What to stock up on?

Primers. Without primers, powder is just fertilizer and bullets are just fishing weights.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Like said, everything was scarce or just not available at all.

I know a reloaded who has 35lbs of handgun powder, 40lbs of rifle powder and around 55,000 primers. He has a lot of brass and bullets too.

I'm not sure if that is considered a lot, a little or just enough by most loaders but it sounds like a lot to me. He probably needs to double the numbers of primers for that much powder but that is just a guess since I don't feel like doing the numbers lol.

If you are worried you might want to put in 2 to 3 years worth of shooting since most shortages don't last more than 2 years. The last time was an exception and hopefully doesn't ever happen again.

One years supply is not sufficient, I would think in terms of at least 5 years.

The most popular components ... 9mm, .45 acp, ..380 acp, 38 spl, will be the first to run out (.22 lr not reloading).

See that's it....everybody is different.... One thing I don't want is a 100 lbs of something somebody says I need.....then I find like to shoot something else. Buy a pound at a time until you find what you like.....then splurge if you want.

Primers....I'm different about...they are explosives.....I really don't like to have a huge amount in one place....certainly not in my reloading room....my wife and I sleep above that!
Bullets....knock yourself out.....but again....what I like has no bearing on what you will like. Most of us don't have a problem with cases.....least those of us who pick up brass....or buy military in bulk.

Walkalong: It appears you are getting back into benchrest? I noticed in another thread that you are working on some 6mm Dasher. I've never done benchrest or loaded BR. Might be fun to try it some time.

And I'm thinking that if somehow the liberals gain serious power in this country, you may get it all confiscated in one day.

Lead. Buy lead. Casting equipment would be preferred, but projectiles if you choose not to cast. Powder can be scarce, primers too, but if you have lead and you have cases you have options. There are many powders that can be used in lots of things, so finding powder was less of a chore than finding bullets.

But if your a hard head that wants to use XYZ recipe just buy it all and sit on it. Especially if it’s rifle stuff or specialty pistol stuff

Well ,I understand that no one wants to have to sit idle because he or she can’t get the components they need, but “manufacturered crisis” is a real thing also. Remember the ridiculous .22 bullet crisis!?

All I can say is "Primers". That was it for me, last time. Won't have that problem this time. Everything, around here, was scarce, so it is tough making a game plan. I never would have guessed, that you couldn't find a single 22 LR, to be had. So glad I stocked up, long before that, but it was just tough to watch.

I no longer reload. But what I do is I buy a case online for every 200 rds I buy from my LGS to shoot at their range. YMMV

The last time I bought powder, I got a "case." 4ea, eight pounders. Two jugs of H110 and two jugs of HS-6.

Join a gun club that has a FFL and buy in bulk. I usually buy at least 25,000 primers per order. Sometimes, 50,000.

Get a furnace and bullet molds, whether you cast or not. You may need to cast in the future. I keep just over a ton of one pound ingots made from wheel weights on hand at all times.

If it is common range ammo (9mm, 45acp, 223/556, 308) that you are looking to ensure an adequate supply, I would actually recommended you stock up on factory ammo. With all the sales and rebates going on, it might actually be cheaper depending on your preference of components.

If it is specialized ammo, uncommon cartridge, precision ammo, etc, then the recommendation of having a good 2 years worth of supply is pretty sound.

The risk you take by laying in years of components is that you are now stuck with years of components. Buy a new gun that doesn't feed the bullet shape you have in stock, decide a different powder would work better than what you have, or start hunting a different animal and you could be left with components you no longer really want.

