Shot Shell Shortage?

[SSL]

I guess it makes sense. With everything else in short supply, I should have known that would include shotgun shells. Shotguns have never really interested me and I haven't shot one for years, so it just never dawned on me.

At my granddaughter's birthday party, I got to talking guns with a long-time friend of my son-in-law (since grade school) who mentioned that he can't find shells anywhere. He has a dove hunting trip planned for the first part of September and was starting to worry that his plans would have to be trashed. Giving it a little thought, I told him that when I got back home I would see what I had. I was really hoping that I had enough buried in my "catch-all" closet because he is such a close friend of my son-in-law and is a genuinely nice guy. Sure enough, in the back of the closet I found eight unopened boxes of 7 1/2 shot "dove and quail" loads, as well as several boxes of #6 shot and some boxes of "turkey" loads. Forgot I even had them. Thankfully he lives only about 30 miles from me, so I dropped the 7 1/2s off a few days later. He was thrilled and offered whatever I wanted for them, which I of course refused. We had sort of adopted him and his lovely (and hysterically funny) wife long ago, so I consider it just in the family.

I guess the point of this long story is: What are people doing for shotgun shells? I would think there are more used yearly for upland game and such than I would imagine metallic cartridges for larger game. I of course don't count the thousands of rounds of metallic for competition or varminting, but trap and skeet use a lot too. Where are they coming from, or have they dried up too?

 

[flintcreek6412]

Not hard to find. Actually got an email from Brownells a few days ago for Win target loads that would be fine for dove or other upland light birds. But you'll be paying $10 a box for them which is no big deal for a hunt but I'd hate to be a competitive shooter. Luckily I'm sitting on 2 flats from a few years ago for dove season.

 

[SSL]

Not hard to find. Actually got an email from Brownells a few days ago for Win target loads that would be fine for dove or other upland light birds. But you'll be paying $10 a box for them which is no big deal for a hunt but I'd hate to be a competitive shooter. Luckily I'm sitting on 2 flats from a few years ago for dove season.

Good to hear. Maybe he was just looking in the wrong places.

 

[Brians356]

I've got plenty I'll never use, how many boxes does he want?
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[SSL]

I've got plenty I'll never use, how many boxes does he want?
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He said 7-8 boxes, so he should be good for now. Thanks for your offer.

 

[timeout]

I saw a bit of Remington stuff at a Farm and Fleet store yesterday. Not much, but at least the Arkansas plant is getting some production out.

 

[Daddymac]

Some shot shells are starting to show up, if you want to pay the price. Bought some 7/8 oz Remington gun club 20 ga from midway for 110.00 a case, normally should be around 70.00.

Got caught with my pants down on the 20's, because small game and target shells usually don't get gobbled up like everything else, but this time virtually everything was gone.

 

[Rsadams]

I shoot alot of shotshells in 12ga... They are coming back but of course the prices have gone up... A was actually able to buy a case for pre pandemic prices last week.... Remington has increased their prices but so has Everyone really.... Below is a picture of two shells I got out of a box of gun clubs made a few months ago... One blew a primer , the other with half of it missing....

The one with a missing Primer was fired of course the other was not.... Remington replaced the box and all the boxes I had with that lot number... It seemed to me after talking to them that they were having a few problems , probably at their new plant.... I few guys on forums were saying it also , same problems with primers and QC...I am sure they will get them worked out if they haven't already , mistakes happen... Just FYI shotgun primers are very hard to find right now just like everything else..

 

[rwj]

Sure enough, in the back of the closet I found eight unopened boxes of 7 1/2 shot "dove and quail" loads, as well as several boxes of #6 shot and some boxes of "turkey" loads. Forgot I even had them. Thankfully he lives only about 30 miles from me, so I dropped the 7 1/2s off a few days later. He was thrilled and offered whatever I wanted for them, which I of course refused. We had sort of adopted him and his lovely (and hysterically funny) wife long ago, so I consider it just in the family.

Very nice “pay it forward”! Kudos to you sir!

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

There are some in 12 and 20 on the shelves in the Houston area sporting goods stores, at around $7-$8 for target or dove loads. I am using about 4 boxes a week and so far I have been able to replace what I’m using without too much difficulty.

