Current Midway Flier (Janurary, 2008), component prices are rising

[XD-40 Shooter]

I just got my Midway Flier in for Jan 2008, the Ranier bullets in 155 grain 40 S&W have gone from $82.99/1000 to $100/1000. Primers are around $28/1000 across the board. The only good news, the powder prices are still the same, at least for Unique, which is what I use. The bullet and primer prices are starting to get rediculous.

We've got another gun show coming up here in January, I'll be buying another couple bricks of primers and some bullets, as the wholesaler who frequents these show's, tends to be much cheaper.

 

[Walkalong]

Thank goodness I already ordered 4000 .45's earlier to go with the ones I have. I'll be good for a while. Maybe, just maybe, copper and lead will come back down. They can't keep building over there forever.

82.99/1000 to $100/1000.

Berry's bullets listed at around 82 or so bucks after the lead surcharge are already around $115. Two or three months ago they were well under $100 delivered.

Everybody is up.

 

[kir_kenix]

prices are getting rediculous. there is no way anybody is going to be able to shoot any real volumes of ammunition w/o reloading now. ive even heard some police departments are cancelling qualifications because they cant afford the ammo!

im also suprised we havnt seen a major jump in the automotive market as well.

 

[rcmodel]

The Dang Chinese are using up all the lead making paint for toys I tell ya!


rcmodel

 

[jfh]

rcmodel has it right. I don't see how lead prices are coming down anytime soon.

Does anyone track the commodities market(s), or does any one know about lead supply / production?

Jim H.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

You think lead prices are bad now, Wait until the US starts building nuke powerplants again, Lead will go thru the roof then they start building containment chambers

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Lead was $.80 a year ago and today is $1.20. November 05 it was $.40

 

[scrat]

Thank god i reload and make my own bullets. Even though the cost of lead has risen it still pays to make your own bullets. Comparison. For my black powder 50 CAL. Hornaday 20 bullets run for 10.00. This is at my local gunshop. Now i bought 30lbs of soft lead on ebay for around 35.00 delivered. Now i have already casted over 100 bullets. So money wise i am already ahead of what i can buy. Same time the quality of the bullets i make are A1 grade. So you really have to expand your horizons. Then when you come across deals take advantage of them. I have a few thousand primers right now. Thats the huge cost factor for me and the cost of powder. For my black powder i am VERY VERY VERY close to just making my own. So that will be pennys on the dollar again.

 

[RustyFN]

Looks like I better buy some bullets and powder before the end of the year.
Rusty

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Scrat,

For the sake of my curiosity, from the time you turn on the light in your casting area how long does it take you to have 100 bullets cast, and turn off the light. I have never really looked into casting, but if things continue on present course I might be.

 

[armoredman]

I can do about 100 bullets in an hour of casting, with 20 minutes pot warm up. So, about 1 hour 20 minutes, start to finish. it's never exactly 100, either, sometime 130, or 120, or so, depending on how many rejects I put into the melt again. I do it for fun, too, so I don't worry about time. This is with a Lee 10# production pot, and Lee 2 cavity moulds.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Thanks I was just curious, didn't know if it was a 20 min job or it was 3 hours

 

[Walkalong]

If you are going to fire up the pot, you may as well do 300 or better.

Get a 4 or a 6 bullet mold from Lee and rock and roll. Some folks will cast for a couple of days straight and make enough to last them a long time. I used to cast 300 to 500 in a session on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon, but I was still buying bullets as well. Casting is cheap, but a lot of work. I would still do it for specialty stuff if I was shooting any, but I am not.

We will all be fighting over the bullets in the backstop to use for casting before long. The other day after a good rain there were hundreds visible. Nice free lead. That and free wheelweights used to be what I used. I still have quite a bit in ingot form I melted, mixed up, and poured.

 

[jcwit]

We all see the prices of componts skyrocketing while we march to the tune of the piped piper to get our share of chinese garbage. Will we ever wake up and see our own folly. Long gone is the MADE IN AMERICA, so corporate ex. can get their bonus.

 

[nitesite]

Originally posted by jfh
Does anyone track the commodities market(s), or does any one know about lead supply / production?

www.kitco.com for latest news, real-time prices and graphs for metal commodities. Search Base metals for copper and lead. Also watch warehouse stock levels for more info on current availability, as well as 1-year and 5-year charts.

 

[nitesite]

Or just follow this hotlink for some eye opening graphs

http://www.kitcometals.com/charts/lead_historical_large.html

Be sure to check out copper as well.

 

[trickyasafox]

Airplanedoc-

depends on time for casting. The big 2 factors are - size of bullet being cast, number of cavities in the mold you use.

If i'm using my single cavity 7mm mold, an hour might generate 100 bullets or less. however, that same hour of casting with a 6 cavity handgun mold, could generate 400-500 good bullets.

if you were casting for handguns, i wouldn't go less than a 2 cavity mold. you can get some reasonable production for a reasonable price. I think lee 2 cav molds go for less than 20 dollars. 6 cav molds (also lee) after you get handles run closer to 50, but if its a bullet that you know works for you, its worth it in my opinion.

 

[jlficken]

I just saw the prices yesterday in Midway. I love shooting but this is just ridiculous. I think I may just turn those guns I have but stop shooting them because it just plain costs to much. The reason I got rid of my motorcycle is not enough bang for my buck and with everything increasing monthly it looks like shooting for me is going the way of the dodo.

 

[strat81]

Seems like a .22 conversion kit is a better investment than a few thousand bullets.

 

[jlficken]

I was actually thinking of going that route. Looks like that will be my next purchase.

 

[Walkalong]

Seems like a .22 conversion kit is a better investment than a few thousand bullets.

Ain't that the truth. Just one more reason everyone should have a .22, if not two of them.

 

[jcwit]

Take a look at how much .22's have gone up, at least the good stuff, not the cheap bulk wallyworld junk. Couple of years ago I was spending $25/$30 for a brick of match ammo, today the cheapest is $50.00 and the prices go up from there to $145.00 a brick. There has even been some rummors of ammo comming from the far east in the future. I hope I don't hear the pied piper again.

 

[sublimaze41]

Powder Valley still has Winchester primers for $102.5 per 5k. They also have LARGE RIFLE primers. I recently got a great Christmas present from my wife, guess where it came from? BTW Powder Valley is a great company to do business with!