The Accurate Reloading Forums
Cost of Shooting in Europe
16 January 2011, 18:32
londonhunterCost of Shooting in Europe
Hi folks
A little quiet here
Am I talking to myself all the time ?
Went to the club today after a 02 months break
Sad to hear that a few more members have decided to stop shooting due to the spiraling cost of shells and clays and travel expenses.
I know we are 99% hunters here
Has the cost around Europe gone up as well for you folks in terms of AMMO .....?
Powders, ammo and reloading components have gone out of control in the UK here.
Shall we have a poll ?
Discussion ?
Comparatively speaking I am new to this game so let the more experience members chime in please .....
What was it like in the seventies in Europe or even further back
16 January 2011, 20:02
SchauckisAmmo cost certainly has been spiraling over the past few years.
Apparently this is due to China buying all the available lead (to make toys, it appears to me) and brass.
Jeff Cooper had it right: buy ammo - the price goes up every year and if the situation gets bad, it's the only asset whose value will skyrocket...
I haven't seen a significant increase in the other costs, however.
- Lars/Finland
A.k.a. Bwana One-Shot
16 January 2011, 22:14
Nordic2Metal price are high, here they have even steeled cupper from curch windows.
Several new mines have opened in Sweden too.
16 January 2011, 22:56
AkshooterIt's everywhere, Ammo cost here in N. America have doubled and in many cases 3x.
I decided about 15 years ago to start stalking up on components and load a good bit of ammo.
It was a good move. I wish my other investments would have done as well.
I'm guessing that in the UK and other countries there might be laws regulating the ammount of ammo one might have at one time?
DRSS
NRA life
AK Master Guide 124
16 January 2011, 22:58
gunbugThe more expensive it gets the less you shoot but never give it up.For what my friends pay for they're golf membership i can still buy a lot of ammo or reloading supplies. Dan
17 January 2011, 01:46
Big Bore FanThe prices are exploded in the last years. Not for everything, but especial for hunting ammo, guns and optics. Hunting supplies and handgun ammo costs haven´t so spiraling, but gun powders are extrem expensive here in Germany. Befor 10 years I got 1kg Vith for ~55.-€. Now I pay nearly 90.-€.
Martin
17 January 2011, 02:21
londonhunterI can only talk about what's happened to myself in the last 05 years
Cost of factory ammo about 80% increase
Cost of powder about 60% increase
Cost of travel about 10 - 20 % increase
Cost of outfitter (UK) about 25% increase
Cost of projectile about 25% increase
Cost of optics about 50% increase
Bottom line Chinese fault or not
completely way out of proportion .........
IDEA
with the resourses we have on this forum
How about a hunters ebay
in a way we are doing it already having little groups off line exhcnaging contacts and details
For example I have plenty of reloading stuff lying around which are redundant. I am happy to exchange them for something that I might need
Another example if I want to try a different projectile I have to buy a box of 100 heads. If somebody here have a few lying around I will gladly exchange something else redundant for them rather tan buying a complete box which I will only partially use. (know what I mean)
Scrape this thread if you think its a stupid idea.
17 January 2011, 03:43
DeweyThe problem with that is the increasingly onerous and totalitarian government regulations concerning international shipment of firearms, components and optics used on firearms. This, is largely a result of the vile UN and it's minions who will never rest in their foul pursuits until the traditional freedoms of western cilvilized nations are subsumed by a "one world government".
We used to drive from Vancouver, BC, to a small town in Washington state and go to "Kesselring's Gunshop" and buy bulk powder, .338WM brass by the lb., primers by the 10Ks and so on.....prices were extremely competitive and they had everything one could desire. Enter a Liberal administration in Canada and that evil creature, Klinton and "zappo", this was banned....but, the drug smuggling and thousands of illegal guns it brings into Canada, goes right on and somebody with a lot of clout is getting rich......
I can see an exchange system within one's own country, but, I doubt it would fly on an international basis, the totalitarians have done their work very well.
17 January 2011, 07:29
Grizzly AdamsGranted, we're always bitching about the cost of things, on this side of the pond, but I've never heard of anyone giving up Hunting, because of that. Maybe, you guys should be looking at your Economic situation.

Grizz
Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal. John E Pfeiffer, The Emergence of Man
Those who can't skin, can hold a leg. Abraham Lincoln
Only one war at a time. Abe Again.
17 January 2011, 10:59
Nordic2The last 10y
hunting ammo has gone up 100%
training ammo 60%.
most people train more now than 15 years ago including me.
A lot more new rifles are sold now and hunting clothes so it cant be to bad.
17 January 2011, 13:51
Fallow BuckThe Cost of cartridges for shotguns has probably gone up 150% in the last ten years and rifle ammo I have not really kept track on. For me the cost of rifle ammo is negligable in comparison tot the cost of going hunting. The couple of rounds you fire pale into insignificance when you take into account the cost of fuel for example or the electricity to run a cold room. However for those that punch a lot of paper I can see this being much more relavant.
The price of Venison has also one up so we wer getting as little as 19p/lb but now it is close to £1/lb.
With the shotguns you have to also consider the ridiculous prices of non toxic shot. With the recent studies into the extent of lead use on ducks we may have another bun fight on our hands soon.
The cost of shooting at my shoot has definately gone up over the last three years. I'm trying to keep prices steady this year regardless of an 80% rise in the cost of grain, in recognition to the loyalty of the guns but I have a few tonnes put away this year that will go to helping out next year.
I'm not sure what the cost of shooting will do but since I've started putting packages together for clients I realise quite how quickly the costs mount up in the peripheral areas (apart from the base hunting cost), and yet these are costs that we all incur but perhaps don't all consider.
K
17 January 2011, 14:52
Steve MalinverniAt my range sometime we organize groups of shooters to buy big quantities of reloading components, like bullets or cases.
Ten thousands or more bullets are ordered of the same caliber, type and weight are ordered directly to the importer/distributor, and this helps in having some discount and lower price.
Powder and primers are more difficult to buy in group because the Italian Law on guns and ammo. But sometime it has been done.
bye
Stefano
Waidmannsheil
24 January 2011, 23:34
Artemis1What I've heard from ammo producer the problems are in Iraq and Afganistan. The industry involved in military ammo takes too much brass and lead from the market. Also many companies decided to get involved in this that they produce les hunting ammo at greater cost. Federal is one of the best examples.