I joined the game late, during panic season, and available cartridges had steel casings, Boxer primers, and cost stupid much money.

So, yeah, I bought a couple thousand rounds, to have stuff in case the zombies (or the iDJT supporters, whichever) decided to lay siege to the country. I found some M855 Winchester in range packs for what seemed like a great price at the time (less than half a shekel per round), and managed to acquire a thousand or so of them.

But the range I patronize doesn't want folks shooting M855 (the steel core being hard on the backstop, I presume), so I keep what's ready to use of that stuff in magazines that have a tactile difference from the mags that are loaded with the Tul or Wolf steel-case stuff. I have brown magazines loaded with some frangible stuff (again, the color difference from regular black magazines if I ever get in a hurry to load the rifle and want to know what I'm going to be sending downrange), which tested fine in my AR, and seems worth having if over-penetration is an issue for either a range where I find myself or if I'm actually using the AR in a defensive setting (and I sincerely hope I never perceive need to do that, but...).

As the stock of steel-cased ammo dwindles (practice, practice, practice), I'm replacing it with brass-case stuff, typically Herter's (Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops house brand, which I THINK is made for them by Winchester). I'm not a 1/4 MOA shooter, or even able to qualify as Expert on a US Army firing range, so I don't know that spending twice as much on premium match-grade ammo is justified for any of my expected uses.

The last time I bought any Herter's, the cost was in the neighborhood of six-tenths of a shekel per, maybe sixty-six hundredths of a shekel. A glance at my inventory today showed that I'm heavy on pistol ammo (9mm), pretty good on plinking ammo (.22LR), and a little light on stuff for the "scary black rifle."

Any great deals online, aside from what I'm seeing on AmmoSeek?

I’m almost out of the 5.56 game. I just sold off a bunch of ARs.

It’s just not economical. I haven’t seen small rifle primers in years. I’m seeing lots of factory ammo for shotgun, .22LR, and 9mm getting down to if not pre-pandemic prices, “more affordable.” I’ve also been able to locate pistol primers here and there. 5.56 is just still relatively expensive. I have more fun with PCCs and leverguns then ARs anyways.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My theory (I reload, and almost never purchase commercial ammunition) is that with the army switching to 6.8, all the Tactical Teddys will need entirely new weapons and the bottom will fall out of the 5.56 ammo market.

After all, with the switch to 6.8, all the 5.56 weapons in our safes will become useless.

Ylatkit wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:15 pm My theory (I reload, and almost never purchase commercial ammunition) is that with the army switching to 6.8, all the Tactical Teddys will need entirely new weapons and the bottom will fall out of the 5.56 ammo market.

After all, with the switch to 6.8, all the 5.56 weapons in our safes will become useless.9

You think the ammo gods will stop making 5.56 with the millions of hungry AR 15s out there?
Ha! Doubt it.
And tell me when civilians are gonna get 6.8?

tonguengroover wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:33 pm

Ylatkit wrote: Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:15 pm My theory (I reload, and almost never purchase commercial ammunition) is that with the army switching to 6.8, all the Tactical Teddys will need entirely new weapons and the bottom will fall out of the 5.56 ammo market.

After all, with the switch to 6.8, all the 5.56 weapons in our safes will become useless.9

You think the ammo gods will stop making 5.56 with the millions of hungry AR 15s out there?
Ha! Doubt it.
And tell me when civilians are gonna get 6.8?

I don't think they will either. Millions of rifles 'out there' that shoot 556/223..even a lot of bolt rifles, like my Mossberg MVP.
PLUS, new 6.8 rifle is almost identical in weight, ammo weight, stopping power at range, size, etc...as M14 and .308.
Saw a YT video about this vs M4..and the guy(former USArmy) thought new 'battle rifle' well suited for open field warfare but for urban settings...like a lot in Afghanistan and now Ukraine..the M4 is a better choice.

I didn't say anything about manufacturers stopping ammo production.
I didn't make any argument about which caliber is "better"-- for any purpose.
I didn't say anything about "when civilians are gonna get 6.8" -- mainly because the civilian world invented 6.8, and the army finally caught up. You can go buy a 6.8 system right now.

Back to the topic at hand...

I'm seeing PMC X-Tac at just over a third of a shekel (USD) per round, but at online entities that are charging a lot for shipping. I was in Cabela's yesterday, and their house-brand 5.56 is about two thirds of a shekel per round plus sales tax.

The convenience of being able to take it out of the store with me, and the rounds being in a bulk box instead of in twenty-round boxes (which is silly if I'm loading thirty-round mags at 29 per mag) is worth something at a few hundred rounds, but for someone buying a thousand or more at a time (and I don't feel a need to right now), it's worth a look.

In terms of the OP’s question about affordable 5.56/.223: keep an eye on Norma’s website. They have good sales, and I’ve found their .223 and 5.56 to be pretty good overall

Northern wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 6:15 am In terms of the OP’s question about affordable 5.56/.223: keep an eye on Norma’s website. They have good sales, and I’ve found their .223 and 5.56 to be pretty good overall

Thank you!

Keep buying that ammo because when the shit comes down your not getting anymore! You can always sell it as a commodity like alcohol and tobacco.

I have never, ever regretted buying ammo. I have a few bricks of .22 LR I bought for $12 in ‘08

While 5.56 is still high, I’m finding good deals on .22 so I’m stacking that right now. I buy what I will shoot, and what is currently a good deal. I don’t “chase” a particular caliber.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saw some 5.56 for fitty cent, australian ammo? 900 rounds for 449 Ducats.
Some .22 for 7 cents.
I'll hold off till ..... I dunno soon.

