Copper ammunition and projectiles could be getting expensive......

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3595wilk

3595wilk

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With the likely transition to copper projectiles following the HSE's recommendations, I've started to stock up on projectiles (heads😁) to try out new loads and future proof...and while I too derided the pandemic pooh paper purchasers who cleared the shelves of Andrex during co-vid........it may actually be a sensible approach.......

There is a potential copper shortage on the way......according to the Guardian.

As I don't think the news outlet is the natural first choice of many on here, thought I'd post a link to the article.

www.theguardian.com

Demand for copper to dramatically outstrip supply within decade

International Energy Agency says it is ‘time to sound alarm’ over future shortages of metal needed for low-carbon transition
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
What do you mean "getting" expensive... £80-odd quid a box for copper factory ammo already 😱
The one good thing about not having as much stalking opportunity as I'd like is not having to buy ammo too often 😂
 
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3595wilk said:
With the likely transition to copper projectiles following the HSE's recommendations, I've started to stock up on projectiles (heads😁) to try out new loads and future proof...and while I too derided the pandemic pooh paper purchasers who cleared the shelves of Andrex during co-vid........it may actually be a sensible approach.......

There is a potential copper shortage on the way......according to the Guardian.

As I don't think the news outlet is the natural first choice of many on here, thought I'd post a link to the article.

www.theguardian.com

Demand for copper to dramatically outstrip supply within decade

International Energy Agency says it is ‘time to sound alarm’ over future shortages of metal needed for low-carbon transition
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...
I suppose it’s a sure way of getting gullible people to stockpile copper products and causing international prices to advance.
Ken.
 
I disconnected with mainstream news and media sometime ago and one of the best things I ever did. Constant bad news just feeds anxiety and creates other issues. Global supply and demand means pricing changes constantly. If I see a sensible priced item like you I just buy it. Got plenty of lead, primers, cases!
 
Whilst copper will need to be sourced and competed in the open market a couple of considerations.

Copper is recycled indefinitely.
2 million bullets a year would demand between 20-30 tonnes of copper (a drop in the ocean) for one of the big copper bullet suppliers (like Barnes say)
For context one large copper pipe plant is probably melting around 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes per annum.

I’m making some sweeping assumptions so don’t pick me up on the numbers, it’s more to illustrate the scale which won’t be far off.

I’d bet heavily that the cost of a copper bullet is more weighted towards production and manufacturing costs than raw material anyway.

Copper will become more in demand as electricity demand grows (this is certain). There maybe a lag as supply adjusts to demand with new mines and or production facilities. However I guarantee that given the timelines involved there is more than enough time to bring new assets online. Google aren’t going to spend $4B on a SMR only to not have it running on time due to a lack of copper cable…

Given the relative small quantities required for bullets I’d imagine the larger producers will have secure supply agreements in place and be relatively protected from demand fluctuations. My take, I really can’t get excited that it’s going to be a problem.
 
Mine are over £1 per already .gone back to lead so it's a case of ill need to be forced to go back to copper but at 66yrs feel i will be good to the end
 
If steel shot is such a splendid idea for shotguns why not have copper jacketed steel projectiles for rifle shooting? Answers on a postcard please to HSE, BASC etc.
 
Like many a good yarn there is a grain of truth in the kernel: copper is indeed about to become rather more expensive, owing to the need to mine and process more and more lower grade copper bearing rock and dirt just to produce the ‘normal’ amount of. Operating cor the market. One of several aspects the proponents of unreliables such as Solar and Wind energy managed to overlook, and still do.

A little reality check (those irritating, inconvenient facts):

 
I've never even think of buying copper bullets or ammo. To me personally is one of many other problems we are lead to belief and created our selves whilst they didn't exist, but certainly makes third parties stupidly reach.
 
I suspect that there will be a ceiling to the price of copper for industrial use, beyond which people won't pay for it but will substitute aluminium (which is extremely plentiful).
 
The London Metal Exchange, LME controls the global price of copper and lead plus other metals.
They are traded as commodities, supply and demand dictates the price of the raw material.

Then it costs to transform the raw material into material used in industry, like wire, or bar, rod that can be purchased to be fed into machines like lathes to make the final product like bullets. Or raw material smelted to make alloys like brass.

All these additional processes add costs and profits for the business doing so.

The LME is the starting point.
 
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1970's style stagflation all over again, almost everything going up in price, government attempt to inflate a pathway out of the spiraling debt mountain 🙃
 
Increase the cost and stall the process of certification; ban many of the most popular powders under REACH; force us towards copper, then increase the price of copper…

A cynic might start to believe that there was a plan.

maximus otter
 
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