I'd first consider "loading" a quantity of ammunition that will last you for a few years. Then only buy enough components for a couple more years. Otherwise you'll be finding you have too much powder, not enough bullets, and more primers than you have powder and bullets for. It's not easy to have a balanced inventory. Primers were the hardest to find, especially special primers like Fed 215 Magnum Rifle. I found powders were more available but prices tripled and some powders were not being produced and impossible to find. Never saw many bullets not available but prices doubled. Bullets are the key. For instance 223 Rem you can get about 2200 rounds from an 8 lb. jug but 2200 premium bullets are expensive. Primers will keep nearly forever if stored properly and even if you have more than needed they could be useful to even trade. Stored loaded ammo is better than huge quantities of stored components. Do stock up on .22 RF when you find some good sales as well as shotgun ammunition. Like mentioned, some factory ammo is priced low enough to consider stocking them rather than components.

Having gone through several component shortages, what I have seen was popular powders were first to go (W231/HP-38, Unique, etc.) followed by popular primers (SP/LP) and then less popular powders disappeared and only SPM/LPM primers were available with least favored powders were left on the shelves. Brass was available but price doubled and reasonably priced brass sold out fast. Projectiles were available but reasonably priced bullets sold out fast and price increased for the rest.

You can read through what we went through the last "Great Component Shortage" on this thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/where-are-there-reloading-components-on-sale.707473/

I would suggest the following for semi-auto pistol calibers:

• Determine what your typical shooting needs are for the year (Match loads, Lighter target loads, Plinking/practice loads, Full power defensive loads, etc.) and multiply by 3-5 years to stock up.

• If shooting match/target loads, focus on faster burning powders that are suitable for many calibers like W231/HP-38, Sport Pistol, Target, Titegroup, N320, Bullseye, etc.

• If shooting full power loads, focus on powders that produce higher velocities like BE-86, WSF, etc. (Unique if needing fluffy powder)

• Reference same/comparable powders thread to pick up less known yet same/comparable powders (Buy Clean Shot if can't find No 2, Buy 300MP if can't find W296/H110, etc.) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-different-labels.797388/page-6#post-10806193

• During the last component shortage, I tried Promo and liked it so much that it is now my designated general purpose range blasting/plinking powder and have gone through several 8 lb containers. It is now reblended to meter better, is a versatile pistol powder that is great for carbine loads (BTW, it's also the cheapest powder you can buy at $115/8 lbs) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...blended-promo-for-more-accurate-loads.841097/

• Stock up when you see free shipping/HazMat sales like Powder Valley's free shipping on $149+ sale until 9/11/19 right now (Must include Starline brass in order. Winchester primers are $28/1000 and Remington primers are $29/1000) and buy powder/primers together to save on HazMat fee - https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product-category/reloading-supplies/primers/page/6/

• For bullets/brass, buy on sales/use 5% THR discounts to lower per round cost. MBC/RMR have been offering 5% THR discount (thehighroad5 code and THR ID in order comment box for RMR and free shipping) for years. RMR is currently offering 7% - 20% off on select bullets/brass until 9/7/19 - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ponents-on-sale.707473/page-181#post-11220669

For bullets, order in larger quantities for greater discount.

• RMR 115 gr plated RN Seconds in 2000 quantity comes out to $61.75/1000 shipped with 5% THR discount - https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets/pistol/9mm-355/9mm-115-grain-plated-round-seconds/

• RMR 124 gr FMJ RN in 3000 quantity comes out to $72.54/1000 shipped with rmriscapitalist discount code (expires 9/7/19). FYI, these are the same "match grade" bullets ELEY uses for their new line of match ammunition - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...or-their-new-line-of-match-ammunition.854750/

• RMR 124 gr JHP in 2000 quantity comes out to $82.17/1000 shipped with 5% THR discount. FYI, Minuteman Ammunition uses RMR JHP bullets for their ammunition (link shows video of expansion performance) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-match-ammunition.854750/page-3#post-11213738

For plinking/range blasting ammo, consider pulled bullets. RMR 9mm mixed pulled plated bullets in 2000 quantity comes out to $52.25/1000 shipped with 5% THR discount (That's cheaper than lead/coated lead bullets ) - https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...24-gr-mixed-plated-round-nose-bullets-pulled/

labnoti said:

I was absent for the last ammo and reloading component shortage. I know people were finding some powders to be scarce. Were bullets, primers, and brass also scarce?

