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posted ago by LizardPerson ago by LizardPerson +193 / -0

I just built my first AR-15, but unfortunately I have no ammo. Been looking for .223 and 5.56, but I can't find any good quality bullets for less than $1 per round. What's going on? Is someone buying up all the stock?

How practical is it to make my own bullets? Can someone with little-to-no shopwork experience do it?

Comments (94)
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48
Ferrous_Tarkus 48 points ago +48 / -0

There were more guns purchased in July 2020 than there were in all of 2019.

Supply and demand is kicking in HARD.

43
jdovejr 43 points ago +43 / -0

This is why you don’t wait until shit happens to buy guns and ammo.

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LizardPerson [S] 35 points ago +36 / -1

It's not my fault... I'm 19 with very little economic power. I've been trying to convince my dad to stock up for a while, but he doesn't see the urgency.

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jgardner 16 points ago +16 / -0

Wait until the crisis passes, wait for ammo to drop down again. It may take months or years, but when they fall to reasonable levels, buy a ton.

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LizardPerson [S] 18 points ago +18 / -0

The question is if the crisis will ever pass...

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jgardner 10 points ago +10 / -0

Either that or manufacturing will catch up.

Manufacturers have to gamble when the crisis will pass, if ever. They make ammo today for demand tomorrow, and sometimes there is a ramping up and investment required. We were short on ammo all throughout Obama because the crisis lasted a lot longer than anyone expected.

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TrumpVoter1 4 points ago +4 / -0

Don't forget covid shut a lot of manufacturing down

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deleted 4 points ago +5 / -1
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Tx50bmg 1 point ago +2 / -1

$2,500? Maybe for a ratted out, back from the Gulf version, but NIB would've been over $5K.

https://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=42546

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deleted 1 point ago +2 / -1
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Tx50bmg 0 points ago +1 / -1

Again, calling BS on that price. That's even low for a bolt-action 99, but semi-auto? No way.

"I paid $ 6750 plus tax for my M82A1 back in 1996."

https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/DEALERS_COST_ON_NEW_BARRETT_50_CAL_M82A1/3-180291/

That said, it's difficult to find any range that allows that caliber...not to mention the cost just to shoot it (~$3/rnd).

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deleted 1 point ago +2 / -1
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Tx50bmg 0 points ago +1 / -1

Yes, 1994 and it was still more than what you claimed you paid. Barrett wasn't selling them NIB for $2,500 at any point, and a dealer sure as hell wasn't going to pass it below cost, meaning you found a desperate private sale for that amount? I don't hate anything, but if you're going to lie, make sure you use a realistic price. 😂

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deleted 3 points ago +3 / -0
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deleted 18 points ago +18 / -0
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bellcurvestrikesback 17 points ago +17 / -0

"First time?"

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Harambe 15 points ago +16 / -1

Ridiculous riots and tyranny i wonder why everyone is buying ammo, how does supply and demand work again?

Kek

5
LizardPerson [S] 5 points ago +6 / -1

I swear I don't live under a rock. I'm more asking of something more is going on, like something truly monumental that we don't know about.

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deleted 9 points ago +9 / -0
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Modus_Pwninz 6 points ago +6 / -0

This happened in 2008 as well when Obama was talking about doing an assault weapons ban 2.0 - ARs doubled, .223 was $1/round if you could find it.

Check ammoseek.com

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pede-o-saurus 7 points ago +7 / -0

Oh, you know, preparing for the civil war and such.

Find some friends who are well prepared (start going to local Trump/Republican events). Ask them to please buy some ammo to equip one more 'pede.

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FertileMoor 5 points ago +5 / -0

luckygunner.com has 5.56 at 61 cents a round for 1000. What quantity are you shopping for? 20 at a t time?

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Roadrash 7 points ago +7 / -0

Think op is looking for some sp or hp ammo, and $1-1.50 is what it’s going for. Everyone bought all the less expensive self-defense rounds, but at least at $1-$1.50 round of 223 you’re getting high quality ammo, it’s not like they’re selling complete shit for that much.

Suck it up and spend the money now op, it’s only gonna get worse for a while.

3
LizardPerson [S] 3 points ago +4 / -1

I'm a poor college student... can't afford to put down $600. Maybe I'll just buy a small case and save it for the doomsday.

7
DeadOverRed 7 points ago +7 / -0

Buy the thousand rounds. Education doesn't help corpses.

3
CmonGubMintGibMe 3 points ago +3 / -0

Ya i just bought 1000 rds at 600$ on a different site.

5
knightofday 5 points ago +5 / -0

You’re several months too late OP, demand is through the stratosphere

4
ElGuapo 4 points ago +4 / -0

Hey man, this whole situation has everyone buying ammo in mass. Check ammoseek (especially at off hours) and be ready to jump on a good deal ASAP. Also, look for local or smaller places, I’ve found some great bulk deals on ammo by going to smaller sites.

4
Whipple2946 4 points ago +4 / -0

Lets see...chyna virus, panic buying, rioting nationwide, "peaceful" protests, election year... I am sure I missed some.

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deleted 3 points ago +3 / -0
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BuffaloReaper94 3 points ago +3 / -0

Download the AmmoSeek app and jump on anything that fits your budget - don’t hesitate or it will be gone. Either that or keep hitting trusted sites several times a day.

