Ammo Shortage?

Discussion in 'Gun Control' started by Grey Matter, Sep 21, 2020.

  1. Rucker61

    Rucker61 Well-Known Member

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    My local gun shop is slowly buying out another that had been in business for decades as the owner retires. On one trip in May they came back with 1.8 million primers.
     
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  2. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    I dont know if all the mags are fully loaded but if they are, you may want to take a few rounds out of each so the follower spring wont take a set, as far as storage goes.
     
  3. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    I have an 1858 New Model Army cap n ball in .44 cal.
    Dixie gun works sell a device that punches percussion caps from beer cans (l need to buy one)
    Though I do have a double cavity round ball mold in .451 cal IIRC 135 gr. lead ball. I also have a small ladel with a pour spout to act as the crucible. A simple propane torch and Voila! Unlimited lead ball.

    In a real pinch, I could conceivably be totally able to be self sufficient. Black powder can be made of it's three parts, a combination of match heads and striker pads could make a (corrosive) priming compound. Even easier if you could still find strike anywhere matches.
     
  4. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Donor

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    I wondered about that and called Magpul tech support. The guy told me I could leave them fully loaded indefinitely. He said that cycling is what wears out the spring. Compression from a fully loaded clip he said was nowhere close to enough loading to affect the spring.
     
  5. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    Huhh...I wondered the same thing about the firing pin spring on certain auto loaders that lock open on empty. If you close the bolt on an empty chamber, your firing pin is cocked. Only way to decock is dry fire, or a snap cap but was told it really does not hurt them to be stored that way. I guess the engineers calculate these issues pretty good.
     
  6. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    same is true then and now, they produce on predicted demand, sometimes they miss the mark, if there is a shortage, they will up production
     
  7. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    Got any cap n balls or bullet molds? A quality mold will last a lifetime. A few I cast. IMG_20200924_183925.jpg
     
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  8. Doofenshmirtz

    Doofenshmirtz Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Nice! I do cast 357, 44mag, 500S&W, 8mm Mannlicher, 577 Snider, and 43 Spanish. I never shot enough cap and ball to cast, but I recently picked up an old Blunderbuss I want to play with. I may need a ball mold.
     
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  9. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    I got my mold for 40$ at a gun shop, I only melt 2 0r 3 ounces of lead at one time in small ladle with a torch. If you cast much, a nice bottom pour furnace holding pounds of lead and some gang molds can crank out tons of ammo in a hurry. Try for steel block molds instead of aluminum.
     
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  10. Doofenshmirtz

    Doofenshmirtz Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I use the Lee lead furnace and make hundreds at a time. I have a big family and when we go shooting, we go through thousands of rounds. I was considering a mold for buckshot. I have never reloaded for the shotgun, but buckshot and slugs are hard to find.

    What is the advantage of a steel mold?
     
  11. FatBack

    FatBack Well-Known Member

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    Holds heat better, just have to keep it oiled in storage.
     
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  12. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Donor

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    ****. That’s freaking amazing. How many rounds did you land within a quarter inch at 300 yards?


    What was the rifle? Scope?

    Man, that has got to be almost impossible. What was the wind at?
     
  13. Rucker61

    Rucker61 Well-Known Member

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    It wasn't me; it was a friend whose entire shooting experience has happened in the last few years, under my amateur tutelage. The rifle was a Savage Model 12 in .223, 24" barrel, that I bought used for $300. Scope was a Burris XTR II 3-15x. 3 shots, wind was neglible, and previous group was about 1.25" at 300 yards. 1/4MOA at 300 yards is ~3/4", not 1/4".
     
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  14. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    Not for me either. I believe never do anything yourself you can get someone else to do better than you can. Most Kabooms happen with reloads. Competition shooters I get reloading, but for self defense or hunting I don't need it. If you can shoot 2" at 100 years you're not going to miss any animals.

    I have thought for a while when ammo prices are normal you're never going to lose money buying it, and it will last longer than I will.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2020
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  15. JET3534

    JET3534 Well-Known Member

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    I find reloading boring. I reload one caliber only and that is .45 LC. Can't stand the wimpy .45 LC cowboy loads and the overpriced so called .45 self defense ammo. Epoxy coated lead bullets are cheap and cartridge cases can be reused many times.
     
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  16. Richard The Last

    Richard The Last Well-Known Member

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    I started reloading with my dad well over 50 years ago. With dad it was never about saving money. It was a hobby and was about accuracy. We spent time together in the reloading room and then time at the range trying to put all the bullets in the same hole.
     
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  17. Grey Matter

    Grey Matter Well-Known Member Donor

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    Sweet. I think it would be a cool hobby. Not as cool as model rockets or radio controlled planes, but still pretty cool....
     
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  18. Richard The Last

    Richard The Last Well-Known Member

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    It is and not expensive as hobbies go. I think reloading actually helps one's shooting skills and abilities. Not because of a more accurate round but because the reloader gets more deeply involved with all aspects of guns/shooting/reloading. A person buys a gun, some ammo and goes shooting; they have fun. A person starts to reload and they start to understand all the equipment involved. Once introduced to reloading I started to read more about it, then more about guns and ammo and the history of firearms. Good times!
     
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  19. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Wow. Can't get 5.56 for much less than $1/rd.
    Might have to sell a case...
     
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  20. Spim

    Spim Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Not a reloader myself and if I was to start then 9mm would be the last on my list, based on "normal " pricing Inthink it's a break even, for 5.56 or 45, it would be economical on a normal day.

    Based on today's prices it makes perfect sense.

    This is based on conversations with range rats that go through hundreds of rounds on a weekend. This is not based on those that just want a stash but rarely go to the range, those types would be better served by purchasing factory ammo and skip the high initial setup cost of reloading.

    This is just a general opinion I have no numbers to back this up.
     
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  21. Spim

    Spim Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Me 3.

    Last year when I was visiting the range fairly often and prices were very low I took advantage and stocked up, turns out that was a wise choice. When the prices skyrocketed I just curtailed my trips to the range to avoid running low. I wont resume regular trips out until pricing gets back to normal.
     
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  22. Hotdogr

    Hotdogr Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Two things at play probably have something to do with it:

    The prospect of democrats getting back into power, and their push to defund police. Both of these cause lines at the ammo counter.
     
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  23. Grau

    Grau Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    A question for other readers:

    I've read that it is unwise to use home reloaded ammunition in a self defense situation because those who prosecute people who defend themselves will claim that you just wanted an excuse to" try out" your homeloads on another live human being.

    Is there any truth to this or is it just another fictitious urban legend?
     
  24. drluggit

    drluggit Well-Known Member

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    Several online places have 5.56 for around 44C a round. Federal Premium. Winchester. Not sure what the delivery times are though.
     
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  25. James California

    James California Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    ❓~ Did anyone ask Lucky Gunner ...
     

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