Long term impact of component costs and shortages?

[Damfino]

Seeing the threads about the dramatically increasing costs and lack of ready availability for favorite bullets, powder, and primers I was wondering about the long term consequences of our current situation which seems much more dire than previous shortages. If a number of the savvy, sophisticated, and knowledgeable shooters on this site struggle with justifying the costs and finding suitable components what about new and/or potential shooters and reloaders? This is primarily directed/aimed at competitive rifle shooters because it places such a premium on reloading/handloading.

When I started reloading it was soooo cheap and everything needed was readily available. It was interesting, cost-effective, and fun. It was magic. Only much later with neck-turning, weighing every charge, etc., would it become a time-consuming and labor-intensive ordeal.

I enjoyed reloading so much I started seeking out more opportunities to shoot. Which led to competitive shooting which handily justified my reloading hobby. These days I know several competitive shooters that no longer compete or have cut back on their participation because they're unable to find the bullets, powder, or primers they need. For a lot of these shooters, myself included, time is not on our side and I'm not sure if some will ever return and, unfortunately, I haven't seen many new shooters in the last few F-class matches that could help replace their numbers.

With limited and erratic component availability and associated high costs it seems that practical reasons to start reloading may no longer apply. I don't want to be cynical and I've never been much good at predicting the future and maybe the overall rise in gun ownership is a good omen. But, if this current situation persists, regardless of the reasons, if components remain expensive and/or hard to find what is the long term implications and consequences for our hobby/sport?

Is the sky falling and irreparable harm being done or will this pass without long lasting damage?

 

[CJ6]

Yes, prices are up for components. The price of gas, food and motel rooms are also up and these costs are much greater than the ammo that gets shot. So is it just the cost of ammo or the cost of traveling and staying at a match that is slowing people down. It all stinks in my opinion.

 

[std7mag]

It's not just the competitive shooting that's being affected.
Finding primers, powder, and bullets(along with the associated cost on fuel, food, and everything else) is affecting hunting also.

Find a load in your 25-06 with 115gr Ballistic Tips, or Accubonds. Stop shooting, else you may not have bullets to hunt with.

 

[mikeinct]

Self-throttling is the worst form of censorship. I'm down to trading what I have for what I need to shoot with.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Is the sky falling and irreparable harm being done or will this pass without long lasting damage?

I am hoping it will pass with this present batch of folks in Washington that seem so focused on destroying our country on so many fronts. Until then I am kind of " Hunkered Down ". I'm " all dressed up with no place to go "......Cant afford it. I believe it may get a bit worse before it gets better......But I DO believe it will get better.

Regards
Rick

 

[1K6BRA]

I think that it is going to affect the decisions of people with lower to middle incomes. When everything else is going up astronomically the vitals become more important. I know several shooters in my shooting discipline that have given up due to the cost, availability, living on retirement income etc.I have build up a long-term stash over the years so I have plenty of components but those that didn’t may be in trouble. As far as replacing shooters that are leaving shooting sports for whatever reason I think that is a long-term problem that’s not just component and shortage related. It’s hard to get kids interested in hunting and shooting sports in general. I am 61 and I thank God every day I grew up when and where I did!!!

 

[BlueWater]

Long term impact of component costs and shortages?

With limited and erratic component availability and associated high costs it seems that practical reasons to start reloading may no longer apply.

It's certainly true that in times of "high" prices the reloading technique of long-term cost avoidance has limited value for anybody without a stash.

But there is the essential value. Get a stash during times of relatively low, even ultra-low prices, stocking up for the time you know is coming at some point. At which point, it'll likely be the most cost-effective way to continue shooting. Little different than the "cash is king" approach of creating a good-sized stash of cash to have on-hand for those times when many don't.

Myself, I once did reloading, but it's been decades. Starting a year ago, I got into it again. Though for only one caliber (currently), I've been able to find most of my components at pre-stupid prices ... some of it at nearly "normal", actually. Should have started all of this about 10yrs ago, but haven't been shooting much during the past decade. Still, it affords me the one sure-fire way of avoiding the high costs of loaded ammo. Can't think of another, aside from not shooting.

