Firearms, ammo and price surges

NCLivingBrit

NCLivingBrit

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Has anyone else been wondering if recreational firearms ownership is worth the hassle lately?

Firearms are high, ammo is insane and availability is zero... It's been like this on and off for years now, seems that every time I get a little bit ahead there's a panic and prices hit the sky.

I'm seriously wondering if the fun gun side of things is worth the hassle or if just keeping a couple of defensive firearms and leaving it at that doesn't make more sense. All the joy has gone out of it, for me at least. It's just one more stressor these days. I've got guns I can't shoot because 9mm is $40 a bloody box and the periods of reasonable prices seem to get shorter every time with a longer panic in between.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Has anyone else been wondering if recreational firearms ownership is worth the hassle lately?

Firearms are high, ammo is insane and availability is zero... It's been like this on and off for years now, seems that every time I get a little bit ahead there's a panic and prices hit the sky.

I'm seriously wondering if the fun gun side of things is worth the hassle or if just keeping a couple of defensive firearms and leaving it at that doesn't make more sense. All the joy has gone out of it, for me at least. It's just one more stressor these days. I've got guns I can't shoot because 9mm is $40 a bloody box and the periods of reasonable prices seem to get shorter every time with a longer panic in between.
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I went through a period where I was not enjoying shoot that much. Things were getting stale. I felt like I was going just blasting away without getting anywhere. I took a step back and did more dry firing. I took a class. I added new drills to the mix to keep things fresh. For me it was about enjoying the shooting not about the cost of shooting. I had to go back and find my joy. As to the joy don't let not having enough cause you not to enjoy what you have. Don't let it stress you out.

As for how many guns is enough? I love the collecting and acquiring part of gun ownership. I love the horse trading. The pursuit of the deal. Getting to shoot the prize is icing on the cake. However if I could go back and start my gun ownership all over again I would have bought a lot less guns in the beginning. I would have bought a lot more training and a lot more ammo vs another gun to fondle and put in the safe. At this point the cats out of the bag so I keep filling the safe. LOL

On the cost side I think there are always going to be cycles. Not everyone can afford to buy tons of ammo when prices are low or have the room to store it for the days when we have a run on the bank. I totally get that. If I only had a AR15 and a 9mm pistol with about 500 rounds of ball ammo plus some hollow points for carry I would have enough to defend myself. With dry firing I could cut back to 50 rounds a month and keep my skills sharp enough. They would not be razor sharp but if I am being honest they never were. LOL Everything over that is gravy.

I do not think the good side of the cycles are getting shorter. Ammo prices were great from about early 2017 to 2020 pre COVID. In late 2019-2020 it was about as good as it have been for 15-20 years. There were short micro bursts of shortages but for the most part there was surplus inventory in guns and ammo. S&W AR15s were $400-$450 gun NIB. 223 was under $300 a case. 9mm was $169 a case. etc.... Right now we are in perfect storm. Election year, COVID, civil unrest and for many a down economy. All of these things are working against pricing in the firearms market but This too shall pass... IMHO
 
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pre-covid, ammo prices were (inflation adjusted) the lowest they've been in my shooting lifetime so I took to doing way more fun stuff. more matches, more classes, more types of guns, more everything.

Now I'm with you on it. The fun is gone. I've given up on matches, and now everything is driven toward CCW and defensive stuff. PCCs are even rifles are more toys now since I'm not walking around with a rifle all day. Trying to eek out that reduction in my split times or plate rack runs is gone, in favor of 'fighting' skills. Draw from concealment, transition from flashlight/open-hand stuff to firearm, movement movement movement, etc.

Bill drills are fun and all, but draw-1-reload-1 gets you a whole lot of skill practice (pistol draw, 2 sight pictures, 2 grip checks, 1 mag draw, 1 reload, 1 slide or slide release manipulation, assess, movement) at the cost of 2 rounds.
 
