The Accurate Reloading Forums
Trade War affecting shooters
10 January 2025, 01:41
LHeym500Trade War affecting shooters
I just got email from a shotgun shell manufacturer that Bismuth and Tungsten cost are about to skyrocket bc of Trump’s tariff position concerning Bismuth and Tungsten.
So when you see the price of non-tox shot shells increase on hunters you can thank President Trump.
This email noted their cost to purchase ras product to manufacture into shot will increase 40 percent.
Consumer goods are going to be made more expensive because of Trump’s Tariff's.
The good news is the next election is 2 years away.
Thank you President Trump, you are just making China richer while decreasing US consumer buying power.
10 January 2025, 05:30
JTEXSure.....and you can blame the lefty/green yards for the fact that we have to use "non toxic" shot......but you'll never do that....
Moron!
.
10 January 2025, 07:29
LHeym500There used to be no bismuth to mine here.
This cost to ammo manufactures is direct results of Trump’s stupid policy. They cost will gone down to us. Do you want to read the email?
10 January 2025, 10:12
M.ShyOpinions and blame games are always the option
Never been lost, just confused here and there for month or two
10 January 2025, 16:07
p dog shooterquote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
There used to be no bismuth to mine here.
This cost to ammo manufactures is direct results of Trump’s stupid policy. They cost will gone down to us. Do you want to read the email?
Right.
10 January 2025, 16:24
Saeed“Hunting is a HORROR show!”
Said Trump!

10 January 2025, 18:29
LHeym500quote:
Originally posted by M.Shy:
Opinions and blame games are always the option
Do you want to see the email? I’ll send it to you.
These cost due to tariffs are not opinion.
10 January 2025, 20:27
tomahawkerThere’s no way to right the ship without making sacrifices. We’re all gonna have to eat a shit sandwich somewhere. Personal, career, local state and federal government, doesn’t matter. Tighten your belt. Quit eating steak and get back to beans.
10 January 2025, 21:52
theback40How do they raise prices because of tariffs, when trump isnt in office yet to raise them? Or know if he will until they happen?
10 January 2025, 21:58
ANTELOPEDUNDEEMake you future purchases based on how badly you need the item and not how badly you want it. Is the price of non-toxic shotshells really going to be a serious financial hardship for most hunters?
Give me a home where the buffalo roam and I'll show you a house full of buffalo shit.
10 January 2025, 22:35
LHeym500A box of HevixII flirts w over a C note now.
Bismuth shot is about 65 bucks for 20-25 at retail.
I hear Texas is seriously considering going non tox for dove season.
10 January 2025, 22:38
LHeym500quote:
Originally posted by theback40:
How do they raise prices because of tariffs, when trump isnt in office yet to raise them? Or know if he will until they happen?
C the product price contravenes is expiring. The suppliers are based on China for the raw material is mineable
Those suppliers have told this manufacturer bc of Trump’s tariff position raw material cost are going to be 40 percent higher unless the tariff issue is withdrawn.
Folks plan ahead in business.
10 January 2025, 23:18
theback40And it hasnt happened yet. There will be back and forth bartering. All part of "trumps brand" as he likes to think as a wheeler,dealer.
11 January 2025, 00:27
M.Shyquote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
A box of HevixII flirts w over a C note now.
Bismuth shot is about 65 bucks for 20-25 at retail.
I hear Texas is seriously considering going non tox for dove season.
Start hitting target more accurately and or maybe shoot less
Never been lost, just confused here and there for month or two
11 January 2025, 02:36
BobsterI hope your bismuth shot goes over $200 a box. Why don't you get a shooting coach and then you might hit something with steel shot. All you little rich boys whining. "Look at me, look at me, I can afford $100/box for duck loads." Shoot better, shoot steel, increase shot diameter. All of our good old buddies do it around here and do fine.
quote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
A box of HevixII flirts w over a C note now.
Bismuth shot is about 65 bucks for 20-25 at retail.
I hear Texas is seriously considering going non tox for dove season.
