How much are you willing to pay for ammo?

[User00044]

The OP posed a question that appears to be easily answered by some more than others .
Personally, I've bought 2 boxes of ammo in the last four years , I stocked up on most of my consumables for reloading before Putins' invasion of the Ukraine . It was simply good timing and luck on my part , and my stocks are still quite high as this past year has seen my time spent shooting drop off a cliff due to personal circumstances , which are not for discussion on these pages .
Taking a more pragmatic approach . These are unprecedented times , we are facing a cost of living crisis and for some it has already arrived . For some a choice of heating or eating is their new Hell .I'm sure there are SD members who are now facing financial hardship through no fault of their own , the disposable income has dried up and those expensive rifles now see little use as shooting for them has become a luxury rather than a hobby .
I'm in a fortunate position , in that both my wife and I are both in work and had the foresight to lock our mortgage on a fixed rate .
If need be I would pay £3 / round , I certainly wouldn't be happy about it . You've got to feel sad for anyone new trying to get into rifle shooting if they're on a low' ish income .
Difficult and sad times ahead .

 

[samdk]

Really lads the ammunition cost debate is a fruitless exercise, stalkers spend multiple £1000’s on a rifle, £300 sticks, £350 knives and then bitch and winge about the cost of bullets

When in reality without the bullets all you have is a fuking expensive steel tube with a kaleidoscope on the top!

If you can not afford to feed your habit sell up and pack it in and quit winging about it!

Add to this the fact that people partaking in full time deer management, commercial culling or paid culling will be able to expense ammo/components to avoid tax on them as well as claim the VAT back.

Even if they have a shite accountant or that is not possible in their situation, then the landowner can pay for them and he can most definitely do that above.

 

[andyk]

Tends to think this question requires some context a as what I’m willing to pay reflects both what I can afford in absolute terms and what I’m willing to afford based on a more subjective “what feels about right”.

To look at this and say “a box of federal blue used to cost 20 wood and more it’s 35” is a bit simplistic.

I first got an FAC in 2007 and £20 would get you a normal box CF and £5 a box of shotgun cartridges. I could also fill my car from empty for a shade over £60. Now it would cost about £130.

My “feel” is that about £40-£50 a box is about right for something that isn’t the cheapest going but isn’t premium. I’m not saying that’s a good thing, only that I don’t think that’s a total rip off given the price of everything else.

As for the copper point, you can just about get Hornady for that money and Winchester is at the bottom end of that.

I really think that looking at this and going “it used to be cheaper” without thinking about the current context is simply a recipe for making yourself miserable.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Add to this the fact that people partaking in full time deer management, commercial culling or paid culling will be able to expense ammo/components to avoid tax on them as well as claim the VAT back.

Even if they have a shite accountant or that is not possible in their situation, then the landowner can pay for them and he can most definitely do that above.

The last 2 lines - landowner

Not met one willing to pay as yet!

 

[samdk]

If you shoot deer you likely fall into one of the two categories below:

Recreational, if it is your hobby and the cost of said hobby is/is becoming unaffordable then do something else.
Example, I would love to own and fly a restored WW2 aircraft, but I don’t as my finances currently do not allow this.
I don’t bleat about it I just work harder so I can one day.

As a job/paid culling/employment, your employer should cover this cost and if you are self employed or a ltd company then it’s tax deductible and the extra cost incurred can be passed on to the customer/client.
Example, I build houses and materials have gone up considerably. I don’t complain it is simply passed on to the buyer.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

The OP posed a question that appears to be easily answered by some more than others .
Personally, I've bought 2 boxes of ammo in the last four years , I stocked up on most of my consumables for reloading before Putins' invasion of the Ukraine . It was simply good timing and luck on my part , and my stocks are still quite high as this past year has seen my time spent shooting drop off a cliff due to personal circumstances , which are not for discussion on these pages .
Taking a more pragmatic approach . These are unprecedented times , we are facing a cost of living crisis and for some it has already arrived . For some a choice of heating or eating is their new Hell .I'm sure there are SD members who are now facing financial hardship through no fault of their own , the disposable income has dried up and those expensive rifles now see little use as shooting for them has become a luxury rather than a hobby .
I'm in a fortunate position , in that both my wife and I are both in work and had the foresight to lock our mortgage on a fixed rate .
If need be I would pay £3 / round , I certainly wouldn't be happy about it . You've got to feel sad for anyone new trying to get into rifle shooting if they're on a low' ish income .
Difficult and sad times ahead .

