The stuff is out there

[southern_idaho]

The stuff we need or desire for our hobby is out there - you just have to keep your eyes open and be a little adventurous.

Last week I walked into a small local gun store (LGS) and they had eight to ten 1 lb. containers of Varget, and about the same amount of 8208-xbr on the shelf. Limit of 3 to any one buyer. They had every primer that I had ever wanted. In fact they had about ten times the inventory of reloading supplies as the local big box store has had in months.

Same thing with .22 ammo. I just bought a .22 bolt gun and as I was getting ready to check out, the clerk whispered, "we keep a few bricks of .22 ammo in the back for those who are buying guns from us - want one?" Of course I did.

Every time I go on a trip I stop in the LGS of any small town I happen to go through, and I usually find something there that I couldn't find locally.

I have learned to enjoy in a way the current state of things - its like a scavenger hunt.

 

[Terry]

Our local Fleet Farm now has reloading supplies.

 

[Rtheurer]

Im not so happy about the sitiation. I was just thinking the other day how tired I am of this %&%$*, I shoot alot and generally shoot up about 16 Pounds of Varget a year. I was lucky to have extra on hand but am now getting down to the end of that. Plus I would like to do some load testing of other powders on a new rifle.. Too bad I cant find what I would like to test.... I wonder how long this is going to go on?
I thought when this all kinda started that at the most by one year it would all be but over.. Boy looking like I was quite wrong.
I dont mind waiting on a Back Order list for a few months or half a year but holy cow.. this seems to be a little Excessive.

OK Im done Ranting... And I feel better now. Glad you all could lend a ear/eye to my Whinnning.

RussT

 

[Terry]

What are you looking for?

 

[ARshuter]

I own a small gun smith shop here in southwestern Pennsylvania. I get to talk to quite a few people day in and day out. A couple weeks ago I was talking with a fellow about this same subject. During the conversation he says, " I have about 187 pounds of powder, close to 100,000 primers and 70,000 bullets in my basement." I ask why so much. His response was, "because I can." After talking a while longer I find out he hasn't fired a shot in over 4 years. Not only is that BS that's where the biggest problem with the shortage is.

 

[Joe R]

His response was, "because I can." After talking a while longer I find out he hasn't fired a shot in over 4 years.

One of the things we often fail to consider is that, as people get older they have a tendency to hoard things. That coupled with the rising dementia and impaired judgment in older population, you get guys that behave exactly as you describe. Like the old proverb says "There by the grace of God, go I"

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[SWThomas]

That's pretty crappy for him to hoard all those components when he has no need or use for them. But he's fully within his rights to do so. I don't have a fraction of what that dude has, but the amount I have is probably more than some folks think I need. I'll be sitting pretty when the next panic hits though.

 

[dkhunt14]

In the last year I haven't been in the shops a lot but every time I was I could buy Varget and H4350 if I wanted. They also had a large supply of primers, the only thing in short supply is 22 rimfire. I am glad I bought a lot of them 2 years ago before they got expensive and scarce. The prices really haven't gone up much except for 22 rimfire. You can buy 1 pounders for 23 to 24 dollars and 8 pounders for 149.00. Pa. has a lot of shops and a lot of hunters. That means a lot of reloaders; so I believe that's why we have supplies. We don't have much in the way of big internet sellers. Just a lot of shops. Matt

 

[Shynloco]

" I have about 187 pounds of powder, close to 100,000 primers and 70,000 bullets in my basement." I ask why so much. His response was, "because I can." After talking a while longer I find out he hasn't fired a shot in over 4 years. Not only is that BS that's where the biggest problem with the shortage is.

It was mentioned that people have the "right" to do as they please and buy what they want. That's all nice and sweet, but then there is the aspect of "consideration of others." Yes I know that's OLD SCHOOL thinking and NEW SCHOOL is more akin to "screw you - I got mine." And there in lies part of the problem with our great nation, that too many people no longer give a hoot what happens to others who enjoy the same hobbies and practices. It's like you can't leave your doors open anymore or even pick up a hitchhiker for fear of the obvious...might end with someone trying to rob you and you have to shoot the POS. So be it I guess, but that still doesn't solve the problem that like it or not, more of us are in the same boat and the lessons keep coming from those illustrious idiots we send to Washington, who to me are the ultimate pieces of s - - -! So keep on looking for what you need and just maybe cut someone a little slack in helping them out when they are short. There's my morning rant and I'm done. Have a nice day to everyone one and happy shootin!