11 January 2025, 02:47
wymplequote:
Originally posted by tomahawker:
There’s no way to right the ship without making sacrifices. We’re all gonna have to eat a shit sandwich somewhere. Personal, career, local state and federal government, doesn’t matter. Tighten your belt. Quit eating steak and get back to beans.
That's not what your golden pig promised.
11 January 2025, 03:02
jeffeossoquote:
Originally posted by wymple:
quote:
Originally posted by tomahawker:
There’s no way to right the ship without making sacrifices. We’re all gonna have to eat a shit sandwich somewhere. Personal, career, local state and federal government, doesn’t matter. Tighten your belt. Quit eating steak and get back to beans.
That's not what your golden pig promised.
close enough, i talked to a couple friends of my social worker wife, they explained that what i feel, when you express all your pettiness is, well, it has a diagnosis -- it's called "Schadenfreude" -- there's a couple folks here, who's dramatic display of their lack of character and resilience, bring it out.
just in case you didn't hear in in the home.. GROW UP and get over it ... pace yourself, honey, 1,470 days to go before you have to say 'president Vance'
11 January 2025, 03:18
crbutlerMy shooting is fine. I tend to go through about a box when there is enough birds to shoot my limit. After breaking a tooth on steel pellets, I’m not inclined to shoot anything but bismuth or lead.
If I’m not going to keep the birds, steel works… with higher crippling percentages. Lots of birds drop but revive after the dog heads out. That’s not fair to the bird, and my lab is getting pretty old.
No good reason to raise prices preventatively.
Steel shot was an abomination inflicted on hunters for rather dubious reasons. It’s not safe in older guns and to have someone going on about other hunters not being competent because they don’t use steel bugs me.
I certainly can afford the higher price if it’s my choice, but the government playing around with it doesn’t make me happy.
As to doves- they are pretty small, going to size 6 plus shot is going to make them pretty unpalatable.
quote:
Originally posted by Bobster:
I hope your bismuth shot goes over $200 a box. Why don't you get a shooting coach and then you might hit something with steel shot. All you little rich boys whining. "Look at me, look at me, I can afford $100/box for duck loads." Shoot better, shoot steel, increase shot diameter. All of our good old buddies do it around here and do fine.
quote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
A box of HevixII flirts w over a C note now.
Bismuth shot is about 65 bucks for 20-25 at retail.
I hear Texas is seriously considering going non tox for dove season.
11 January 2025, 03:36
RolandtheHeadlessquote:
After breaking a tooth on steel pellets, I’m not inclined to shoot anything but bismuth or lead.
You want to keep that shotgun aimed away from your mouth, lol.
Seriously, how did steel shot cause you to lose a tooth?
11 January 2025, 03:39
crbutlerIn the meat of a goose I was eating.
A pellet in the breast, I chomped down and crack and oh shit that hurt.
11 January 2025, 03:41
RolandtheHeadlessI've heard of people doing that with lead pellets. Don't know about bismuth.
11 January 2025, 03:55
crbutlerBismuth and lead are soft (as far as metals go). They tend to give a bit and not break teeth as quickly.
I’ve bitten lead and bismuth pellets and while it’s uncomfortable, it’s not broken teeth for me.
Also a reason that I tend to stay away from TSS/hevishot. I’ve shot some of that stuff, but tend to avoid it as I avoid steel for that reason.
11 January 2025, 04:13
TomPNot much of an issue here, no waterfowl in the air these days.
I think it's gotten too warm here, and they're short-stopping further north.
No big grassy areas for the geese nowadays either.
TomP
Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right.
Carl Schurz (1829 - 1906)
11 January 2025, 05:50
shanksponyWELL I can confirm with Doc on the damage steel does too teeth. Smashed out the side of a tooth all ready weakened by a childhood filing. You do not realise how hard you bite until you bite down on a steel ball unintentionally.
That's said, I still use steel and have no problem with it. My crippling rate has stayed the same and my shots per bird has probably dropped once I found out what load worked for me.