Everything was scarce to non existent for a few years. All it took was Sandy Hook and threats from the Obama Administration to wipe out store shelves.

I'm simply looking to build some inventory because I presently have only about a year's supply of primers, bullets, and powder. I don't want to find myself in need during the next cycle of demand exceeding supply and increasing prices.

I would start with building an inventory of everything you shoot, especially the stuff you shoot more of. That means take advantage of good sales and stock up slowly over time. Think about it this way. Loaded ammunition has a very long shelf life as do powder, primers, brass and bullets. I am still shooting powder and primers I bought during the early 90s.

I'm intending to buy a few 8 pound jugs of powders soon and another few when there might be holiday sales toward the end of the year.

Buy the powders you shoot, Just as an example I load plenty of AA 2495 in my 308 loads. Figure a pound of powder is 7,000 grains, Loading 150 grain Sierra Match Kings with 44 grains I can get about 150 rounds per pound or about 1.300 on an 8 pound jug. When you see a good deal on loaded ammunition or loading components I suggest yu buy as you can and also stash a few bricks of 22 rimfire when you can.

I'm really trying to gauge how many years worth of primers and bullets I should stock up. Were these scarce or costly in previous shortages?

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Sit down with white sheets of paper and a good sharp pencil and a real big eraser. Buy or load for your shooting situations. You know your limits and cartridges better than anyone else here,

Ron

I started loading during the last scare and what I recall being the tough thing to find was powder. I was able to get a brick of rifle and a brick of pistol primers. And bullets didn't seem like an issue for me. But holy cow....powder.....that seemed tough. I had to go to "the big city" weekly at the time for my work. It took me by a Cabela's. So once a week I'd stop in and look for powder. It took me about 6 weeks before I found a pistol powder that was on my list. That held me until I could find another. And I limped along.

I measure my loaded inventory in number of rounds, but I measure my components in terms of number of years. For each caliber I know about what I shoot annually......and I try to have an appropriate number of years (on the order of 5-10) of everything to get me through any storms that might occur.

I would start with primers. Can't do much without them. After that, powder. You probably have favorites you should stock up, but make sure you buy at least one do all powder. I chose unique because it is my preferred for 20 gauge plus I can load everything from 38 special to 3006 with it. For bullets you either need to stock up or learn to cast. I chose the latter. Brass is cheap now so buy some.

One other thought is that it might not be a bad idea to pick up a muzzleloader. They can be had inexpensively, are lots of fun to shoot, nobody is likely to ban them, and in a pinch you can even make your own projectiles, percussion caps, and even powder.

Primers first. Nothing goes bang without them.

These happened at various times between 2008 and 2016, but:
22LR was gone. Preppers and high demand just made the ammo situation so terrible that 22LR rifles went on sale.
Primers were expensive when available. People paying anywhere from $30-60 for a brick of SP or SR primers. I used SPM for a while because they were available. There were other times when demand when down and they went on sale.
Powder came and went, depending on what it was. Availability was variable, however, popular items like Varget sold out immediately. This is where people found substitutes.
Handgun ammo 9/40/45 was harder to get and more expensive, with 9mm having the most demand. Most brick and mortar places sold a box of 50ea 9/40 fmj cartridges for about $20.
LE handgun ammo in the 50rd boxes (at least the stuff you would want - HST, CDuty, GD, etc) was either expensive or constantly sold out/out of stock.
I remember having to buy a couple of 20rd boxes of Winchester PDX1 from WM only because they actually had it - so much for that going forward - haha.
Any HP handgun bullets were a hot commodity (even the ones that don't really expand, like montana gold). GD, HShok, HST, pulls sold out almost immediately. New product always seemed out of stock.
FMJ/Plated/Lead handgun bullets were available and generally unaffected.
Hunting rifle ammo and rifle bullets other than .224" were largely unaffected.
I still remember when Cabelas 223 Rem 55gr FMJBT (Remington green and white box) on the shelf for $19.99 /20 cartridges. That was basically the point at which it didn't sell (along with $20 off brand polymer AR15 mags).

cougar1717 said:

22LR was gone.