3
Latinalover 3 points ago +3 / -0

Everybody is prepping for Pantifa and BLM to really screw up by coming out to the burbs. They will neet their maker there because most of us have 10 or 20k rounds for their cross dressing asses.

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Duchess 1 point ago +1 / -0

This.

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Pelosi_Halitosis 3 points ago +3 / -0

You can learn to load, online sellers always prey on panic. Found this to be pretty typical pricing for .308

https://palmettostatearmory.com/308-ammo.html

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TrumpVoter1 2 points ago +2 / -0

Try getting primers. Even reloading is taking a hit

2
Don-O-Mite 2 points ago +2 / -0

If you want .223 for the normal $.37-ish a round it used to be, youll have to wait. Its going to take a while to resupply after the months of panic buying.

Expect to pay a buck a round probably into January (by my guess)

2
Skibumin 2 points ago +2 / -0

Use ammoseek.com

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TrumpHomo83 1 point ago +1 / -0

Someone posted about wiki arms a few weeks back, they have an app... ive been buying my ammo on it, but you have to be careful if youre new...

AR-15 ammo seems to be a few for < $.50 round, but its all FMJ... not sure if thats what youre looking for...

2
JamesBond007 2 points ago +2 / -0

Unless you’re hunting game take the FMJ

2
TrumpHomo83 2 points ago +2 / -0

At what point can i consider communists "game"

1
JamesBond007 1 point ago +1 / -0

Don’t ask, don’t tell

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TrumpVoter1 1 point ago +1 / -0

Oos

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TrumpVoter1 2 points ago +2 / -0

thats as bad as the $500-600 for 1000 rounds of 9mm. that isn't S&D, its gouging and the proof of that is the daily restock at Basspro of Herters and WWB at normal pricing. Sure it sells out in like 10 minutes but if you are persistent you can get a 1000 rounds. They have Herters .223 at normal as well though it is not in stock quite as often

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TrumpVoter1 1 point ago +1 / -0

i appreciate the link but i am not paying gouging prices for it. i have a 2000 rounds of 5.56 already.

1
JamesBond007 1 point ago +1 / -0

Just trying to help. I stocked up when it was salad days

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TrumpVoter1 2 points ago +2 / -0

i do appreciate it and like you i did as well. I like being able to easily replace what i shoot and i refuse to pay gouging prices when i am not desperate. if they were close to normal it would be a different story

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deleted 0 points ago +1 / -1
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JamesBond007 1 point ago +1 / -0

It all goes BANG and you should be cleaning your rifle after you use it.

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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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Brez 1 point ago +1 / -0

Reloading is easy after substantial initial investment, but it is not a solution right now unless you are already well stocked. It also only makes financial sense to the very frequent shooter.

You buy all the parts of a round. Don't have one part? Don't have a round. Last ammo panic was actually caused by primers being in short supply. I'm too depressed to look but I have doubts you find everything you need. If I make primers I'm selling them at a premium to whole ammo companies vs the reloader market. Buy a handful at these absurd prices but wait

1
Psycochico 1 point ago +1 / -0

www.ammoseek.com is a great resource. Prices for my 6.5 ammo are almost the same as the 5.56 brass. Crazy. Luckily I stocked up in February before it got out of hand at around .33 per round. Of course, it all went into the lake that one day...

1
Riggs 1 point ago +1 / -0

Im an engineer for a company that makes brass cartridge in many calibers. Can confirm demand is through the ceiling and we're trying our best to keep up!

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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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TrumpVoter1 1 point ago +1 / -0

Supply and demand with supply on the short side primarily to do with covid most likely

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me-no-likely 1 point ago +1 / -0

You need to know about this site: https://ammoseek.com/ammo/223-remington

Damn, .50 cents/each was the cheapest.

Reloading isn’t that hard, but it takes more time than I think and u gotta put money into it. Supplies like powder are likely abnormal

1
Rugar22 1 point ago +1 / -0

Low amount of stock, High Demand.

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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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deleted 1 point ago +1 / -0
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GEoP 1 point ago +1 / -0

Any rich folks want to get into manufacturing? Now's the time.

1
ivymike 1 point ago +1 / -0

Demand is outstripping supply. Econ 101.

1
TheAmbulance 1 point ago +1 / -0

I still remember the uproar when llamma took all the seconds from the military and shredded them in to train cars for china to recycle vs the civilian market... Just saying.

1
ChickNorris 1 point ago +1 / -0

People stocking up like crazy. I can't find my ammo anywhere right now, even online. Wish I would have grabbed some when Federal had that sale a week or two ago. Now they're out of my caliber too.

1
JohnMcCainsTumors 1 point ago +1 / -0

I've men saying "buy ammo" on here for months! They know we will Need it soon.

1
PhillyNekim 1 point ago +1 / -0

Ammoseek is what I used to use -

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/5.56x45mm-nato

My god it really is 60c is the minimal at the moment. Used to be like 20c was the cheapest target practice ammo.

Just get about 6 magazines worth of ammo for now...

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deleted 0 points ago +1 / -1
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SickOthis 5 points ago +5 / -0

If he can find powder primers or brass