What I especially dislike is hearing about people that have 2 cell phones, I-POD, Internet,
3 cars in the driveway, 52" flat screen plasma LCD television with a 36" in the bedroom who go out to dinner 4 times a week etc.etc. and then have the gall to complain about the cost associated with ammunition. I was caught once during the primer shortage in the 90's and that was only because I was using a lot. I was a small time commercial reloader who'd wait until I was down to my last 10,000 SR primers to re-order. I make it a habit to buy when prices are right. Even though I'm currently unemployed, I still visit my favorite gun shop at least once a week. Just as an example of what one can get at the bargain table
$51 total two days ago)
124 .308 AP bullets
50 6MM Sierra 100 grain soft points
74 6MM Horn. 100 grain soft points
110 various once fired .243 brass
20 Remington 7x57 brass
113 mixed .257 Roberts brass
40 7 Rem. Magnum brass
109 mixed .308 brass
36 22 Hornet brass
30 44 Special brass
325 LR primers
1 Reloading manual I didn't already have
1 RCBS shellholder rack
4 RCbS rifle plastic boxes
1 MTM pistol plastic box
About 80% of the brass was once fired.
Here's some of the things I didn't buy:
10 pristine reloading manuals @$5 ea.
100 110SP carbine bullets for $10
At least 30 boxes of .22 LR typically $1 a box
9MM brass for 2 cents apiece
45 Auto brass for 5 cents ea.
.223 brass at 2 cents ea.
.380 brass for 3 cents ea.
38 Spl. brass at 3 cents ea.
Lil' Dandy pistol powder measure @$15
Lyman scale @$30
I remember when an SKS was too expensive to shoot in the 80's. I also remember trying to scrounge surplus 30-06 as commercial ammunition was going for $5 a box. This was in the 60's. Even when I couldn't secure any surplus, I still managed to shoot a couple of boxes a week. I was making maybe $2 an hour. Funny thing is that ammunition still costs a couple of hours pay now as then. And yet you can still buy quality surplus even now for about 30 cents each through the CMP. I wonder how much of this is p'ing and moaning with never a real thought to actually shoot. If someone wants to charge you $50 a box for .380 either buy it or don't. THAT is the essence of capitalism. In it's simplest form it IS the law of supply and demand. I don't ever recall someone complaining about $69 a thousand 7.62x39 delivered. Or WWB in 9MM selling for $12 a box of 100. Or bulk pack of .22 LR selling for $8.97. Once the panic buying stops, once the hoarders can't afford to buy more, once the new firearm owners are happy, then prices will adjust. If you don't like the prices now, reload or take up something else.