A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Recently bought a new .22-250 from a friend's gun shop. Decided today, after finally dialing in the 4.5-14x Leupold that rests on top of it, that it's a lot of fun to shoot but I need more ammo. Back to the shop...

I look up at the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip ammo, and see yellow price stickers...$19.45/$19.45/$19.45...then orange stickers...$27.45/$27.45/$27.45...

"Yo Dave...what's the deal with the different prices on the same ammo?"

He then explains that the difference is the increase between his last two shipments of ammo. "You know me, I'm not marking up the old stuff. The price only went up on the new stuff I got in."

That's the bad news. A 40% increase in ammo prices in just one shipment. :banghead: (I have to admit I have no idea how often he orders ammo, but he does a good business)

The good news? He gave me a box to fill up. I left with all of his "old priced" .22-250, .223, .300 Win Mag, and .270 rounds. At least all of his good stuff. He had some junk that I just wasn't interested in. It was several hundred dollars I wasn't planning on spending, but I don't see it coming back down...ever. I almost threw my back out getting it all to the truck, but my shelves are nicely filled again.

Just a bit of advice...buy your ammo asap. And look for the "old stuff"!

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

recently sold my Remington 22-250...after checking prices on Win Brass at Sportsman Warehouse...$33.00!!!! for 100.

...33 cents apiece for BRASS...yep glad I sold it when I did...

I keep telling any of my shooter friends who'll listen to buy more ammunition--"BUY IT CHEAP AND STACK IT DEEP!" :rant:

Stop buying guns and pile up on ammo, brass, bullets, primer, powder..:smokin:

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Don't even know which gun I'm getting yet exactly, but would it be advisable to stock up on 7,62x39?

In addition, which few handgun ammo varieties are most ubiquitous? Thanks

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

7.62x39 is a popular round,it for sure would be a good one to stock up on.As for hand gun ammo the most common are probably 9mm,38special/357 magnum and
.45.
l

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Skirnir,

7.62x39 (get zinc-plated steel cases - not lacquer coated - the lacquer can melt in a hot chamber and freeze a round in the chamber)
.30-06 (some prefer .308 - I like the ballistics on 180 gr. .30-06)
9 mm (.45 ACP does not off enough of an advantage to justify the price difference)
.22LR (load up while it's cheap!)

... just for fun... 7.62x25... the CZ-52 is a good car gun once it has a new recoil spring, firing pin, and hardened rollers ($75 @ www.makarov.com). Best pistol penetration (unless you want to plunk down the cash for an FN five-seven).

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

7.62x25 is a good one to stock up on but I have noticed the Romanian stuff
does not always go bang on the first try...At least once per magazine I have to recock and pull the trigger a 2nd time.This happens with my CZs but not the Tokarev.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Maybe your CZ has a problem? The firing pins are known to be problematic. (www.makarov.com has great upgraded parts)

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Hope that's all it is.Firing pin on one of them is being replaced but I've had no problem with other brands of ammo.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

stock up or invest in the following:

7.62x39....Not ubiquitous...some expensive US available, but most all other affordable(?) stuff is imported from Russia...how long will it last?

5.45x39...Not ubiquitous...all of it is imported and will probably be cut off eventually...however it is still the cheapest you will find...load up!

.223 or 5.56....Widely available in US, some Russia and foreign surplus imports
.308 or 7.62 Nato....some US surplus available but expensive, less expensive Russian import available, occasional foreign surplus
.30-'06...readily available, some US surplus still around

22LR...always useful and rising in price along with other ammo
9mm Luger...probably the most widely available handgun ammo worldwide
.40 S&W...you can find police dept. contract over-runs relatively cheap
.45 acp...always in demand


About the BEST value today in still affordable rifle ammo is 5.45x39 which is used in an AK-74...these rifles have the simplicity and reliability of the AK-47, and surprising accuracy approaching the AR-15, as well as still low purchase price...some models available: Romanian WASR2, Romanian SAR2, Atlantic Firearms Tantal...and Arsenal (more expensive)

for 5.45 ammo:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_5_45x39.html

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Remington .22LR 525 brick only $10 at Big 5 Sporting Goods, now through Wednesday only. In-store only. Other ammo on sale, too.

http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal.com/big5/default.aspx?action=browsepagedetail&storeid=25040 05&rapid=471187&pagenumber=2&listingid=-2092542009&ref=%2fbig5%2fdefault.aspx%3faction%3db rowsepagesingle%26storeid%3d2504005%26rapid%3d4711 87%26pagenumber%3d2

Stock up!

