.308 ammo too expensive

I'm still saving my pennies for my next gun and I'm still liking the Savage Precision Carbine.
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Got one and love it. Accurate and compact enough not to be a pain in the kiester in a tree stand.

To the OP, reload. Buy components along and along, that way when panic buying hits again after this stuff blows over you'll have the means to make your own without being a slave to high prices. Anyone who shoots on a regular basis has no reason not to reload. It will always be cheaper than factory with the added benefit of tailored ammo.

The investment might hurt for a little while but the benefits outweigh the other costs after just a few months.
 
3-4 Shots for brass life? I have some cases that aren't good after 1 or 2 but on average I get at least 10. Heck I had some '06 brass I must have loaded 20 times before it was bad.
 
You have to do some searching but there is some loaded ammo out there. Most of the time it goes quick however. Keep you eyes peeled on-line and you will find some. The problem is the shipping will get you unless you buy multiple boxes.
 
I do cringe when I hear of someone buying a case of 1,000 7.62 NATO for nearly $1k dollars. It's outrageous. On the other hand, gas isn't $0.70 a gallon for premium anymore, either...
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I had a stroke when gas exceeded .25 cents a gallon.:eek: The good old days, .15 cent gas and .25 cent smokes, .05 beer at happy hour. $1 was a good day.

$1 for 7.62 NATO is outrageous, it should be a crime. I have been offered .50 a round for 8mm Mauser ammo I bought for .05 a round a few years ago.

Most of 2012 was ammo search mode for me. I managed to stash away several K, but know I'm to cheap to go shoot it up:rolleyes:
 
YankeeIronSights

I have the same Model 10 FP with the hidden magazine.

I have shot more than 5500 rounds through it and it still shoots accurately.

After I had it for two months I started reloading and after almost 3 years I have loaded more than 15,500 rounds for 7 rifle calibers.

I generally shoot really good factory ammo in my rifles (all but the AK47) and save quite a bit by reloading - enough to allow me to shoot way more than I ever could if I had to buy factory ammo.

I haven't really saved any money but I have shot a heck of a lot more than I could have.

I can load a match grade .308 for less than 0.50 cents even at today's prices.
I really got the bug and paid for a very expensice reloading equipment set in about 4 months with what I saved by not buying Federal Gold Match ammo.
At today's prices it would be even quicker.

After I paid off the $1400 in reloading equipment, I still have "saved almost $9500 over the last 3 years. That went to more ammo of course but my shooting and reloading skills have really improved.

All of the rifles that I load for easily outperform factory ammo accuracy with my hand loads. Some of the really accurate rifles average half the group sizes compared to factory ammo.

I think you'll have a lot of fun reloading and you will really learn about your rifle if you experiment and keep meticulous records.
 
Before this panic developed, the only decent deals left in milsurp ammo was 7.62x54R. Yugo 8mm Mauser has crept up and been harder to locate.

Three nights ago, JGSales had some surplus Russian 5.45x39 for about $225/1,000 rds.

But most people have no interest in an AK-74, and this might partly be because some of the outsourced guns assembled under the Century name had the wrong barrel bores (5.56 for 5.45 bullets...).
 
All ammo is too expensive. .308Win by no means has a corner on expensive. Price .270WSM and the price tag on .308 will then look much cheaper.
 
Centerfire ammunition price is relative. I have always considered it expensive including the milsurp 308. It is all a matter of perspective.

So you want to shoot? I don't know what you are trying to accomplish with shooting. That kind of helps in understanding what might make sense for you.

In general, I would suggest a couple of things.... (1) Get a good 22 rifle (something like a CZ452/453/455) and shoot that a lot. The skills transfer to your 308 for everything other than recoil tollerance and longer range shooting at the range. But you can get a lot of enjoyment out of shooting a good 22 rifle.

(2) If you want that bigger "bang" consider a 22WMR or 17 HMR and you also get more range. Things like 22 Hornet also cost a lot less per round.

