Brass and FMJ

[nueces5]

Good morning, we are here quite far south and have trouble finding FMJ bullets.
There is only one company that imports them, and they always sell them as they please.
Last week we started to find out what we need to bring our own supplies. Gunpowder and primers are almost impossible, with the regulations that are needed for transport by boat, so we better continue as we are.
Brass and bullets, as sport shooters we can import 5000 brass and 5000 bullets a year. It is only a matter of asking for a permit and we pick them up at the airport.
I wanted to ask you what was needed to be able to legally buy brass and bullets in your country, to see if we can stop struggling with our loads.
The most annoying thing is always getting different elements and when you develop a load that works great, you have no more supplies and you have to start again.

[Iron369]

In the US we have different regulations based on where within the country you live. We don’t (as of right now) have any country specific laws that prohibit owning components for reloading. Some states regulate the storage of powders and primers and the quantities that can be kept, but, again, it’s not something universal to all of the United States. Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?

[JimB..]

No problem buying brass and bullets pretty much anywhere in the US.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t solve your problem because under ITAR we can’t ship (export) any of it to you without an ITAR export license.

Edit: cost for the ITAR license is (I think) $4,000 annually plus $1,000 per shipment (first 5 shipments are free).

[Markopolo]

Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?

Poster is from Buenos Aires Argentina…

[Outpost75]

I would recommend casting your own bullets from scrap lead if it is feasible to have moulds shipped to Agentina. Improvised bullet lubricants are effective. If shotgun reloading is common, the powders commonly used for 12-ga. ammunition can be used in assembling target and practice ammunition in common handgun calibers.

I would glean fired range brass in the calibers you use. Primers may be difficult to obtain and store in quantity.

[nueces5]

I understand then that an LGS would not be authorized to export both components.
I spent two years shooting my 308 consistently up to 500 meters, now at 600 meters I have had more erratic results, and I shoot PRS style competitions up to 800 meters. That is why I need FMJ.
I have powder and primers happily, but last week I bought a sps varmint in 6.5 creedmore and after buying it I found out that there is no ammo or bullets, so I can't even use it.
If anyone knows of a seller who has the ITAR please let me know. Thanks

[JimB..]

You could set up a bullet swaging operation for FMJ projectiles, selling off your excess locally.
To get brass for a new caliber I’d call the manufacturers and see if they can point you in the right direction. Starline brass for example sells direct to consumer, no idea if they have an ITAR license. Norma manufactures outside the US.
Obviously you could do the same for projectiles, just gotta find the right country to export from.
Good luck!

[Barry54]

http://www.siarm.com/mobile_contact_...78e895aa9393c7

This company is in Italy. They don’t currently have 6.5mm bullets in stock, but it appears they sell and ship internationally. I considered purchasing shotgun reloading components from them that aren’t available in the USA.

Buying from outside the USA might be a better option for you.

In some countries people appreciate “tips” or greasing of palms. Would it be feasible to bribe the importer there, to send the next delivery to your shooting club?

[nueces5]

Thanks for the comments, I'll be looking at everything to see which is the best option.

[Adam Helmer]

nueces5,

I feel for you as a fellow gun owner and reloader. It seems you have a very anti-gun government restricting honest gun owners. The same happens here in several states. If you have a few minutes, please advise us what Restrictions gun owners and reloaders have in your country and when did the BAD stuff begin. Many of our folks here need to hear that before they vote on November 5, 2024.

Be well.

Adam

[MT Gianni]

I know Nueces casts and he has access to some stuff. Problems arise with cases that are not formed by existing common cases like X57, 06 or 308. In the mid 70's in Argentina, I saw many weapons we could not have here for sale in sporting goods shops, 10" bbl 410 doubles, Thompson machine guns some full auto, and many that we could have. I was more into shotguns at the time.

Governments can change and laws can happen with seemingly small changes that have far reaching effects.

[dverna]

You could set up a bullet swaging operation for FMJ projectiles, selling off your excess locally.
To get brass for a new caliber I’d call the manufacturers and see if they can point you in the right direction. Starline brass for example sells direct to consumer, no idea if they have an ITAR license. Norma manufactures outside the US.
Obviously you could do the same for projectiles, just gotta find the right country to export from.
Good luck!

This makes the most sense to me. Alex 4x4 used to post here and he lives in Russia. He was able to buy the equipment and materials to make jacketed bullets from the US before our sanctions on Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

He had a decent little side business, and that may be possible in your country as well.

One thing to ponder is that things will only get worse. Once you have the press and dies, getting the other stuff should not be too difficult. Then you are self-sufficient.

A number of folks in the US make their own jacketed bullets even though they are easy and cheap to get. If I was 20 years younger I would make the investment but I have accumulated a sizeable inventory of jacketed bullets so there is no incentive. If the idiots start talking about draconian rules, I will purchase another 12k bulk .224 Hornady bullets for the AR's for $1200 and be set for life.

[nueces5]

There is a fairly modern gun law here.
As always, the interpretation of it is the problem. Here the state military factory until a few years ago sold us handgun, shotgun and rifle powder.
Now we have not seen half a kilo for years. They tell us that with the war in Ukraine, there is a component that is missing.
Yesterday, speaking with people who know people inside the factory, they told me that the decision is political, not to continue selling gunpowder to sportsmen.
Added to that is the fact that importers do not receive everything they ask for. So it is difficult to maintain a supply and shoot continuously. And every time I change FMJ, I have to start developing loads again.
If I could only access 500 FMJ, about 100 brass, with that I would shoot for 2 or 3 years. I still haven't found the way, but that is what I am aiming for.
Argentina has many problems, but fortunately, we have freedom.
Consider that here we are few who shoot. Soccer is king here. Sports shooters are strange people.

[dverna]

MP molds labels their molds as "Handtools" IIRC and I believe that is done to make getting them out of their country and/or into our country easier.

Just thinking, but could brass cases be labelled "wind chime pieces". Bullets are "scale check weights" or some other item that is innocuous. A retailer will not help in this ruse but some of us may help you out. Seems to me your needs are not significant and Americans (maybe Australians/Canadians) are not going to get the attention of their overloads for sending a few hundred pieces of stuff every 2-3 years to you. If you have three members willing to help, I bet at least one of the packages will get through and likely all of them.

When I lived in Canada decades ago, there was duty on stuff coming from the US. I ordered stuff from retailers like Herters and Brownell in the US and it got held up in Customs less than 50% of the time.

Give this some consideration and see if you are comfortable with it.

Another thought...are there other countries in South America that can help? You have a long border with Chile. Is it well controlled? Are there trails across it that avoid customs? There is a water route between Chile and Argentina. Does it have potential?

[nueces5]

Without a doubt, as long as it doesn't cause problems for anyone, I accept without hesitation.
Above all, I must process the certificate of entry to Argentina here before anything else.
In Brazil, Paraguay and Chile there is little or nothing. The Uruguayans have a system that distributes the gunpowder at the range. A couple of months ago, we were at a PRS competition in my country, where I was a field officer and the Uruguayans who were shooting were using Vitahavuori. Two pounds a month could buy it.
An Argentine friend who lives in Chile was trying to bring primers from Argentina to continue shooting IPSC, they use Fiocchi shotgun powder, the last time I spoke to them.
You live in the Garden of Eden

[K43]

Back to Post #3 if one doesn't want to go to Uncle Sam's boarding school. Keywords: US ITAR regulations.

P.S. This is not a guess or assumption, I have just retired from Foreign Military Sales in DOD and private citizens can't just go ship projectiles and cases without the appropriate licenses.