Cutting Back on Ammo Use

[BE Mike]

I have cut back a
little, although I reload all centerfire cartridges I shoot. Although I have a fair amount of primers and powder, I’m concerned about the lack of availability (especially primers) for the past 18 months.

 

[DadSmith]

I've cut back thousands of rds of centerfire ammunition, but I've been practicing with 22lr rifles and handguns, much cheaper and it's helped me a lot with my trigger pull. I thought my trigger pull was good, but found it can be improved on, and I've been doing just that. Also improved my grip on the TX22 that I just found to be better than I use to have. It was a minor adjustment to my support hand, but it improved the groups.

 

[cbhausen]

There are lots of videos out there on how to train without burning through your ammo reserves. Here’s one from sootch00:

 

[marvin02]

I saw a video about Olympic pistol shooting where a member of the US team said he shot only 500 rounds of ammo outside of competition and dry fired over 100,000 times during the best year of his career.

For myself I am shooting less for a lot of reasons, cost being a big one.

I shot just over 400 rounds of 9mm at a match a couple of weeks ago and thought I could actually feel a physical pain when I thought about the replacement cost. The Ruger PC Carbine I bought is a lot of fun to shoot, but pricey when compared to .22lr.

 

[1775usmarine]

2 kids under 3 limits me to maybe 10 to 15rds a month in my backyard. Really need to work a 380 load but haven't reloaded anything this year. Have been getting some brass for free and some powder when cheap but will start looking again for more primers come winter to keep boosting my already decent stock.

 

[SpikeNSpud]

I have been using the Mantis training tool. While it helps keep my shooting skills up its still not nearly as fun as going to the range. It has been a lot cheaper though.

 

[Dean C.]

I usually dry fire quite a bit (watch a TV show or movie and use the bad guy as the target ) and I have a few 1/3 sized USPSA targets in random places.

Thankfully last March before covid made everything ridiculous I picked up a Ruger MK4 and have probably burned through 8,000 rounds with it to offset my reduced center-fire shooting.

Previously it would not be uncommon for me to burn through 200-300 rounds of center-fire handgun per weekly range session. Now it's more like 30-50 rounds with a 100-200 rimfire. Never was much of a rifle shooter so I still have a good reserve of 5.56.

 

[NHT3]

I have basically quit shooting. I have only been to the range twice this year.
I am still holding out hope that prices will come down and normalize.
At least it is available, which is a good thing. It's just more than what I am willing to pay right now.

I am well stocked right now, but I don't want to shoot any of it, until I can replace it for what I paid originally or close to it.
I suspect we will have a permanent price increase, my hope is that it is not unreasonable.
This roller coaster ride of ammo shortages every time there is a "perceived" panic just about has me ready to be done with gun hobby completely.
This has been a life long hobby for me, and will be hard to walk away from.
I have contemplated selling off about half of my collection on gunbroker during the next "panic", which will be the mid-term elections in 2022.

Considering the current inflation trend I don't think ammo will "normalize" again. Money just isn't worth what it was two years ago so ammo, like every other commodity is simply going to cost more. Another perk brought to us by the current administration.

 

[Winamac]

Since the ammo crunch. I have cut back quite a bit on shooting my center fire stuff. Mostly shooting .22cal stuff...when I do shoot. I have a crap ton of .22. Also another detractor to me shooting , as I shoot outdoors this heat is just to much for me, and truthfully I do not enjoy sweating my arse off while shooting. Nothing worse that "swamp butt" at the range or anytime for that matter.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Considering the current inflation trend I don't think ammo will "normalize" again. Money just isn't worth what it was two years ago so ammo, like every other commodity is simply going to cost more. Another perk brought to us by the current administration.

Across the board pretty much, prices are up, but I don't know if it's "inflation" so much as it is supply and demand. The supply chain has been hosed, and demand is as strong, or stronger than ever.

As for ammo in general, this Russian ban has exacerbated things, even though the full effect (as I understand it) won't be felt for a year or more, since there are certain shipments that have already been approved, and (again, as I understand it), and those will still be allowed in.

