Guns and Ammo

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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. .

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Tom Acheson posted this 05 May 2021

+1 on hporter's last two paragraphs!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Idahocaster posted this 06 May 2021

The gun shops here in eastern Idaho are getting creative in their attempts to look like they have ammunition and powder in stock. I have never seen a whole aisle of 50 BMG before. If you want 6.8 Western you can find it on a good day. Cans of black powder substitutes look like smokeless powder until you get close enough to read them. Nobody is even pretending to have primers though.

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alco posted this 09 December 2021

My local hobby shop has ammo, but it's mostly 9mm. A few boxes of other calibers which are extremely high. They got in a small lot of SP primers , but they would only let me have 3 boxes (300). It's still not looking good around here !!!

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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.

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RicinYakima posted this 09 December 2021

Varies by location. Nothing here but .223 and 9mm.

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Buttersdad posted this 10 December 2021

I have been looking around for people who decided to start reloading at the worst time in history, this past year. I have been finding quite a bit of reloading and casting equipment. It looks like it's all finally coming back. I live in a small town with one LGS and a farm store that sells firearms, ammo, hunting and some BP gear, and they are getting good amounts of ammo and guns in stock. The LGS is getting a good bit of powder most of the time, but like most places no primers for a little over a year. I have seen presses, press kits, dies and accessories at the online sites.

Hopefully this is a sign of even better things to come soon.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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beagle6 posted this 16 April 2021

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

beagle6

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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?

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max503 posted this 19 April 2021

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

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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

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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

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