Big League Gouging

[white eagle]

Man this shortage just brings out the best people who want to help handloaders in a time of shortage with their own supplies of powder for sale. I saw more than one person who not wanting to hoard their powder had offered their 8 pound jug for a mere 469.00 plus 65.00 shipping but fear not friends this person was a certified hazmat shipper.:shock:

[bandsmoyer]

It is trully disapointing that our friends in the hobby do this. I can understand that people want to make a profit ,but some of the prices i see are ludicrous. I hope my spelling is correct

[abunaitoo]

What some call gouging, others call opportunity.
Prices are crazy these days.
But shelves are empty, so if needed, you just gotta pay the price.
It's sad because by doing so, prices might never come down.
Would be interesting to see where the money is going????
Who is making the most profit???
What is the reason for the high prices????
Besides the shortage.

[tunnug]

Just got home from a local gun show, powder is still going from $50/$60 lb., 9mm is down to $35 or so for a box of 50 from $50-$65 a couple of months ago, guns are still on the high side but coming down some.

[MUSTANG]

Just got home from a local gun show, powder is still going from $50/$60 lb., 9mm is down to $35 or so for a box of 50 from $50-$65 a couple of months ago, guns are still on the high side but coming down some.

Anecdotal stories/observations like this one and the declining prices (although still astronomical) on Gun Broker are bringing my level of cynicism down and giving some ray of hope the prices will fall between now and Hunting Season to a level near where they were 18 to 20 months ago. Those trying to sell and take advantage of the high prices - their property/their choice. Ultimately; if production outstrips current usage and "Warehousing" by speculators/small vendors/individuals; then prices will drop to some point yet to be determined.

One reason for the decline in my cynicism and increased optimism (although very reserved at this time) is the increased appearance of "High Use" caliber commercial ammo on various mid to small Gun Store/Sporting Goods Store shelves I visit on occasion. I am seeing 9mm, some 38 special, .223, 7,62x51 and the odd lot of 30-06 (gusts of 6.5 creedmore, 300 Blackout, 6.5x55, 7x57, and 30-40Krag) showing up on shelves, selling out, then appearing again - Whack a Mole" type appearance almost. This should bode good tidings as we move into hunting season. Not sure what the availability of the various Winchester Short Mag, and other "MAG" hunting calibers will be.

Once the above happens; then we should see powder, primers, and other reloading supplies also drop as the demand for making Commercial Ammo is less than production capacity and the manufacturers will turn loose some level of reloading components to keep factories operating and their profits in the black.

Just hope that our Political Elite in Washington DC are not able to implement and expand Gun/Ammo Control revisions in the next 18/42 months.

[DocSavage]

On that $470 powder I thought hazmat fees were much lower like $30 or is that for postage and hazmat?

[Mal Paso]

In the last few weeks Primers have been available online for $60-$75 a brick but hazmat pushed that up to 9 cents each due to a lack of powders to add to the order. I am encouraged by actually getting some and will treat them like gold until prices come down.

[porthos]

we can't do much about the individuals that are gouging. but we should remember the dealers that are doing so, and take our business elswhere ; if and when prices stabilize

[Handloader109]

agreed, folks like midway are gouging. Their primer prices are up, but not considerably enough to warrant $75 a box for primers. (plus shipping and hazmat)

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Gator 45/70]

Well,Are we fighting any wars right now?
Are the .gov boys out of ammo and ordered fresh stuff?
Who's sucking up all the goods?
Follow the money,Chances are it's our tax dollars at work

[rockrat]

Kind of like gasoline in my area. Oil went up 50 cents a barrel and gas went up a nickle. Oil went down $10 a barrel and gas stayed the same.
Powder is $43 a pound around here at one store and #41 primers are $139/1000, but at another store powder is $30-$35 a pound (even Varget and H4350!!) but no primers.

[bakerjw]

Last October, a member of CB was unloading some materials. I paid $700.00 for 10,000 SPP. I was sick about laying out that much money but with trends the way they were, it was a decent deal. Good primers too BTW. 120 mile round trip. Money out of savings. I posted some up on gunbroker for $100.00/1,000. I figured that I'd sell a few 1,000 and recoup some of the cost. Mind you, this was when they were going for $150.00/1,000. The first email that I got was "Eff you you effing gouger." I pulled my ad and figured the heck with everyone.
There are a lot of gougers and profiteers out there for sure.
If I could find SRPs for $70.00/1,000 with no hazmat, I'd be on them for several thousand easily. I do have powder.

