Sticker Shock!

[trust me]

Picked up the catalog and was looking at some reloading supplies and got curious about factory prices and took a look at their prices. Holy Crap! Prices have more than doubled since I last bought factory centerfire ammo. I've got a factory box of Hornet from years ago, and the sticker is 19 bucks for 50 rounds. Factory price on the same box now is $46!! Most rifle rounds are approaching $1 each, with many even more. Even the cheap bulk stuff is a buck a shot.

I have a good stock of lead, powder and primers, but I should lay in some more over Christmas. If I didnt' reload, looks like my recreation would be rimfire only.

[redlickranch]

Check out the gun shops, prices are CRAZY on ammo and 'assault weapons'. AR lowers went from $99 to $300. I am still searching for some .357 bullets that aren't crazy for my six shooter.

I notice shot is still around $40 a bag, almost cheaper to buy loaded shotgun shells.

[trust me]

I notice shot is still around $40 a bag, almost cheaper to buy loaded shotgun shells.

For a 1 oz target/bird load, that is 10 cents for the lead. Primer is 3 cents, wad is 3 cents, powder is roughly 8 cents. That's .21 each, so a box of 25 is still around 5 bucks' worth of components.

We won't factor in the cost of equipment and my time, because it's a fun hobby that I enjoy.

[westkybanded]

I've been trying hard to find .41mag ammo for uner $1.00 a shot, but it's scarce.

[aballl18]

cheapest place ive found is walmart on some stuff and our local pawn shop is cheap on stuff in fleming co.

[Jman]

Not counting the expense of the tools needed to reload, can you reload for half the cost of buying ammo at Wal-Mart (for example)? I've often wondered how much savings you incur.

[trust me]

Not counting the expense of the tools needed to reload, can you reload for half the cost of buying ammo at Wal-Mart (for example)? I've often wondered how much savings you incur.

Strictly on components, yes.

[Jman]

So the more you shoot, the quicker you can recover the cost of the equipment, huh? :D

[trust me]

So the more you shoot, the quicker you can recover the cost of the equipment, huh? :D

That's the way I look at it.

If you are going to shoot a bunch, regardless of the economy, gun laws, weather, etc., then you need to handload.

[Tha' Hat]

I know of a certain pawn shop in Murray that has had the same 3/4 box of .25 auto for sale for $10 for about six years now. That may actually be a good deal at this point if you have a .25...

[Kcoyboy]

Start reloadin and casting for the 41 it will be the price of rimfire 10 years ago. Just pay for primers and powder the cases last indefinitely with lead loads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GSP]

I talked Friday with the manager at the local Big Box sporting goods store. I asked him about ammo prices and looked at their's with him. He said they were not jumping prices and would not. (Side note, they were always a little on the high side to begin with, but had not changed) He went on to explain that his prices from ammo vendor's had not gone up much. I think we are seeing gouging from out own.:mad:

[killinmammals]

AR lowers went from $99 to $300.
WHAT...dang glad I got a small stockpile then!!:D Even more glad I bought every LPK I could find for the past few months

[redlickranch]

Start reloadin and casting for the 41 it will be the price of rimfire 10 years ago. Just pay for primers and powder the cases last indefinitely with lead loads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melting lead isn't that cheap. I was going for $0.15 per lb, but now you can see it over a $1.00 per lb. Most people use to use wheel weights for melting, but most places are moving away from lead WW. Everything is crazy expensive right now. Your best bet might be these back in the woods gun shops that don't get a ton of traffic. They may still have ammo at older prices.

[Hoosier5]

One reason for the increase in prices of ammo & reloading supplies is simply due to "Panic Buying". We've all seen this happen a few years ago when Clinton was elected. These Businesses will only hurt themselves in the long run by price gouging Sportsmen. As the Economy turns worse we'll see a lot of these places go out of business.