Alex

 

[amlevin]

His response was, "because I can." After talking a while longer I find out he hasn't fired a shot in over 4 years.

One of the things we often fail to consider is that, as people get older they have a tendency to hoard things. That coupled with the rising dementia and impaired judgment in older population, you get guys that behave exactly as you describe. Like the old proverb says "There by the grace of God, go I"

Kindest regards,

Joe

I used to make fun of my my old grandpa. Then I became him.

I'm getting better now. I actually went back to the powder shelf in my local Cabelas and put two pounds of power BACK. Only bought 2# of IMR 4064 instead of the 4 I had picked up. A "voice of reason" went off in my head and told me "You already have a 4 year supply in your shop (even though I shoot a lot) and you might not even live long enough to shoot what you have.

I'm now just replacing what I shoot every month or so. I HAVE developed loads using different powders rather than just focusing on one. That way I won't ever be out of something to shoot.

 

[jonbearman]

I just love guys that brag about buying 10000 primers all at once or how they bought (6) 8 pounders or 5000 bullets all at once. I realize this is America and you can do what you please. What really happens is what happened to an acquaintance of mine who died suddenly and he had so much stuff that it took 4 days to sell it off.Some got thrown away at the end by his widow because she couldn't get what she wanted for it.Or worst case scenario it all gets thrown away and the weapons get turned in to the police for destruction. I was getting that way,now I am selling what I don't plan on using and paring down the collection.My girlfriend and kids wouldn't know what half the stuff is anyway and it would get sold for peanuts or scrapped. The moral is buy what you can use in a 2 year period so you don't end up someday saying"what am I going to do with all of this"

 

[amlevin]

I just love guys that brag about buying 10000 primers all at once or how they bought (6) 8 pounders or 5000 bullets all at once. I realize this is America and you can do what you please. What really happens is what happened to an acquaintance of mine who died suddenly and he had so much stuff that it took 4 days to sell it off.Some got thrown away at the end by his widow because she couldn't get what she wanted for it.Or worst case scenario it all gets thrown away and the weapons get turned in to the police for destruction. I was getting that way,now I am selling what I don't plan on using and paring down the collection.My girlfriend and kids wouldn't know what half the stuff is anyway and it would get sold for peanuts or scrapped. The moral is buy what you can use in a 2 year period so you don't end up someday saying"what am I going to do with all of this"

My "departure instructions" are for my wife to contact ONE particular Dealer that I trust to dispose of the firearms and for all the other gear he handles. Neither her nor any of my kids have a clue but I trust this particular Dealer to "Do right by her". Of course this all assumes I kick off before her.

 

[sailhertoo]

I've got one match worth of bullits and not much more powder.

My shooting time is now being cut back due to the lack of componets.

Berger 180 hybrids and H1000 is no where to be found.

 

[masterblaster1]

Well, I live in Florida by Miami, our LGS ad only LGS that carry's reloading supplies is a Basspro and they are bare empty all the time, except for Winchester large rifle primers, which I have been using when I stop by, you guys with normal LGS's nearby are lucky. I keep a good supply of everything I need, it has been touch and go at times , I currently need some H4350 but I am not out yet. I have switched back to 4064 for my 308 shooting and use Varget for 223 and 123 smk Rem 260 loading, have plenty of IMR 4350 for the 06 and 300 WSM, but would like to try some other powders that are hard to come by. I still shoot once per week on average but moderate my fun shooting with the M1A and Ar's and stick with the bolt guns. I am also moving down the food chain and rediscovering powders like 4064 and brass like LC for the 308's, I keep trying to remember why I switched to the Gucci powders and brass in the first place, I have these components shooting as well as the Lapua and Varget loads. I keep a healthy supply of made ammo in case of a body armored zombie attack, but I always had the mega basic load on hand.

 

[madderg]

After all this time there has to be some major wrongs going on somewhere. Hording can not account for the empty shelves, nor the lack of 22's. Out here in Oregon it's been over a year and a half...and counting!! Powder used to come in by the freight car loads, now you couldn't fill a Smart car... this sucks.

