Ammo Shortage & Prices Creeping Up

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ndjfb00

Well-Known Member
Referring to .243 flavour I am yet again experiencing another shortage from my local East Sussex suppliers citing to me " Edgar Brothers cannot get enough imported " it means I'm travelling into neighbouring Kent who seem to have a few boxes here and there. From the Kent supplier ( Potters Country Sports of Tunbridge Wells) their prices per box ( Hornady 95gr/SST) were a fair bit more than I've been paying, managed to get a bit knocked off yesterday per box which was helpful. I should learn by this and buy in bulk more. Anyone else having the same issues?
 
Just bought 250 game bore black gold 30g £99, in December they were £83, latest batch came from Rules Somerton.
 
I haven't noticed too much of a change in .243... But then again I don't buy very much. Still about £26 for a box of federal 100 grain SPs in Oxfordshire. Moving more towards reloading though partly as another interest but also to (maybe) bring the cost down a bit.
Shotgun cartridges seem to have jumped though. Haven't bought any for about a year as I've had plenty of supplies but Ouch! Trying to orchestrate a group buy for a clay shoot in feb and I've noticed a huge jump. Putting me right off I have to say!
The price of a box of 243 doesn't bother me too much. I don't shoot on a range much unless I've knocked the gun or I'm trying something new and so the odd £1.50 here or there on a fox or deer doesn't cause too much damage. Clays however are a completely different ballgame...
 
I have always found it very difficult to get amo from RFD's - most seem to stock what they want to stock, and not what their customers ask for. Even if you offer to pay in advance and agree to a minimum order, the reaction from most (not all) RFD's is a shoulder shrug and a very bored facial expression. They are just not interested. Maybe the margins are just not as interesting as those on Tweed clothing, smart shotguns, boots and shooting socks...? Quite bizarre considering they claim to deal in firearms amo etc... and presumably have to make a living out it (?) Shocking service, terrible attitude, in 9 out of 10 cases. Rant over.
Btw quoting a Global shortage is ofcourse a great justification to put the price up...
 
I think Erik Hamburger has things summed up on the Tweed clothing margins and attitude to ammo stocking! I was paying around £29 a box for Hornady's but yesterday I was initially being asked to pay £35.60.
 
Simple answer is to start reloading, you have the intitial cost of set up but now that expanding are Sect. 1 you can stockk up on as many as you like and similar with powders and primers (within reason)!!

If you're driving to the next county to find ammo your rifle Likes then you'll cover the cost of the kit and time fairly easily.
 
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I like the idea of home loading but havent a clue where to start, what to buy, is Google my friend on this topic, you tube, library?
 
I am avoiding home loading. I was at Ivythorne looking at the 243 and 3006. His prices seem good. I stocked up on HMR ammo with him as his prices seem to be £3 or £4 a box cheaper. Will be having a look at the shooting show to see what is up for grabs. I checked zero on some ppu yesterday and for the price I was getting 1/2 group so I might look some more out.
 
This is why i started to reload and also so I can choose what bullet I shoot and at what velocity. My local place near Battle says the issue is the cost of shipping ammo and powder. He can't order small amounts as the shipping is circa £40 even for one box, he can't get in stuff he knows he won't sell as it's just dead money sitting on the shelf. He said most his delivers come when the rep (Edgar brothers, GMK etc) ring him and say they'll be in the area and does he want them to bring stuff with them to save postage!
 
Basic Lee Anniversary kit and press but mounted onto a piece of plywood (A4 sized piece) which I use hand clamps to fix to the kitchen table. Everything else fits in a cupboard in the kitchen. Once you have a routine set up it is surprisingly quick to set up everything load 50 rounds and pack it away.
 
SST Hornady ammo in my area are as rare as hens teeth and prices when you can get it, have gone through the roof. 243@ £36.50 a box, 308 and 6.5 are both £40. I got a box of 6.5 RWS, DKs for my 6.5, couldn't get the SSTs anywhere, and they were £36.

cjs
 
My local gun shop has 30 tons of ammo in at any one time. shelves full with C/F ammo :finger: Bought 250 20 bore before Xmas for about £30.
 
Press

ndjfb00 said:
I like the idea of home loading but havent a clue where to start, what to buy, is Google my friend on this topic, you tube, library?
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If you want to start reloading cheaply, Sportsmans gun centre has a sale price on Lee Breech lock Challenger presses and breech locks. £77 for the press. Any
bench mounted press is nicer to use than hand held ones. This is good enough for anyone starting out. Obviously, you then need scales, trickler, dies and consumables. The brass case is the most expensive component, so when you can reuse it several times, that brings the cost down.
get a closed front press, not a “C” shape.
Ideally, someone who already reloads doesn’t live too far from you and can mentor you, but, it’s really so easy a cave man can do it.
Ken.
PS. There’s job satisfaction too. :-D
 
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ndjfb00 said:
Thanks Kenbro, I've got truck loads of old cases, they can be re- used for reloading?
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Absolutely. Did you fire them, or, if not, are you sure they are not worn out?
If they are once fired by you and you decide not to reload, you might be able to sell your used cases on here.
I would start loading.
Ken.
 
I wonder why prices are heading up, as the opposite is the case in the US, with prices falling & availability increasing.
 
I know, just last week I was in Vegas went to Bass Pro, or Pro Bass I forget which but anyway same SST's I use were $17 a box and naturally I could pick them myself off the shelf, if only I could have got them home.
 
£56 for a box of 7mm rem mag last week. Ouch! No wonder no one wanted the rifle before I bought it! (Still I like the gun so it's a price I have to pay!)
 
I have a few reloading bits left over from when I had a 243 if you'd like to have a look? Not sure exactly what but I definitely have a few hundred Remmington primers you can have and quite some brass too.
 
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