Brass Availability..

[rmr]

It seems to me that we have almost completely recovered from the 2012 mega-panic. other than 22lr, brass seems to still be a sore point. why is it that PV, (or anyone else for that matter) does not have winchester or remington brass in most Cals? Are sales volumes on loaded ammo still so high that there is no overrun capacity to supply the handloading market?

when I do find things, its at eye-watering prices. (understandable, given availability)

Its not a huge deal, since when i buy brass its usually Lapua. but there are a lot of cases that Lapua doesn't make....

 

[dkhunt14]

They are using all the brass in their ammo sales. Ammo sales are at all time highs. I heard rumors the WIN was stopping making brass or curtailing it. Matt

 

[Chappy]

I can garuntee you Winchester hasn't stopped making brass. Between 4 stores here, they're all getting the generic .308, .30-06, .243, .45 LC etc etc.

 

[riflewoman]

If you guys think the ammo shortage is over try getting pistol match ammo like 38 wadcutter son for S&W 52 or even 45ACP match ammo. It ain't over.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

Factories produce brass in runs, so the supply may be short lived based on demand. I had a hard time finding Winchester .243 brass back in September. I happened to be at Cabelas one day and they had three bags......just what I was looking for. I put them in my shopping cart, and 5 minutes later my wife called to tell me her water just broke and I needed to take her to the hospital! The next month it was in stock everywhere. The moral of the story is if your wife is 9mos pregnant and you stumble across the brass you've been looking for, you might want to grab it and go!

 

[flatlander]

It's been over a year ago that I'd read Winchester had given up on dealing with the labor union at their East Alton ammunition plant, and were moving to Florida. If that's true, the move couldn't have happened at a worse time, and they may still be trying to catch up with demand. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[FryeGuy]

I bought a 7mm-08 over a year ago. I check on a weekly basis at midway, Sinclair, etc. they haven't had Win brass in at any time during the last 14 months or so. I just bought lapua a few months ago, and thought I would cry when I couldn't find one after shooting at a few deer, but I didn't. I reminded myself brass is way cheaper than a rage broadhead is!!! and my rifle is a Sako, so it needs brass from Finland too. I recently bought another box just to have some extra. I might stop buying guns unless lapua makes brass for it, or something I can form from lapua brass.

 

[MrMajestic]

 

[rmr]

Assuming Lapua makes the case, or I can form what I need from a lapua case, its not a problem. why pay 43c for a new winchester 223 case, when I can get lapua for .56c a case? the quality difference is well worth the price difference. where I'm running into issues is with belted magnums, or the xSAUM cases. if only we could get lapua to make some...

 

[FryeGuy]

Yup, that's what I'm talking about!!! Over $10 a piece, but they sure get the job done! The big buck I shot this year with a muzzleloader left a huge blood trail, for about 30 yards. I told my hunting buddy "good lord, it's bleeding like I shot it with a rage, he's not going far!" Sure enough, 40-50 yes there he was. Nothing beats a rage

 

[Cold Bore]

Nothing beats a rage

Yeah.... broken blade, bent tip, and all.....

 

[WSM01]

300 RUM brass has been scarce lately as well.
Finally found 25 pcs. of Norma at Sportsman's Warehouse @ only paid 60.00 $ for the box ): Then got home & had to cull 5 pieces that were over/under my average weight ... QC should be top notch for these prices.
Had the best quality from Lapua & Nosler.

 

[dkhunt14]

300 RUM brass has been scarce lately as well.
Finally found 25 pcs. of Norma at Sportsman's Warehouse @ only paid 60.00 $ for the box ): Then got home & had to cull 5 pieces that were over/under my average weight ... QC should be top notch for these prices.
Had the best quality from Lapua & Nosler.

I don't believe either makes RUM brass. I use the odd ones for sighters and foulers. I don't believe few grains is going to hurt a RUM. Matt

 

[tjtjwdad]

Some of the powders for shotgun and pistol are not the most prevalent either.

 

[WSM01]

I don't believe either makes RUM brass. I use the odd ones for sighters and foulers. I don't believe few grains is going to hurt a RUM. Matt

Nosler does make RUM brass , Lapua does not.was just referring to general quality.
Yes the few odd cases are used for foulers & I can't tell a big difference on the chronograph either.....just a few fps faster with the "heavies".
spoiled on Lapua !

 

[Tuxedo007]

It seems to me that we have almost completely recovered from the 2012 mega-panic. other than 22lr, brass seems to still be a sore point. why is it that PV, (or anyone else for that matter) does not have winchester or remington brass in most Cals? Are sales volumes on loaded ammo still so high that there is no overrun capacity to supply the handloading market?

when I do find things, its at eye-watering prices. (understandable, given availability)

Its not a huge deal, since when i buy brass its usually Lapua. but there are a lot of cases that Lapua doesn't make....

I can assure you that we have NOT recovered from the 2012 mega-panic! Ammo manufacturers are not selling components currently. The components are allotted to loaded ammo production.

Powders & primers are somewhat available, but "iffy".

Bullet manufacturers are only manufacturing the products that are in highest demand. Other, specialized and/or expensive products are not being manufactured or, if they are, they are on a limited basis & priced accordingly.

My advice, if you see it, get it! It WON'T be there when you go back! I will not even begin to comment on the "bottom feeders" who purchase & then go to flea markets & gun shows to sell @ a much inflated price! There will be a special place in hell for them!

Tuxedo007

 

[Cold Bore]

I can assure you that we have NOT recovered from the 2012 mega-panic!

My advice, if you see it, get it! It WON'T be there when you go back!

Anybody else (including Tuxedo007) seeing the irony right here?

 

[dbduff]

Spot on regarding irony.
D

 

[dryhumor]

I tend to buy what I might need as I come across it. One place across town has had Varget since mid summer, I haven't seen it anywhere else. Reloader powders came briefly then disappeared. Lots of VV and Norma powder.

A supply of Norma cases showed up. Good but a bit pricey. Not so much anything else except for "off" brand stuff. Nosler has always been available though.

I kept looking at the lonely bags of .222 all through the shortage..... I guess I felt sorry for those lonely cases that needed a good home. I took 2 of them home.