So true! Scramble to profit= haste makes waste
Is Berger REALLY, making more bullets than ever? I laughed when the rep said that.
- Thread starter Blkrflguy
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david g ranes
Well-Known Member
I talked to a brass manufacturer 2 or 3 weeks ago asking when things might be available I was told they were capable of producing 4 million pieces of brass a week and they had 40 million worth of back orders and that they haven't been able to gain any ground on keeping up. David
Yep, prices are closed to the link I provided in #5.
Y'all need to look at the economy and Political environment with years in advance. Almost like trying to read the stock market.
I don't really see anyone calling other shooters that have reloading components "Hoarders" anymore. Most would say that they "Hoarders" were smart, saw the future and Prepared. The writing was on the wall for many years now on the subject of shortages in reloading components. Saw it with the Clinton Admin, then for real with Obama. If you just started in the reloading game I can see your frustration. You didn't know the market the last 30 years. If you have been reloading since then you should have been preparing.
As for the bullet, brass, primer, powder and cartridge ammo manufactures. They are all at mass production. If anyone thinks that it is all conspiracies' and manufactures are not in mass production, well then you will never understand.
Berger , Sierra, Lapua, Hornady. ALL FIREARMS MANUFACTURES are making profits, but their supply is being cut short and their prices for raw materials/shipping/labor are rapidly increasing. A lot of materials used in components are from other countries along with that there is a very high rate of NEW SHOOTERS. New shooters need AMMO. Manufactures have higher profits producing Loaded AMMO than selling their components.
We were going to buy our own bullet presses about 15 years ago, but the cost for making bullets for our own use was cost prohibited. We probably should have done that, but now would have a hard time getting lead, copper. CORBIN and there was another person (can't remember) that made a machine to test the bullets for uniformity, That machine was in the Thousands$$$$ and there were only a few in existence, but was said to produce the accurate bullets.
If you think that this will end anytime soon, it won't. Stock up while you can if you intend to shoot/hunt in the future.
You are only a" HOARDER" if you don't shoot and sell the components on GB at Scalper prices.
I don't really see anyone calling other shooters that have reloading components "Hoarders" anymore. Most would say that they "Hoarders" were smart, saw the future and Prepared. The writing was on the wall for many years now on the subject of shortages in reloading components. Saw it with the Clinton Admin, then for real with Obama. If you just started in the reloading game I can see your frustration. You didn't know the market the last 30 years. If you have been reloading since then you should have been preparing.
As for the bullet, brass, primer, powder and cartridge ammo manufactures. They are all at mass production. If anyone thinks that it is all conspiracies' and manufactures are not in mass production, well then you will never understand.
Berger , Sierra, Lapua, Hornady. ALL FIREARMS MANUFACTURES are making profits, but their supply is being cut short and their prices for raw materials/shipping/labor are rapidly increasing. A lot of materials used in components are from other countries along with that there is a very high rate of NEW SHOOTERS. New shooters need AMMO. Manufactures have higher profits producing Loaded AMMO than selling their components.
We were going to buy our own bullet presses about 15 years ago, but the cost for making bullets for our own use was cost prohibited. We probably should have done that, but now would have a hard time getting lead, copper. CORBIN and there was another person (can't remember) that made a machine to test the bullets for uniformity, That machine was in the Thousands$$$$ and there were only a few in existence, but was said to produce the accurate bullets.
If you think that this will end anytime soon, it won't. Stock up while you can if you intend to shoot/hunt in the future.
You are only a" HOARDER" if you don't shoot and sell the components on GB at Scalper prices.
Yes, I do believe Berger and most all bullet/component manufactures are producing at max or near max capacity, but their is an enormous demand for loaded ammo, components, etc happening also. Much of the components that were being marketed to the reloading/handloading crowd is now going into companies loaded ammo.
Locally, I find Berger and other manufactures' bullets appearing on the shelves, and if one misses the restock by only a few days, they are gone. Thus either checking the local shops very routinely or asking to be added to an ever growing list of customers and phone numbers waiting for specific items.
Also, the past shortages have motivated many shooters/hunters to begin buying larger than normal amounts when they become available, and even non-shooters are sometimes stripping shelves bare to resale at inflated profits. All these add to a continued shortage and ever inflating prices, and not to mention, the increasing cost of raw materials, labor, etc, etc.
Locally, I find Berger and other manufactures' bullets appearing on the shelves, and if one misses the restock by only a few days, they are gone. Thus either checking the local shops very routinely or asking to be added to an ever growing list of customers and phone numbers waiting for specific items.