If you don't mind russian steel stuff.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product ... ilid=35987

F4FEver wrote: Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:16 am If you don't mind russian steel stuff.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product ... ilid=35987

I bought a thousand rounds or so of that, and another thousand of the comparable Wolf brand, a couple years ago. My rifles did okay-ish with it, although I had some FTE issues that tracked to needing to be more vigorous with the chamber brush. Some of it was even hollow-point, although the opening was about 0.4mm.

It'll do in a pinch, but I hope I never get that desperate for ammo.

They won't stop making .223 Rem ammo any more than they've stopped making .30-06 ammo. Also, remember that the 6.8 SIG Fury round is going to take some time to permeate throughout the entire Army...assuming the Army actually does what they say they'll do. Remember that we've heard this sort of thing before with the 6.8 SPC.

Personally, I would get set up to reload. I know, small rifle primers are not much easier to find than small pistol primers for those getting into it post-pandemic. But do it anyway. This is to ensure you future ammo availability when, not if, this kind of shortage happens again. It's not expensive to get set up and get started, believe me.

I'm getting close to wanting to restock the larder, so to speak, and I've been "seeking" the online sources for good prices. My stand-by for the last several months has been the Herter's, but that stuff is still sixty copper coins a round, and I'm seeing other brands at two-thirds that price.

How do people feel about the PMC X-tac stuff? I know it's from South Korea, and I'm seeing okay-ish-to-decent reviews of it online. If it's cleaner than the Herter's, AND at 2/3 the price, well...

I have buckets of X-tac. It runs through my old stock ruger 556 all day with zero hiccups. It's the ammo I'm saving for the end of days. That and my win green tip.

I shop SG Ammo a lot. Never had a problem, free shipping, too.

We sell a lot of PMC, both the 5.56 NATO (X-Tac) and .223 Remington specifications, for use in our rental AR's. Both work very well; PMC is good stuff.

What? It comes already made?
Should have told me sooner.

I would probably enjoy reloading my brass. When I was a bike shop guy, one of my favorite things to do was build wheels from the component parts. The precision appealed to me.

I would probably make a hash of it for too long, though. The initial investment in tooling and reference materials is a perceived hurdle, given my ammo consumption patterns. I'm not sure it would save me any money, even if it garnered some satisfaction in other ways.

I recognize that it makes sense for many folks, but I don't have the energy to devote to learning it well enough to make safe reloads for myself.

I bought some PMC X-Tac rounds, but haven't sent any downrange yet. I have a fair supply of Herter's already, and I kinda want to do "FIFO" inventory control on range ammo for the "scary black rifles." That said, the PMC stuff looks okay to my untrained eyes, and I might have to try a magazine of it compared to the Herter's soon, just to be sure my rifle will function with it (I don't expect any problems, but...).

About the least expensive way to get started. A bit slow, but can turn out a box or two of ammo in the time it takes lacing up a wheel.

https://leeprecision.com/classic-lee-loaders

You would be correct in assuming that my way hasn't saved me any money, but id does keep me out of the pool halls.

BearPaws wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2023 12:52 am I would probably enjoy reloading my brass. When I was a bike shop guy, one of my favorite things to do was build wheels from the component parts. The precision appealed to me.

I would probably make a hash of it for too long, though. The initial investment in tooling and reference materials is a perceived hurdle, given my ammo consumption patterns. I'm not sure it would save me any money, even if it garnered some satisfaction in other ways.

I recognize that it makes sense for many folks, but I don't have the energy to devote to learning it well enough to make safe reloads for myself.

I bought some PMC X-Tac rounds, but haven't sent any downrange yet. I have a fair supply of Herter's already, and I kinda want to do "FIFO" inventory control on range ammo for the "scary black rifles." That said, the PMC stuff looks okay to my untrained eyes, and I might have to try a magazine of it compared to the Herter's soon, just to be sure my rifle will function with it (I don't expect any problems, but...).

Couple of things. I was a bicycle shop employee, then owner till 2013(about 25 years). I now have a garage operation where I build about 100 custom designed and built bicycle wheels per year..Very Zen, a small 'a' artisan exercise.

BUT, after wrenching on bikes for so long and now not, reloading 'seems' like a similar exercise. BUT, don't really have the room nor the $ to set it up.

papajim2jordan wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2023 8:04 am About the least expensive way to get started. A bit slow, but can turn out a box or two of ammo in the time it takes lacing up a wheel.

https://leeprecision.com/classic-lee-loaders

You would be correct in assuming that my way hasn't saved me any money, but id does keep me out of the pool halls.

Here's another option. This is all I have for now. You have to buy a set of dies for your caliber. Very nice set up if you can't dedicate space to reloading. It all packs up into a box. I'm glad I took the leap to reloading. It's time consuming (this set up is not fast) but it's just part of the hobby. Lots of fun. I'm loading revolver rounds (for revolver and lever action), and I think that's a pretty good place to start from what I hear. Loading for 44mag, I think I'm actually saving a lot of money. Loading for 9mm, I'm not so sure. I have bullet casting stuff and a bucket of wheel weights, so that's next on the list.

https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-hand-press

You can get set up to load 1 caliber with the lee challenger press and a set of dies, with all the miscellaneous gear, components for well under the price a a single, quality handgun. That’s accounting for the inflated primer prices if today at $100 a box; and reloading your own once fired brass. Bullets and primers are your biggest component expense.


Lee Precision 90030: Breech Lock Chall ... /d/8cXXtqy


I have a lee challenger press going strong for well over a decade and 10s of thousands of rounds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk