Positive Signs

[KoolBak]

For the first time in three years, ammo pricing is coming down and availability is rising.

Thanks Obama.

[bigtoughralf]

Isn't that just because all the nutters have stopped panic buying post-Covid?

[2dimes]

Sort of noticed that today. The 12 gauge target shells were too expensive but Bass Pro shop here actually had them and lots of other ammo.

The shelves have been pretty sparsely stocked all last year.

[riskllama]

still sparse & expensive AF out here in my neck of the woods : of the 2 boxes of 6.5CM available in my local Ace, the cheapest one was $74 - before taxes...

[saxitoxin]

Isn't that just because all the nutters have stopped panic buying post-Covid?

Potentially. I now have enough ammo to last me through the next three pandemics and am not buying anymore. Could be why KoolBak, et al, is seeing prices drop.

[KoolBak]

RL, that is INSANE! The less popular rounds have def surged in price the worst, but damn.

Between the political shit show and covid panic / supply chain issues, it's been crazy for years. The US keeps having record years of gun sales and new gun owners. All gun owners see the empty shelves and panic buy like the toilet paper hoarders.

Components are a big problem; primers are impossible to find. I only reload 12G (for 40 years now) and haven't seen primers for a year and a half. Last time I saw them I bought 5,000...I normally buy 1,000 at a time. We shoot a TON of trap and are bird hunters. Powder is the same - bought 5 pounds last time I saw it. I have not seen shot for sale at all. Found 200 pounds at a garage sale of all things, for $25 that's like $500 worth!! What a score.

Wild. For the last two years Ive been buying / trading ammo privately. I don't bother even looking in stores. I've always bought and sold guns for fun, but in the last year and a half, I've bought close to 20. Many from first time panic buyers that really didn't want them. They tend to sell very cheap to be done with it. I've sold probly 12 of them and the profit financed the 8 I kept! Fun.

Example on popular rounds. 223/5.56 was historically $.30 per round. Was consistently $1 a round the last couple years. Down to $.60 per in stores last weekend and $.40 per privately.

[KoolBak]

Fun one. Just sold a pistol for $400. It was NIB, never fired. Retail $550.

This is one I picked up from a local guy. Democrat that panic bought it when Trump was president to protect himself from all the crazy Republicans running around, engaging in home invasions, and whatnot. He'd never owned or fired a gun. He never took this out of the box. Now that sloppy joe is in office, neighbor felt safe again and wanted the evil gun gone. He happily sold it to me for $275.

I can do this all day

[2dimes]

The used market for legal pistols here is quite different.

They are much less common, so there is nearly no depreciation. In some cases you can buy a new model and if they are popular but the retailers are not bringing in enough, you might even be able to resell for a small profit. Of course that's fairly rare since the used market is quite small.

Most Canadians don't bother taking the course for getting a possession acquisition license unless they hunt, even less jump the extra hoops to get a restricted one.

Sometimes it takes a long time to sell a used pistol. Often when people want to sell one, they go back to a shop and/or just sell to someone they know for less than they would probably get if they waited to find a private buyer.

[KoolBak]

It's huge here. Almost EVERY weapon of any quality appreciates by 3-5 years I'd say. Popular ones go hard.

The one I just sold was VERY special use / niche, but it sold in 3 days due to the price I put on it.

On the public market (www.gunbroker.com for example) I tend to buy abused / broken items and make them nice.

[KoolBak]

Example: Just picked up today a Star "1911" in 9mm. A retired Spanish govmt service weapon, circa 1978. $250.....lol.

It was Uuuuuuugly and hadn't been cleaned or service in probably 30+ years. I've already made it look pretty close to new and it functions beautifully. A $500 weapon, easily. Gonna give to son for B-day...

Stock photo (identical):

[KoolBak]

Stopped in a store today and the shelves were absolutely laden with ammo. Good prices. No limits. People weren't fighting over it....first time in three years. Lovely.

[2dimes]

My buddy said he is going to Cabella's to more because 12 gauge target shells are going to be $7.99 per box which is two bucks off. I went today and looks like the sale is not on yet.

Browsed around some buck shot shells, not sure what brand were $40 per box, seems pretty expensive, a few others were $35+.

[KoolBak]

Buck of all sizes is always more. Only because they make less of it. I pour my own 0 (single aught) buck pellets for play, so mine are super cheap! They blow shit up real good - like 9 pellets to a shell.

Light field loads (target) SHOULD be $5 a box. Still am not seeing that in stores yet, but again...I have supplies to make thousands, so I dunna care ;o)

Buck sizes (the zeros) - aught, double aught, etc

[bigtoughralf]

Buck of all sizes is always more. Only because they make less of it. I pour my own 0 (single aught) buck pellets for play, so mine are super cheap! They blow shit up real good - like 9 pellets to a shell.

Light field loads (target) SHOULD be $5 a box. Still am not seeing that in stores yet, but again...I have supplies to make thousands, so I dunna care ;o)

Buck sizes (the zeros) - aught, double aught, etc

That diagram exaggerates the size of each calibre slightly. Was the diagram made by saxitoxin?

[KoolBak]

That Star 9mm above....just picked up a second one for $275.

Also just picked up in a private sale 1000 steel case .223 for $270. SMOKING deal ...

Once the paperwork/FFL/background shit all complete, I have the second Star already sold for $400. Fun!

Went into local store few days ago and the shelves remained full of ammo.

[Lord Arioch]

10 rounds of 30.06 (i think 7.65?) is 600sek (around60 bucks) never been any prob to find em .... usually i count 60 bucksx 300bucks net worth when i sell boar/deer/elk meats.... so its a good deal. Selling is of course AFTER my freezers are fully stocked with a year of meat:)

I usually say when im broke we eat venison...only venison ... which freaks out non hunters

[KoolBak]

OMFG

Aught-six is maybe $1.50 / round here now (180 grain Remington core-lokt).

I just sold 100 rounds of surplus WWII aught-six for $50. It shot fine ..

Damn dude.

At least it's 1 bullet, one deer, so $6 is totally affordable

[Lord Arioch]

True
But hey the gun is my granddads so its a heirloom. ANd the scope is from -64.... until i need glasses it works fine. ANd the gun is very nice and easy to hit with

[KoolBak]

Beautiful...