I shoot approx 150 mallard and small goose type birds over 3 months and my system is.-
Pluck for roasting the head and neck shot birds.
Breast the rest and chuck anything that's heavily shot. Cut the rest thin sorting pellets as I go with most going into ground meat for sausages.
11 January 2025, 07:40
LHeym500I shoot a lot of bismuth upland and Waterfowl bc I shoot a group doubles with fixed chokes that are not CIP steel proof.
I also hate steel and love tungsten based shot in my modern guns.
This is just one example of these misguided tariffs costing consumers more money. Remember Trump was elected bc folks felt things cost too much.
We killed 6 geese, 8 pheasant, 4 rabbits, and 1 duck w bismuth and tungsten shot this week across three states.
11 January 2025, 08:42
shanksponyWhen steel was first made mandatory over here, the big players in the industry here told us all we had to use big heavy magnum charges of large shot size to be effective. It was BS, and slowly we worked out that a standard 1&1/8th load of steel 4s in either 2&3/4 or 3 inch loads was what worked best. Of course they also told us we needed multiple shots and sold us all on large magazine semi autos. The crippling rate went up of course, because if most guys haven't got their birds with the first two shots, emptying a magazine at departing birds was not going to work. Now most of our regions have limited magazine capacity back too 3 shots for waterfowl. crippling is back under control.
11 January 2025, 14:31
Steve BertramThe same folks that were bitching up a storm about inflation under Biden are now telling us we need to shoot less and tighten our belts with the increased cost of living that will result from Trump's shitty tariff policies. Just amazing to me the way some of you can rationalize anything.

11 January 2025, 17:50
ledvmWith all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM
A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House
No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.
11 January 2025, 17:54
Steve Bertramquote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
With all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.
Oh, the tariffs, if implemented in any way close to the way Trump claims he will apply them, will drive up the cost of far more than bismuth ammunition.
Just remember, inflation due to Trump is good, inflation due to Biden is bad, very, very bad.

11 January 2025, 18:21
ledvmquote:
Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
With all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.
Oh, the tariffs, if implemented in any way close to the way Trump claims he will apply them, will drive up the cost of far more than bismuth ammunition.
Just remember, inflation due to Trump is good, inflation due to Biden is bad, very, very bad.
Again, I have paid up to $5/gal for diesel. Eating lunch with my wife and boy at a hole-in-the-wall cafe costs $50. I still can’t buy Nosler Partition bullets. Regular target loads of lead cost $10/box. The small town I live in is overrun with foreign illegals living in old broken down motels rented by the government. A simple trip to the grocery store costs $300. My ranch in south Texas was trashed while watched fake stories made up about mounted CBP agents “whipping” illegals. SOB…I could write a book on the shit. And we are sitting here worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up and the “potential” for tariffs to affect other goods. All the while the man has not implemented anything yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM
A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House
No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.
11 January 2025, 18:26
BobsterTrump uses tariff threats to encourage others to play nice in the sandbox. Also, if he suceeds in turning down the volume in Ukraine and the middle east, perhaps primers and powder availability, including pricing will improve. There's nothing like reduced demand to lower prices. Propellant and primer makers have added production to satisfy need and they will have to sell stuff or downsize if their big market is affected negatively.
11 January 2025, 21:04
LHeym500quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ledvm:
With all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.
Oh, the tariffs, if implemented in any way close to the way Trump claims he will apply them, will drive up the cost of far more than bismuth ammunition.
Just remember, inflation due to Trump is good, inflation due to Biden is bad, very, very bad.
Again, I have paid up to $5/gal for diesel. Eating lunch with my wife and boy at a hole-in-the-wall cafe costs $50. I still can’t buy Nosler Partition bullets. Regular target loads of lead cost $10/box. The small town I live in is overrun with foreign illegals living in old broken down motels rented by the government. A simple trip to the grocery store costs $300. My ranch in south Texas was trashed while watched fake stories made up about mounted CBP agents “whipping” illegals. SOB…I could write a book on the shit. And we are sitting here worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up and the “potential” for tariffs to affect other goods. All the while the man has not implemented anything yet.