 

[flintcreek6412]

Was in Rural King picking up a Trophy Rock today and they had this. Not familiar with the brand but they had this and another section of #8s. For $7.99 a box I'd have grabbed a flat for dove if I needed them.

 

[centerlineseal]

I've got plenty I'll never use, how many boxes does he want?

They are pretty tight up here in SW Idaho. When they are around, limited to 2 boxes per gauge and from $7 to $10 a box. I have plenty of 12 gauge from years past and probably enough 16 gauge to feed the old Parker, but my son didn't look ahead and he's hurtin' for 20 gauge, especially #6 shot for chukar. My brother lives in Reno and we get together up here from time to time. If you have some 20s or 16s to turn loose, shoot me a pm and we'll see what happens.

Thank You Kindly!

 

[Brians356]

My brother lives in Reno and we get together up here from time to time. If you have some 20s or 16s to turn loose, shoot me a pm and we'll see what happens.

Thank You Kindly!

I surely will poke through my stash of 20s and let you know. My hunting buddy passed away a few years ago, and I've pretty much ceased hunting altogether. And the local clays facility is gone due to suburban sprawl (more "explosion" here as in Boise.)
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[tsyarnall]

I haven’t seen Winchester AA for Trap on the shelves in a long time. They are my “Go To” shells. Hopefully they will start showing up again, soon.

Scott Y

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Found a box of 100 [4 boxes] at the local wolly world yesterday.
Rem 7.5 shot 1 1/8th ounce H/C loads and got'em.
Ain't been having any lately, and not much of any ammo.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Local sport shop/bait had cases of trap loads 99.99. First I have seen since last year. I didn't buy at that price.

 

[Downhill]

I really lucked out. One of the friends of our children( whom my wife more or less raised) dropped off 1 1/2 5 gallon buckets of 12 gauge field loads. 7 1/2, 8 and 9 shot. Remnants of various cases he had bought and had been in his truck for a year or two.Figure with sky rat season coming in Sept, they will do just fine.

 

[HTSmith]

Was in Rural King picking up a Trophy Rock today and they had this. Not familiar with the brand but they View attachment 1272114View attachment 1272115had this and another section of #8s. For $7.99 a box I'd have grabbed a flat for dove if I needed them.

Not an issue for most guns but the primers will pierce with some guns. Mine pierced about 2 out of every 25. They are Cheddite primers I believe. If they were all I could get I’d still shoot them. Good to see something in stock

 

[Rsadams]

Local sport shop/bait had cases of trap loads 99.99. First I have seen since last year. I didn't buy at that price.

Of course I am in Texas so prices are probably way different.... I am seeing 12dove loads made by Remington at about $90 a flat.... I picked up a flat of Winchester Super target for $54.99 a few days ago.... I shoot alot of skeet and just couldn't pass them up.... Same shells by the box 3feet away on the academy shelves were $7.99 a box.... I asked them why but finally just gave up and walked out with the flat.... Prices are coming down a little and ammo is staying on the shelves for longer than 30 seconds but as you can see there's still some strange pricing going on....

 

[Rsadams]

Not an issue for most guns but the primers will pierce with some guns. Mine pierced about 2 out of every 25. They are Cheddite primers I believe. If they were all I could get I’d still shoot them. Good to see something in stock

Been shooting the cheddite for reloads all this year and haven't popped one yet but I am shooting a Beretta... My friends that are shooting Brownings are popping a few here and there... Normally it's the bottom barrels and has something to do with the angle of strike... Unfortunately at the beginning of the year Winchester primers , pretty much all Primers disappeared and right after we all bought a case of cheddite they were gone.... I know there are some things said about cheddite but I have to say I would continue to use them even if the Winchester came back.... If they did come back though the company would go back to Winchester so I guess I would also because they would stop getting cheddite... Right now though a Remington gun club , sts etc loaded with 15.5-16gr of E3 and a Remington tgt12 or Winchester pink 1oz wad are working very well with cheddite primers... Not exactly a super fast load but for skeet it's a killer...