Thanks to the Older Members, Word of Wisdom for the Newbies

[Ccrider]

A while back, when the cost of powder and primers started to rise, several of the older members that have been on this site through a change in political party control over the White House, warned that prices would go up and we would likely see shortages. Being new to reloading in mass, I had not experienced this, but took them at their word, primarily because the ones saying it knew their stuff regarding shooting small groups.

I traveled 60 miles several times and bought 205 primers for 45 bucks a thousand, N133 , Varget and H4895 powder (less than 300 per 8 pound)—-more than I thought I would ever need. I had my brothers pick up primers a time or two because there were limits on the number you could purchase.

All I can say right now is WOW and a sincere THANK YOU to you guys for sharing your wisdom about things to come.

For you newbies, I strongly suggest that you be judicious and only buy what you need at these highly inflated prices. If the stock market can corrects itself, so can these inflated prices. Prices will not likely go back to where they were, but they will go down.

Also, don’t be afraid to try different powders. You may find that some of the alternatives work better than the old tried and true.

Straight shootin!
Charles

 

[nilebartram]

Last time I bought primers they were $150 for 5000. Those were the days. You will never see that price again. I bet the older guys can quote cheaper prices for primers.

 

[MUP]

A graduate of Obama's 8 year course of how not to be caught with your pants down. Yes, there are several graduates here I presume.

 

[Ralph Littlefield]

I, for one. do not believe that prices will go down. I am 72 years old and worked hard all my life so that I could enjoy retirement. I have a woodlot that I put a lot of expense and effort into building a 600 yd range.
I have a little money, but not much time. I will waste my money rather than wasting my time waiting for prices to drop. To those that ask me to avoid buying at these prices I say sorry, but no.

Eventually they will price us all out of this hobby. They can't force us out otherwise, so that is the plan. I will not go peacefully.

 

[Ralph Littlefield]

Am I a conspiracy theorist for thinking that our government might get involved in fixing ammo prices for civilians as a form of gun control?
They could offer a lucrative military contract in exchange for making civilian prices high. I believe they could and would fix the prices of ammo just as they are fixing the prices of fossil fuels by choking supply.

 

[DiffEQ]

Thinking ahead is smart.
Following Sandy Hook, ammo, powder, primer, some brass and projectile components became scarce and more expensive. 22LR was all snapped up by scalpers.
I already had a good stash then, but doubled down in the Trump cornucopia years.
In a good shooting year, its surprising how fast your supply dwindles.
Yeah, primers have gone up 4x, 22LR 3x, and powder almost 2x since covid.
I have also noted that my monthly grocery costs have gone up almost 2x since the Mumbles & Cackle Clown show took over the White House.

 

[Hohn]

A graduate of Obama's 8 year course of how not to be caught with your pants down. Yes, there are several graduates here I presume.

Well stated. Heck, I didn’t even own a firearm until my undergrad classes in that program educated me. As I got into my major’s classes, I got As in “2A Theory 201” “Essentials of Semi Automatic Rifles 301” and other wonderful classes.

But not until I entered the Master’s program did I really understand that reloading is about breaking free of fickle (and gov’t manipulated) markets and that stockpiling supplies was the necessary corollary to reloading.

I might suggest that those firearm enthusiasts who haven’t taken up reloading and haven’t invested in a stash of supplies should AT LEAST have stockpiled a significant quantity of factory ammunition, as that is truly the only reasonable alternative to reloading and stockpiling components.

 

[marchx]

Greetings from IWA in Nurnberg.
To make the long story short. I spoke to all major brands in the industry like RUAG, Hornady, Nammo, Beretta Group, S&B and Fiocchi. So, the prospects for the civilian shooters in the foreseeable future re components and their prices are not great.
The demand is huuge. The demand comes from governments and production lines are being rebuilt to meet the corporate/govenment demand. All people say pretty much the same: we produce more than ever before and our products are sold already before they are even manufactured.
Therefore,

- the prices fo components will not drop in a mid-term perspective,
- there still be a problem with availability of bullets and primers/powder

This is nothing new, but it's good to have a first-hand information and plan accordingly.

 

[JEFFPPC]

The ability to gather information and apply it to one's thought process and mix with common sense does not seem to be relevant in the minds of the past several generations.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Welcome to the new normal.