[Dan Cash]

we can't do much about the individuals that are gouging. but we should remember the dealers that are doing so, and take our business elswhere ; if and when prices stabilize

I suppose the dealer that paid 50.00 a thousand for the primers he got is gouging when he charges 60.00 per m to you. He can't stay in business at that mark up. Some people here are sorry socialists or worse.

[redriverhunter]

I ran into a guy who wanted to sell me primer at 15 cents a piece. I told I had enough to get through deer season this year so I would hold off. He then offered me range brass mixed for a buck a pound I declined. I can not see my self spending a buck a pound and getting some brass that I do not reload for. He asked what I was looking for and I said a good deal.

[Duckiller]

Went Shooting with my sons today. #1 son is getting ready to go antelope hunting next month. He wants to use copper custom loaded projectiles. As discussed with his brother these are available at $80.00 per box (20 rounds). #2 son and I had some problems with $4.00 per bang. #1 said all ammo is now $4.00/bang so why not get top quality hand loads at that price. I am sure that Remington Cor-Locs in 7/08 can be had for less than $4.00/bang. #1 is buying ammo for #2s rifle to hunt in SE Oregon. Supposed to have a goodly number of good antelope. If the fires don't interfere he should have a good time and maybe get a trophy antelope. Both sons are going mule deer hunting in Eastern Oregon in October. I wish them luck, I enjoy venison.

[imashooter2]

Lots of 9mm coming available at 40 cents a shot bought by the 1,000. Staying in stock too. That isn’t 2018 pricing, but it’s half of the peak price. Fingers crossed it goes a bit lower.

Small rifle or pistol primers on the other hand… I’m still shooting all I want and I’m good for a year or so on small rifle. 3 or 4 on small pistol. Then I’ve got choices to make.

[dverna]

Went Shooting with my sons today. #1 son is getting ready to go antelope hunting next month. He wants to use copper custom loaded projectiles. As discussed with his brother these are available at $80.00 per box (20 rounds). #2 son and I had some problems with $4.00 per bang. #1 said all ammo is now $4.00/bang so why not get top quality hand loads at that price. I am sure that Remington Cor-Locs in 7/08 can be had for less than $4.00/bang. #1 is buying ammo for #2s rifle to hunt in SE Oregon. Supposed to have a goodly number of good antelope. If the fires don't interfere he should have a good time and maybe get a trophy antelope. Both sons are going mule deer hunting in Eastern Oregon in October. I wish them luck, I enjoy venison.

When you look at the cost of hunt, the price of ammunition is not going to be much of a factor.

What I find interesting in your post is "#1 said all ammo is now $4.00/bang so why not get top quality hand loads at that price." Makes me wonder why the son of reloader would pay that....will he not learn, will you not reload for him, or does he not have confidence in your loads?

Hard to feel empathy for people like that that are getting "gouged".

[MrWolf]

If folks would just not pay those prices they will come down. If you need the item that bad then oh well pay the piper and hang on as long as you can. We have all seen these cycles before. I got burned several cycles ago and swore not again. Live and learn.

[Half Dog]

I am having more trouble finding 8 shot than primers.

Rotometals seems to have shot, kinda like Gunbroker has primers.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

If you watch the big online sellers you can get it for $30 a pound. Graf's had 8 pound jugs of 2400 last week for $244.

[downzero]

Man this shortage just brings out the best people who want to help handloaders in a time of shortage with their own supplies of powder for sale. I saw more than one person who not wanting to hoard their powder had offered their 8 pound jug for a mere 469.00 plus 65.00 shipping but fear not friends this person was a certified hazmat shipper.:shock:

There's certainly some powders out there I'd be happy to pay that kind of money for, if I could get them at all.


agreed, folks like midway are gouging. Their primer prices are up, but not considerably enough to warrant $75 a box for primers. (plus shipping and hazmat)

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Who are you to tell them what they should sell their property for? And what bearing do their prices have on what they're willing to sell to you for? They can sell them at a loss or at any price they want to ask for them.

I think shortages are a GREAT time for people to learn about how markets work and what prices signify.

