Isn't a shame that politicians screw up a good thing. I'm stocked up, because I think what's coming is going to be ugly. Chief
Sadly the politicians didn't have a thing to do with the last shortage. It was pure panic buying because of shooters speculating what the politicians were going to do. Seems like the same thing is going on now. Even if HRC is elected, and both the House and Senate fall to the democrats AND they decided to enact some sort of gun control, it would take months to write a bill and get it through both houses and on the presidents desk, and even then those bills typically don't take effect for a few months or even years while they figure out how to enforce the new law. But like you, I've spent the past few years stocking up. I don't trust politicians, but I trust everyday folks less. I wonder how many fpeople out there buying right now are only doing so to flip the ammo/guns and turn a profit once they become scarce?
Regardless of anybody's crystal ball analysis as far as laws being enacted, (they could do it overnight ny was a beta test)There were other supply issues that have happened. A fire at hodgons plant in Australia if I remember correctly. Then supply trying to catch up with demand. Most manufacturers have been full tilt for the past 5+years. I think hornady stopped production on a few lines of reloading components to fill orders for cartridges Last year? Nics checks continue to see high volume so it's not just panic buying its new people shooting. I know in my county there are still month long wait lists for ccws.
There's new shooters for sure, but at the same time EVERYBODY I know has increased the ammo they keep on hand by about ten-fold so they're prepared for the next round of panic buying. Those that used to keep a box or so now have 10 boxes. Those that used to keep 10 boxes now have 100 boxes. While I can't blame anybody for this, and I've done the same myself, all it's done is increase the length of time for the panic buying because manufacturers can't possibly be expected to suddenly increase their output by 10 in just a few years, especially when they know eventually the buying will even out once everybody feels they've stocked up enough.
True, that's why I mentioned manufacturing they won't invest in volume capability for a short market trend. What I find interesting is it takes a year or more for supply to catch up after political scares. I don't like calling it panic buying either. I think more people have been like you said slowly preparing their supply. There are panic buyers though. I agree, I think people learned that they need their yearly ammo supply to ensure they can keep shooting. That's why I "panic buy".
Lots of new shooters buying ammo and also lots of new reloaders like me buying components to last a lifetime. I got started reloading in the 2012 panic and have been buying nonstop when I see a good price. I'm pretty well stocked now, so my buying is kinda slowing. Now I just replace what I shoot once a year instead of building up inventory. I told myself I will never run out of ammo again when I started reloading. I held true to that when buying components. I'll probably die with some of the stuff I have now, but you won't see me going from store to store looking for a box of anything when the poo flies
My brother-in-law passed away this spring. He had probably gone a little overboard the last few years in his purchases. One hates to acquire things under circumstances such as this, but as the only other avid shooter/hunter in the family my sister passed it all on to me. Between his stuff and what I already had, I'm sitting comfortable at this point.
My great uncle passed away when I was 19, he had 20 or so gun and tons of reloading equipment. At that time in my life I wasn't interested in reloading so I declined taking any of it and it all went to auction. It's 15 years later now, but I really regret that. At least I do have one of his revolvers and a Bear recurve bow, the sentimental value for those items is worth more than the cost of purchasing reloading equipment.
Looking at trying a new powder for .45acp. Shortages helped me find an awsome (better than varget) rifle powder maybe finding a not so popular powder can improve my pistol loads. What's your fav powder for 45?
Try 700x. It meters like cornflakes, but it's always around, it's cheap, and it gives great accuracy for me.
So I've been debating it all summer, but I just put an order in to Kempf for their Lee Classic Turret kit in .38/.357 and got a scale from Amazon. Back in the spring I had already purchased 1000 each of 9mm and .357 bullets, primers, a couple pounds of powder and the Lyman book so I should be ready to go. I've been saving all my brass for the past 4 years so I'm good there. All I need now is to find a permanent area for a reloading bench. I'm stuck between using the storage area in the basement or my shop in the garage. The garage seems like it'd constantly be in my way when working on other stuff and it can get pretty cold in the winter, but the basement is open to the cats which seems like it could lead to a disaster.
I use Hodgdon HP-38 and love it. It meters exceptionally well and performs well in 45. I use it in 38spl with stellar results and 9mm is ok (kinda smoky). it's a good all around Powder, I don't have to dump the hopper each time I switch calibers. Oh yeah, HP-38 is identical to Winchester 231, same chit.
Didn't even think of 700x. How's recoil? Any Chrono data? I'm hesitant because of metering. I will not be happy if it can't throw within .1-.2 grain.
I don't really have a favorite, and I don't shoot 45acp any more, just 40/9. Over the years though I worked up some good loads using blue dot and 231, in both long and short barreled 45's.
The 231 shot well, has some muzzle flash meters well and the Chrono had me just hitting power factor with 5.0 grains. LGS suggested reading up on autocomp.
