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I just got back from Gander Mountain where I purchased 500 rds Federal Spitfire (31-grain, CPHP, 1425 fps) for $35. 150 rds Federal American Eagle Ammunition 38 Special 158 Grain LRN for $20 x 3= $60. But they were out of 9mm, again. So I thought I would give it a try and stop at "Dick's sporting goods" and they had a sale on 9mm ammo 10boxes for $12.00/box=$120. So I got 10 boxes. I'm going to look into reloading, a class is coming up at the club soon on the subject.
This brings up some more questions:
1) What is the going price for reloads in 9mm and 38sp, and 45acp?
2) I was thinking of taking a reload class this month, will it be hard to get supplies for reloading?
3) When is this rush/hoarding on ammo gonna end?
haka

Not a good idea to buy reloads unless from a source like Black Hills. Not legal for a private party to sell reloads.
As far as supplies go, Good Luck!! I checked all the usual suspects today and nobody has much in the way of components. Small pistol primers (for the 38 & 9mm) are pretty much nonexistant at the moment. Reloading equipment: press, dies scale etc are available both new and used.
As to when this madness will end, who knows. Seems to me its getting worse every day.
Charlie

You're asking us to predict the market, and as our present economy is showing, that is a huge uncertainty. The market will drive reloading component availability. Right now the manufacturing companies have to try and balance their budgets. If it is profitable they will make it, but the Government is sucking up a lot of their time right now with war stock orders. These companies don't want to add on too much too fast and end up flooding the market with products. Right now I think they see this as a short term problem that will shake itself out as the new administration's policies reveal themselves and people stop panic buying. If the companies ramp up production, that takes time, and they could be left holding the bag in a financially unsound market place.

R,
Bullseye

good explanation, I think the demand will eventually stabalize.
I thought you could, as the site admin, predict the market? Guess not

I'm definitely not a Soothsayer. When I read the tea leaves, all I see is - it's time for another cup of tea.

R,
Bullseye

Guess I'm getting a bit miffed at all the people hoarding ammo and buying up whatever stock is available...not what they need. People should have some consideration for others during this time when ammo is in short supply. Obama's NOT going to be able to outlaw gun ownership, nor will congress go along with this. That's political suicide. Sooo...guys and gals, when you go down to your local ammo shop--buy what you need...NOT what's available.

your request makes sense, and I agree with it, but that is asking "human nature" to stop being greedy. I do not reload, and the only ammo available is self protection loads costing high dollars. I will shoot my 22lr until the ammo runs out for that, then the hell with it. I'll be shooting more rifle now anyways, and if the ammo runs out for that, I'll just play golf.
Haka

This thing feeds on itself. I figured the buying frenzy would have died down a couple months ago. It hasn't.

greener wrote:This thing feeds on itself. I figured the buying frenzy would have died down a couple months ago. It hasn't.

It really has taken the enjoyment out of the sport. It reminds me of the stock market, a little bad news, and the market panics. I'd be curious to know how much ammo some people have stock piled up. I really don't think there is a valid reason for it.
H

Hakaman no one knows what the current prices will be down the road! However, all things in reloading have gone up since Nov. "election". Reloading is a hobby and fun in most cases. It gives you better ammo for your rifle or pistol, especially in the accuracy department.

I will go out on a limb and say that reloading will save your after your initial coats outlay, some 40% in the long run. I have taken rifles that only shot 2 inch to 2.5 inch groups with factory ammo and brought them down to shooting 1-MOA at 100 yards

Reloading is cheaper after you have been in it for a couple of years. Most of my stuff is RCBS and I have had my Rock Chucker press for over 40 years and it is still going strong. I use this press for my magnum big bore rifles. My turret press was purchased used from a friend. My Dillion 650 is the one I use for pistol calibers, as it is fast and I can load over 450 rounds per hour.

I load .380-auto, 9mm, .38spl, .357mag, 40S&W, 44mag, 45acp and .460-S&W in pistols. Rifles I load these rifle calibers below :

.204, .222, .223, .243, 6mm Rem., 25/06 ***.6.5/06, .270, .308, .30-06,
7mm mag, 300-Win mag, .300 Ultra mag .338-06, .338mag, .338-300 Ultra mag. .35-Whelen, .375H&H, .375-Wby, .416 Rem., 458 Win mag, .458-Lott, and the .470-Capstick.

Ammo prices are a clear demonstration of the law of supply and demand. People are buying it like there won't be any tomorrow, the manufacturer's are turning it out as fast as they can. Everyone along the line bumps the price a bit.

Heck, pistol primers have gone up about $6.50/1000 AND stores that have them are limiting the number customers can buy. I spent much longer than I should have in Green Top today. They are limiting some calibers to 1 box per customer, primers to 500 of each type per customer and their powder supply looks low. Good news is they seem to have a fair amount of .22 ammo and they actually have primers recently after a couple months of none at all. So, maybe the supply is looking up.

I think things are starting to loosen up a little. Wallaby-Mart had some .223 when I stopped in yesterday, and the clerk was unpacking and stocking bricks of .22

The .223 was Federal bulk 100 round packs for $39 which I actually thought was pretty reasonable. I bought one (1) box just because I could. They had about 20 boxes on hand.