[dverna]

There is no gouging on components. The market dictates the value of an item. If I bought gold at $1000 am I gouging if I sell it at $1600?

And, most importantly, none of these items are necessary for survival. Does anyone NEED 8 lbs of powder to survive? How many zombies are coming for you?

Many are upset because they cannot go out and have fun shooting at the cost level they were used to. Making fun affordable for strangers is not my responsibility. I have helped my friends, but why would I help you?

Stop the whining, learn from the experience, and plan to be prepared next time. I understand new folks who have entered this hobby in the last 5-6 years being ignorant. If you have been through previous cycles and are unprepared...well...

Shooting for fun is either a priority in someone's life or not. It is a big part of my life. I have planned for it for over 20 years.

I use about 100 rounds a year to harvest meat, or eradicate pests/varmints. But I live in rural MI and get a lot of critters. Powder could get to $100/lb and primers to $40/100 and it would not matter for my "needs".

Defending yourself, family and friends should be a priority, but very little ammunition is needed for that. My carry ammunition is over a decade old. Those who squandered their resources to "have fun", made a poor choice. Deal with it.

[Conditor22]

we can't do much about the individuals that are gouging. but we should remember the dealers that are doing so, and take our business elswhere ; if and when prices stabilize

And Brownells. On top of that, you can only buy 1 brick at a time and can't defer the hazmat and shipping between 5 brick lots.

Even when prices were around $30 a brick I'd only buy 5 brick lots IF I had to buy primers online

[Conditor22]

I suppose the dealer that paid 50.00 a thousand for the primers he got is gouging when he charges 60.00 per m to you. He can't stay in business at that mark up. Some people here are sorry socialists or worse.

I bought 5 bricks of primers online last month from Grafs for $252.44 to my door
Products & Fees
Item # Name Price Quantity Total
RM712LA REMINGTON PRIMER 7-1/2 LA SMALL RIFLE BENCH REST 5000/CS $222.99 1 $222.99

Fixed-Rate Shipping $9.95
Hazardous Materials Fee $19.50

Total $252.44

That kind of shoots down them having to pay more for primers and passing it on to us.

[daengmei]

Stop the whining, learn from the experience, and plan to be prepared next time.

No one read that.

[Murphy]

Having seen a few shortages over the decades, I learned long ago to gather when the gathering is good. Much like dverna, it's not that often I run across something that needs shooting. Anything outside of that can be considered recreational shooting.

As for Big League Gouging, companies are in business to make money, period. They have share holders and partners to answer to. When times get better, prices will drop. How much is any ones guess.

If people would stop buying at these prices the prices would drop? There will always be someone willing to pay more than the next guy. That strategy didn't work in any of the past shortages, and I have a feeling it's not going to this time either.

I see those of us who reload our own as being considered hobbyists by the manufacturers. Their main product is loaded ammunition. I'm thinking we won't see much in the way of primers and some powders until the store shelves are once again filled, with no limitation on how much you can purchase.


Murphy

[country gent]

It would be interesting to run the lot numbers of these powders and primers and seen when they were made. Thinking a lot were on Dads bench for a few years and family decided to cash in. I have 8 lbers of 4895 varget reloader 15 4350 and IMR 4831 that the price sticker shows 89.00

[Handloader109]

I bought 5 bricks of primers online last month from Grafs for $252.44 to my door
Products & Fees
Item #NamePriceQuantityTotal
RM712LAREMINGTON PRIMER 7-1/2 LA SMALL RIFLE BENCH REST 5000/CS$222.991$222.99

Fixed-Rate Shipping$9.95
Hazardous Materials Fee$19.50

Total$252.44

That kind of shoots down them having to pay more for primers and passing it on to us.Yes, graf's is good company, they most probably pay roughly the same as midway, and midway is selling for 50% more

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[white eagle]

There is no gouging on components. The market dictates the value of an item. If I bought gold at $1000 am I gouging if I sell it at $1600?

And, most importantly, none of these items are necessary for survival. Does anyone NEED 8 lbs of powder to survive? How many zombies are coming for you?

Many are upset because they cannot go out and have fun shooting at the cost level they were used to. Making fun affordable for strangers is not my responsibility. I have helped my friends, but why would I help you?

