barrels. Sierra and Nosler clean up very quick.
 
obviously not much. Recently my reloading purchases have been largely dictated by whats actually in stock, again where is this magic place where you buy things and everything is still in stock.
Click to expand...

My wife just picked up 5lb of RL22 and 1000 CCI large rifle primers this afternoon ... there's no shortage where I live.

Here's another SMK HPBT that's available .... 175gr


http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=642141

:)
 
kelbro said:
I would have to add the cost (in cleaning time) of switching to Hornadys. Hornadys shoot good in my rifles but they sure copper foul up my barrels. Sierra and Nosler clean up very quick.
Click to expand...

Thanks ... that's good to know but I doubt that Sweet's 7.62 will have a harder time with Hornady copper compared to Sierra ... but thanks anyway.

:)
 
Does that mean that we're somehow obligated to take a bite out of our profits and sell our products at less than market value because the economy is in the toilet and people shouldn't have to pay as much for a danish in the morning before work?

I mean, it's not like our raw material prices aren't going through the roof, and our costs of operating (and living) aren't rising as well, even though the paychecks we make are worth less and less, right?
Click to expand...

The way is it supposed to work in an economy that doesn't have a ministry of mortgages and ministry of autos is: when the price becomes too high for a company to sell goods based on people's ability or inclination to buy, then sales decrease and the company makes prices adjustments, accepts lower volume or goes out of bid'ness.

I don't disagree that prices are going up, but why? Energy prices are down lower than they were prior to the oil price spike.

Prices are not going to decrease until demand goes down. Capitalism is - whatever the market will bear. If consumption remains high, additional suppliers and manufacturers will get into the game. If consumption decreases, prices will have to decrease because manufacturers have to sell product to make money.

Remember when President Reagan's supply side economics was derided as voodoo economics by GHW Bush? Supply and demand is the only kind of economics there ever was. It is the only explanation of economics that addresses all conditions. Even with government meddling, supply and demand is king. If you outlaw something, a black market appears to fill the supply needs - at a high price,right? Because there is a thin supply.

Supply and demand always works, but it takes time. What we need now is for lawmakers to step back and quit meddling in free markets.
 
Quote:
but of course there's no increase in demand simply because 1858 says so......yeah right
Now go check out the "expected delivery date" ... and then pi$$ off.
Click to expand...


YEAhahahaH go ahead and watch some of those dates over the next few days and get back with us
 
SIERRA .300 SERIES BULLETS 150gr + AT MIDWAYUSA

AVAILABLE

150 JFN (100)
150 FMJ BT (100)
150 SBT (100)
150 HPBT (100)
150 HPBT (500)
155 HPBT (100)
155 HPBT (500)
165 SPT (100)
165 HPBT (100)
168 HPBT (100)
168 HPBT (500)
168 HPBT (1500)
168 HPBT "moly" (500)
175 HPBT (100)
175 HPBT (500)
180 RN (100)
180 SBT (100)
180 HPBT (100)
180 HPBT (500)
190 HPBT (100)
190 HPBT (500)
190 HPBT "moly" (500)
200 SBT (100)
200 HPBT (100)
200 HPBT (500)
210 HPBT (500)
220 RN (100)
220 HPBT (100)
240 HPBT (50)
240 HPBT (100)

BACKORDER

150 SPT (100) Date Expected In-Stock: 12/27/2008
150 RN (100) Date Expected In-Stock: 12/29/2008
155 HPBT "moly" (500) Date Expected In-Stock: 2/15/2009
170 FN (100) Date Expected In-Stock: 12/29/2008
175 HPBT "moly" (500) Date Expected In-Stock: 12/28/2008
180 SPT (100) Date Expected In-Stock: 1/26/2009
210 HPBT (50) Date Expected In-Stock: 12/29/2008
220 HPBT (500) Date Expected In-Stock: 1/5/2009

krochus said:
but of course there's no increase in demand simply because 1858 says so......yeah right
Click to expand...

Oh sure krochus ... there's a REAL shortage of Sierra bullets!! :banghead:
 
I did not say SHORTAGE, don't start misquoting me.

There is however a marked increase in demand, I can under stand how this subtly may be lost on you. Clearly economics aren't your strong suit

Like I said watch those expected in stock dates over the next few days;)
 
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