On the occasion when I have somebody ask whether now's a good time to get into reloading, I say "yes, but ..." And it's true. It isn't a bad time. There really isn't any bad time. But with current component prices it'll take a person much longer and require much more patience in order to develop a suitable stash.

Would love to see every frequent shooter or competitor doing reloading. It can yield better-than-factory loads, tuned accuracy for one's specific barrel, and provide a ready ability to continue shooting when prices skyrocket from time to time. It'd also help spread the risk of the anti-RKBA twits gaining a foothold with legislation that threatens to eviscerate ammo availability. Can't imagine any other "hedge" that affords those benefits. Even if the cost "margin" isn't what it once was.

 

[rijndael]

It’s hard to get kids interested in hunting and shooting sports in general.

That's not my experience.

There are around many 10-12 year old boys near my house. Every single one of them loves guns and military stuff. They run around with nerf, airsoft, and home made guns all the time. Some regularly go to paintball sessions.

Just look at how many kids love playing games like Call of Duty. My son's interest in ARs is directly tied to it. He has his eyes on joining the USMC.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Many of us do not “reload” to be economical. We do it because it is a requirement of the various shooting disciplines we participate in.

The term “reloading” is a misnomer in my world. The correct term should be ”custom loading”. When you finally reach the point of making cases from another case, making your own bullets, and assembling the loaded round with the precision of machined parts, the term “reloading“ only to process of re-assembling the rounds to be fired again.

I ave no answer to the escalating cost of shooting. I had the opportunity to buy into a Hunting Lease to give to my Son for his birthday. $3000. And that is just to get the privilege of hunting on the lease.

my Son said no. He did not want the responsibility, (ie, hassle), of putting up with it. Hunting has evolved into something that does not seem to be very enjoyable anymore.

If I want to continue to compete in Benchrest, I will either pay the going rate for powder, brass, and primers, or say to heck with it.

 

[CaptainMal]

Ramped down my shooting significantly. Trips to a range for competition is now quite expensive. The range is not free, shoots take entry fees and each shot is maybe a dollar. A $200 - $300 single day of shooting is close to the norm right now.

Fixed income since 1999. Prices were a fourth back then of what they are today. Now some shooters are traveling thousands of miles, spending hundreds of dollars a day for motels or thousands for their campers and think little of it.

Those of us like me are DONE, with a fork stuck in.

 

[Fuj]

What Jackie said.....

 

[Fuj]

Ramped down my shooting significantly. Trips to a range for competition is now quite expensive. The range is not free, shoots take entry fees and each shot is maybe a dollar. A $200 - $300 single day of shooting is close to the norm right now.

Fixed income since 1999. Prices were a fourth back then of what they are today. Now some shooters are traveling thousands of miles, spending hundreds of dollars a day for motels or thousands for their campers and think little of it.

Those of us like me are DONE, with a fork stuck in.

I'm trying to hang in there with a schedule of 3 good match's
per month. I have enough components for 6 months at that rate.
Trading has been good to me this passed year but even that runs
out of inventory. Powder supplies and brass is good to go. Primers,
if not back on the market, will be my death knell. LRP's are basically
non existent. What to do ??

 

[rijndael]

LRP's are basically non existent.

https://www.outdoorlimited.com/acce...-large-rifle-match-primers-gm210m-1000-count/

My neighbor just bought 5K, mostly so he doesn't have to worry about it for a while. You can also find BR2s for about the same price.

 

[Hoot]

I think that it is going to affect the decisions of people with lower to middle incomes. When everything else is going up astronomically the vitals become more important. I know several shooters in my shooting discipline that have given up due to the cost, availability, living on retirement income etc.I have build up a long-term stash over the years so I have plenty of components but those that didn’t may be in trouble. As far as replacing shooters that are leaving shooting sports for whatever reason I think that is a long-term problem that’s not just component and shortage related. It’s hard to get kids interested in hunting and shooting sports in general. I am 61 and I thank God every day I grew up when and where I did!!!