Stop the whining, learn from the experience, and plan to be prepared next time. I understand new folks who have entered this hobby in the last 5-6 years being ignorant. If you have been through previous cycles and are unprepared...well...

Shooting for fun is either a priority in someone's life or not. It is a big part of my life. I have planned for it for over 20 years.

I use about 100 rounds a year to harvest meat, or eradicate pests/varmints. But I live in rural MI and get a lot of critters. Powder could get to $100/lb and primers to $40/100 and it would not matter for my "needs".

Defending yourself, family and friends should be a priority, but very little ammunition is needed for that. My carry ammunition is over a decade old. Those who squandered their resources to "have fun", made a poor choice. Deal with it.


Just to be clear I am by no means whining or complaining just telling it like it is fella
as far as components I have enough of everything to keep me shooting daily for years and years
would I help you, NO.
I know how the system works that why I am set up the way I am

[Gator 45/70]

Heard 2x4's prices are dropping like a rock, Perhaps powder and primers will follow suit for the chronic unprepared? Good Luck out there in the jungle men !

[bakerjw]

My only beef is that the primer companies are not going to stick to the big houses like Midway and others. Those retailer have every right to set the prices the way that the see fit. One of our LGS had gotten in limited supplies of primers here lately and they've been charging something like $40.00/1K. They do set a limit on how many you can buy, but no shipping and no hazmat. So if they're selling and still making a profit, then the big shops are taking advantage of the situation.
I woud pay $70/1k for SRP but not if I can only buy one at a time and pay hazmat and shipping for that 1 box. That's ridiculous.

[rbuck351]

Stores and individuals can charge what ever they want as it is theirs to sell. I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price. Because I was sorta caught in a primer shortage in the 70s, I vowed not to let it happen again. I'm now almost 73 and don't have time to shoot as much as I want but I believe my sons will get a bunch of powder, primers, bullets, brass and lead when I'm gone.
I'm not sorry for those that have went through a shortage and didn't prepare for another. Maybe this shortage that seems to be affecting a lot more than just gun related things, will cause more folks to be better prepared for shortages in a lot of stuff they think is essential for their well being. But, some folks never learn.
If you that go through this shortage and fail to prepare for the next, you have no one to blame but yourself. It will happen again and it could include food, gas, clothes or any other items you need for survival. Be prepared or suffer, your choice.
This may sound a bit harsh but I can only afford to help a few others and they will be close friends that are doing their best to help their self.
I don't know who the Big Leagues are gouging, but it's not I. Make it not you.

[dverna]

Stores and individuals can charge what ever they want as it is theirs to sell. I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price. Because I was sorta caught in a primer shortage in the 70s, I vowed not to let it happen again. I'm now almost 73 and don't have time to shoot as much as I want but I believe my sons will get a bunch of powder, primers, bullets, brass and lead when I'm gone.
I'm not sorry for those that have went through a shortage and didn't prepare for another. Maybe this shortage that seems to be affecting a lot more than just gun related things, will cause more folks to be better prepared for shortages in a lot of stuff they think is essential for their well being. But, some folks never learn.
If you that go through this shortage and fail to prepare for the next, you have no one to blame but yourself. It will happen again and it could include food, gas, clothes or any other items you need for survival. Be prepared or suffer, your choice.
This may sound a bit harsh but I can only afford to help a few others and they will be close friends that are doing their best to help their self.
I don't know who the Big Leagues are gouging, but it's not I. Make it not you.

Good post

[Duckiller]

deverna my son prefers to hunt with non-toxic bullets. I have too many lead core bullets to load copper bullets. Both sons have shot lots of my bullets and loaded many at my bench. He wants to shoot copper bullets and since I left California I only want to load lead bullets until the supply is greatly reduced.

[rbuck351]

Folks should be able to shoot what ever type bullet they want. If some one wants and can afford to shoot $2 to $4 per round, good for them. I figure I can afford to shoot 10 $.40 rounds for every $4 round and dead is dead no matter what you use to get a critter dead. If I can train with ten times as many rounds I figure I can be a better marksman which will probably make my bullet placement better. I prefer bullet placement over bullet type. Here in MT we can still choose what our bullets are made of. ( Oops, gotta watch out for the grammar nazi. I dangled my participial again.)

