Is Berger REALLY, making more bullets than ever? I laughed when the rep said that.

[Veteran]

Its cheaper to buy federal ammo w 215 Gr Bergers in .30 cal and pull the bullets than to buy the 215s on GB or anywhere else if you can find them.

They purely dont exist anywhere other than the LRH trading post or GB.....

I have seen them advertised $300 a box on GB.

 

[Ckleeves]

Wouldn't it be funny if all the loaded ammo they are producing just sat on the shelf and no one bought it? Myself, I haven't bought any loaded centerfire ammo for about 35 years.

It will sell as fast as they can make it. It's good factory ammo and lots of guys were shooting it and then selling the Lapua brass and covering 60% of the cost of the loaded ammo.

 

[TXTrained]

I started to move away from Berger. years ago i never had a problem with supply or price but in recent years they have not let an opportunity to limit supply or raise prices go by without doing one or both.

Agreed#d

 

[The Oregonian]

True but they can jump onto the bandwagon.

I don't know why people jump on a conspiracy theory bandwagon without anything but conjecture. Give me any reason to believe Berger has anything to gain and can reasonably achieve anything from market manipulation.

 

[Texis]

Was in an local outlet this morning, shelves loaded with Berger.

 

[The Oregonian]

I started to move away from Berger. years ago i never had a problem with supply or price but in recent years they have not let an opportunity to limit supply or raise prices go by without doing one or both.

How can they possibly limit supply without depressing their sales? Makes no sense.

 

[Rick Richard]

I don't believe in any conspiracy by the manufacturers, but I am sure convinced the shortage is/was created by hoarding…shame on our own.

 

[Ckleeves]

I love the price increase complaints too. Have any of you guys been to the grocery store or filled up your gas tank recently? Bought a used car? New home?

 

[HLecea]

I'm wondering if anyone has been able to find Berger 140 Elite bullets in 6/5 or, the Berger 168 Classic Hunter bullets in 30 cal?
About 5 months ago I called & emailed several well known retailers on line who carry reloading supplies with the question of: "Have you received any Bergers lately"?

Out of approximately 10 stores, 6 replied with they hadn't received any in months! Two replied that they didn't wish to provide that information, (they probably hadn't received any either) and the other two never replied. To date, I've yet to find any of the above mentioned. I originally contacted Berger prior to my study and they pointed me toward their distributor list and recommended I sign up for notifications. I went through the 20-30 listed and most don't provide a way to "be notified when product becomes available". So.. again it begs the question. Is Berger really producing more bullets than ever, as their rep told me on the phone? The ONLY place I've found any Berger bullets was on Gun Gouger, I mean Broker. I personally believe Berger has something going on they don't want the public to know. When is the last time you found a popular Berger bullet on line, in any quantity?

IMO it's all a scam Seems like manufacturers want us to buy the new calibers like 300PRC, 6.8 Western etc but the ammo is super expensive.

 

[mbse20]

If the copper and lead are imported they very well may have there plant partially idle waiting on material. Copper is up and so is shipping rates leading to price hikes down the line to the consumer. Manufacturers like just in time delivery to keep warehouse space to a minimum. Now it's biting them and everyone that relies on them in the behind. There are truck loads posted that are over 5 bucks a mile ,just trying to get an truck to haul it for them right now. However, they could communicate it to their customers alot better instead of the crickets!

 

[MW204]

Wouldn't it be funny if all the loaded ammo they are producing just sat on the shelf and no one bought it? Myself, I haven't bought any loaded centerfire ammo for about 35 years.

I can't remember the last time I bought any loaded ammo except for the job and my shotgun.

 

[MW204]

If the copper and lead are imported they very well may have there plant partially idle waiting on material. Copper is up and so is shipping rates leading to price hikes down the line to the consumer. Manufacturers like just in time delivery to keep warehouse space to a minimum. Now it's biting them and everyone that relies on them in the behind. There are truck loads posted that are over 5 bucks a mile ,just trying to get an truck to haul it for them right now. However, they could communicate it to their customers alot better instead of the crickets!

I get the prices are up but are they up 100% or more?

 

[Bruce Treloar]

I'm wondering if anyone has been able to find Berger 140 Elite bullets in 6/5 or, the Berger 168 Classic Hunter bullets in 30 cal?
About 5 months ago I called & emailed several well known retailers on line who carry reloading supplies with the question of: "Have you received any Bergers lately"?

Out of approximately 10 stores, 6 replied with they hadn't received any in months! Two replied that they didn't wish to provide that information, (they probably hadn't received any either) and the other two never replied. To date, I've yet to find any of the above mentioned. I originally contacted Berger prior to my study and they pointed me toward their distributor list and recommended I sign up for notifications. I went through the 20-30 listed and most don't provide a way to "be notified when product becomes available". So.. again it begs the question. Is Berger really producing more bullets than ever, as their rep told me on the phone? The ONLY place I've found any Berger bullets was on Gun Gouger, I mean Broker. I personally believe Berger has something going on they don't want the public to know. When is the last time you found a popular Berger bullet on line, in any quantity?

Would be reassuring to know their manufacturing capacity now. They started as J4 jackets only, then Walt Berger given sole distribution rights as he was a high volume maker. I'm told he employed anyone who could work a hand press for a couple of cents an operation.
Since then they have been sold a few times and no one seems to know their current situation re jackets or finished projectiles. The starting point which has had ups and downs is sourcing consistent thickness and metallurgy of copper rolls. Then onto precise tooling to make jackets with around 2/10s of a thou maximum wall thickness. Then core squirting, core seating and the last operation pointing. High out put pointing is done on multiple dies hence the variation in ojive measurement of large makers. The most consistent are made on a single pointing die but output is greatly reduced. Some families or friends have clubbed together and bought a set of bullet making dies only to run into the same problem, poor availability of jackets.

Currently I'm retired and have capacity to make 224 projectiles only for my own requirements but would not invest another $ unless precision jackets were available. Can't see that happening during the Covid infection period so will look back at a great period in life from 1934 to 2022.

 

[Ckleeves]

I get the prices are up but are they up 100% or more?

Where are you getting 100% or more? Bergers price increase was 13-29% depending on SKU. That's the email I got and it shows old prices vs new. I would say it's pretty accurate from the bullets I have bought my recently. The Bergers I bought last month were 56.99, same bullets were 48.99 18 months ago. Show me something that's not up at least 13%?