Reloading component shortage and price hikes

[Pete Lester]

It seems the Sandy Hook massacre and resulting initial political talk of increased gun control is causing a run on reloading components including shotgun stuff. When I stopped in to my local small time retailer he said reloading components were flying off the shelf. He mentioned the wholesalers he was dealing with were out of the popular Fiocchi 616 (209 type) primers and he didn't expect to see any for 6 months. He said the wholesalers had spike the price of most 8 pound jugs of shotgun powders by $20 and stuff like 700-X was in short supply.

I don't like running with herds but it might be a good time take inventory and stock up on what you need if your retailer still has it on the shelf.

PS. Just for fun go to Gunbroker.com and search for "223 ammo", all the 1000 rd auctions had militple bids and prices were over $700 plus shipping. Lesser amounts are bringing prices approaching $1 per round.

[John Campbell]

Hmmm... Fiocchi primers seem to be the ONLY brand on the shelf around here! And good luck finding a bag of No. 8. I'm visiting my wholesaler today. Before the Federal Gestapo gets there.

[Paul Harm]

The guys at my club just ordered $8000 worth of reloading supplies. Everything was in except pistol and rifle primers. Remington shotgun primers were out - but have been for quite some time. 99% of the order was for shotgun reloading and all was in with no price hike. Our wholesaler does not offer Fiocchi primers, just CCI, Federal, Winchester, and Cheddite. But yes the 223 ammo is gone at local stores along with black guns and a lot of pistols. I don't shot rifle or pistol much, but glad I bought what I needed a couple of years ago.

[John Farrell]

This is a repeat of "the sky is falling" syndrome we saw in 2008. And there will be shortages as panicky gun owners gorge themselves on supplies. Assuming that some of them are trap and clays shooters - and they bought up all the components - which makes the cost of shooting escalate for others who now have to pay for factory shells . . . and they quit shooting!

So because of a lack of business, the gun club folds and closes the doors. What are the hoarders going to do with all those components in the basement if there is no place to shoot?

Obviously, the hoarders didn't learn anything in 2008-2009!!

[Bill Murphy]

Don't dispair. When guys like me pass on, the widows sell components very inexpensively. As we speak, I am using components accumulated by my now passed shooting buddies. Make friends, use their components.

[Daryl Corona]

Bill;
Send me the Lovely Linda's cell # so I can be first in line.:)

[Richard Flanders]

I stopped in at Sportsmans Warehouse yesterday and was amazed at the supply of the popular pistol ammo, powder, and primers. They must have just gotten a shipment as everything was available in abundance, albeit expensive. They had all primers except for small rifle, of course. Most shops are stripped of just about everything now it seems. I did hear on the radio that a small local shop has an abundance of .223 ammo - he'll be swamped today. I ordered and got dies for .223 and just prepared 240 cases; just have to find bulk bullets now, which will likely prove to be impossible up here.

[David Weber]

I stopped by my local reloading shop after first reading this thread. The "brass" section was busy and a bit picked over, however the primers, lead shot and wads were in ample supply.

[charlie cleveland]

yall are lucky to have a reloading store in your given areas..there is not one one true reloading store in my area a fewhave a little powder no primers no wads...i have to order what little i do off the internet...and that 25 dollar hazmat fee ... charlie