[762 shooter]

There is no such thing as gouging for non essentials.
If you have ever made a profit on anything, you are gouging to one degree or another.

No one is forcing you to buy anything.

762

[fivegunner]

Stores and individuals can charge what ever they want as it is theirs to sell. I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price. Because I was sorta caught in a primer shortage in the 70s, I vowed not to let it happen again. I'm now almost 73 and don't have time to shoot as much as I want but I believe my sons will get a bunch of powder, primers, bullets, brass and lead when I'm gone.
I'm not sorry for those that have went through a shortage and didn't prepare for another. Maybe this shortage that seems to be affecting a lot more than just gun related things, will cause more folks to be better prepared for shortages in a lot of stuff they think is essential for their well being. But, some folks never learn.
If you that go through this shortage and fail to prepare for the next, you have no one to blame but yourself. It will happen again and it could include food, gas, clothes or any other items you need for survival. Be prepared or suffer, your choice.
This may sound a bit harsh but I can only afford to help a few others and they will be close friends that are doing their best to help their self.
I don't know who the Big Leagues are gouging, but it's not I. Make it not you.

Very good post,

[JSnover]

Man this shortage just brings out the best people who want to help handloaders in a time of shortage with their own supplies of powder for sale. I saw more than one person who not wanting to hoard their powder had offered their 8 pound jug for a mere 469.00 plus 65.00 shipping but fear not friends this person was a certified hazmat shipper.:shock:

Stop me if you've heard this one before - at home ,at work, right here on the CB boards: "Man, I wish I'da bought [xxxx] back when it was $[xxx], I'da made a killing!"

[dverna]

deverna my son prefers to hunt with non-toxic bullets. I have too many lead core bullets to load copper bullets. Both sons have shot lots of my bullets and loaded many at my bench. He wants to shoot copper bullets and since I left California I only want to load lead bullets until the supply is greatly reduced.

I must be missing something.....why not reload copper bullets?

I did a quick look on that gouger Midway site.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010418122?pid=896992

Copper bullets for his 7mm-08 less than $1 ea and in stock. I can likely beat that price if I spent more time, but it is not my problem.

Still no empathy for people paying $4/round for factory hunting ammunition.....their choice to get bent over, so no gouging.

[gbrown]

Well, I tried to sell these on S&S, but no takers. I've just had them sitting around. Looked at them, noticed the price. Well, I had priced them after looking at prices on Midway, Natchez, etc. My, how times have changed. These probably from the 60s and 70s. The previous owner was a benchrest shooter, avid reloader, fisherman, and hunter. From his estate. No one was interested in it, and I gave them a fair and honest price. The people running the sale were friends of mine. They knew my hobbies and called me to go look at it and price it. But, looking at the prices I was asking and these prices, I guess you could call me a "gouger".

[jim147]

I must have missed them.

[Idaho45guy]

My local gun shop has a huge stack of .40 S&W FMJ off-brand ammo that has been there for the past month. They want $38 a box for it. Nice to see that no one is buying it. They got in some SPP and SRP from CCI and the pistol primers lasted about 3 days. Rifle primers about a week. They were priced very fairly at about $.40 more per 100 than before.

I bought some SPP since I was getting light, but left the SRP for someone who needed it more. If more people did this, then things would be back to normal in short order.

[gbrown]

My local gun shop has a huge stack of .40 S&W FMJ off-brand ammo that has been there for the past month. They want $38 a box for it. Nice to see that no one is buying it. They got in some SPP and SRP from CCI and the pistol primers lasted about 3 days. Rifle primers about a week. They were priced very fairly at about $.40 more per 100 than before.

I bought some SPP since I was getting light, but left the SRP for someone who needed it more. If more people did this, then things would be back to normal in short order.
I'm kinda confused about your post on SPP/SR primers. The old, pre panic was like $3.90/ 100. Are you saying these were 8.00/100?

[rockrat]

$.40 more would make it $4.30/100

[Idaho45guy]

$.40 more would make it $4.30/100

Correct. Before they were about $2.95 per 100. I paid $3.32 the other day.

[LenH]

I met a young guy last week at the range. He was shooting a real nice Smith 19 .357. There was a box of ammo on the bench with a $79.99 price tag that stated NEW LOW PRICE.
The youn fellow lamented that he waited too long to get into reloading. I told him it was just a bad time finding components.

