Rainier bullets closing its doors

I would have tried them, but you couldn't buy direct from them unless you ordered 14k bullets from them IIRC. Berry's was always more accessable than Rainiers.

I’ve bought a bunch of Rainiers over the years, never unduly impressed, but never disappointed either.

But even though this announcement is dated 4/29, I’m certain they had indicated closing months, if not a year ago. I don’t pay close attention to them, but I bought 5,000 of their 93grn LRN’s when I heard the news they were closing, to keep my MIL well stocked, and it seems like that had to be more than 6mos ago. I know it was before Christmas, because it was before I changed roles at work.

I have shot there bullets in 9mm and 40 cal pistols. I think they were cheaper than Berry's once when I ordered through Midway so I went with them, I had no complaints.

That's too bad. The plated bullet business got very competitive in the last 10 years. Xtreme/Howell Munitions seems to still be in bankruptcy, although it's operating and reorganizing rather than dissolving. I think a lot of plated bullet makers either entered or ramped up production and equipment during the Obama years, and then got hit by the combined impact of the Trump-slump and the widespread adoption of power-coated bullets by a lot of high-volume shooters.

5-6 years ago when I started shooting USPSA, virtually everyone* in the game who reloaded was using plated bullets. These were high volume shooters, going through at least many thousands, often tens of thousands, of bullets per year - and doing so year after year. These are good customers for a bullet-seller to have! Fast forward to today, and at least half of those guys are using polycoated bullets.

*Excluding open gun shooters, who often had to stick with jacketed bullets.

That's unfortunate but not surprising in a very competitive business.

I have been using Berry's and Xtreme because I can source them locally and the sales tax is cheaper than shipping charges. But now that Cabela's has gone the way of BPS when it comes to reloading supplies I do believe I will be transitioning to RMR products.

Fine Figure of a Man said:

That's unfortunate but not surprising in a very competitive business.

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Especially when you consider that you can buy jacketed bullets for not much more than plated.

kmw1954 said:

I have been using Berry's and Xtreme because I can source them locally and the sales tax is cheaper than shipping charges. But now that Cabela's has gone the way of BPS when it comes to reloading supplies I do believe I will be transitioning to RMR products.

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And shipping is included in their price, plus a 5% discount for THR members.

kcofohio said:

Especially when you consider that you can buy jacketed bullets for not much more than plated.

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Whenever I see a bargain on bullets I buy several thousand. I used to find the best deals on plated, then coated, now they are often the about the same.
My last several orders have been for pulled JHP's and the cost has been about the average for plated.

kmw1954 said:

I have been using Berry's and Xtreme because I can source them locally and the sales tax is cheaper than shipping charges. But now that Cabela's has gone the way of BPS when it comes to reloading supplies I do believe I will be transitioning to RMR products.

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Same here! I used to shoot Extreme because Cabelas had them cheap. My Cabelas completely did away with Extreme bullets, so now my $ goes to RMR. I tried Berry's but too expensive for me when I can get RMR FMJ for the same price.

We are sorry to inform you at this time, that due to the volatile and uncertain future of the ammunition and reloading industry, we have elected to close the business, effective immediately. We can no longer afford to weather the storm. With a potential sale possible, we have elected to retire and start a new chapter in our lives. You will be updated as to specifics should a sale take place. Thank you all for being part of the Rainier Family.

With a statement like the above, it's anyone's guess. It could mean anything, Perhaps they are just tired.

They always seemed to have better prices than others on the large caliber bullets such as .44, .458, and .50.

Well Damn. I used them for decades. They worked well in everything I tried them in. A bit more expensive than cast but WAY cheaper than jacketed.

I don't like to see any bullet maker go under. I liked their bullets as well as xtreme and berrys. Ordered whatever was cheapest at the time. Good luck to them.

They were one of the few, take that back, the only manufacturer that would send you free samples to try out before you made a purchase. Hate to see them go too.

JO JO said:

Looks like rainier is packing up shop
I never used their stuff but to bad ,
https://www.rainierballistics.com/

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Sad!

"With a potential sale possible" … that sounds like the business might stick around but under a different name, or the same name but different owners.

I’m sorry to see them go, I liked their stuff, too.

Hopefully extreme, Missouri, Berrys and Eggleston all stay in business!

Stay safe.

Eggleston is showing as closed pending a sale right now as well.

Used Rainier plated bullets for decades but plated bullet market got very competitive with many manufacturers (Berry's, HSM, Power Bond, Speer TMJ/Gold Dot, X-Treme and more recently Frontier from South Africa).

I used jacketed bullets for USPSA match loads but practiced with plated bullets due to lower cost and over the years, plated bullet cost steadily increased to the point where I was buying RMR jacketed bullets for comparable price or less.

Hate to see anyone close business but if they are ready to retire, best wishes.

Plated bullets these days cost more than coated with no advantage. Most FMJ bullets cost no more than plated so why buy them? IMO that's why they are closing. I feel bad for their employees.

After reading about them, I was going to pick up a box or two of their .50 and maybe .458 bullets. They make great plinking loads for the Desert Eagle and others, often at better prices than their competitors.

They appear to have dried from all of the usual sources already.

So now where am I going to find copper plated bullets for hand loading 32 H&R magnum?

Zendude said:

So now where am I going to find copper plated bullets for hand loading 32 H&R magnum?

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If you're quick: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...liber-312-diameter-100-grain-plated-flat-nose