Was at Academy picking up some stuff and thought I'd get some .243 shells for coyote hunting next weekend instead of digging everything out to load some up. Holy heck when did factory loads get so high?? Cheapest box of .243 was 25 bucks!! Granted I haven't bought a box of factory rifle loads in 15 years or so when they were still cheap, but dang that's alot of dough for 20 rounds. Think for that price I'll just dig out the reloading stuff.

I was at Carter's Country in Spring and they wanted $37.50 for a box of Federal Premium .270 NBT!

Check out Monarch brand. $12.96/box.

try cheaperthandirt.com their prices are usually pretty good, you can buy online or goto their retail store in fort worth

That is just one more benefit of reloading, I really havent noticed an increase in the cost of buying componets.

matt

I have always enjoyed reloading my own since I know what is going into the bullet and I can make what fits my needs. Guess I never realized the price savings of it till now.

so are the old school remingtons green/yellow box that high also...?

do ya'll think that the ammo prices will stop climbing anytime soon?

I reload several rifle cartridges and it seems to me that bullets and primers are up 30 to 50% in the last two or three years. Powder is up 20%.

I'd say that even reloading components are up about 1/3 in the last 12-18 months. It will eventually level off, but it will continue to rise for the time being. You have a war as well as high demand in Asia for metals.

The biggest culprit, however, is the fact that the dollar isn't worth much these days. Inflation has become a serious issue.

Still though I can get the 55 grain Nosler varmit tip 100 bullets for 25 bucks. Same price as a box of varmit factory loads at Academy. I have tons of brass and primers and powder so thats no biggie. Just thought I'd grab something quick so I wouldn't have to break out all the reloading stuff. Heck I could probably use the 100 grains I have and just slow them down a bit so I wouldn't tear up any pelts. That or use my sons .17hmr. Just not sure what it would do on a coyote at 100yrds or more.

My source told me that we can expect to see the cost of ammo continue to climb for a couple of significant reasons:

1)EPA regs trying to restrict the use of lead products which could end up in our environment.

2)China's dominance and ownership of the majority of lead production.

Over the next year we'll likely see ammo prices continue to climb to ridiculously new sky high levels!

Have a cousin in Fal that reloads a lot of pistol rounds for himself and friends. They don't care much about a lot of the stuff we deer hunters do, like controlled expansion, etc. So, he just uses lead. Little over a year ago he started buying & cutting up vehicle batteries for the lead. Says it's a lot cheaper than anything he can purchase commercial.

Don't know what he does about disposing of the rest of the battery. Thinking back on the conversation we both kinda dodged around that topic.