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Ammo availability

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Category: Firearms, Bows, and Ammunition
Forum Name: Shooting
Forum Description: Techniques, tips, stories, general discussion, etc.
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=20451
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Topic: Ammo availability
Posted By: trigger29
Subject: Ammo availability
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 07:31
I just had a buddy come back from his "west river" hunting trip. (S.D. has two seasons, west river, and east river) He took off for the west part of the state with his trusty .30-06, knowing that you can buy ammo for those anywhere..........except South Dakota. He hit every place from EXTREEM eastern South Dakota, to the Black Hills, and couldn't find one box of 165gr. Core-lokt's. This included two very large all sports stores who will remain nameless, and one of the big stores with all the animals in it. I'm wondering if everyone has an -06, and they all bought all the ammo. Maybe the days of "buy a .30-06. so you can buy ammo anywhere" are over? The guy at the "big animal store" told him if he can find some, he better buy every box they have, cause it doesn't last long.

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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."



Replies:
Posted By: 300S&W
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 09:06
  Two of the three Wal-Marts we called had none and the one that did didn't have much(in fact,not much of any caliber!).  We were also told they can sell no more than 6 boxes of any kind per customer.

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"I ain't got time to bleed!"


Posted By: supertool73
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 09:10
And yet another reason to reload.

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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."


Posted By: 300S&W
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 09:15
  YEPPER!!  And LUCKILY I have dies for all my different cartridges.

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"I ain't got time to bleed!"


Posted By: martin3175
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 10:31

And when you can find ammo the price is nuts !!



Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 10:46
And .50BMG is getting cheaper... go figure...

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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 18:01

They say the 30-06 is the most popular caliber in the world, yet 3 years ago on my 40th  and the 06' 100th birthday, I went on a elk hunt.  When I arrived at the outfitter I discovered I some how forgot my ammo.  The guide said not to worry that one of the other 8 guys in camp would surely be hunting with the 06'. turns out no one was. 

 Lucky for me that the day I left, I went to the range to re-check zero and foul my barrel, I brought 3ea rounds with me to the range and fired only once.  I still had two remaining shells in my coat pocket and hunted for 4days with two rounds only and used both of them.
 
I got my elk, a whole lot of teasing and alot of gray hair on that hunt, all because of the 30-06.


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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: pyro6999
Date Posted: November/20/2009 at 18:06
thats why i shoot the .375H&H i guessBucky

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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"


Posted By: trigger29
Date Posted: November/21/2009 at 19:49
I'm an -06 hater anyway, to some extent just because everyone has one. Now I have a valid reason not to have one.Big Smile

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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."


Posted By: John Barsness
Date Posted: November/21/2009 at 20:02
In my experience the .30-06 is still popular with average guys, but not with rifle loonies. I have been on a lot of outfitted hunts in the past couple of decades, and have used a .30-06 on some of them, but if I do, I'm normally the only guy with an '06. The guys who spend the kind of money on outfitted hunts are often those who are generally convinced that some other "in cartridge" is superior, whether the 7mm STW, .300 WSM or whatever. But when I go hunting on publc land in western Montana, where I live, there are a lot of .30-06's--and they're often the only big game rifle the guy owns.
 
The current shortage of .30-06 (and some other common brands) was predicted last summer. More than one dealer I know said that they sold a LOT more than normal over the summer, and when they ordered more .30-06 ammo for normal fall season, they often found it already back-ordered. One guess for the reason is that so many people made a lot of money during the primer shortage that they decided to buy and hoard .30-06 ammo to make money during fall. Dunno if there is any truth to that, but more than one dealer noticed it.


Posted By: trigger29
Date Posted: November/21/2009 at 20:32
Originally posted by John Barsness John Barsness wrote:

In my experience the .30-06 is still popular with average guys, but not with rifle loonies.
Don't know if I'm to take this as a compliment or an insult.....
There is a superior cartrige out there, and it's based on the -06. It's called the .270, right Pyro?Bandito


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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."


Posted By: Urimaginaryfrnd
Date Posted: November/21/2009 at 20:50
Well I guess I'm ready I have 30-06 ammo and brass and no rifle in 30-06. Whistling 
 
I was thinking about buying one but it's kind of like the 45 long colt pistol I thought about buying - I couldnt find brass so I didnt buy the pistol.  
 
