.308 Ammunition Woes?

[FREE RIFLEMAN]

Is anyone else out there having a difficult time finding M80 Ball or a Foreign Surplus equivalent? Those days of buying up cheap stuff are over, aren't they?

I have undergone a reloading campaign, what are some of you doing?
Everything Berdan-primed gets left alone, I'll only shoot Boxer-primed for reloading later, anyone else have anything they'd like to add?

I'm looking for M-80 Brass... Pat's Reloading is out, anyone have another source for it? I'm seeing Lake City get more expensive, and M118 is getting hard to find, has anyone else noticed this?

[Dr. X]

Those days of buying up cheap stuff are over, aren't they?

Yeppy, I'm afraid so...It's come full circle from the early 80's when I got rid of a SA Tanker Garand and a Spanish Mauser, both in .308, because I couldn't find ammo or afford it once I did. Back then there WAS no surplus and Wallaceworld was gettin' 16 bucks fer 20 rounds of Remington. The situation brought on my downward spiral into mouseguns and AK's, years before they were cool. At least I could get 1000 rounds of chicom for 79 bucks. Now that I have a FAL, here we go again. I don't attend matches because I'd have to waste precious rounds and don't shoot as much as I'd like because of the shortage, as well. I guess I've turned into an ammo miser, carefully hoarding my meagre stash of SA, Aussie, paki, and Lake City, and always on the lookout for more...:(

as ever,
Dr. X :cool:

[Bidah]

I have a pretty good stash of brass, so I have not been looking lately. I have used Pats in the past. I switched a while ago to Scharch, and I see that they still have it available. They sell 100% processed, and it includes the shipping. You can check them out at www.scharch.com

-Bidah

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Grafs has 308 brass. 19.99/c and the shipping is cheap. I've been a Grafs customer for years and the've always been great!

http://www.grafs.com/metallic/773

[Arizona Highlander]

Dr. X and I must be the two old geezers on this board, for I remember exactly the same situation back in the 1980’s. I’d bought an M1A and a few cases of good, cheap, Berdan-primed Spanish Santa Barbara 7.62 NATO, and had a great time of it . . . only to soon discover that the surplus market for .308 was fast drying up. I had to buy a case of very expensive PMC ball to keep feeding the M1A (the PMC did come in a brand-new, beautifully-crafted wooden case - I’ve still got it) and later bought a case of equally pricey Yugo ammo (commercial, not surplus) but ultimately feeding my M1A became so expensive that I sold it and also moved into mouse guns and AK’s for a while.

Then, in the 1990’s, surplus 7.62 NATO suddenly became plentiful again, and I bought myself a FAL . . . only to see now that surplus 7.62 NATO ammo is running out AGAIN.

In response, I’ve been shooting my Garand more often lately (excellent quality Greek 30-06 is plentiful, at least right now). It’s a bummer, but having been through this before, I can only suggest to BE PATIENT and wait for the next great boatload of surplus .308 to hit our shores. It WILL happen . . . though, like last time, we might have to wait years and years. :(

[Ryder]

I've broken out my Dillon 550b reloader and am beginning to stockpile coponents.

It seems ALL ammo is going up in price and reloading your "blasting" ammo is going to have to be the way to go. I'll save the surplus stuff for a rainy day ;)

On a side note, I'll be offering up my spare 550b for sale as soon as I gather up all the parts that would come with the basic unit.

[GOVT1911]

Ryder, I'd be interested in the 550b! I plan on finally getting into reloading when I get back from Iraq. Been reading a bit and doing some research online when I can. last night I finally decided to go ahead and buy a 550b!!! I figured I'd do some more searching online and swung by here to see what was up and viola!!!!!! a 550b for sale in the near future!!! LOL

Lemme know whatcha got and what you're asking for it, I'm sure we can come to a deal.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Remember to watch out for "Wolf" brand .308 Klapow!!!!!

[FREE RIFLEMAN]

I switched a while ago to Scharch, and I see that they still have it available. They sell 100% processed, and it includes the shipping. You can check them out at www.scharch.com

-Bidah

Thanks, It was painful, but last year I sold on of my FALs to finance my latest brass investment. I figured it was better to have two and something to shoot in them, than three with one case of Port... I do want to get one more K of M-80 Brass to even out my numbers, so thanks Bidah, that may be a good option. Next, I am going to work on the supplies to reload them over and over, even under field conditions, if need be. As a last resort, I have tons of 165gr gas-checked lead that I can cast real hard to keep the gas port from cloging. I think I may start setting that up once I am finished to use for training rounds, too. I hope some of you guys are right about another boatload, but I can't bank on it. That ship may never sail. Before you know what...

