Guns and Ammo

CBA Member

mashburn posted this 15 April 2021

It isn't getting any better here in my neck of the woods, matter of fact it seems to be getting much worse. It's depressing to walk in a gun shop and see what has happened. A friend of mine was set up at the big Wanenmacher Gun Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week , said it was wild.

I had some service work done on my central heat and air unit and the owner of the business is wanting me to pay him with 30-06 ammo.

Mashburn in Oklahoma

David a. Cogburn

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Board

John Carlson posted this 16 April 2021

Up here guns haven't been that much of a problem. Local Scheels has a fair selection at normal prices. Shotgun shells are fairly available though tungsten turkey loads are $10 a shot. 223 and 9mm show up occasionally at fairly normal prices. 22s also show up now and then but at nearly double last years prices. Practically no powder or primers.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

Attached Files

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 16 April 2021

In inland PNW, no guns, no standard powders, no primers. Lots of 22LR at $.10 a round and new powders that nobody uses.

Attached Files

CBA Member

longhunter posted this 16 April 2021

South East MN about the same as Ric. Not so much in .22lr.

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

Attached Files

CBA President

John Alexander posted this 16 April 2021

From what I hear from shooters at our range the shortage is working nicely -- for the hoarders. I hear lots of comments by shooters about buying both powder and ammo without problems. 223 and 9mm for a dollar a round and powder at 3 to 4 times what it was a year ago. With such business success we may have shortages from now on.

John

Attached Files

CBA Member

beagle6 posted this 16 April 2021

Not much of anything here in upstate New York except shotgun shells.

beagle6

Attached Files

CBA Member

Eutectic posted this 19 April 2021

The outdoor stores get in a case or two of powder and some primers every week or two. This used to keep the store stacked up but now they fly out the door the same day they hit the shelves. Then they turn up on the internet sites at 4 times the price. How do we stop this?

Attached Files

CBA Member

RicinYakima posted this 19 April 2021

It is unstoppable. The US is awash in helicopter money, people are afraid they will never get components again and it will run its natural course. In ten years we will be able to buy what we need at a reasonable price.

Attached Files

Liked by

Standard Member

Qc Pistolero posted this 19 April 2021

Up here in Qc Canada I've been trying to buy a Dillon 750 but everywhere nothing available.16 weeks backlog!!!

Primers and powder are still available but prices have soared up 50 to 60% compared to 6 months ago.Problem is my income goes up only 1.5%/year thanks to our soft gungrabber canadian premier.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

Little Debbie posted this 19 April 2021

Demand is outpacing supply for various reasons. We stop it by not buying at the prices that are being asked by the resellers on the net and other places. When I see stuff on the shelf at retailers the prices are msrp no discounts, but no gouging either. A couple of small gun stores in my area have primers on consignment for truly outrageous prices. I don’t buy them but they don’t last so someone is. The hoarders/gougers will get there fill at some point and we will see stuff on shelves. I will then buy a few primers, powder, gas checks, and .22 LR every month to shoot and have on hand in times like these. Just like I have since Clinton’s assault rifle ban. Patience is the only answer now. But I’m amazed about how much I think about each primer I seat and .22 LR shoot before I do.

Attached Files

Liked by

CBA Member

max503 posted this 19 April 2021

The Godfrey, IL Walmart had 2 boxes of Winchester 308 on the shelf at regular price yesterday.

Attached Files

CBA Member

mashburn posted this 19 April 2021

Hello to all,

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but I think you guys are looking for things to change too soon. I hope you are right but as for me, I'm afraid these shortages of firearms, ammo and reloading components are going to be a longer term that most of you are expecting.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

Attached Files

CBA Member

Bud Hyett posted this 19 April 2021

You are correct in your assessment by my estimation, we as the reloading group will not see components (especially primers!) until the Fall of 2022 at the earliest. With Remington coming back online for ammunition, this should help. The problem is not getting the raw materials as much as getting transportation to haul to the plants.

I am good for this year and next year by strict rationing. I'll use V-V N110 and N120 for practice to reserve the AA 4100 for matches. My .25-20 WCF likes AA #9 and it will get that in place of AA 4100. I bought a lot two years ago at sales to stock up for the same lot number and that is a benefit now.

Prairie dog shooting may be limited by the powder choices that I have, fortunately plenty of IMR 4064 for the .220 Swift.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

Attached Files

CBA Member

Bud Hyett posted this 19 April 2021

Does it look like the supply of guns and ammo might be loosening up ?