100% but what you are willing to pay and what you are going to have to pay maybe 2 completely different things.

I am very fortunate that i have done a lot for stalking , management/ culling, if it comes to the crunch and i cant afford it, i’ll pack it in.

Deer stalking is not my must do thing anymore, i have other interests.

 

[samdk]

The last 2 lines - landowner

Not met one willing to pay as yet!

I’m fortunate enough to have

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I’m fortunate enough to have

Happy days , you lucky sod!

 

[gixer1]

To be honest I think you both need to wind it in a bit…I’ve met one of you and discussed things with the other and know people who know him and you both have something to offer and seem to me to be decent guys with a sense of humour and knowledge…absolutely no reason for it to turn nasty as neither of you are arrogant or think you know it all unlike some.

The cost of ammo can be a concern, although to me it’s the availability that’s more concerning, we had a drought from the US and so many people switched to euro powders and components and now there’s supply issues due to the war…demand will always increase price but it does seem like everything has increased by ridiculous margins when you look at it over the years.

Sure, we can recoup some costs with the deer shot - if you sell them. But it’s a shame that cost and supply limit target shooting as I’m genuinely enjoying some of the target shooting I do now…

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Night òwl]

Who’s Mr. Copper?

Typo sorry.
Cooper

 

[User00044]

100% but what you are willing to pay and what you are going to have to pay maybe 2 completely different things.

I am very fortunate that i have done a lot for stalking , management/ culling, if it comes to the crunch and i cant afford it, i’ll pack it in.

Deer stalking is not my must do thing anymore, i have other interests.

To be fair to the OP his question is incomplete , I've done this myself in the past, and had he added ,"and why?" Those replying would have perhaps given context to quantify their answers .

 

[JTO]

But it’s a shame that cost and supply limit target shooting as I’m genuinely enjoying some of the target shooting I do now…

Until a new project gets off the ground, I am £300 a week down on two years ago, so I have cut down on trips to Bisley. £70 before I pull the trigger is something that had to go. £20 to visit the tunnel is much more acceptable, especially when it's raining, otherwise it's outdoors at home if it's dry.

 

[Scott Meredith]

if it comes to the crunch and i cant afford it, i’ll pack it in.

I reload and I’m happy enough with the price of lead ammunition, on the other hand copper is ridiculously expensive. I understand you have no interest in target shooting but why are the target guys being forced to pack in over ludicrous policy brought forward by government, the idiots at BASC and people like you who endlessly drone on about how great it is.

The lead ban is going to make target shooting at long range impossible and unaffordable to people with average to good incomes, and why: legislation that has no scientific evidence to support it. So personally I think we have great reason to be moaning.

It’s almost like you want to see the end of shooting with your “it is what it is” mentality. What are you going to do when some idiot decides to ban copper because actually it’s as toxic as lead and then we’re all paying £60+ for a round made of something silly? Are you just going to sit down roll over and accept it? The only way we can resist these changes is by voicing up and calling out why it’s wrong. Get some gumption and stand up for what’s right instead of just wallowing in “well I’ll just pack it in”

 

[Dan Newcombe]

@caberslash - I can offer you a subby contract and take a mass - I mean very reasonable cut.

Now - where who is going to give us the actual details of where people are paying upwards of £170 (and do they want us to ‘dispose’ of the carcass, because that’s extra!)

 

[Bavarianbrit]

According to a man I know there is a cracking example of a woman in the general direction of Colchester, sucks that hard, apparently she’ll pull the quilt up your arse!