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Currently, no problem with 22LR since I started and maintained 22LR for $15-$20/1000 shipped thread -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...15-20-500-shipped.853059/page-2#post-11226086

Happy days ... Stock up while prices are low and items are in stock.

You are all properly warned.

When you whine later, I will direct you back to this thread.

GW Staar said:

See that's it....everybody is different.... One thing I don't want is a 100 lbs of something somebody says I need.....then I find like to shoot something else. Buy a pound at a time until you find what you like.....then splurge if you want.

Primers....I'm different about...they are explosives.....I really don't like to have a huge amount in one place....certainly not in my reloading room....my wife and I sleep above that!
Bullets....knock yourself out.....but again....what I like has no bearing on what you will like. Most of us don't have a problem with cases.....least those of us who pick up brass....or buy military in bulk.

Walkalong: It appears you are getting back into benchrest? I noticed in another thread that you are working on some 6mm Dasher. I've never done benchrest or loaded BR. Might be fun to try it some time.

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I'm with you on this one...where I definitely keep a very healthy supply of powder/primers, I am not keeping a massive amount in my home, I just don't think its safe. If there's another panic, I'll do what I did last time, mellow out with the shooting. I almost completely stopped shooting 22LR for over 2 years after 2012. Factory 9mm was the issue back in 2009...couldn't find it anywhere, so I stopped shooting it.

It sucks, that's for sure...but I'm not keeping 100 lbs of gunpowder in my home.

Typetwelve said:

If there's another panic, I'll do what I did last time, mellow out with the shooting. I almost completely stopped shooting 22LR for over 2 years after 2012. Factory 9mm was the issue back in 2009...couldn't find it anywhere, so I stopped shooting it.

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You do realize this is the "Handloading & Reloading" category of THR?

For many of us, reloading and shooting is not just a hobby but a passion and if you hunt, necessity for food. And if you shoot matches, you cannot stop shooting.

Many of us got into reloading to save money (ummm, I mean shoot more for same cost ) and many of us that lived through ammunition/component shortages stocked up so enjoyment of our hobby was independent from retail supply cycles of ammunition.

During the last "Great Shortage", I was dismayed to not be able to find 22LR to shoot in Ruger 10/22 Take Down my wife bought as a gift. When price of 22LR ammo matched what I could reload 9mm for (around $5-$6/50), our family switched to 9mm ARs/PCCs as I had plenty of 9mm components and our family shooting enjoyment did not suffer.

When the price of 22LR dropped to $40/500 then below $30/500, I started a new thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ammo-for-sale-under-30-for-500-rounds.825048/

When the price of 22LR dropped below $20/500 (Oh Happy Days!!!), I started another new thread $15-$20/500 shipped which I currently maintain - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...15-20-500-shipped.853059/page-2#post-11226086

And when 22LR dropped below $15/500 shipped, I stocked up BIG and bought CMMG 22LR conversion kits to shoot 22LR in my ARs - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...30-for-500-rounds.825048/page-7#post-11113623


You know, life is short and we are all going to die anyways ... and stuff.

Typetwelve said:

I'm not keeping 100 lbs of gunpowder in my home.

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You don't have to. You can spread it around among family, friends and neighbors to comply with local/state/federal fire ordinances.

Just make sure you keep powder out of direct sun light and away from heat to optimize storage life - https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/safety/gunpowder-stability

NFPA 495 - https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Info-Doc-Smokeless-Powder.pdf

"11-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb. (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness."