Odds of steady Chinese ammo supply despite American panic buying?

[CanAm]

brass

 

[Kevin M.]

Neat, didn't know it was ever that cheap. Then again, it makes sense, they go through a massive volume more .223 then we do here. I know if I had un-neutered mags I would shoot at least 3-4 times more through my AR then I do now.

Also, access to semi and full-auto belt fed firearms in many states probably increases consumption 50 fold.

 

[tootall]

Only a few years ago you could buy surplus 5.56 for 8cents per rd in the USA.

I missed/dont recall that deal, but I used to take my fired brass to a gunshow south of Seattle and swap for reloaded.
US$125 per 1000, in the mid 90's

 

[Gundoggy]

What size of Ammo Can should one use to store the ammo once out of the crate?? Does the regular (non-fat 50) .50 Ammo can from Canam hold half a crate?

Or should I just buy a double high 50 ammo can since they are all $19.99??

 

[Caleb314]

I think they sell 800 in the regular .50 cal can, but if they cost the same then why not get the bigger one

 

[rugersr22]

Just loaded a crate of Norinco .223 into standard 50 cal cans. Took two cans for all 1600 rnds.

 

[Silverado]

Did you have to pack 800 in there neatly, or can you just dump them in loose?

I have one 1K pack of AE 223 in the 50cal ammo can, but they're packed tight in boxes of 100.

 

[rugersr22]

They come in boxes, with 20 rnds per box. I was able to easily pack 40 boxes per can with space to spare.

 

[762shooter]

supply, no problem; cheap supply of old-stock, not much longer

I've noticed the "old" dates on the cases. Why would the Chinese military have stockpiles of .223, .45 and 9mm ammo? The dates on the cases are long after the Vietnam war so not likely made to supply the VC.

 

[tootall]

US market prior to the Clinton import ban

 

[CanAm]

US market prior to the Clinton import ban

bingo

 

[copeland]

The 40mm can will hold 1600 norinco 223 perfectly as well as 1440 packs of x39 in paper wrap.

 

[MapleSugar]

I got 16 k of Chinese for the next year or two, not including other domestic and readily reloadable. Then again I am a high volume shooter.

I say, old boy, it looks as though your stocks are becoming dangerously low.

 

[Kevin M.]

I say, old boy, it looks as though your stocks are becoming dangerously low.

It's OK.... friends of mine have been purchasing this .223 as if it has been going out of style.

 

[Whopperman]

It's OK.... friends of mine have been purchasing this .223 as if it has been going out of style.

So my wife and I were sitting watching some show on discovery or something and there was that commercial for preppers and that one guy states he has 7000rds of ammunition. Wife turns to me and says 'wow thats alot'. I said ' not really, we have just about that much'.

She just saw this picture......

I'm not allowed to play here anymore. she says you all are a bad influence....

 

[Gootch]

The 40mm can will hold 1600 norinco 223 perfectly as well as 1440 packs of x39 in paper wrap

A 20 MM can will hold 4000 rounds in 30 rnd cartons with room to spare. Can't lift it, but it will hold them.

Too bad I only have 5 of them.

 

[harbl_the_cat]

supply, no problem; cheap supply of old-stock, not much longer

IIRC, the label on my 1600 crate of Nork .223 said it was manufactured in 2000. This means what you're paying for it today is a reflection of what it cost the Chinese to manufacture it back in 2000 - the lions share of the cost being the price of the underlying commodities at the time. Casing brass if 70% copper, 30% zinc. Jackets are pure copper. Cores are lead.

What do these charts tell you about the price of ammunition manufactured after 2000?

I personally think $1/round (or much higher) .223 within the decade is quite likely. Why?

The price of copper (the most important component in ammunition) alone has gone up 500%. Lead is up 400%. Even zinc, which constitutes the least amount of material in ammunition is up 200%.

Anyone who thinks ammunition won't similiary go up in price once old supply dries up is crazy.

I'd say stack it deep, while you get a chance, gentlemen.

 

[Silverado]

I'd say stack it deep, while you get a chance, gentlemen.

I try to do this with any commodity, a large quantity of which I might burn through in a fit of "YEE HAW!"

 

[harbl_the_cat]

I try to do this with any commodity, a large quantity of which I might burn through in a fit of "YEE HAW!"

Knowing how much in price ammuntion is pretty much guarunteed to increase by, I try to shoot as little as possible.

 

[Silverado]

That's a shame. Do you shoot rimfire? Or reload? You've offered some sound advice on this board over the years, some of which I've benefited and profited from, so I'll offer you this in thanks: If you don't do either of the above, you should do both. Soon as possible, and often as possible!