And God Forbid one should want large rifle primers. Roll Eyes


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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger


Posted By: Ed Connelly
Date Posted: November/21/2009 at 21:31
I am finding 30-06 ammo.....and one place I know sells OLD ammo for the old sticker price on the box!!   Big Grin   
 
 


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http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=50 - THE ED SHOW

Ju Cucarachas!!!


Posted By: martin3175
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 08:15

I have  pair of 06's ..yet every year I seem to hunt with something else ...for long shots my mags shoot flatter , for under 250 yd.s - my 308's are handier, over bait for bear - my 45/70's hit harder .. If my Elk dream hunt ever comes together - I'd opt for my 338....and so on. 

When our family and friends get together for  deer season  in Western MD ,almost without exception  ,  those that hunt just that week - carry 30-06's when on stand , and 30/30's if we put a drive together .. Never really gave any thought till now ..  


Posted By: swtucker
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 08:36
I just went back to using a 30-06 this year.  But, I've also adopted the policy of only shooting/buying a rifle that I have dies, brass, bullets etc. for already.  I hope things return to 'normal' soon, because I want to add a few other calibers...


Posted By: 300S&W
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 08:37
  I guess I'm really more concerned with the rifle itself and if it fits the purpose I need it for rather than it's chambering. Pretty much anything will kill most big game.  I LIKE my short bbled Husqvarna in .30-06 but it wouldn't matter if it was chambered in something else.

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"I ain't got time to bleed!"


Posted By: mike650
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 09:46
I have my Nono's (grandfather) old 30.06; he took quite a few bucks with it back in the day. I put a real nice scope on and take it to deer camp every year. I never use it though.... not sure why? All I use is my 7mm though the 30.06 is noticeably lighter and shoots better groups (Sub-MOA - 180g) at the range.



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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear


Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 10:25
My -06's are my real "go to" rifles.  I am enamored with the .458's right now, LOVE my 7mmSTW and my 7mmRemMag, etc, etc.  Elvira is HOT, but IF I had to choose only one, probably my BAR or Voere in -06 would be IT.  I can still find ammo, though not as easily as even a little over a year back.  How about that new Hornady SuperPerformance for $50/box of 20???  

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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: lucytuma
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 11:07
I also usually find some reason to use something other than the 06' though if it came down to owning only one rifle, it would be the 06'.  

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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


Posted By: 300S&W
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 12:00
  Hows about:
   http://www.grafs.com/product/265741 - http://www.grafs.com/product/265741
                           or
   http://www.grafs.com/product/265747 - http://www.grafs.com/product/265747    


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"I ain't got time to bleed!"


Posted By: mike650
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 12:03
Shocked


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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear


Posted By: mike650
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 12:04



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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear


Posted By: JF4545
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 20:27
Wow!!  247.00 for 10 Rounds 
 
Ever since I joined this forum last Spring Ive bought ammo every chance I can, probably to the point of obsession... I continue to do so, and I rat holing all kinds of brass, bullets, powder and primers...Hmmmmm, Maybe I have a "Hoarding Problem" OMG!!! EekIve read about people like me!!


Posted By: mike650
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 20:33



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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear


Posted By: Kickboxer
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 20:39
Originally posted by JF4545 JF4545 wrote:

Wow!!  247.00 for 10 Rounds 
 
Ever since I joined this forum last Spring Ive bought ammo every chance I can, probably to the point of obsession... I continue to do so, and I rat holing all kinds of brass, bullets, powder and primers...Hmmmmm, Maybe I have a "Hoarding Problem" OMG!!! EekIve read about people like me!!
You ever watch Criminal Minds??????   maybe we should get Ed to profile you...


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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living


Posted By: John Barsness
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 21:07
A lot of us have gotten into the hoarding mentality lately. Those who used to buy 100 prrimers at a time now buy 1000, and those who use to buy 1000 but 10,000. Similarly, the guys who used to buy 1-2 boxes of .30-06 a year now buy 5-10 boxes.
 
Which is a big part of the reason we have a "shortage."


Posted By: Steelbenz
Date Posted: November/22/2009 at 21:18
Who has a shortage? Oh. you mean the guys who didn't buy the 5000 CCI 250s and 5000 BR2s when they came through the door at the shop.   LOL! I only roll .308s so I'm good. 


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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"


Posted By: The Apostle
Date Posted: December/11/2009 at 05:57
Tell me about the price of ammo at the moment!!! Thumbs Down
 
(Using personal example here) In Australia, you can't get any .30 calibres (such as .308 or 30-30) for under $30.00 (box of 20) at the moment. Shocked  Loco
 
Not unless you buy 100 or more (and then it's 10% off)...The cheapest decent brand is Federal Power-Shok Ammo in .308...individual boxes selling for $31.50 (box of 20).
 