The GRAF brass is very pricey compared to my $85 per thousand I paid last year for semi-new, machine-deprimed, RA-61 from Pat's. I wish I coud put back enough components to reload all my boxer ten times, like I should have four years ago! That would last me a lifetime, barring any TEOTWAWKI.

Arizona Highlander, we'll have to link up sometime, still. I am still south of you, we are considering a strawbale on some acreage. Prices have just gone through the roof in S. AZ... making this process even more difficult.

[Bidah]

I pretty much do the same. I have a stock of Port and SA, which does not get touched. I just reload for my practice ammo, and in a pinch, I could use it as well. I have a decent pile of bullets, powder and primers, and a bit of brass as well. What I do is load about 500 pieces over and over until they wear out, and then pull out another 500 and start again. That is a good number for what I need for training.

FWIW, I also use a 550B.

-Bidah

[GS Rider]

The ammo prices are really just a wake up call that all of our weapons and training are for nothing if we can't feed them with ammo. Just like a car is useless with out gas. The key here is to look into the future and say can I count on having ammo in 10 or 20 years down the road?If not then how do we insure that we will have something to shoot out of our weapons? The answer is to reload and find a way to get components to reload. Here in Las Vegas there are many indoor ranges and I am sure it wouldn't be to hard to get some re-loadable pistol brass from them. Then you have to find a source for rifle and shotgun. But I don't really see any alternative to this. Even if ammo prices come down they will also go up to at some point. And if enough people reload it should drive prices down as demand drops. And for survival purposes reloading with the new hollow point rounds is better than using surplus fmj. I hate to spend money on anything but guns but I believe that for the long haul I had better get in to reloading now and stock up on the things that I can't find easily like primers and powder. In the near future I think these 2 things will be hardest to get. I hope I am wrong but it is better to start reloading today than to wait until everyone else has to.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

I guess I might look into picking up some Wolf 7.62 x 39 for training. At least it is still cheap (compaired to 7.62 x 51 anyway).

No need to ban guns if there's no ammo available. A back door way of making guns usless.

7.62

[FREE RIFLEMAN]

I have a detailed list of priorities when it comes to this...

FALs (completing a major Kaiser Works upgrade for the superior A2 rear sights)
FAL Parts (Spare parts, spring sets, tools, etc.)
FAL Ammo (some Berdan, but mostly US-manufactured M-80 Ball)
FAL Ammo Components (enough to reload Boxer-Primed M-80 Brass several times)

I am using the 147 gr FMJBT, RA-61 Brass, H4895 (testing loads now, I want 2800 fps if it performs well) Surplus Powder, CCI Military Primers, Primer Sealer, and I'll be repacking them in stripper clips and bandoleers bound for USGI Ammo Cans :D

In order to facilitate this on a cost-effective budget, I am using an RCBS RockChucker (don't laugh), Dillion Super Swage, and a Lyman Turbo Tumbler. It has been man-hour intensive, but the RL-550 is out of my reach with so many investments I do not wish to cash out: Silver, Brass, Copper, Lead, etc.

I did buy 2K more of processed M-80 brass from Top Brass yesterday for $232, this stuff is like silver and just keeps going up.

I also saw a future delivery of M-80 and M-118LR Lake City on Ammo Man's website last night. $350 per 1000 on the M-80. If that sounds crazy compared to $160 a few years ago, it will only get worse. [enter ominous music normally accompanying the bearer of bad news...]

[Dr. X]

In order to facilitate this on a cost-effective budget, I am using an RCBS RockChucker (don't laugh)...


I ain't...It's all I have as well. My next step is to get the funds to round up the reloading basics, but the way this winter's been the results ain't lookin' real good...:(

as ever,
Dr. X :cool:

[MdlMkr 7.62]

I don't think anyone who knows would knock Rock Chuckers. I've loaded thousands of rounds on mine. Only about 5 parts to take care of. I'd like to have a Dillon 650 but the funds just aren't there for it (yet).

7.62

[MdlMkr 7.62]

I still like the (relative) cheapness of Wolf 7.62 WP ammo. good for general plinking.

It's nice not to worry about picking up the brass too :cool:

7.62

[411man]

In 2005 I started trying to encourage people to stock-up on Military Surplus 308.

Now the best way to find it at a decent price is to SEARCH the local Gun Stores, Shows, local advertising papers, Online volume dealers, and Auctions EVERYDAY ! It is a matter of LUCK and constant searching.