[remy3424]

There is no such thing as gouging for non essentials.
If you have ever made a profit on anything, you are gouging to one degree or another.

No one is forcing you to buy anything.

762

A great post. Maybe some folks need a new hobby.

[gbrown]

I met a young guy last week at the range. He was shooting a real nice Smith 19 .357. There was a box of ammo on the bench with a $79.99 price tag that stated NEW LOW PRICE.
The youn fellow lamented that he waited too long to get into reloading. I told him it was just a bad time finding components.
That's just plain sad. Can't add any more to that.

[Idaho45guy]

Stopped by the LGS today to search for primers and still none. Only powder is Lil' Gun, which I have plenty of. They got in a bunch of 9mm and some rifle rounds, but the prices are ridiculous. 9mm was Remington 100 grain "frangible" target rounds and they wanted $36 for a box of 50. Wolf 7.62 x 39 garbage was $12.99 a box of 20.

I did grab two boxes of Hornady .223 at $14 each and a bag of 100 Winchester 9mm brass for $24. Minus my 5% military discount and it wasn't too hurtful.

[Geezer in NH]

Stores and individuals can charge what ever they want as it is theirs to sell. I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price. Because I was sorta caught in a primer shortage in the 70s, I vowed not to let it happen again. I'm now almost 73 and don't have time to shoot as much as I want but I believe my sons will get a bunch of powder, primers, bullets, brass and lead when I'm gone.
I'm not sorry for those that have went through a shortage and didn't prepare for another. Maybe this shortage that seems to be affecting a lot more than just gun related things, will cause more folks to be better prepared for shortages in a lot of stuff they think is essential for their well being. But, some folks never learn.
If you that go through this shortage and fail to prepare for the next, you have no one to blame but yourself. It will happen again and it could include food, gas, clothes or any other items you need for survival. Be prepared or suffer, your choice.
This may sound a bit harsh but I can only afford to help a few others and they will be close friends that are doing their best to help their self.
I don't know who the Big Leagues are gouging, but it's not I. Make it not you.Thank you

[shtur]

No gouging here.

10,000 used primers. $20.00 shipped. That's a fraction of what I paid for them new.

[Idaho45guy]

No gouging here.

10,000 used primers. $20.00 shipped. That's a fraction of what I paid for them new.

Can you guarantee they're once fired?? PM sent... :wink:

[farmbif]

gouging? don't know if this qualifies, but a quick comparison of prices for a lee production pot IV furnace, IN STOCK-- midway $81.99, Midsouth--$62.99

[dverna]

Stopped at LGS this week. More powders on the shelf at or close to their normal prices.

No primers.

More ammunition but still expensive.

[shtur]

Can you guarantee they're once fired?? PM sent... :wink:

Well, they're not range pick-ups.

[Idaho45guy]

Well, they're not range pick-ups.
Well played...

[hunter49]

Certainly a touchy subject! I definitely believe in capitalism and think the sellers/vendors have the right to price their reloading components or any other items they sell at what they want, based on supply and demand. With that said, I choose where to buy and how much I'm willing to spend on reloading components. Right now, I'm not buying primers or powder when I find in stock due to higher pricing.

I think we can agree, that the huge influx of new gun owners has helped create these shortages causing prices to soar with all firearm related items including firearms!

What I'm seeing in my area, is reloading components excluding primers, ammo and firearms trickling back in stock and pricing does seem to be coming down somewhat.

[Kent Fowler]

If folks would just not pay those prices they will come down. If you need the item that bad then oh well pay the piper and hang on as long as you can. We have all seen these cycles before. I got burned several cycles ago and swore not again. Live and learn.

++This. I really don't know why gouging posts such as these exist. Every time we have political situation that encourages mass buying, here comes the gouging posts. It's not gouging, it's called capitalism, supply and demand. Read an economics book if you problems understanding the concept. One is free to charge whatever he thinks the market will bear, just as one is free to pass up on any price that is deemed unacceptable to the buyer. Anybody here ever walked out of a car dealership after hearing an unacceptable price for a vehicle then go home, get on the internet and complain incessantly about the dealer's prices? I think not, as most rational people just go down the road to other car dealers until they find a price they can live with. The same thought applies any commodity. While some people on this board were too young to remember the 1994 Slick Willie primer scare, the 2008 and 2011-late 2013 component and ammo shortages prompted most thinking people to invest in components. Unfortunately, some people just don't get the message. It's getting hard to find sympathy for people who want to bitch and complain about the prices of something they, after seeing the effects of the previous shortages, had in their power to rectify when the prices eventually came down. What's even more ludicrous are the posts decrying folks, who did have sense to stock up, as hoarders. What bull$hit. Feel free to flame away, just don't give me that old tired argument " I dint have the money" If one has time to sit at a computer howling about prices, one has the time to go find a second job in order to increase ones purchasing power.

