What's going on with Sierra?

[MGMIAM]

I did a lot !! or reading today and bottom line is, guess, since covid supply and demand, they said they just can't get the supplies they need to load what they need to load.

 

[sw282]

I did a lot !! or reading today and bottom line is, guess, since covid supply and demand, they said they just can't get the supplies they need to load what they need to load.

l don't know where the bullet makers are getting their lead from other than recyclers. Last lead mine in North America closed maybe 10yrs back...

 

[sw282]

Kitco - Spot Lead Historical Charts and Graphs - Lead charts - Industrial metals

l don't understand the price of lead. Fairly constant over the last 10yrs. Looking at lead stocks, ln April 2018 there were 130,000 tons on hand. 5 yrs later only 20,000 tons available. Very little lead price increase

 

[1shot]

An update to my previous post:
After almost 3 years, I just received 500 0f the 200gr. 30 cal. bullets from Sierra! Time to get busy with the FT-R rifle!

Lloyd

 

[BobT]

l don't know where the bullet makers are getting their lead from other than recyclers. Last lead mine in North America closed maybe 10yrs back...

Don't know where you heard this but I live literally on top of a lead mine and I assure you that most of the mines along the Viburnum trend in Missouri are running 24-7. the biggest problem with lead mining is compliance with the EPA. We also have a large battery/lead recycling plant just a few miles down the road that is operating 3 shifts.

 

[cjames]

At least in my neck of the woods, at all the places that sell bullets, Hornady's are on the shelves. We call them "Steve's Bullets". Steve has his stuff is on the shelves. You see a few boxes of Sierra and a couple of boxes of Nosler and very few Berger's every now and then. But Steve's Bullets are stocked on the shelves. Just red and white boxes all down the shelves. Historically I haven't shot a lot of Hornady stuff, but I have lately because that's about all you can get around here. So, why can Steve get his stuff on the shelves and not the other guys?

 

[Laurie]

The annual output of every custom maker combined wouldn't make a dent in a military contract. Lapua's parent company is a military contractor, and Finland has what you might say is a HEFTY incentive to make sure the eastern Europeans are well armed. The threat (and reality) of Russian invasion is going to trump F class shooters all day long.

So true! ............ and Finland is now replacing its entire stocks of military weapons and ammunition to meet NATO standardisation requirements having just joined the organisation. (For those wondering what I'm on about, Finland has traditionally used weapons systems based on its Soviet / Russian neighbours, so the standard infantry rifle is a much improved AK-system assault rifle and the standard rifle cartridge is a local loading of the old Soviet 7.62X39mm round.)

For a small country, Finland has a very large military when reservists are counted, and therefore very large holdings of smallarms and ammunition to replace. This will be no short, quick job so Lapua and Viht component supply are going to be affected by government contracts for some considerable time.

 

[dcali]

Side note on lead - I'm concerned about long term supply. We currently get lead from all over the world (including domestic lead), and recycle a crapload of car batteries. Bullets are a very small percentage of lead usage - the vast majority going into car batteries. But the days of lead acid batteries are numbered. What happens when we don't use them anymore? When that demand dries up, what will happen to the lead supply chain? I would imagine things could get tricky. When your lead mine loses 85% of its business in a period of a few years, you probably shut down. Will the government take over (subsidize, more likely) lead mines to supply the military? Someone will have to keep producing lead, but how that looks is uncertain. We may wind up with really cheap lead, or really expensive lead.

 

[sw282]

l don't know where the bullet makers are getting their lead from other than recyclers. Last lead mine in North America closed maybe 10yrs back...

Don't know where you heard this but I live literally on top of a lead mine and I assure you that most of the mines along the Viburnum trend in Missouri are running 24-7. the biggest problem with lead mining is compliance with the EPA. We also have a large battery/lead recycling plant just a few miles down the road that is operating 3 shifts.

Read it on the NET a few yrs back about the last lead mine closing because of new EPA standards. Great news they reopened the mine.