Bingo;

Not all of us are fortunate to have investment portfolios or worse yet are retired on a modest, fixed income. I couldn't wait to turn 65 and retire two years ago so that I could give the time I wanted to this hobby. Lo and behold, I find myself now hamstrung by the cost which I believe is a function of availability. It doesn't matter what the reason of the availability decline is. it's still the 800 pound gorilla in the room. My local reloading shop, which was always plush with reloading supplies and a mecca for us locals, might as well be closed given their inability to get distribution. Don't gag me with that "its only pennies more per round" tripe. When I go to buy a brick of primers or a pound of powder, it ain't pennies coming out of my wallet. When availability and cost were reasonable, my wife and I were struggling to make a life for us and our family. Discretionary income trickled in depending upon the availability of overtime. We had a mortgage, second mortgage, college tuition, transportation, groceries, etc all competing with buying 10k primers or 24lbs of this and that powder, not to mention bullets, back when they were more plentiful = cheaper. Guess who won that? As a consumer, I don't have much power in driving reloading prices down through outdated supply and demand principle, when there are deep pocketed, competitive shooters who don't hesitate to pay the piper, in order to stay in the chase. I shoot because I love the science and art of reloading not vice versa. I now find myself with too many (4) calibers of main interest and the need to feed them. Unfortunately, that competes with the need to feed me.

Hoot

 

[JFrank]

Last year it cost me an average of $500 to go shooting for the weekend without adding components to the mix. This year…. We’ll you can do the math, it ain’t good

 

[1K6BRA]

Bingo;

Not all of us are fortunate to have investment portfolios or worse yet are retired on a modest, fixed income. I couldn't wait to turn 65 and retire two years ago so that I could give the time I wanted to this hobby. Lo and behold, I find myself now hamstrung by the cost which I believe is a function of availability. It doesn't matter what the reason of the availability decline is. it's still the 800 pound gorilla in the room. My local reloading shop, which was always plush with reloading supplies and a mecca for us locals, might as well be closed given their inability to get distribution. Don't gag me with that "its only pennies more per round" tripe. When I go to buy a brick of primers or a pound of powder, it ain't pennies coming out of my wallet. When availability and cost were reasonable, my wife and I were struggling to make a life for us and our family. Discretionary income trickled in depending upon the availability of overtime. We had a mortgage, second mortgage, college tuition, transportation, groceries, etc all competing with buying 10k primers or 24lbs of this and that powder, not to mention bullets, back when they were more plentiful = cheaper. Guess who won that? As a consumer, I don't have much power in driving reloading prices down through outdated supply and demand principle, when there are deep pocketed, competitive shooters who don't hesitate to pay the piper, in order to stay in the chase. I shoot because I love the science and art of reloading not vice versa. I now find myself with too many (4) calibers of main interest and the need to feed them. Unfortunately, that competes with the need to feed me.

Hoot

That is the absolute truth and the boat that the vast majority of us are in.

 

[urbanrifleman]

In a another generation there won't be any shooting sports. That's the real effect.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Hard Times and shortages. Some of us may have friends that care ?
I got call the other day, uplifting then a downer.
A friend and member here, tried to buy eight, 8lb. Jugs of Varget .
Buy the time he got the order information complete ! ( out of Stock ).
He only wanted to help some of the Guy's at the Range! That is a lot of Money to layout for your Fiends.

Let all just hope it Rains Reloading Supplies!

 

[603Country]

After the first couple of shortages over the years, I stocked up on components. That approach worked fine till I acquired a 6.5 Grendel AR. I had to buy some very expensive Hornady ammo. It had been about 40 years since I had fired a factory rifle round. I have since gotten some brass for the Grendel and I already had a bunch of 100 gr Nosler BTs. Already had primers and an acceptable powder. When I run out of the solid gold factory ammo, I’ll get to reloading for the Grendel.

 

[Link]

One thing that will help keep our sport of custom reloading and shooting at clubs to compete or just shooting good is the people who share there knowledge of how to get there freely.

tthanks guys Don.