Also, the past shortages have motivated many shooters/hunters to begin buying larger than normal amounts when they become available, and even non-shooters are sometimes stripping shelves bare to resale at inflated profits. All these add to a continued shortage and ever inflating prices, and not to mention, the increasing cost of raw materials, labor, etc, etc.
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As for bullet swaging, you could have started with hand presses instead of the expensive Hydro presses, and extremely accurate bullets can be made using those. Several of us BR shooters began with varied hand presses, including Berger, and very similar accuracy can be achieved for hunting style bullets. Today, I still have all my presses, dies, jackets, lead wire, core molds, etc, and while I have a nice supply of commercially made bullets on my shelves, I am taking my bullet swagers out of retirement for certain weights and styles.
Granted, anyone wishing to start swaging now may find components harder to locate and much ore expensive than a few years ago, but their are still ways to reduce component costs and produce acceptable bullets. There are even dies for forming one's on bullet jackets from copper tubing and other materials, and while not as cheap as before, scrap lead is still available from various sources. Especially local shooting ranges.
Strangely, we are somewhat returning to the days of scarcity and need that first inspired companies like Speer, RCBS, etc to start their humble beginnings.
Cha ching! I'm good for the next 10 years, maybe longer. Started hoarding under Obama's first term when things I was normally buying started to become hit and miss. Remember walking into a local powder shop. Hadn't seen any Retumbo for quite a few months. They had a four, 8lb'rs sitting on the floor waiting to stock. I said I'll take three. Sometimes a little foresight pays dividends...
Going off my experience with other bullet companies, it's as simple as that.
If Bergers were that expensive 2-4 years ago then so be it, but some of the tried and true bullets I use have doubled in price since the shortage. Yea I get supply and demand, but there are companies that honor their normal mark-up instead of gouging everyone, when & if you can find them.
I just spot-checked a few Berger bullets, 30 Caliber 175 Grain Secant Very Low Drag Rifle Bullets, the price today was $76.81 for 100 bullets, minus 13% as you posted, which brings them around $66.82 18 months ago if my math is correct? If so that's why I didn't know the cost of them to begin with, too rich for my blood? It'd be a lot worse if they've risen the 29% you posted about.
Ckleeves
Well-Known Member
I have no idea where you are shopping. Hunts long range has 175 OTM's in stock right now, 56.99. They were around 46-48.00 pre shortage. So about 15%-19% on them.
I'm old enough to know that if I find something I like, buy more. They usually stop making it.
I used to sell stocks. The advice I gave everyone was "buy low, sell high" Like so many things in life, it is simple, but very difficult.
I knew after the Obama shortages to stock up on components while the gettting was good. I thought we'd have 4 more years of good, or I would have stocked up more. Hopefully, in 3 years, we'll start the good again. The hoarders have to run out of storage space eventually.
I met a "prepper" a few years ago that told me he had a room full of ammo. I thought he was a little paranoid, but I'll bet he's a happy camper now. The Mormons stock a year of food and water. Seemed kind of paranoild, but when Covid struck, I saw the sense in it.
Let's go Brandon!
I used to sell stocks. The advice I gave everyone was "buy low, sell high" Like so many things in life, it is simple, but very difficult.
I knew after the Obama shortages to stock up on components while the gettting was good. I thought we'd have 4 more years of good, or I would have stocked up more. Hopefully, in 3 years, we'll start the good again. The hoarders have to run out of storage space eventually.
I met a "prepper" a few years ago that told me he had a room full of ammo. I thought he was a little paranoid, but I'll bet he's a happy camper now. The Mormons stock a year of food and water. Seemed kind of paranoild, but when Covid struck, I saw the sense in it.
Let's go Brandon!
It's very likely that Berger has to deal with employees calling in sick with Covid. I know it hits our company hard at times when several people are out. Imagine trying to keep assembly lines running without vital employees.
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
Same people who think accountants design pickup trucks. I would LOVE to be asked my opinion by the engineers on how to design a truck, one thing is for sure you'd be able to do an oil change in 5 minutes on a hot engine with nothing but one socket (without burning yourself), and the oil & fuel filters would be compatible with all the big rig brands, not some lowest bidder rebranded shoehorned garbage
hesse
Well-Known Member
I found a box speer 110 grain 30 cal the price was $11.00 for a 100 can't remember how old they are . It does say alot. The raw material cost is killing it. No lead production only recycled in US I believe.not sure on copper production that hurts. The chips for the auto industry
