SomebodyTookMyName
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Saskatchewan
Uhhhhhhhh dude, you literally just said "ammo is getting harder to source", but now somehow can't figure out why the components to make said ammo are scarce as well...? Yikes bud.
Why the shortage
- Thread starter Moosetang
- Start date
Uhhhhhhhh dude, you literally just said "ammo is getting harder to source", but now somehow can't figure out why the components to make said ammo are scarce as well...? Yikes bud.
Burton Urnie
Regular
- Location
- Near Woodstock New Brunswick
Justin is the NEW Brandon.
Haha obviously you have paid attention to the huge spike in factory ammo prices. The price jump is across the board.
SCG
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Umm - there is (at least now) two types or more of "4350 powder" - IMR 4350 and H4350. Some see them as interchangeable - kinda want to know what you want?? Like asking for "bullets for ma 300", when you want to buy factory ammunition for your 300 Norma...
SustainingGopher
CGN Regular
- Location
- An airport
1lb. H4350-Sylvester sporting goods $63.99
PPU 180gr 300WM- Barton’s big country $48
Hornady match 300WM 178gr ELD - maple ridge armoury $55.95
Federal 180gr 300WM SP - G4C $39.99
All in stock at the time I posted this, 11:24 Atlantic. Hope it helps
PPU 180gr 300WM- Barton’s big country $48
Hornady match 300WM 178gr ELD - maple ridge armoury $55.95
Federal 180gr 300WM SP - G4C $39.99
All in stock at the time I posted this, 11:24 Atlantic. Hope it helps
This not a new thing. Cyclical shortages of ammunition and components has been common since before Obama was elected in 2008. Americans hoard ammunition and firearms when they feel nervous about the future.
If you bought powder at $23/lb that must be about 30 years ago. Reloaders don't buy a pound at a time now, because it might not be available later. So we tend to buy larger amounts when we can to tide us over when we can't.
Yes the last time I reloaded was back in the 90's. When I was reloading regularly I would buy in bulk if I could, sometimes making a trip down to Washington and bulk up. But some 1 lb cans I have have a 23. buck price tag on them and I thought that was steep back then.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Good comments - some of us much slower to learn that than others. I started reloading in mid to late 1970's - powder and components were a drive to next town 15 miles away - never actually bought (or really could afford) to buy more than short term - was never an issue - just go get another pound of powder, or a couple trays of primers. Until that store was closed. Then required 60 or 70 mile drive to city for supplies - and slowly the stores there disappeared. There were guys who would make run to Minot or Plentiwood - stock up - but that was because of much less cost - at that time, was not really an "availability" thing - but "writing was on the wall" - some of us just slower to see it than others.
As jethunter mentions - now not uncommon to be sitting on several years worth of components - that gets to be fairly sizeable money tied up if you use 6 or 8 different powders in 10 or 12 calibers, etc. Bullets in many calibers, brass, etc. No longer, at all, an inexpensive thing to try 3 or 5 different weights or brands of bullets or 2 or 4 different kinds of powders. Our most recent experience however - 7mm Weatherby Mag - $8 per factory round - still makes reloading for that thing attractive, especially with 3 or 5 year old components (160 grain Partitions).
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257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I understand that ammo shortage is partially due to how far behind the manufacturers are when it comes to military contracts.
It makes sense to me because raw materials are going to that industry first.
David
It makes sense to me because raw materials are going to that industry first.
David
Go back 15 years or even 10 years on CGN and elsewhere and you'll read of continual instances of "shortages", and theories on why they are.
It's normal that your store of choice doesn't always have excactly what you want when you want it.
Some people stock up to avoid this. Some people.
It's normal that your store of choice doesn't always have excactly what you want when you want it.
Some people stock up to avoid this. Some people.
SustainingGopher
CGN Regular
- Location
- An airport
I had nothing to do at work for two weeks and went down the rabbit hole in the Ammo sub forum (this one), and you are correct. The shortages come in waves every few years and there’s any number of theories as to why it happens.
That being said it isn’t hard to predict when availability is about to become scarce or prices are about to rise. Political landscape and events in the US are the biggest indicators in my opinion. Lots of YouTube videos from Americans driving around to different stores trying to find stuff with no luck. This was when cabelas in Canada was blowing out their Remington 9mm for $11.99/ box with free shipping and 556 was around $400-$450case at most gun stores. Primers and powder were widely available as well and still reasonably priced. There was plenty of warning it was going to happen here if you were even half paying attention.
True dat.
I still have a flat (5000) large pistol timers I bought ? 20 years ago when I was an active IPSC shooter.I got them because there was a primer shortage then. Took up serious hunting shortly thereafter so the primers never got used, yet.When you see this storm coming, get on your horse, go to town and buy all of what you need when you see it.I always buy a small amount of ammo/powder/or primers when I come cross them, until of late. Prices are just too much now for a guy who remembers 10 cent candy bars.
Folks just starting out better just face it, step up, buy when you find it cause it ain't gonna get cheaper.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
This part I don't agree with. In past instances the price spikes seen during shortages did indeed reverse, at least partially. Going by memory, prior to the 2016 shortage primers could be had for $30/k; during the shortage they went up to about $45, but by 2018 could be had for $35 with a little looking.
I expect something similar will happen again, though higher general inflation means the recovery probably won't be as dramatic this time around.
Hope you are right, truly, cause the current prices are ridiculous. There are non economic factors at play here that may impact prices also. That is much harder to calculate/predict.Noticed in my favorite LGS he is no longer marking prices on ammo and components. He checks his computer and gives you current price. In past I could go through shelf stock for old stock at old prices and add to my reloading supplies. No more.Hmmmm......
Maybe hmmm.... or maybe just what most stores have been doing since the 1980s. Price on the shelf, not on the product packaging. Less labor intensive and don't need to change tags when it goes on sale.
There was an Edmonton store that had some old IMPERIAL 32-40 ammo on the shelf, it hadn't even been made for years at that point so they must have got it at an estate sale or auction. Price tag said $16 but i assumed it was an old tag and expected to pay much more. I took 3 boxes and the check-out clerk was eyeballing it awfully hard but didn't say anything and charged me $16/box. I resisted the temptation to go back and get more.
I live in a small town and my LGS is a 1 man operation, hence the prices written on product tradition.Put on with a Sharpie, no less.Worked great for me , I'd scour the shelves for old stock
. When I'd spot some , I had an excellent excuse(in my sneaky mind) for buying something I hadn't come in looking for. He got the sale and my reloading/ammo stash slowly grew.Now the computer rules, no deals, and he gets less of my $$.Progress?????I live in a small town and my LGS is a 1 man operation, hence the prices written on product tradition.Put on with a Sharpie, no less.Worked great for me , I'd scour the shelves for old stock
You're assuming the "old stock" you found wasn't bait. Back when individual price tags were common I noticed some Edmonton stores always had a few old price tags on some items - you'd think they would run out of that old stock eventually, but there it is every time you visit the store. Think about it.
You had a different philosophy than I did back then. I was just happy to get what I needed locally at a fair price.
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