Skagit Arms in Burlington. WA received two semi-truck loads two weeks ago on Thursday. They filled the law enforcement orders and then sold to the public who were on a waiting list. They went through 950,000 rounds of ammunition by 2:00 PM. They were again out by 2:00 PM. With Remington coming back online for ammunition, the hoarders will get fulfilled sooner, but the craze will continue.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

Attached Files

CBA Member

David Reiss posted this 20 April 2021

The local gun shop that opened in my town last October that I am now doing their gunsmithing work is a good example of what is going on. They get in lots of handguns and sell them quickly, but usually have 40 or so in stock all the time. They are getting in some shotguns and rifles occasionally and they are selling fast also.

Ammo is like this, they get in 9mm, .223, .308, .40 and .45, other than that it is pretty sparse except .22 LR. Shotgun shells are sporadic. Reloading components are non-existent.

However I have heard cries on the forum from members who can't find powder and bullets, primers are a another issue. I can find powder and have even posted on another thread here a link to a powder source, no one responded to my post. The same company has repeatedly sent me email updates over the past few months when powder arrives and when I check their site much of it is still available. With the exception of primers, the other components can be found if you look hard enough.

I agree it will be some time before primers become available again, but I learned years ago to buy them when I could and keep a good amount for times like these. I am not a hoarder because my primers have been stockpiled over a 30 year period and not bought just as the shortage began. Now I have 12,000 to 20,000 of all primer sizes and have no worries. I have suggested this practice to anyone new to handloading over the years. Everyone that has been handloading since the 80's should have learned this lesson, if not it is a hard lesson to swallow now.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

Attached Files

Liked by
and 1 others

CBA Member

Eutectic posted this 05 May 2021

Someone has components. The local hardware store just got in plenty of 9mm, 40, 380 and 223. White boxes only the caliber and bullet weight on the end, no maker. I looked and they are all reloads, all kinds of cases, jacketed and plated bullets. All at over a dollar a round!

An entrepreneur at work.

Steve

Attached Files

CBA Board

John Carlson posted this 05 May 2021

Local Scheels has (yesterday ) 200 round boxes of Winchester 55gnFMJ for $139. Seems pretty normal but they're likely all gone today. Some powder but nothing anybody uses, Manager told me they have sold more primers this year than any other but, as some have mentioned, even with a limit of one brick per purchase, the shelves are empty within hours. Many end up advertised on Craigslist for $200/brick or listed on ammo auctions where they also bring exorbitant prices. He also said there have been four price increases on primers totaling 25 to 30%

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

Attached Files

CBA Member

David Reiss posted this 05 May 2021

I am getting notification emails on lots of powder being received, just about every powder I can think of. So they are becoming not so scarce.

Some jacketed bullets are still hard to come by, but are starting to trickle in.

Primers still non-existent.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

Attached Files

CBA Member

Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 05 May 2021

does anybody have the real skinny on why there are no Lee molds for the last 6 months ? .. as in called them and asked them ?

i understand shooters hoarding primers and bullets ... but can't see all the newbies diving right into casting so quick ...

heck, maybe the one guy that ran the mold maker machine got covid ...

ken

Attached Files

CBA Member

hporter posted this 05 May 2021

I have not called Lee, but I think the answer to the scarcity of Lee molds can be found on the auction sites.

My buddy has gotten back into casting and I have lent him a couple 6 cavity Lee molds to use. So I have been watching the auction site for 6 cavity molds for him. I have seen Lee 6 cavity molds selling for over $150 recently. Not asking for, but selling for over $150.

So if you can find a 6 cavity mold to purchase at MSRP or lower and then be able to resell it for 3 times that much on the auction site, it may be a long wait before any reasonably priced molds are available.

I agree with Little Debbie's response, it is not going to stop until people stop paying the inflated prices for reloading components.

But I don't see that happening soon. With very little ammo available to purchase in the brick and mortars, there are a lot of new shooters turned reloader's looking for anything they can get their hands on. I read an article yesterday that April was the 16th month in row of record NICS background checks. The demand for ammo and reloading components at this point must be insatiable.

David Reiss summed up the solution very nicely. That is, to accumulate things you need over time while they are available. Even for new shooter and reloader's, the last example of this bitter lesson was not too long ago. When primers and powders went scarce under a fairly recent presidential administration, the need to set aside what you need (both short term and long term) became very apparent.

Under the next administration things eased up, and we should have been quietly setting things aside for the future. I agree with David Reiss again, that is not hoarding, just using common sense and planning for the future.

It is heartening to me to see folks on this forum and other reloading forums help each other out, and sell molds and components at reasonable prices to one another.

It reminds me that the people who are buying up and selling components are most likely not shooter's or reloader's, but just people looking to make a quick and easy buck.

My hope for them is to get caught holding the bag of expensive items that they can no longer sell for crazy high inflated prices.