I can remember 2-3 years back when .308 or 30-30 was a $1 a round!


Posted By: Preston
Date Posted: December/12/2009 at 07:34
The Price of Ammo is like the price of fuel... costly for no damn reason!

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"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
Thomas Payne, Revolutionist


Posted By: Steelbenz
Date Posted: December/12/2009 at 08:56
Preston, you my friend are a chip off the ol' block.  Thunbs Up

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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"


Posted By: Steelbenz
Date Posted: December/12/2009 at 09:05
Originally posted by The Apostle AK The Apostle AK wrote:

Tell me about the price of ammo at the moment!!! Thumbs Down
 
(Using personal example here) In Australia, you can't get any .30 calibres (such as .308 or 30-30) for under $30.00 (box of 20) at the moment. Shocked  Loco
 
Not unless you buy 100 or more (and then it's 10% off)...The cheapest decent brand is Federal Power-Shok Ammo in .308...individual boxes selling for $31.50 (box of 20).
 
I can remember 2-3 years back when .308 or 30-30 was a $1 a round!


Don't hate me butt........

168gr A-max's over 44.5 grs of Varget being lit off by CCI BR-2s or CCI 250s in a Lapua case cost me under $27.50 USD to reload for 50.

and most of that cost is the bullet.


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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"


Posted By: FOG
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 13:05
I just got Federal 30-06 at around $14 a box at Wally world. I had bought my son a 30-06 for last Christmas, and figured that getting ammo would be a cinch.  What a shock the past year has been. 

I only buy very popular calibers, such as .308, 7.62x39,.223, .243, 9 mm, .357, .45, and .44 Magnum.  I even avoid .38, because I know a .357 will eat .38 ammo, but not vice-versa.  I guess I would consider others, such as .40 S&W,.30-30, .270, .338 mag, and 45-70.   A good guide to the kind of calibers I choose, in order to make sure I don't end up with an orphan, is whether the low budget rifles get made in left-hand in the caliber.  I agree that the unique ballstics provided by your brand new caliber are great, but I have watched a lot of wonder calibers come and go.  Pity the poor guy who had a Remington 5 mm rimfire until recently, when Big Green started up again.

The more common calibers tend to get the best discounts, and therefore practice ammo is more reasonable.  I think that practice helps a lot more than fancy ballistics.


Posted By: Urimaginaryfrnd
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 13:11
Well if you are not worried about the availability of ammo or reloading components after this last year you are either 1. not much of a shooter or 2. very well prepared.

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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger


Posted By: cyborg
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 14:00
Originally posted by Urimaginaryfrnd Urimaginaryfrnd wrote:

Well if you are not worried about the availability of ammo or reloading components after this last year you are either 1. not much of a shooter or 2. very well prepared.
I don't know brother..... No matter how well prepared you are, you should be of the mindset that it isn't near prepared enough. I know I am fairly well prepared, but, there is still an awful lot that I still think I need. I have far more than I can personally carry, still it just doesn't seem near enough. With this in mind, I think the lack of concern on the part of those that don't or aren't worried, is naivety.

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With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg


Posted By: Steelbenz
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 14:25
Billy and I are of the same mindset.
If you find yourself in a fair fight, it was poor planing on your part.


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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 14:52
It really does come as a surprise to me that .30-06 would be in such short supply. Maybe it really is true (at least for the time being) that the common calibers aren't going to just be on the shelves anywhere you go. Still, in the long run, I'd expect to find .30-06 before something like Swiss 7.5 (and even when I owned a Schmidt-Rubin all I ever saw locally was FMJ).

Originally posted by John Barsness John Barsness wrote:

The current shortage of .30-06 (and some other common brands) was predicted last summer. More than one dealer I know said that they sold a LOT more than normal over the summer, and when they ordered more .30-06 ammo for normal fall season, they often found it already back-ordered. One guess for the reason is that so many people made a lot of money during the primer shortage that they decided to buy and hoard .30-06 ammo to make money during fall. Dunno if there is any truth to that, but more than one dealer noticed it.


Driving back and forth through East Helena (MT) this fall, I noticed signs for a couple guys advertising ammo. I wonder if they fell into that category?

