Doing some organizing I came across a box of .22LR CCI Mini-Mags with a price tag of $4.99 on it. Being that these 100-ct plastic boxes now run over $10 it’s pretty obvious this box is from many, many years ago. Seeing this brought back memories of buying 50-ct boxes of 9mm back in the day for $4.99 a box. Yes – $4.99. This was a brand I bought in New Hampshire called “Carrol”. Just prior to COVID, I was getting aluminum-cased 9mm for $8.99/box. I remember going to Palmetto State Armory in Columbia, SC on the way to Myrtle Beach and buying Federal M193 5.56mm for $5.49/box.
Oh – the memories.
With the work I’ve been doing on the homestead in my spare time visiting gun shops has been rare. When I have managed to stop in I’m disgusted by the pricing. I’m a big believer in supporting local gun shops, however, when the cheapest box of 9mm is $16.00 – it’s ridiculous.
I’ve been in manufacturing as a profession for decades. I understand costs such as raw materials, labor, shipping, etc. There is no reason that ammunition pricing AT A GUN SHOP should be this high. I can buy the very same ammunition online for $10.99.
Like I said I want to support local gun shops and I’m willing to pay more there. Upwards of 40-50% more? Nope.
We live in a volatile and unpredictable world. I continue to believe we have some extremely tough times ahead. Among many things, ammunition and other defense-related items need to be put back. Overall, ammunition pricing is more than it was and less than just a few years ago.
Stack it high and stack it deep!
Rourke
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Remember when a 50 count box of 22lr cost $.89??? Probably not, I was a kid in the 70’s then. My hope is that what happened right after DJT got in the first time will happen again. Prior to that, the “Obama Scare” shot ammo prices through the roof, if you could find any. Shortly after DJT arrived on the scene, amazing, 22lr that had cost 10 cents per round for the cheaply made stuff, again if you could find it, went as low as 2 cents per round, sure it was also cheaply made stuff but it was easier to pull the trigger at that price. That’s right, Palmetto State Armory sold some off-brand 22lr at right around 2 cents per round. So, let’s hope history repeats itself and then jump on any deals you see, fast before they’re gone. Also, if you haven’t, consider reloading. I had reloaded 9mm years ago when I was just a pup but thought I should get back into it. This was back when 5.56 62gr Green Tip (Lake City) could be had for around $.27 per round delivered, after factory rebate. At the time, after buying brass, primers, bullets, and powder it cost around $.25 per round reloading it myself. I started buying all the components needed to reload 5.56 including the Press, Dies, Scale, etc. to start reloading again. Funny, but I didn’t actually start reloading any of this until about 8-10 years later because I had purchased a bunch of the Lake City stuff at the $.27 per round price. I had this little voice in my head telling me that even though the price p/round was currently so cheap, there would come a time when the components, let alone the actual pre-made rounds, would be very expensive and in very short supply. Fast forward to now and just a few years ago and you have the exact scenario in real time. So, my advice to you is to jump on the specials when they happen and also to consider joining the Reloading Community. I’m absolutely no expert but I do enjoy doing it as well as being able to load some specialty rounds that I’ve found components for.
To find some of the best prices on Ammo out on the web go to ammoseek.com (it does the searching for you). Also, SGAmmo.com is a great resource and has great prices along with free shipping over $200 (that never hurts). As for Reloading components, I get a lot of my bullets/Brass from American Reloading. So that you know, they dismantle the rounds by Pulling the bullets and then selling the components separately. This may sound strange but how it works is sometimes contracts get canceled or have overruns that can’t be sold as completed rounds so American Reloading buys them then dismantles and sells the parts. I’ve been able to pick up New Primed Brass for what just the Primers cost. I’ve picked up Tracer bullets that I’ve been able to reload. They also sell the left-over powder dirt cheap. I’ve never had any problems with any of their components. And they ship free and cover the Hazmat fee. Anyway, just some ideas to help anyone take the next step.
Just my 2 1/2 cents worth,
Myke
No doubt you are right. The “Biden surcharge” is real from the inflation that the senile, corrupt, fake pResident brought us but also many businesses big and small took advantage of the inflation and tacked on a bit extra. Your post reminded me that I still have 500 round bricks of 22LR that I purchased at Montgomery Ward for $4.99 each.
lol… I used to buy federal… 50 ct box 22 lr… .88 cents a box