Jayne said:
pre-covid, ammo prices were (inflation adjusted) the lowest they've been in my shooting lifetime so I took to doing way more fun stuff. more matches, more classes, more types of guns, more everything.

Now I'm with you on it. The fun is gone. I've given up on matches, and now everything is driven toward CCW and defensive stuff. PCCs are even rifles are more toys now since I'm not walking around with a rifle all day. Trying to eek out that reduction in my split times or plate rack runs is gone, in favor of 'fighting' skills. Draw from concealment, transition from flashlight/open-hand stuff to firearm, movement movement movement, etc.

Bill drills are fun and all, but draw-1-reload-1 gets you a whole lot of skill practice (pistol draw, 2 sight pictures, 2 grip checks, 1 mag draw, 1 reload, 1 slide or slide release manipulation, assess, movement) at the cost of 2 rounds.
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Exactly! You have to find ways to get skill development and fun out of 50 rounds of ammo. It might make for a good thread. How to get the most out of a 50 round box of 9mm.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Has anyone else been wondering if recreational firearms ownership is worth the hassle lately?

Firearms are high, ammo is insane and availability is zero... It's been like this on and off for years now, seems that every time I get a little bit ahead there's a panic and prices hit the sky.

I'm seriously wondering if the fun gun side of things is worth the hassle or if just keeping a couple of defensive firearms and leaving it at that doesn't make more sense. All the joy has gone out of it, for me at least. It's just one more stressor these days. I've got guns I can't shoot because 9mm is $40 a bloody box and the periods of reasonable prices seem to get shorter every time with a longer panic in between.
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Also cheaper ammo is out there. You just have to stumble onto the right deal. I am still seeing $.26-$.30 +/- but it sells out fast.
 
I have rethought the purpose behind every purchase, that if it can't fill multiple rolls (i.e. self-defense/hunt) it's not worth having. That's a sad thought to have to make, but it's the current state of affairs.
 
Sounds like you’ve been in the slump I have in the past. I just lock that safe and find another hobby until I get another hanker’n for another gun. For about 5 years after I finished school all I did was work. Work work work and then more work. No time for anything fun.

I find that it helps to have multiple hobbies to go to when you get tired of one. I enjoy shooting guns, I do Lawn Care as a side hustle, I take monthly or bi monthly trips to the mountains to hike and drive the parkway etc. You’ve got to find something else that you enjoy doing to supplement times where the gun collecting/shooting just isn’t fun anymore.

I would bet even if prices weren’t crazy expensive you would still be losing interest.

I would also say if it’s the cost of shooting that is getting to you shoot more 22 or start reloading and casting your own bullets. Yes there’s start up costs involved but it will pay for itself before long. Years ago when I couldn’t afford or find ammo I would be making 38 special for 6 cents a pop. It was cheaper than 22 and the reloading/casting was a whole hobby in itself.


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22Rimfire said:
Sounds like you’ve been in the slump I have in the past. I just lock that safe and find another hobby until I get another hanker’n for another gun. For about 5 years after I finished school all I did was work. Work work work and then more work. No time for anything fun.

I find that it helps to have multiple hobbies to go to when you get tired of one. I enjoy shooting guns, I do Lawn Care as a side hustle, I take monthly or bi monthly trips to the mountains to hike and drive the parkway etc. You’ve got to find something else that you enjoy doing to supplement times where the gun collecting/shooting just isn’t fun anymore.

I would bet even if prices weren’t crazy expensive you would still be losing interest.


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True, the whole sick leave combined with this covid nonsense isn't helping, but I was shooting until a while back and loving have land to do it on. Lately every time I think about doing a little shooting, I realize I won't be able to replace the ammo and don't. Even the 22lr, which I have a 50cal can full of.
 
