Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting New era

[Jeff L]

I've been a reloader (centerfire, and shotgun) for many years. It's been my hobby/obsession. I don't bowl, I shoot. I don't golf, I shoot. I don't - well, you get the idea. I've seen scarcity of individual components a few times; primers were tight for a while, bullets were scarce for a while, etc. After a few months things corrected, and availability was once again normal (although prices rise after every period of scarcity).

What we're experiencing now is not scarcity - it's as if components simply aren't manufactured anymore. It hasn't been weeks or months, it's been years - and it keeps getting worse. I've read the explanations from the manufacturers -"YOU, and YOUR hoarding". I'm aware of accusations of government conspiracy, manufacturer conspiracy, and end-of-times (didn't say I agreed).

My conclusion is this: Things will never be "as they were". There is increased demand from all levels of government, and from individual consumers. Manufacturing capabilities (especially for powder and primers) won't be increased in any meaningful capacity. The government won't allow it, and economics don't favor it. Alliant, or Hodgdon aren't going to fight multiple echelons of government to build a muti-million-dollar facility because I can't get powder for the .223. Same for primers. Bullets and brass are much easier to get to market, although new regulations banning lead in bullets create problems.

In short, my hobby/obsession has changed, and it's never going to be "like it was".

 

[Wayne M.]

Thank You. This is something I hope to get into later in life, when I get outta the city. I guess I'll never know how it was, but I blame the US Gov.
Bans on lead and anything to do with it.
Bans on recycling spent DOD brass.
Forcing MSM.
Etc. etc.

 

[Jeff L]

Looking at how we got here is pretty straight forward (I’m going back many decades). There are more of us. Component availability went from the back pages of catalogs, magazines, and esoteric Mom and Pop shops to big then even bigger “big box” stores. Then came the electronic age, and components could be obtained from the comfort and convenience of your computer, and now from your phone. What was once a relatively small band of folks who had the skills and diligence needed for reloading exploded into untold, and growing numbers of people buying components (not a bad thing, I applaud and in fact help anyone who wants to learn to reload).

Then came the wild popularity of auto-loading rifles (AR, AK etc.) Prior to these, auto-loading was the domain of shotguns, and pistols. I’d speculate that for every dollar spent on shotgun or pistol ammunition, several multiples of that dollar are spent for auto-loading rifles (again, I applaud anything that promotes the shooting sports, so view this as a positive).

All this has happened without any real growth in the capability to produce the components. Not hard to see what’s coming - it’s here. Adding further to the congestion is increased government contracts, and yes regulations seemingly designed to thwart availability. So, here we are - in a new era.

Looking at where we’re going isn’t nearly as easy, and frankly, I don’t like it. I see having to radically reduce the number of chamberings a person reloads. I see radically reducing the number of cartridges (or shells in the case of shotguns) a person does choose to load.

Unless there is a dramatic increase in manufacturing capability of components, I see the new era as being quite lean, and very expensive.

Hope I’m wrong.

 

[Jeff L]

".....This is something I hope to get into later in life,...."



Thumbs up!

If you're borderline obsessive compulsive (check the on/off switch of the coffee pot several times before leaving the house), it's for you. If you're a "close 'nough" kinda guy, proceed with caution - but do proceed.

 

[KBurgoyne]

Thumbs up!

If you're borderline obsessive compulsive (check the on/off switch of the coffee pot several times before leaving the house), it's for you. If you're a "close 'nough" kinda guy, proceed with caution - but do proceed.

Is it borderline OCD, or is it fastidious precision. I dont drink coffee, but I can tell you the exact specs of the first rounds I loaded almost four years ago off the top of my head.

Wayne, now is a great time to get into the business if you have a rifle worth loading for. Large rifle powder is the only kind that is easy to find at the moment. Learn now on the cheap, and stock up when it comes back. Under the current conditions, hoarding is the only functional solution to the problem. I am not currently one of said hoarders, but I plan to be. No more scrounging for a pound or a brick. The first kegs I see of what Im looking for are coming home with me. Minimum shelf life of 50 years, it is a better investment than the stock market.

Ive been looking around at lead prices for casting. It used to be that someone could go to the owner of a tire shop and say, " I would like to take some of your wheel weights off your hands. I may even consider exchanging you money for them. Now the wheel weights are recycled under the "environmentalist nazi law" and only certain people have the authority to release the lead into your custody. Now, scrap wheel weight are going for a dollar a pound, and pre-mixed alloys like Lyman #2 cost $2.15 plus a pound.

 

[Wayne M.]

I appreciate the encouragement guys! My present situation does not leave much time or expense to do these things. Aside from that, living in NYC is so anti gun its crazy. I have to travel an hour to get into friendly territory. There is one rifle club in town, but I stay away due to some personalities there. Soon, I'd love to get the .357/ .38 Henry and get good with it, and I understand that's a good cartridge for tweaking and easy shooting.
Not to derail the thread, but I am looking to expand one piece and since I don't have a .22, I saw this deal which is a doorbuster coming up at my store (100 mi away) with $100 off.

GOD willing, I hope to fill a room with EQ soon after retirement, and I relocate.

 

[jhenderson]

The other component to the shortage is banking. The Govt is putting pressure on banks to cut off service to these types of businesses. If they can no longer take your credit card or have bank privileges they can't sell you anything.

 

[Wayne M.]

The other component to the shortage is banking. The Govt is putting pressure on banks to cut off service to these types of businesses. If they can no longer take your credit card or have bank privileges they can't sell you anything.

Yes! very true! I think this all started when Rosie set up Tom Selleck. Remember that?

 

[Wayne M.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtkgoGY4Cm4

 

[Jeff L]

KBurgoyne, in my case it's probably closer to obsessive compulsive (or just plain nuts - your choice).
I tried my hand at casting bullets a few times, even had a tutor that helped, but I just never got the "itch". For one thing, I managed to stay clear of black powder, and those guys do some serious bullet casting. Thought I'd cast some Elmer Keith or Dave Scovill designed bullets in .45 Colt, but realized I could buy 'em and spend my time shootin'.

 

[Jeff L]

Wayne M,

Sure hope you "escape" and realize the challenges, and satisfactions that come with reloading/shooting.

 

[Jeff L]

The way it used to be: spend a lazy day rummaging the stocks of local reloading shops, buying a few small pistol primers here, a few magnum rifle primers there, a pound of powder from another, a couple boxes of bullets at yet another. You purchased on price, convenience, and loyalty - availability never entered the equation. Once or twice a year you'd find some treasures at gun shows, yard sales, auctions, or classified ads (imagine that!). Loading for multiple chamberings -- often in the same caliber -- was routine, and part of the challenge - find that "perfect" loading for a .22 Hornet, .250-3000, 6.5 Swede, 7x57, and so on. The wide variety of powder, primers, bullets, and brass was just a side bar, not even really worth spending time worrying about.

Now? I've taken to loading for chamberings that will work (but perhaps not excel) with one powder. That's not only restrictive, but often yields results that aren't optimal. It's similar to having access to only 87 octane gasoline. Sure, the folks with high compression engines can make due, but at a cost - reduced performance.

I believe there’s tough choices ahead, and narrowing the number of chamberings a person can load for is first on the list.