FWIW, I have a large amount of Greek HXP for my M1 but I bought that 3-4 years ago because I was 1) worried about the price going up (from 24.5 cents to 27 cents a round!) and 2) ammo compatible with that rifle...and I couldn't reload then or now for that little. Otherwise, aside from the S-R, the only bolt rifle caliber I've ever owned is .308 Win. Funny how that replaced the .30-06 among Service target shooters because it was twice as accurate but now is considered an inferior round to so many of the benchrest cartridges.


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Reaction time is a factor...


Posted By: Preston
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 15:17
Originally posted by cyborg cyborg wrote:

Originally posted by Urimaginaryfrnd Urimaginaryfrnd wrote:

Well if you are not worried about the availability of ammo or reloading components after this last year you are either 1. not much of a shooter or 2. very well prepared.
I don't know brother..... No matter how well prepared you are, you should be of the mindset that it isn't near prepared enough. I know I am fairly well prepared, but, there is still an awful lot that I still think I need. I have far more than I can personally carry, still it just doesn't seem near enough. With this in mind, I think the lack of concern on the part of those that don't or aren't worried, is naivety.
 
I agree I dont think any of us are near prepared enough


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"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
Thomas Payne, Revolutionist


Posted By: FOG
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 15:58

Originally posted by John Barsness John Barsness wrote:

Otherwise, aside from the S-R, the only bolt rifle caliber I've ever owned is .308 Win. Funny how that replaced the .30-06 among Service target shooters because it was twice as accurate but now is considered an inferior round to so many of the benchrest cartridges.

A good rifle in .308 shoots well enough that I cannot take advantage of all its accuracy.  More accuracy is only of academic interest when the rifle is in my hands for real shooting.The tests seem to indicate that many regular hunting rifles can provide one minute of accuracy at 100 yards with at least one brand of ammo.  If I get three moa groups, then cutting the rifle's accuracy down to 1/2 moa might bring me down to 2 1/2 moa, but probably would not, more like 2 3/4 moa.  I can dream of better groups but only practice will help me get there.  When my real groups drop under 2 moa, then maybe I will start thinking about a more accurate rifle.  Were my groups to drop to one moa, then I would start thinking about a more accurate caliber.


Posted By: jonoMT
Date Posted: December/13/2009 at 16:35
First of all, a correction: That was posted by me, not JB.

Originally posted by FOG FOG wrote:


Originally posted by <font color=#ff0000>jonoMT</font> jonoMT wrote:

Otherwise, aside from the S-R, the only bolt rifle caliber I've ever owned is .308 Win. Funny how that replaced the .30-06 among Service target shooters because it was twice as accurate but now is considered an inferior round to so many of the benchrest cartridges.

A good rifle in .308 shoots well enough that I cannot take advantage of all its accuracy.  More accuracy is only of academic interest when the rifle is in my hands for real shooting.The tests seem to indicate that many regular hunting rifles can provide one minute of accuracy at 100 yards with at least one brand of ammo.  If I get three moa groups, then cutting the rifle's accuracy down to 1/2 moa might bring me down to 2 1/2 moa, but probably would not, more like 2 3/4 moa.  I can dream of better groups but only practice will help me get there.  When my real groups drop under 2 moa, then maybe I will start thinking about a more accurate rifle.  Were my groups to drop to one moa, then I would start thinking about a more accurate caliber.


Second, to clarify a couple things: While practice is key to getting better groups, a good to great rifle package and a cartridge/load that is generally known for accuracy are also essential. While a sub-MOA rifle won't guarantee better groups, how will you know if you're even capable of sub-MOA accuracy if the rifle isn't capable. As for the .308, most rifles using that chambering are indeed good enough that many shooters can barely take advantage of its accuracy.

My point was more to do with the objective history of the .308 vs. .30-06. It's a superior cartridge for target shooting. However, it has also been shown both at the range and by the analysis done by ballisticians such as Bryan Litz that the .30 cal round (in any cartridge) usually performs (relatively) worse than a smaller caliber bullet that has both a higher BC and is heavy for caliber. Anyone that has shot a heavy-for-caliber .30 round will know that it can be hard to control recoil.

In practical terms, .308s like the ones I own shoot well enough and have a number of other advantages that I don't see fit to ever replace them with anything else. A 6BR might be better in many respects, but it has only 2/3 the energy behind it @ 300 yards and I consider the .308 barely adequate to shoot an elk at that range


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Reaction time is a factor...



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