or are .22 LR shells underpriced?

I stopped by a gun shop yesterday to look over their selection. Although I wasn't out of primers, I can always use another thou or so. They had some old stock red/black box Federals for $19.95, and their new stock Federals in the blue-gray boxes were $24.95 (both standard, not match or magnum). So I figured that I might as well pick up a couple of thousand of the old stock rather than pay the extra $5 in a month or two when I run low. Now, for a guy who started out buying primers at $7.95/1000 those prices seem pretty steep. But I figure they're still cheaper in relative terms than they were 30 years ago.

Then I was in a discount store today and noticed that they had Federal .22LR shells for $9.90/500. That's $19.80/1000, which is CHEAPER than the centerfire primers alone.

Think about it: The .22 with primer, powder, case, and bullet is cheaper than the centerfire primer alone, and to make matters even less equitable, there's an 11% Federal Excise tax on the finished ammunition that doesn't apply to the components.

So, if you sometimes feel that you're getting ripped off on reloading components, common sense tells you you're right.

Hey SC-

What's going on!

Alot of old-timers have told me I should learn to reload, they said it was much cheaper. It seems like when I'm just about to get into it, PRIMER cost is on a significant increase, POWDERS, AND BULLET COST are all on the rise!!!!

For me it's too late to turn back now!

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
Hey SC-

What's going on!

Alot of old-timers have told me I should learn to reload, they said it was much cheaper. It seems like when I'm just about to get into it, PRIMER cost is on a significant increase, POWDERS, AND BULLET COST are all on the rise!!!!

Don't forget the cost of factory ammo has gone up as well!


.

Gas, cereal, beef, what isn't going up in price. The good thing about reloading supplys is they have quite a shelf life. I am still using primers I bought back during the "shortage". No matter how much components go up, it is still cheaper than buying factory ammo. If you shoot alot or shoot oddball calibers, there is no comparison.

I have not bought a factory centerfire bullet for a rifle in 30 yrs. I got my Midsouth catalog today and was breezing through and saw the 416 Rem over $100 a box and 470NE over $200 a box. Those were the extremes but reloading is still cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by steve4102:

Don't forget the cost of factory ammo has gone up as well!


.

That's right and its true, its all relative!
I guess I missed that one, thanks!

I think that even though they have gone up,they still are not the much. look how other stuff has gone up. I use to buy a 100pound cannister of H4831 for $51.Thats 51 cents per pound,and now what does it cost?

22 long rifles are the same price today as they were 30 years ago.

Don't try to figure it out....just shoot them.

I have been to the manufacturing plants and watched 22 LR being made. They are absolutely "under-priced" when taking into account all the steps there is to produce them.

I better stock up on 22's before they go up too

quote:

Then I was in a discount store today and noticed that they had Federal .22LR shells for $9.90/500. That's $19.80/1000, which is CHEAPER than the centerfire primers alone.

I don't know about the primers, but I'll just say that I'm constantly amazed at how cheap 22LR ammo is. Do the math, that's less than 2 cents a shot! That's got to be the bargain of the millenium. I get pissed off every time I go in a store and see things costing three times what they should. It seems everything is overpriced these days. Thank God there's still something out there that represents a value.

Although most of us have a fair amount of .22LR ammo, if you're anywhere near understocked, I'd buy some now. Base metals have been and will probably keep going up as the dollar deteriorates and that has lead directly to the fairly dramatic increases in factory centerfire ammo prices. .22LR will likely not be far behind.

It is a bummer that the prices are going out the roof on components but, have you looked at how much they are charging for factory ammo now days!!! I can't believe they charge 40+ a box for good factory ammo. Even with the higher prices of components, I can still load a premium box of ammo for 10-15 bucks depending on the cartridge. Much better than paying 3 times that and far more precise. Weigh a few powder charges of these so called premium $40+ factory loads and roll a few of them on a concentricity gauge and you'll see what I mean about "precise."

I just bought 4000 primers and the Fed Gold Medal Match primers had went up to 27 a 1000

Reloader

Have just 1 primer shipped and you must pay a $20 Hazmat fee.

Ship a gazillion 22 LR and you pay no hazmat fee. Perhaps that accounts for some of the price difference.

Nope, you pay hazmat on 1 primer or 70#. I'll bet that someonehas fiugred out that charging more for compoonents & centerfire ammo easily offests kepping the .22lr cheaper.

GARGORDO is correct!

This ain't a "scare" but a mere fact based on what the commodities markets are doing and have done historically...Copper, Tin, Zinc, Lead all are in serious demand, thus are spiking with no end in sight. Unlike Oil, where a regime / political disputes can an do cause wild fluctuations...The metals biz is different.

Boys, all of the base metals are going to become increasingly more difficult to mine and refine...thus your ammo prices are going to continue to rise and rise....bet on it....AND, unlike Gas....when did you see the lase "decrease" in ammo prices? - And, NO I don't mean a sale at your local SGds dealer!

Buy now!

Jeff

yes they are but there are no alternatives

Here is a partial explanation. First off I have worked in the metals trade for over 35 years. .22 ammo is made from very thin brass which is easy to draw down, and the small bullets are very easily swaged from a small amount of lead. Where as primers are assembled from several small components. Cup and anvil, and if it's a 209 Shotshell primer there is a rim piece as well as a cover cup. All primers require a press fit into the case where as . 22 rimfire cartridge can be made to much looser tolerances except for high quality match ammunition which, as you know, costs considerably more money. The dies required to produce primers are made to much higher tolerances, and handle smaller, thicker material. This makes them more difficult to manufacture, and hold the closer tolerances they must have. That is, with an overly simple explanation, why they are more expensive. Bill T.

I believe 22lr is underpriced also, but lets not tell the manufacturers!

I read in Rifleshooter mag an article on Eley match ammo and the process with pics along with QC. Mind you this is match ammo, not Win. dynapoints, but nevertheless it does look tricky for pennies a round! Amazing process!

Hey come on guys !. What the Hell isn't Over Priced ?. Been to the grocery store or gas station lately !!!!!!!!. 22 plinking ammo is reasonable enough but step up to Eley Tenex !!!!. Even Wolf Match Extra is pricey !.

It wasn't that long ago I made a large primer purchase for Federal Match LRP and SRP they were right around $ 16.75 per K crap howdy take a look at them now !.
I don't know about the rest of you but I feel the Sting at near $ 4.00 per gallon of Gas !.
F ing Oil companies !.Why because they can !.Gas taxes are what those Dildo's on Capital hill are financing everything under the sun with . Any body check out the Senate bill 965 !.

Those Dam DummyCrats what a pile of PORK if it doesn't just burn your ass when you read what they put into that bill . Well , you may just not be an American Tax Payer !!!!!!!