[/QUOTE
Funny, diesel has not cost 5 dollars here for a long time. Premium is 3.50 and was bf the election.
11 January 2025, 22:44
theback40Just come back from a gunshop. Mostly steel shot waterfowl loads, of multi varieties.
The bismuth was Fed I think, a little more than the steel loads, at $50 for 25. It said for waterfowl and upland game. Is it required for upland game in some areas?
My nephew works for the USDA. He spends a good deal of summer shooting cormorants off the lakes.
The goverment buys Win Black Cloud for their use. Those are steel arnt they?
11 January 2025, 23:26
jeffeossoi just bought 4 boxes of 308 to test various bullet weights in my sfar - $140+, all copper or copper and lead, made in the US, zero imports --- that's an average for $35 a box for 308 --- hint: it aint imports -- in fact, next to zero imported ammo on the shelves, and those that were were marked NFR -- not from russia -- no brown bear steal cases to be seen
11 January 2025, 23:27
jeffeossoquote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
With all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.
Oh, the tariffs, if implemented in any way close to the way Trump claims he will apply them, will drive up the cost of far more than bismuth ammunition.
Just remember, inflation due to Trump is good, inflation due to Biden is bad, very, very bad.
Again, I have paid up to $5/gal for diesel. Eating lunch with my wife and boy at a hole-in-the-wall cafe costs $50. I still can’t buy Nosler Partition bullets. Regular target loads of lead cost $10/box. The small town I live in is overrun with foreign illegals living in old broken down motels rented by the government. A simple trip to the grocery store costs $300. My ranch in south Texas was trashed while watched fake stories made up about mounted CBP agents “whipping” illegals. SOB…I could write a book on the shit. And we are sitting here worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up and the “potential” for tariffs to affect other goods. All the while the man has not implemented anything yet.
Funny, diesel has not cost 5 dollars here for a long time. Premium is 3.50 and was bf the election.
(you had a typo wiping out the last ] in the quote i fixed it for my reply)
diesel was at or over $5 18 months ago - that's not along while, that's THIS administration - though, to give credit where credit is due, biden didn't see NEARLY the horrible fuel prices as obama
11 January 2025, 23:36
ANTELOPEDUNDEEquote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
quote:
Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
With all the BS we have put with for the last 4 years…I am having a hard time believing we are now worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up. Boggles the mine.
Oh, the tariffs, if implemented in any way close to the way Trump claims he will apply them, will drive up the cost of far more than bismuth ammunition.
Just remember, inflation due to Trump is good, inflation due to Biden is bad, very, very bad.
Again, I have paid up to $5/gal for diesel. Eating lunch with my wife and boy at a hole-in-the-wall cafe costs $50. I still can’t buy Nosler Partition bullets. Regular target loads of lead cost $10/box. The small town I live in is overrun with foreign illegals living in old broken down motels rented by the government. A simple trip to the grocery store costs $300. My ranch in south Texas was trashed while watched fake stories made up about mounted CBP agents “whipping” illegals. SOB…I could write a book on the shit. And we are sitting here worried about the “potential” for bismuth to go up and the “potential” for tariffs to affect other goods. All the while the man has not implemented anything yet.
There are Nosler partitions in the stores around here. You want bullets or loaded ammo?
Give me a home where the buffalo roam and I'll show you a house full of buffalo shit.
12 January 2025, 01:31
LHeym500I find it odd, no one wants to read the email. Truth hurts.
12 January 2025, 02:13
shanksponyPost it up. Im not sure why the secrecy.
12 January 2025, 03:03
jeffeossoquote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
I find it odd, no one wants to read the email. Truth hurts.
i read couple thousand emails a week in my day job -- i am good without another one
12 January 2025, 03:26
LHeym500quote:
Originally posted by shankspony:
Post it up. Im not sure why the secrecy.
I have sent it to the one person who asked for it.