Always ask for a Volume Purchase Discount and find a way to do the deal if one is offered. This goes for Online Auctions as well.

[sparkky]

I got busy about 6 months ago getting reloading stuff for 223 and 308 together. and did get 2 full cases of SA for "shooter grade" ammo. saving the Port.
I could reload about 2K of 308, 4K of 223, and 500 '06 right now today. Could only do it once tho. Probably should start getting more components since I have that much brass. building the house at "the compound" now too has kind of consumed my "expendable income" to say the least.
luckily I stocked up on Port and Wolf AK food when prices were low. set a deal up for 23K of Port several years ago at the creek for me and a few guys. still setting my share of that. had some before and some Hirt too.
I've been at this a few years. LOL

EDIT:
what do you guys think the shelf life of powder and primers stored cool, dry and dark would be? I picked up 4 jugs of Pats W-846 awhile back.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Poly GUN BAG has pulled 147 gr .308 for $60/1100. Git some and GIT to reloadin'

7.62 :D

[MdlMkr 7.62]

How about the PMC Berdan primers on Gunbroker? Git to reloadin those Berdan cases!

7.62

[Bidah]

Poly GUN BAG has pulled 147 gr .308 for $60/1100. Git some and GIT to reloadin'

7.62 :D

What is Poly Gun Bag? I would not mind getting few more.

I also heard that the Wolf .308 sucked. Is that not the case from those who have used it? I use Wolf everything else with no problems. I just have not tried it yet.

-bidah

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Here's the link

http://www.polygunbag.com/

7.62

[Barbcue]

I just ordered 5 can of OFV INDIAN from SG was 95 a can plus 10 buc a can shipping 2000 rnds for 525 shipped..

its boxer primed and reloadable.. better get on it before its back ordered
till may !. if i can hack it im gunna order 5 more cans before the price jump..

[Bidah]

I don't know about this current batch of Indian, but the last batch was not reloadable.. Yes it was boxer, but the brass was too soft and would not resize correctly. I ended up throwing about 1000 cases in the recycle pile.

I need some for an upcoming appleseed shoot. I hope that it is better stuff.

-bidah

[MdlMkr 7.62]

"I don't know about this current batch of Indian, but the last batch was not reloadable.. Yes it was boxer, but the brass was too soft and would not resize correctly. I ended up throwing about 1000 cases in the recycle pile."

That sucks. Just 1 more reason to stay away from Indian ammo

7.62

[Barbcue]

thats does suck i hope that its better brass than what youve experianced
as its like the only deal around on 762 surp..

[MdlMkr 7.62]

There is still some Port at stores in Michigan. $60 / 200 linked.

7.62

[FREE RIFLEMAN]

It is quite apparent to me that I am not the only one with that sick feeling in my stomach... I have a nagging feeling AWBs are right on our heals all the while, so it literally is a race against time versus resources. Too bad women can't understand that. I have to time my purchases with when I can live with my wife being furious... for me, the calamity has already begun... I learned this week that I go overboard and I am paranoid.:D

[MdlMkr 7.62]

My wife understands it. I feel this is the end of the era of being able to buy EBR's. The AWB probably won't go through this time but they'll just keep bringing it up until it does pass. If you want EBR's, mags & ammo, now is the time to get them. Maybe you'll be able to get them "tomorrow" and it you feel comfortable gambling on that then go with the gamble. Most folks like the sure thing - hence the price increases we're seeing. EBR's are still cheapest of the three but for how much longer. The new AWB is not in the newspapers or on TV by design. I feel that when it hits the mainstream media, the lines will be out the door at the local gunshop.

7.62

[sparkky]

Luckily I have been at this long enough I have a pretty good comfort zone achieved in about everything. I'm currently getting whatever small AK parts I want now, to avoid the inevitable rush.
I agree that 1022 may not pass this time but it's like the energizer bunny.
I have a young friend just getting started in all this and has 3 very young kids. He knows he should be doing more there is just so much $$ to go around.
Unlike most, my wife is pretty much on board with stocking up on various things but I tend to think more "long term" than she does.
I have what I am comfortable with for "life time" and have most likely moved into "next generation" mode by some standards.
Worst case, 1022 passes within months. Best case, we have till '08/09 sometime.
Do it now and until it hurts. We'll have a LOONGGG time to heal up.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

"Do it now and until it hurts. We'll have a LOONGGG time to heal up."

+1 on that

7.62