Reloading components

[Toymaker]

Spend all day yesterday at the "Nations Gun Show" (Dulles Expo Center, Centerville, VA). And I went back for a couple of hours this morning. Although some vendors had various limits on primers (ie no primer only sales; primers sold only with merchandise of equal or greater value, etc.), there was no shortage. There was plenty of brass. Loads of bullets. Lots of powder, although the selection was down. Boxes and boxes and boxes of ammo. And there wasn't nearly the feeding frenzy there was at the last show in December. HOWEVER, if you wanted it, you were going to pay the price. Primers - up 32%. Powder - up 20%. Ammo - depends, what I looked at was up between 60% and 80%. Brass - up 10%. Bullets - up 10 %. Plastic boxes to hold reloaded ammo - up 33%. I bought a book, met with friends, looked at some interesting old guns and came home to get my reloading started.

[Doubs43]

At the moment the only component I "need" is .308 brass and I'm on Widener's list to be emailed when they get once fired military brass in. I have enough brass to last until then.

IMO, much of the panic buying is a knee-jerk reaction to the possibility of new Congressional legislation that I give little chance of passing considering how draconian most of the proposed bills are. As you observed at the show, components weren't selling as quickly as before and I think - I hope - the worst is behind us and things will return to whatever "normal" is in a few months. Merchandise that doesn't sell will ultimately bring prices back to pre-panic levels.

[Merick]

A note on the door of the local farm supply store today reads as follows;

Attention Ammunition Customers

The ammunition situation is not good for most of the hand gun items. This includes 40,45, 38, & 9mm. The .223 Ammo is also nearly impossible to get.

The major ammunition vendors have all told us the same thing. They are going to make the same amount of ammo as they made last year and they have all said IF they could make more they would. In many cases, they already have orders for up to 3 years of production. Knowing this, we can no longer promise ANY kind of time frame on when we will get any ammunition. At this time, we are not going to take any orders, or hold any ammunition. Any ammunition we do happen to receive will be put on the shelf as "first come" product. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, but we are at the mercy of the ammunition vendors.

-end quote-

A small local store employee reported he could not order anything, his vendor would call with a list of what was available, and he could take it or leave it.

So it appears to me suppliers do not intended to change capacity, at least until they get a tasted of the new normal prices and try to cut each other out. Meanwhile scarcity is going to feed demand. It will be time to plant tulips soon, maybe that will take some pressure off.

[frodo]

i agree. everybody needs to chill out and just wait.
when they"sellers" see that we will not run to buy ammo. the price will come down.
but if everybody keeps freaking out. all its doing is feeding the freenzy

[FFHIGS]

I agree because those of us who just happen to be getting into reloading are pretty much SOL. I just built a Navy garand and luckily found a forum member to sell me 80 rounds. That wont last too long.

[douglas34474]

Originally Posted by frodo

i agree. everybody needs to chill out and just wait.
when they"sellers" see that we will not run to buy ammo. the price will come down.
but if everybody keeps freaking out. all its doing is feeding the freenzy

With back orders at a projected three year wait, don't hold your breath.

[Doubs43]

Originally Posted by douglas34474

With back orders at a projected three year wait, don't hold your breath.

If US, Canadian and Mexican companies can't keep up with demand for components, imports from other countries are likely to increase substantially. It may take a few months but someone will fill the gap.

[GarandGrabber]

Originally Posted by frodo

i agree. everybody needs to chill out and just wait.
when they"sellers" see that we will not run to buy ammo. the price will come down.
but if everybody keeps freaking out. all its doing is feeding the freenzy

Ya Think? I think as long as these companies keep raising the ceiling on pricing and we keep paying..There aint no goin back..I hope I'm wrong but doubt it

[colt100]

There will be a point where it will get too expensive to shoot. I'm just about there. I couldn't afford to shoot anywhere near what I do had I not stocked up when prices were "cheap" and that I reload.

If prices raise much further and $1 a round are common, even for surplus, which I know they are getting that way, I surely won't be shooting much anymore.

If prices raise, then demand should fall. However, people are in panic mode right now and until that subsides, expect to pay if you want to play. I have enough of a stock pile to weather the storm but if I didn't, I'd take up less expensive hobbies, like gambling...

[easyv]

Originally Posted by colt100

There will be a point where it will get too expensive to shoot. I'm just about there.

That is exactly what the anti's want to happen. And they are succedding at it.