 

[Gun Guy]

I don't buy all the conversation about hoarding as being the issue with purchasing powder and ammunition. I believe it is a factor but not the major factor. I will use a simple example. Without getting into a conversation about powder and Varget and Australia, etc. I will use a basic .22 LR ammo example. Its a simpler discussion. CCI Blazer .22 LR 40 gr RN ammo was always some of the best shooting low to moderate priced .22 LR ammo around. Its made in Lewiston, Idaho. This ammo was available by the truckload a few years ago. High volume shooters (like me) would buy cases of it from Midway, Cabelas, Midsouth, Graf & Sons, etc. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw one 500 round brick of CCI on the shelf or even behind the counter for that matter. The guys on this forum are serious shooters, we spend lots of time in gun shops, have friends that own those shops, know people who look for ammo like this, talk to other shooters, go to ranges where people are shooting, etc etc etc. I am one of those guys who does these things. I have not seen ONE 500 Rd brick of this ammo available for purchase in over a year. Not one. I don't know anyone who has seen one or bought one or even heard of someone buying one. Then I ask - who is hoarding it? - Is it you, or the guy across the street or the other guy at the range? If it was don't you see it as realistic that one of us would have seen someone who bought a brick or two of this stuff while just happening to be in the gun store when it came in? By the way, I'm not buying that ammo and I bet you aren't either. Also, we keep thinking the other guy is hoarding it! Where is that guy because every gun shop here in Wisconsin that I know of hasn't seen any so how can we be hoarding it? I will bet the guys in Nevada and California and North Dakota and Colorado and Utah and etc. also aren't hoarding it. So where are the mountains of CCI Blazer going that were around a few years ago? Most people that are occasional shooters don't buy bricks of it to begin with. We are the guys that buy bricks to shoot alot. If hoarders were the problem we would see some of it. Midway hasn't had any, neither has Cabelas, or Graf or Midsouth, so where is it being sold? You guessed it - it isn't out there. Tonight I went on Gunbot and looked what was available. Not one box of CCI Blazer 40 gr exists on that site. None - Nowhere. Now do you not think in the good old US of A that if it was rare and someone had received a shipment that someone would try selling it for a super high price? None of those people have listings either for it. So, hoarders being the issue - I don't think so. It's not out there.

 

[Hoier]

I still think it's the hoarding thing, when stuff comes in at Sportsmans there is a line standing out front of the store waiting to buy all the 22s they will let them. I also know a guy who works the gun counter at Wally World and he says the same thing.

 

[dkhunt14]

I think the 22 ammo is out there. It is just being bought up. The 22 AR type guns didn't help the situation. Guys bought them to practice because it is a lot cheaper. The market wasn't ready to produce that much. At a Walmart a manager was helping an employee with inventory and someone asked where the 22 ammo was. The manager said they were getting shipments in regularly and checked his inventory list and it showed they had a bunch. The manager asked the employee where it was at. The employee told him that another employee buys it all and don't put it on the shelf. The manager told the employee that if he wants his job it better be put on the shelf. I have bought cases here in Pa. You just have to be there at the right time. Most of our local shops have put limits on 22 ammo. Everything else is pretty well here; sometimes you have to wait a little for certain kinds of primers. I bet places like Midway are selling a lot to smaller type gun shops that bought a lot from them in the past. Easier to ship cases than a brick or 2. Now some of our shops have really raised their prices but some didn't. One shop wants 60.00 a thousand for CCI BR4's and another shop I bought them for 32.00 a thousand. I just remember who did what for future buying. Matt

 

[rogn]

I have enquired at the local Wally's( Eastern Shore of the PR of MD) about 22rf ammo and was told, it comes in about 7:30 AM and if you want some be here before 8AM. Seems to be echoed around the country. Our LGS, small though they be, does more than 10X both of the Wallys in our area. He has 22rf fairly regularly and limits the amount per buyer. He has to have some ammo to sell to the purchasers of new 22s. The same applies here, ammo comes in and goes out fast.. On the other hand, I buy most of my bullets on line because w/freight, sales tax and markup, his prices hurt too much. This pipeline is starting to show signs of filling, though slowly. I can by digging around find almost any bullet I want. Perhaps though some like 6mm Berger 105 Hybrids, are gone so fast its hard to nail some down.
Conspiracy, give me a break, this regime can't keep its mouth shut long enough to have a secret

 

[Steve3]

The stuff is out there but people hoard. That is how I see it from where I stand. I know shooters that own a single 22LR rifle and shoot it maybe once every five years but are buying up 22s anytime they can, they even have a network of buddies buying it up. And it is all going to rot because they don't shoot. I know one hoarder that has 5 bricks of 22s he bought in the last year and he is like a rabid dog looking for more. This is not helping our situation. And my LGS that keeps telling me he sees nothing... I don't see it that way, I see it that he is selling it at a premium or just selling it to his privileged customers. Needless to say i am looking for a new LGS to work with.

Now powder and bullets I am not sure about. I think the bullet companies are cranking out what they can. As for powder, I haven't a clue what is going on.