I routinely hear on threads about ammo availability when selecting a caliber. I am always concerned about "BRASS" availability, and am very picky on bullet selection. But I can't get too awful worked up about commercial ammo, at least for hunting. Its nice and a bonus, but I always load my own, always remember to pack my ammo with my guns, and rarely buy factory ammo.

Is ammo availabilty really that important? In my case I really don't care, as any factory ammo is practice or when I am short on time or just lazy. When I am buying auto loader ammo, or a range rifle I like being able to buy mil surplus ammo, but it is either match grade or cost is a big consideration.

My question to the forum is this ammo availability point entirely overated? Do most of us reload and hunt with reloads anyway? I understand the non reloaders care a lot about this point, but how many are in this camp?

There are a lot of 9.3x 62 fans on the board and frankly ammo availability stinks, and it doesn't seem to slow this crowd down. Another caaliber is the 7x57 how many use and shoot this round? But how many use factory fodder?

Imagine this happening. You've just arrived in Alaska after flying many hours. Your guide picks you up at the airport and if he is any guide at all he checks to see if you have the basics with you. You reach down into your duffle bag when he asks to see your ammo and you
don't find your boxes of reloads. If you have chosen to use a cartridge that is available commercially and is not too weird, then there is a good possibility you can find some in Anchorage or where ever you landed. If not, then you go into town and buy a rifle, scope, and ammo. Next you have to mount the scope and sight it in somewhere. So what I am trying to say is that wildcat cartridges are great, but they could ruin a trip. So..... pack well!

Avabile ammo is a concern for those that shoot factory ammo, but it shouldn't be. A person shooting Remington ammo should have about 100 rounds on hand anyway incase the UN is let loose. I mean if you are not to reload , stock up on a few cases of factory. Yeah going hunting with a rifle where factory ammo isn't availible could be a nightmare if ammo isn't packed. I have seen that when three went hunting with three different factory rifles and one forgot his ammo 50 miles in the woods. He got his elk, but with his buddies rifle.

I recently purchased a Winchester 95, in 405 Winchester. Neither Winchester, Remington, Federal make ammo for the rifle. To my knowledge only Bertram, Hornady, maybe Kynock? are the only suppliers.
I found, on Ebay, a fella selling a bunch of once fired brass, for the 405. I purchased 600 cases, I got two bullet molds, I should never need to purchase anything outside of powder and primers for this rifle, as long as I live.
Jim

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Is ammo availabilty really that important?

Not to me, it isn't. I can imagine the situtation Old Elk describes, but the chances of your ammo not arriving are about the same as the odds of the rifle not getting there, either.

One can always ship the ammo c/o the outfitter first, before leaving for the hunt. Then call to verify that it arrived!

kind of depends on where you go. The only time it became important to me it was very important. I had a 470 and a 375 dakota going to zambia lion hunting. Delta screwed up baggage, as usual. and I got to africa without ammo. I found a box of 470's in joberg, but 375 dakota - forget it - so i ended up going on a 35,000 hunt with one box of 470's & came back with a few rounds left over. I really missed the scope sighted 375, but was able to salvage the hunt

I've never actually thought about ammo availability when buying a new rifle/cartridge. In fact, I like shooting & hunting w/ wildcat rounds, so you can see where I'm coming from. The only "factory" round I shoot is a .280 & it might as well be a wildcat. Just make sure you pack your ammo when you pack your rifle. I know it has happened to some, but I have not had my luggage lost on over the pond hunts, my ammo, rifles, underwear & toothbrush have always made it to camp w/ me.
Your are probably more likely to have your rifles misplace. lost or stolen & then what good is all that factory ammo going to do for you? If it were really that important, we should all sell our rigs & just get a .30-06 & a .375H&H, boring but practical.

Believe me, it has the potential to make all the difference in the world. One time, in Africa, the duffle containing my ammo showed up from London, but my rifles didn't. The owner of the safari company was low on ammo, but he offered to loan me his 458 Win. Mag. and 300 Win. Mag. for the full duration of my safari. I had plenty of ammo for both rifles. Luckily, the next day my rifles DID show up, and all was well. But if they hadn't, all I had was 280 Ackley and 375/404 ammo in my bag, I would have been sucking air big-time........

FACT: Weird, obscure cartridges don't shoot any better, don't function any better, and don't kill any stuff any better than standard factory cartridges. But they DO have the potential to exponentially get you into a great deal more trouble. If your only source of resupply is back at your loading bench back home, possible 10,000 miles away, you've created for yourself a logistical boondoggle.

And for what constructive purpose???????

There is at least one gunwriter on the scene who has spent most of his career inventing and promoting nonsensical cartridges in his own name that no manufacturer as ever picked up, and that no consumer I'm acquainted with has picked up on, either. Mostly, he's wasted his own time and everyone else's............

AD

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And for what constructive purpose???????

For some making wildcats and watching them work is part of the enjoyment.

No doubt I shall one day be beset by the woulda-coulda-shoulda situation, but after 30+ years of traveling hither and yon for the purposes of hunting, I have yet to get somewhere with my rifles and had my ammo pull a disappearing act. In a few cases, my rifles have been delayed a day or two, but my ammo always seems to get there with me. There are a lot of other things more deserving of my worry time.

I must plead guilty as charged to preferring boring, standard cartridges. Anything for which ammo, components, dies etc etc are easy to come by, cheap and available in great selection. Heck, it is LOT easier to find a prime set of dies or cases for a .300 Win Mag than it is for a Lazzeroni Patriot...

When we were hunting pronghorn in MT last, the young guy riding with us was less than impressed with my (boring) .270 Win. He said, that whichever house you walked up to in that area, they were bound to have a .270 Win. I guess he felt that got a bit one-sided. To me, it just confirmed, that a lot of people know a good thing when they see one...

- mike