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Picked up 200 rounds of .223 @ wallmart today. 50grain, hollowpoint varmit rounds. The fellow behind the register told me that he has some regulars that come by and clean him out on all .223 ammunition. It was fortuitious that I just happened to swing by before they did.

Apparently there are people out there that are stockpiling.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

I would buy some handloading gear instead of any commercially loaded ammo.

Maybe you can find a Lee Loader? They will make very fine handloads, even better if you buy a scale and don't have to use the dipper loads alone. (The Lee Loader costs about $25 new, and comes with a powder dipper and a chart showing which powder weighs what.) Or buy the Lee Deluxe Dipper Set ($8) and have more versatility.

You should be able to find 100 .22-250 cases, unfired for $30. Bullets for $15. Powder will cost $20 but will load about 200 rds, and primers about $2.50 per 100. If you are careful and don't load max velocity loads, you could get 10 loadings out of your cases easy. Cost you about $27 to fire 100 rds; that's about 20% the cost of premium ammo.

Winchester has some promo packs of .22-250 out there, comes 50rds per box.
You can often find once-fired brass very cheap. The Lee Loader can size it fine and there you go. I know several brass sellers who have .22-250 for $12-$14 per 100.

So much better to choose a really good bullet. May as well buy Sierra or Hornady Match bullets. Used to be Remington and Winchester bullets were available in bulk for like $50/1000. Maybe they still are.

Cabela's has the Lee Loader for $15; http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0003091210526a.shtml
Why not tuck a few of these away for your other guns too?
Maybe bullet puller? If you can scrounge gunpowder, and own a Lee Loader, some bullets and primers; you might stay shooting.



ETA: If you want to go first class, look at the RCBS supreme kit: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...=cat20728_feat
Not as fast as a Dillon 550B but not $400 either. You may find one of these kits elsewhere for a bit less. Try Midway.
RCBS is good gear, durable and likely will hold its value and maybe worth a helluva lot to somebody down the road.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Like so?
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6884 (Wolf FMJ 7,62x39)
As for .30-06 & .22LR, what are those?
http://www.outdoormarksman.com/produ...products_id=56 (Factory Reload 9mm Luger 115gr TMJ)

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

FREE SHIPPING TO YOUR DOOR
https://www.ammoman.com/index.htm

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Makarov & Golden Tiger are good brands?

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

I haven't heard of a Makarov ammo brand. Are you thinking of the caliber, 9mm Makarov (aka 9x18)?

Golden Tiger is what I'm going to be ordering shortly, in 7.62x39. Maybe some Wolf, too...or some Golden Bear.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Golden Tiger is lacquer coated steel casing. The lacquer can melt in a hot chamber freezing a round in there. Zinc-plated steel cases are much better IMHO.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Good reports on the Golden Tiger...

I was thinking the Wolf Military Classic 124 JHP (first choice) or FMJ (2nd)

...cannot vouch for any of the Makarov

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

I heard that about lacquer coated .223 fired in a tighter chambered AR-15 and polymer coated or zinc-plated was more for the American. market..

Lacquer-coat for 7.62 is Russian mil-spec, no? I personally have not had a problem in any SKS or AK.

The zinc-plate will tarnish quite a bit...

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Bad info, it doesn't. Lacquer is the military coating and it works fine in AK's. I've dumped more than a few lacquer coated rounds through more than a few AK's. The rumor appears to have been started by AR-15 guys who don't want to face the fact that their platform has some issues. If you have an AR-15 you should stick to brass cased ammo for when it counts. For 7.62x39 every other case except lacquer coated will be quickly penetratred when exposed to water and kill your ammo. If you want to hand seal every round of ammo you might be able to get around it. The zinc coating will still oxide over time and leave junk in your action when it does. Otherwise Silver Bear is good ammo and I use it on the range from time to time.

Re: A bad news/good news ammo story...
 

Golden Tiger is far superior to Wolf, period!

Reload anything brass. Get cases from any indoow shooting range. I bought a 50 gal drum from a indoor range years ago. No need to buy another round ever.

AE