Ammunition Costs

[usctrojan]

I just got into shooting. I have been told ammo prices are up. My question is how much? For example I pay about $20 for 550rds of 22 and $20 for a box of 45 (I pick up ammo in AZ). What would the prices have been before the ammo shortage? Has anyone documented the price shift? I am assuming based on news the price hike is real. Any hopes on prices falling?

[not-fishing]

I doubt if prices are going to fall for a long time.

Not only are more people guns & ammo but their shooting more. It may take years for manufacturing to catch up.

I reload and I see the bullet prices declining but the cost for primers remains high - when you can get them

[freakshow10mm]

The following post is from a handloader and ammunition manufacturer. I sell what I load and load what I sell. Each load on my site is one I shoot personally.

Prices will not fall, speaking of average market conditions.

Yes you can save money rolling your own. Why?

• no labor charge
• no liability insurance
• no FFL, ITAR, local business fees
• buy in bulk
• ability to tailor your loads to your gun

Generally handloaders will tell you you will save money. The savings is in the brass and bullets.

Brass
Use factory brass you saved. Use brass off the range floor. If it looks good, shoot it. Or buy new brass to start fresh. You can get about 10-12 firings out of a piece of brass. Let's look at the cost issue.

New brass is about $150/1,000rds (case). You can load that 10 times per piece of brass (casing). Ordering 1,000pcs of brass is actually buying 10,000 loadings. So, buying used from TJ Conevera for $65/K shipped means $65 divided by 10,000 (10 shots each brass per 1,000pcs brass) is a total brass cost of a measly $0.0065. Yeah, .065 CENTS. Why bother counting?

Bullets

• Three issues with leading: Bullet fit, lube, powder
• The bullet must properly fit the bore and is usually sized .001" over groove diameter
• A bullet of 14-15 BHN hardness is plenty for even a .44 Magnum at 1500fps (Elmer "Mr. 44 Magnum" Keith shot his .44 mag at 11 BHN no leading)
• Select medium powders for lead friendly loads; #5, WSF are my favories

[f4tweet]

Any hopes on prices falling?

Not til we have a Republican President.

[nn3453]

Any hopes on prices falling?

Not til we have a Republican President.

Prices have been going up steadily regardless of which party is in power. Ammo wasn't that much cheaper under GWB depending on caliber.

[freakshow10mm]

Raw material, transportation, manufacturing, labor, taxes have all gone up and will continue to rise.

[trickyvic]

Pre-loaded ammo has gone up 50-100% in the last few years and I doubt there will ever be a price drop.

[oldyeller]

Great write up Freak!

[shmeddie]

I was at a walmart in socal last week and was amazed that they actually had ammo. Prices were not up at all. They were the same as they were a year ago. Federal 550 bulk .22 was still 15.99 a box and Federal .45acp was only $15.99 for 50 rounds. Not too bad, so I bought as much as I could afford. I'm glad to see that walmart is keeping their prices down. But I reload anyway and am way happier with the price and quality of my .45acp handloads (only 16 cents a round)

[billrights76]

Pre-loaded ammo has gone up 50-100% in the last few years and I doubt there will ever be a price drop.

it will continue to go up, people forget about cap and trade what that is going to do to prices.

[Chemtchr]

Interesting thread. I have been reloading for about a year and have only loaded jacketed bullets. If I wanted to try plated or just lead bullets for my CZ-97 (.45 acp) does any one have a suggestion as to which bullet to buy. I'm not ready to try casting my own yet. I have been averaging 12 to 15 cents each for jacketed.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

What store in Arizona do you go too!

[Super Spy]

Freakshow thanks for the quick overview of reloading. My concern is my primary pistol is a Glock, and the owners manual is real clear. No Lead. I guess that leaves plated as my only lower cost option?

[f4tweet]

Rainier bullets are good. I have used them in 9mm, 38/357, 357 Sig, 40, 10 MM, 41 Mag, 45ACP. No problems.

[mquejr]

nice write-up freak...

2-3 years ago, 500 rounds of .223 was about $95
last year, a brick of .22lr was around $11
do the math