(3) Continue shooting and save your empty brass. If you really like to shoot the 308 win a lot, eventually you will likely get into reloading.
 
I know if I did not reload, I would not be shooting very much.
Maybe just a Mosin with surplus ammo that would be it.

Let alone taking out my 308 and popping off 50 or 60 rounds.
heck I probably could not do it if I did not cast most of my bullets.

3 or 4 bucks for a box of 20 is much better than $24
A proper mold and a stash of a 1000 pounds of lead. Can keep you shooting.
 
why the high prices

i live in Canada and i load now my boys go into town and in 4 shops no 22lr no 308 of any weight and powder is down and my boy has been waighting on a 110BA in 338lapua for half a year i picked up a new super grade 30-06 the other day and the rifle racks are half empty so why is this ???? im out in the bush off grid have a farm and guide as well as weld . dont wach 5 hours of tv in a year just to busy and no intrest just started messing with the computer 2-3 weeks ago on intrest and no time got busted up bad this fall and spent over 35 days in hospitall my boys 22 year old twins have bean staying at my place to help me so they got me a laptop and have shown me how to use it a bit 51-2 is a funny time to learn but im trying . so why are we all haveing shortages and paying so much winchester told me when i called on a rifle they are doing that they are overran but didnt explain do you guys know . IM out of the loupe by a few decaids lol and does that realy mean laughing out loud , hek im bushed
 
For those who tell you that you need top quality equipment to make good ammo I call BS.
I shoot a Savage 10BA in .308.
I use premium components and load it on a Lee single stage using Lee dies.
This is my 100y target. the white dot is 0.7"
That's 3 5 round groups plus a pair.
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If you find a Mosin Nagant (usually an actual Finnish) that you like which has a really good bore/muzzle etc, that could do it.

And if your rifle has good results with currently-available Russian or Bulgy 7.62x54R, after trying similar small sample, buy at least a large case of it from Ammoman, though prices could fall a bit-even for this type of surplus x54R.
You might know that his shipping costs are included.

People never know whether Russian, Bulg, or maybe Czech, Polish, Hungarian ammo shoots straighter in their gun(s).
It's doubtful that any of the last three have been available in bulk over the last two or so years.
A very seasoned friend found that the Czech in the light blue box was the best type for his Dragunov.
 
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I recently bought a 300 Win Mag for long-range work. With factory ammo between $30 and $50 a box - without reloading I wouldn't have even considered it.

(Along the same lines - Since I don't own a petroleum refinery I surely wouldn't consider an over-sized 4WD truck either.)
 
Its sad when a guy can not take his RIFLES,HANDGUNS, or even his darn 22 Rimfire out to shoot. Because you can`t afford or even find AMMO and RELOADING supplies are harder and harder to get. If you think things are bad now wait til the UN gets done with the ammo and smallarms treaty.Add laws outlawing or limiting internet ammo sales .Ok I`ll get off my soapbox .Except for 22 rimfire and steel case 762x39s I am not to bad off ammo wise and the reason is I reload I bought a lot of MIL.SURPL. POWDER BULLITS AND BRASS along with COM BRASS and my bullits I like to hunt with .You might want to try it but like I said reloading supplies are amost as hard as ammo to get (NOW RELOADING 762X39 CAN`T DO ANYTHING BOUT MY RIMFIRES BUT WAIT).HOGSHOOTER:(
 
The quantities of manufacturing both ammo and reloading components has not been reduced.

Some reasons for the so-called shortage?
It's not just that many people are stocking up for their own use (or family).
Many other people simply buy up/mark up cheap WalMart ammo or whatever bottles/jugs of reloading powder and try to sell it on Gunbroker etc.

What I've noticed is that very little of the high-priced ammo on Armslist near Memphis is selling. The same ammo was there almost two weeks ago, at the same fixed prices.
One of these weeks, months, the high-priced sellers will get anxious and prices will steadily go downhill...If they want to sell it, and many buyers become patient.

A single seller on GB in July '09 listed about 45,000 rds. of Russian 7.62x39. The location was Keene, NH.
 
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