Madam Electrolux?

I reload and I’m happy enough with the price of lead ammunition, on the other hand copper is ridiculously expensive. I understand you have no interest in target shooting but why are the target guys being forced to pack in over ludicrous policy brought forward by government, the idiots at BASC and people like you who endlessly drone on about how great it is.

The lead ban is going to make target shooting at long range impossible and unaffordable to people with average to good incomes, and why: legislation that has no scientific evidence to support it. So personally I think we have great reason to be moaning.

It’s almost like you want to see the end of shooting with your “it is what it is” mentality. What are you going to do when some idiot decides to ban copper because actually it’s as toxic as lead and then we’re all paying £60+ for a round made of something silly? Are you just going to sit down roll over and accept it? The only way we can resist these changes is by voicing up and calling out why it’s wrong. Get some gumption and stand up for what’s right instead of just wallowing in “well I’ll just pack it in”

Tell that to the pistol shooters from back in 1997.

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

People do moan about the cost of rifles. That’s why many shoot tikka’s as they are fairly cheap and people like to moan about blasers.


I hope all these “it doesn’t matter how much it costs” people are supporting shooting by paying for a driven day as well…at 50-80 quid a bird and the price of Hp steel….that won’t matter to them.

I feel personally attacked Gixer

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I reload and I’m happy enough with the price of lead ammunition, on the other hand copper is ridiculously expensive. I understand you have no interest in target shooting but why are the target guys being forced to pack in over ludicrous policy brought forward by government, the idiots at BASC and people like you who endlessly drone on about how great it is.

The lead ban is going to make target shooting at long range impossible and unaffordable to people with average to good incomes, and why: legislation that has no scientific evidence to support it. So personally I think we have great reason to be moaning.

It’s almost like you want to see the end of shooting with your “it is what it is” mentality. What are you going to do when some idiot decides to ban copper because actually it’s as toxic as lead and then we’re all paying £60+ for a round made of something silly? Are you just going to sit down roll over and accept it? The only way we can resist these changes is by voicing up and calling out why it’s wrong. Get some gumption and stand up for what’s right instead of just wallowing in “well I’ll just pack it in”

Well it is what it is!!!

Ammunition companies are in business to make money, they know target shooters need target ammunition and hunters need hunting ammunition, so It will be whatever THEY want the price to be, regardless if you or anybody else likes it or not, so there IS nothing you can do about it, and as soon as you lot get your head around that there won’t be a problem YOU just have to do what you have to do to do what you want to do!

GET OVER IT!!!

As for copper, thats debate is dead and buried!

 

[roaring_stag]

Where are contractors getting £170 a beast!

I certainly don’t get that

sounds like a great contract - we aren't getting even close to that on the contracts im on .

RS

 

[Dave_45]

90-120 gets banded about a lot per beast.

 

[Scott Meredith]

Well it is what it is!!!

Ammunition companies are in business to make money, they know target shooters need target ammunition and hunters need hunting ammunition, so It will be whatever THEY want the price to be, regardless if you or anybody else likes it or not, so there IS nothing you can do about it, and as soon as you lot get your head around that there won’t be a problem YOU just have to do what you have to do to do what you want to do!

GET OVER IT!!!

As for copper, thats debate is dead and buried!

Don’t worry I fully understand how capitalism works, if THEY set THEIR price too high then ME and the rest of the target shooters won’t buy THEIR products!!! And just in case you can’t read I stated in my previous reply that I didn’t have a problem with the price of the lead ammunition that I load; so my gripe is with the government and their proposed legislation which has no basis in science.

The copper debate is far from over. Government haven’t voted on the issue, nothing is written into law about it yet, no date has been set for a lead ban. All there is are some empty pledges. Im doing my bit by writing to my MP and signing the petitions; the rest of the shooting fraternity needs to do the same so our MPs can be educated enough to make the right decision. You however just want to monger negativity into us all. Maybe try some optimism!