Rethinking handloads?

Mr. 16 gauge · #1 04-30-2009, 11:52 PM

Well, stopped at the local Gander Mountain the other day to pick up some fishing tackle....while there, I took a stroll over to the ammo section.

Holy Crap! $60for a box of 9mm Remington factory loads....115 grain HP (NOT Golden sabers!). Nothing special or fancy. Found a box of 130 grain FMJ .38 Super (Federal) $40/box of 50!

Thanks to all the hoarders/speculators out there.....I wonder how the hell some of you can sleep at night.

At any rate, I can't afford to shoot at those prices.....I have a kid heading off for college in the fall. I have always maintained that one should practice with the load that one carries, but at those prices it is inconceivable, at least for me. Therefore, when my supply of factory ammo dries up, I will be carrying my handloads for self defense. Damn the 'experts'.......I'll do what I have to do to survive, both fiscally and physically.
...anybody else out there in the same boat?

Chief RID · #2 05-01-2009, 03:23 AM

I was going to purchase some defense loads for my 45 acp but the store I go to has none. When they get loaded ammo they sell on box per customer a day till it is gone. Practice is really not an option until this is over. Can't get powder but it won't go off if you don't have a primer. Hope this is over soon.

Adam Helmer · #3 05-01-2009, 07:37 AM

Mr. 16 gauge,

Prices are soaring UPWARD. I stocked up during the last administration on powder and primers. I cast all my handgun projectiles out of free wheelweights I get at the tire shop in town. I am all set until they outlaw reloading and casting. I also cast many rifle projectiles for 7mm, 8mm, .30 and .45/70, so I am set there as well.

Adam

Gil Martin · #4 05-01-2009, 05:03 PM

The gun shops I visit are getting in shotgun ammo and components and deer cartridges. Ammo for .22s and handguns sells as fast as it hits the shelves. Primers for large rifle, large pistol and small pistol are available in some shops and they limit purchases to 5 boxes of 100 per customer. Small rifle primers are not seen at all. Some powder selections are available, but you have to take what is available. All the best...
Gil

muskrat30 · #5 05-30-2009, 07:01 AM

I feel that if you have to pull your CCW gun & maybe use it, other factors surrounding the event will be more important than if you used handloaded ammo.

Adam Helmer · #6 05-30-2009, 10:51 AM

muskrat30,

I agree with you. The First question will be if the shooting was justified. Second, what was your "standing" in the situation.

Adam

8X56MS · #7 06-27-2009, 01:21 PM

I don't load for my semi auto pistols. I don't shoot them that much, I have a LOT of factory ammo set aside, and I was never able to make loads better than factory ones.

With my revolvers, its another story. I load all my ammo for the .44mag, .45 Colt, .38 Special and .357 mag revolvers I own.
Main reason is that the factory does not load the ammo I want to use, and I shoot my revolvers a lot more than I do my semi autos.

Most of the time I carry, its a revolver, so yes, I use handloads for CCW.