But the same can be said for everything we need today. Try to buy a new car. People are paying as much as 20% of sticker price for a car today. Used car prices are soaring. Go to the grocery store and come home with an empty pocket, where you money used to be.

The national debt is near 32 trillion dollars and they are about to raise it again. The rate of inflation is off the charts and there is little hope of change in the near future.

Again, welcome to the new normal.

 

[ShtrRdy]

In late 2019 a friend of mine and I were talking about the election in 2020 and how there might be a shortage of reloading components. In early 2020 we started buying what we thought we would need to keep shooting for two years. Little did we know the shortage would start in a couple months with the pandemic and last over three years.

A little trivia, ...... in the early 2000's I would buy a case of 5000 primers for $70 to feed my pistol shooting hobby.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

A little trivia, ...... in the early 2000's I would buy a case of 5000 primers for $70 to feed my pistol shooting hobby.

Yep. I started reloading around 2005. My first order from Powder Valley included a 5k sleeve of F205Ms that worked out to $22/1k. I still have the reciept.

 

[Bill Norris]

I too was not a slow learner of shortages brought on by our socialist panel. I listened to the long-timers here as well. Glad I did.

 

[Murray Brook]

This last shortage was at least my 2'nd one so I kind of knew what we were in store for. When I seen most everything in the US go dry and we still had lots of stock here in Canada it didn't take a brain surgeon to know that once we were dry we would be for a long while. That is when I stocked up on primers and powder. At the prices of primers here in Canada now (north of $600 and some cases $100/100 ) glad I did. Still missing a few little things but those seem to turn up every so often.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I've Learned to Keep, a 4 to 5 Year Supply of, ALL Loading Components "needed",.. in Advance !
Didn't, learn this schit,.. in College !
I too, graduated from Obama's,.. 8 year Course of Study with, Honors but,..
way before THAT,. my Dad from, the GREATEST Generation ( Depression era & WW2 Veteran ),.. taught, Me.
Thanks,. Dad !

 

[Bill Norris]

I've Learned to Keep, a 4 to 5 Year Supply of, ALL Loading Components "needed",.. in Advance !
Didn't, learn this schit,.. in College !
I too, graduated from Obama's,.. 8 year Course of Study with, Honors but,..
way before THAT,. my Dad from, the GREATEST Generation ( Depression era & WW2 Veteran ),.. taught, Me.
Thanks,. Dad !

Amen to that.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Metal Containers LINED with, 3/4 inch Plywood and ON Wheels ( in case of Fire ) are your Friend's for, Long Term, Component storage ! Avoid,.. Heat, Humidity and Large, Temp "Swings" !
I still have, some of, Bruce Hogdon's surplus, WW-2, H-4895 that, I use, in My .22-250 Rem. for, Sage rats.
My Dad bought it, in 1956 or 1957 for .50 Cents, a Pound ( Came in Paper Containers, then ) and 32.5 grs of, it goes Bang @ 3,500 FPS with, 50 gr Sierra's or, V-Maxes, in my .22- 250 at around, 1/2 MOA and "Good" to 200 yds !
I use that Powder with, Old, CCI Primers from, the 1980's !
Stored Properly, Most reloading components, will Last, a long, LONG,.. Time !

 

[theburdsalls]

Am I a conspiracy theorist for thinking that our government might get involved in fixing ammo prices for civilians as a form of gun control?
They could offer a lucrative military contract in exchange for making civilian prices high. I believe they could and would fix the prices of ammo just as they are fixing the prices of fossil fuels by choking supply.

They will continue to try and impose extra taxes on ammo

 

[DiRTY DOG]

They will continue to try and impose extra taxes on ammo

Ever been to California? No mail order ammo. FFL transfer and background checks with fee for ALL ammo purchases, sales, gifts, trades. Lead free for ALL hunting.

Upcoming legislation includes banning lead ammo at indoor/outdoor ranges and on public land, more ammo taxes, banning mail order reloading components starting with primers & powder. Squeezing the ammo supply and making ammo expensive is very effective.

 

[ebb]

Where there is money to be made there will be greedy people trying to get their share. I am sure prices will come down but likely not to what they were. This is an assault on our rights just like what is happening to shipping firearms , and the ATFs power grab, and Puddin vowing to get the gun/villain of the day. Good news is we are seeing new startups trying to break into the market. Competition can only make this better.