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NCLivingBrit said:
True, the whole sick leave combined with this covid nonsense isn't helping, but I was shooting until a while back and loving have land to do it on. Lately every time I think about doing a little shooting, I realize I won't be able to replace the ammo and don't. Even the 22lr, which I have a 50cal can full of.
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Sounds like it may be time for a pellet gun?


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I've been in your shoes. Casting bullets was my solution. I can pile boolits up (and trade them for other things) which makes shooting ridiculously cheap. Lead can be sourced very cheaply if you are willing to put the work in. I also agree with the other guys mentioning having other hobbies. I fish like crazy in fall and spring and shoot more winter and summer.
 
I bet I haven't shot 400 rounds all summer.....sad, isn't it?:rolleyes:

It's mostly the heat holding me back, though. I can't deal with it this summer like I was able to last year. I hope I can get out to the range more in cold weather, and even do at least one match...sorry guys, "slow Millie" is going to show up at some point.:)

Still doing my "homework" with various guns. I'm supposed to go to the range in the morning, we'll see how the ammo goes. Not taking a lot with me like I usually do, maybe a box each of 9mm, .380 and .45. (+ Some .38 spl if my shooting buddy wants to shoot the Rossi.)
 
Unless the panic lessens after the election I gotta wonder how the LGS’s and ranges will make out? If LGS’s don’t have inventory to sell how can they pay their bills? If people can’t afford ammo for range time how can ranges, especially the “guntry club” indoor ranges, pay their bills? Outdoor members only type ranges will be hurt to a point with the possibility of some members not renewing but the indoor ranges that make a good portion of their money from lane fees and associated sales won’t have the “general public” traffic come in to shoot when 9mm is a buck a bullet on top of $20 or so lane fee.

An instructor I’ve taken classes with told me he can’t do CHP classes quick enough to meet demand (he cut the size per King Cooper’s orders of group size) but his other classes are running at 50% or less (which actually helps meet Cooper’s order) but he’s not getting newer shooters because they don’t want to spend maybe $150 per class day for the class then another $250 (if they can get ammo at 50¢ per round even). He use to keep a some cases of ammo (5.56 or 9mm especially plus a little .40SW and .45acp) in his Jeep just in case a student needed some but he can’t do it now with the short supply and high costs he can’t justify having over $1K tied up in ammo sitting around that he makes little or no profit on.

The industry’s state day to day really does concern me and unless the businesses (LGS, range or trainer) adapts and shifts their business model they’re in for a rough ride.
 
There may be more ammo out there than we think. I dunno.

The monthly H20 pistol match tomorrow has had all but three spots filled since earlier this week. That’s 87 shooters, and I expect those last slots will be filled in the morning. We were wondering if we should cut the round count due to the ammo shortage to get people to come, but the match filled up anyway. A lot of these folks are new to the sport too.
 
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I’m right there with you, I cant afford to shoot anymore. I’ve sold off all my fun guns, Everything I have now is for defensive purposes and hunting. And I don’t even get to do that as much as I want to anymore.
 
Ammo is hitting the stores at ok prices but the bots are picking it up and buying it out before the avg person can get it. I have seen Browning, Tula, fiocchi and Agulia hit today for under $.30 a round. It went to fast for me to post anything. If you want it bad enough it is out there.
 
"Has anyone else been wondering if recreational firearms ownership is worth the hassle lately?"

lately, yes.
but...those "rec" guns are bringing big prices in the used market.
i look at it as an investment, just like stocks or real estate.
during Obama, i bartered ammo for laptops, HDTVs, etc.

thank goodness we have had a good 2 years of "normal" cost/inventory
of ammo/guns to allow anyone to get all they could afford.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
Has anyone else been wondering if recreational firearms ownership is worth the hassle lately?

Firearms are high, ammo is insane and availability is zero... It's been like this on and off for years now, seems that every time I get a little bit ahead there's a panic and prices hit the sky.