 

[Adam in WI]

I believe lead acid batteries are the most recycled consumer product. Somewhere around 98% are recycled. A very fast and easy process from the looks of it.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Interesting that between 2010-17 20 government agencies(Ice,Indian affairs, Treasury,IRS, etc.) reported spending 325+million on ammunition. Firearms and tactical equipment another trillion. This is not military spending that falls under a different accounting agency.

 

[GerryM]

First they aren't mining lead/ Its the silver they are after.
on another comment sierra has a new partner SIG

 

[L.Sherm]

SIG partnered with Sierra back in 2015 for a pistol ammo line not sure thats still the case. Unless things have changed with Sierra last couple years as of Oct 2020 when they bought Barnes Clarus owns Sierra and Barnes bullets

 

[rebs]

What you're seeing is these companies that were built on supplying niche markets are now doing government contracts and the government contracts are always going to take precedence. I do find it quite interesting.

The only company that I can see that's not taking government contracts is Hornady. Interestingly enough they're the only privately held company. All of the others are corporate entities that are owned by these investment companies. The investment companies are also firmly invested into the companies that they're supplying.

People better wake up. These companies are being vacuumed up into the Borg. Supplying only the Borg. It will simply be a matter of time before they just stop supplying anyone if those investment companies decide that that's what they want to do. And no decisions are not always made on simply what makes money. If that were true most of the government contractors would have been out of business after world war II. It's not capitalism. It's fascism really. It's the merging of the government and private corporations into a single entity and they are controlling the flow of products in every industry. Especially in the firearms industry. You don't have a second amendment if you don't have a way to get a firearm or ammunition.

I agree. Who was it that said if we can't take the guns away we will take the ammunition away. With no ammunition the guns are useless?

 

[X Count]

The annual output of every custom maker combined wouldn't make a dent in a military contract. Lapua's parent company is a military contractor, and Finland has what you might say is a HEFTY incentive to make sure the eastern Europeans are well armed. The threat (and reality) of Russian invasion is going to trump F class shooters all day long.

Thankfully, some of these companies do sell jackets to custom makers. I wish more did, because they're a something of a pain to get. I'm only aware of three sources - J4, Hines, and Sierra, and all of them are good. But if they decided to stop selling jackets, I doubt their businesses would be materially impacted. They're doing it for the good will and marketing more than the money (and it's not that hard, so why not?). So rest assured there are no inferior components. Customs are good because the dies are made with excruciating care, and the hand pulling means you can feel every single one form and cull any weirdness.

Nobody is making custom bullets to get rich. It's a labor of love, and that's why you get so many good options. Financial corners are cut (meaning, we give up money for quality), and most of us could make a good deal more money doing something else. The unsung heroes are the guys making the dies. Now *that* is dedication.

Ive always heard that jackets are the holdup when supplies get short. What is involved in making jackets that stops custom guys making their own jacket? Obviously they are a precision part of the bullet but you guys are overcoming all sorts of issues that contribute to the quality of the finished product already

 

[dcali]

Ive always heard that jackets are the holdup when supplies get short. What is involved in making jackets that stops custom guys making their own jacket? Obviously they are a precision part of the bullet but you guys are overcoming all sorts of issues that contribute to the quality of the finished product already

Jackets require expensive machinery to make. Bullets just require a press and a set of dies. The manual assembly and quality of the dies are what make customs so reliable. The jackets are the same as any other match grade jackets.

 

[GerryM]

Jacket prices are very high. and expensive fol an upstart to make.

That said CHUCK SHUMER is the one who made that statement about getting our ammo.
The next thing ios micro stamping bullets

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The next thing ios micro stamping bullets

Then the next thing is steel pin tumbling before reloading

 

[Old Navy]

l don't know where the bullet makers are getting their lead from other than recyclers. Last lead mine in North America closed maybe 10yrs back...

Don't know where you heard this but I live literally on top of a lead mine and I assure you that most of the mines along the Viburnum trend in Missouri are running 24-7. the biggest problem with lead mining is compliance with the EPA. We also have a large battery/lead recycling plant just a few miles down the road that is operating 3 shifts.

It was the last smelter that was closed.

 

[Jsjac]

I think some bullet makers are making military ammunition or bullets for military ammunition.