[greg_r]

Finally I walk into the gun shops around here and the shelf’s are full of primers, powder, and bullets. They are not disappearing off the shelf’s as soon as they are stocked. I am thinking the drought just may be over.

Problem is that prices have not dropped like I thought they would. I never figured prices would go back to pre Covid days, but I did not think prices would stay this high. Powder used to be $30 -$35 a pound, primers $35 - $40 per thousand. Today powder is $45 - -$55 per pound, primers are $80 per thousand.

I ask again, is this the new normal?

 

[lklawson]

Looks like it.

Peace favor your sword (mobile)

 

[Pistolkitty]

On the ammo side, I'm seeing shelves jam packed here but still a few certain calibers are nowhere to be found. And prices still up, not highest ever, but up.

 

[moona11]

It won't go down. Once they figured people were going to pay more and everyone demanding more pay. Its not going to go down. Nothing ever does.

 

[backbencher]

Money machine go brrrrr. 😐

 

[greg_r]

It won't go down. Once they figured people were going to pay more and everyone demanding more pay. Its not going to go down. Nothing ever does.

My favorite LGS is telling me only the hobby loaders are still buying. Those who loaded just for cheaper ammo are choosing just to buy factory stuff.

I bet she is right. I can buy range ammo as cheap as I can make it now, especially if using jacketed bullets. I can still load the premium stuff cheaper than I can buy it. And who really uses a lot of premium stuff.

Just possible that a lot of reloading gear might hit the market at a good price. Maybe a lot of new folk to the hobby. And if demand goes down just maybe we will see primers at 5 or 6 cents a piece like I thought they would be selling for.

 

[Twobits]

Still not seeing the old time classic deer calibers except 30-30. No 300 Savage or 35 Remington anywhere.

 

[Farmplinker]

Well, if we pay more for cheap ammo, especially rimfire, maybe more capacity will come online. I have read enough times that bulk economy rimfire is sold at+- cost, made so more profitable ammo is sold.

 

[welderman]

I can still reload cheaper. I am still working with my ample supply of powder and primers and I cast my own pills. I have about 100 jacketed for each caliber but they are on hold. Powder prices here are still pretty much the same, $30 -$45 a pound, primers are still non existent. But then again we only have one LGS that carries reloading components and equipment.

 

[lklawson]

I can still reload cheaper. I am still working with my ample supply of powder and primers and I cast my own pills. I have about 100 jacketed for each caliber but they are on hold. Powder prices here are still pretty much the same, $30 -$45 a pound, primers are still non existent. But then again we only have one LGS that carries reloading components and equipment.

Most people can still reload 9mm for less than NIB. But it's pretty much the same as before in that if commodity plinker 9mm is the bar, your cost savings is much smaller. Maybe you can save a couple of dollars off of a box of range blaster 9. But to most folks $2-3 really isn't worth it; you spend more than that for a McDonnald's cappuccino. Building premium loads or boutique ammo you can cut about 50% off instead of 15% like the range blaster 9 so building precision rifle ammo for competition, premium hunting loads, or expensive 460 Rowland ammo has a more attractive payback.

But I still build 9mm and .38SPL. ...and 300 BLK, and .308 for my boy's rifle, and 30-30 when my dad wants it, and .223 when I run down my stock. And I'm planning on getting into 5.7 as well. I've got dies for .45ACP but I still haven't built any yet.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[welderman]

On my limited income a savings is a savings, but mine is more than a couple bucks/50 rounds. I also cast my own bullets from WW lead I paid about 28 cents a pound for. (70 pounds for $20) I still have plenty of pre Covid primers and powder on hand that will hold us for quite a while. So I'll keep loading my own.