[lightman]

Times like these bring out the opposite reaction from me. I have given away 22's, 223's,270's, 308's and primers in the last year and a half. And toilet paper! And AR mags! Maybe some other things that I'm forgetting.

But this was to people that I know will use it and not resell it.

I try to stay stocked up. In good times I'll buy in quantity, take advantage of things like free shipping, sales, ect.

Gouging? To me there is a thin line between selling for a profit and jacking up the prices during shortages. Whats fair depends on how bad you need it. Or think you do.

[Idaho45guy]

I started reloading in 2010. I was not big into shooting before then. I had no idea that primers and powder and other components would become so scarce.

So I really love it when people belittle me and other relative newbies by referencing shortages from 1994 and calling us names. Before 2012, I would shoot maybe 100 rounds per year. I was married with two kids in high school and shooting was the furthest thing from my mind.

When I got divorced and was able to start focusing on shooting and reloading, then I started to realize that the usual 150 rounds of ammo on hand was not enough.


I saw the writing on the wall and was stocked up for at least a year of shooting. But had no idea it would last 18 months and longer. I will be stocked up for five years of shooting, at least, when things stabilize.

[Mal Paso]

I don't think everyone here is whining. I was OK with paying $90 delivered for primers, just not what I'm used to. Up till this shortage 48 pounds was my standard order to max out hazmat. I quit buying 2-3 years ago when I couldn't figure where to stash one more $120 KEG of 2400. I don't think it helps Brownells to have 1 or 2 item hazmat orders, it took 4 days to ship. However many primers Federal sent sold in a day and they spent the next week double boxing it one item at a time. It was a full $20 worth of hazmat packaging with powder and primers in separate boxes and at least $1 worth of labels.

I would have been fine if I hadn't gotten interested in tiny cartridge with dinky primers and I blame you guys for that!

[JSnover]

gouging? don't know if this qualifies, but a quick comparison of prices for a lee production pot IV furnace, IN STOCK-- midway $81.99, Midsouth--$62.99

Nothing new about that either. I remember my parents driving across town for things that were a lot cheaper at another store.

[Handloader109]

Midway sells most items at full retail. Many other sellers sell at steep discount. Things that are in very short supply being sold for double or more the msrp by big retailers make me want to avoid them for other items also.

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[bakerjw]

we can't do much about the individuals that are gouging. but we should remember the dealers that are doing so, and take our business elswhere ; if and when prices stabilize

Totally agree. When my LGS that gets much smaller quantities than big shops sells SRPs for $40.00/1K and big boys like Midway are selling them for $70.00+/1K, I know someone is gouging. It is the free market and it is their choice to do so and the market bears the price. But... I also remember CTD doing the same things several years back and have not frequented them since.

[Idaho45guy]

Midway sells most items at full retail. Many other sellers sell at steep discount. Things that are in very short supply being sold for double or more the msrp by big retailers make me want to avoid them for other items also.

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And their shipping is high as well...

Needed an AR-15 spring kit today and didn't even look at Midway. Went straight to Brownells and it was $16.99 plus $4.95 for shipping. Thought that was ridiculous for just a few small parts, so added a 5-round magazine for my Ruger Predator rifle to the order and it was still the same $4.95.

But, just now went to Midway and the same kit is only $10.03. But their shipping is $6.75. So, I would have saved $4 going to Midway. Oh well. Their "free shipping" on orders over $49 never seems to include any items I actually need or want. That alone has soured me on them.

[762 shooter]

I used to use the 4 year stock up theory for components.

After Sandy Hook (2012) I rolled over to the "buy like components may never be available again" purchase model.

You don't have to worry about me "gouging". I don't sell. I shoot.

Has served me well.

762