The ammo market has become like the futures market. Based on predictions of what conditions will be like in the future.

 

[DadSmith]

I usually dry fire quite a bit (watch a TV show or movie and use the bad guy as the target )

 

[Mongo59]

The word is that the manufacturers would like to see and end to production of .22 ammo. So if they make it at all they will want us to really 'pay' them to make it.

If you think about it the people running the machinery get paid the same no matter what is on the line, the electric and other costs are the same. Granted the amount of raw materials is less but when the public is so willing to pay going rate for ammo the manufacturers will want to set up the lines for the center fire and not look back. They have considered the .22 a 'give-away' for years now.

No, I don't see things ever getting back to 'normal' and I believe we are going to have to accept a 'new normal' for either factory made ammo or reloads. They will dry up the market to put the herd to stir and then milk us all for all we are worth.

My prediction is that .22 will go the way of the CMP M1 carbine, 1917 and 1903. We will all remember seeing them, but wonder where they all went...

 

[700 LTR 223]

I still shoot most every week, I have never been a high volume shooter even before 2020 so the pandemic has not hurt my range time too much.

I reload all the centerfire calibers I shoot so I am able to pass on the price gouged ammo for the time being. Although reloading is not exactly inexpensive these days but still far cheaper than factory ammo.

I still shoot more rimfire than centerfire too as I get lazy about reloading and I still find 22 ammo for sale.

 

[Trapper Jim]

Capitalism rules. We will come out of this slump of an ammo shortage but the calm water will show us a 20 percent higher price than pre COVID. As we loose more shooters to burnout, new gun owners that will not buy their 2nd box of ammo, and many of us die off, the supply chain will be full again.

 

[Dean C.]

View attachment 155884

I mean I cannot say it's been effective , no no matter how often I use Col. Tavington from the Patriot as a target Mel Gibson always gets him before I do

 

[bwframe]

Dry firing is pretty cheap, as is the air rifle.

 

[doddg]

Capitalism rules. We will come out of this slump of an ammo shortage but the calm water will show us a 20 percent higher price than pre COVID. As we loose more shooters to burnout, new gun owners that will not buy their 2nd box of ammo, and many of us die off, the supply chain will be full again.

Funniest thing I've read so far today!

 

[firefighterjohn]

The word is that the manufacturers would like to see and end to production of .22 ammo. So if they make it at all they will want us to really 'pay' them to make it.

If you think about it the people running the machinery get paid the same no matter what is on the line, the electric and other costs are the same. Granted the amount of raw materials is less but when the public is so willing to pay going rate for ammo the manufacturers will want to set up the lines for the center fire and not look back. They have considered the .22 a 'give-away' for years now.

No, I don't see things ever getting back to 'normal' and I believe we are going to have to accept a 'new normal' for either factory made ammo or reloads. They will dry up the market to put the herd to stir and then milk us all for all we are worth.

My prediction is that .22 will go the way of the CMP M1 carbine, 1917 and 1903. We will all remember seeing them, but wonder where they all went...

I sure hope that's not the case with .22s, looks like I'll have to keep building up my stock. The .22s are mostly what I've shot this year except when I get a new gun in other calibers...just got to test it out but really limit the rounds to do that even.

 

[BE Mike]

The word is that the manufacturers would like to see and end to production of .22 ammo. So if they make it at all they will want us to really 'pay' them to make it.

If you think about it the people running the machinery get paid the same no matter what is on the line, the electric and other costs are the same. Granted the amount of raw materials is less but when the public is so willing to pay going rate for ammo the manufacturers will want to set up the lines for the center fire and not look back. They have considered the .22 a 'give-away' for years now.

No, I don't see things ever getting back to 'normal' and I believe we are going to have to accept a 'new normal' for either factory made ammo or reloads. They will dry up the market to put the herd to stir and then milk us all for all we are worth.

My prediction is that .22 will go the way of the CMP M1 carbine, 1917 and 1903. We will all remember seeing them, but wonder where they all went...

You have anything to back up these claims? As if the COVID-19 conspiracies weren't enough...

 

[Beowulf]

View attachment 155884

Every now and again, he has to buy a new tv.