I'm seriously wondering if the fun gun side of things is worth the hassle or if just keeping a couple of defensive firearms and leaving it at that doesn't make more sense. All the joy has gone out of it, for me at least. It's just one more stressor these days. I've got guns I can't shoot because 9mm is $40 a bloody box and the periods of reasonable prices seem to get shorter every time with a longer panic in between.
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Firearms are just the same as any hobby.

Every american should have basic firearms for utility (self defense, pest control, etc.) and should spend enough regardless of the market to remain proficient.

As to the hobby side. All hobbies are optional. Fun gun stuff is on a whim. Whether your hobby is guns, or vehicles, bikes, atv's, photography, 1st edition books, coins, stamps, music, on and on to infinity....

All hobbies take money, alot or a little. The more passionate a person is for their hobby, the more they will spend.

Remember the "beany baby" craze? Collectors of those things hit their "high tide mark" years ago. But there are still folks that are into that type of collecting.

The nice part of firearms is they always retain a certain value. Maybe not invest in a turn key classic car and know in 20years it is a profit. But all firearms essentially retain a value.

I personally went a few years recently without even opening my safe. Still loved the hobby but a lack of disposable income put it to the back burner.

Naturally, now the "fun fund" has come back just in time for the world to go stupid....

I'm on a severe revolver kick. Reloading components for .357 can't be found but I now have three in the caliber. Why because it's my hobby, it's fun. I have stumbled across enough components to reload for them. Hell the revolvers themselves were good deals.

The buy, sell, trade, collect part of firearms and the related accessories is the whole hobby itself. I love it. If prices are above what I am willing to spend. I just won't spend it. It's cyclical. Just as anything I want to do.

If it costs to much for me to spend on my hobby. Hit pause until I either have the funds or it becomes more reasonable.
 
I am usually stocked up and ready to rock. The only thing that slowed me down this year on the BR competition circuit was the availability of custom bullets and the availability of matches (thank you Roy Cooper). This is just a bump in the road. I have been over the bump several times in the last 35 yrs. This too shall pass.
 
I’ve whittled things down and picked a few things up for redundancy...have 4 folks in the household. All ARs are chambered for the same cartridge and G19s are the primary sidearm.

Just made sense on many fronts...training/familiarity, ammunition stores/reloading, parts, magazines, maintenance, etc.

I’m all about keeping things as simple and streamlined as possible.
 
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I've taken to shooting alot of .22. I have .22 conversions for Glocks, 1911s , BHPs and J and K frames. I don't ever carry these guns so I don't get alot out of shooting them. The guns I carry , i ascribe to the Cooper idea of training. Dry fire for practice and live fire for affirmation of practice.
I still shoot every day.
 
wsfiredude said:
I’ve whittled things down and picked a few things up for redundancy...have 4 folks in the household. All ARs are chambered for the same cartridge and G19s are the primary sidearm.

Just made sense on many fronts...training/familiarity, ammunition stores/reloading, parts, magazines, maintenance, etc.

I’m all about keeping things as simple and streamlined as possible.
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That is a great plan. I have sold and purchased like calibers for the most part and the others calibers are only due to bargains. 22LR for fun, 9mm handguns, and 556 for crowd control. I don’t even own a single 45acp anymore. I have guns that I own one box of ammo for that caliber while getting case shipments for the primary calibers. I do not buy extra mags for non primary guns. It’s many 556 and Glock 9mm mags. I have not shot one round in we’ll over two years now. Time, heat, and places being the reason. I mainly have missed the Skeet field more than handgun or rifle.
 
I used to standardize on one handgun caliber for simplicity, but in the last scare it occurred to me that if I couldn’t get one caliber, it might be good to have a handgun that ran another caliber that I could get.

That’s my excuse anyway! :D
 
fieldgrade said:
I used to standardize on one handgun caliber for simplicity, but in the last scare it occurred to me that if I couldn’t get one caliber, it might be good to have a handgun that ran another caliber that I could get.

That’s my excuse anyway! :D
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Works for me!
 
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