Ammunition - lack of

[David Hancock]

I'm seriously (dreaming) thinking about starting / buying into a business to source / commission / supply accurate ammunition - in the most common calibres.

 

Imagine driving into Shell or BP to find there was no fuel, and no clear communication about when the next delivery would be.

 

I have requests in with five (super efficient, super helpful, top of their game) RFDs for Hornady or Norma .223 ammunition to hold for me - but they are in limbo.

 

I know the perfect answer is to reload but I would have to amortise the £300 - £500 cost of equipment over 12 months or so but I an getting acceptable accuracy with factory.

 

Why do we have to be so reliant on the US for ammo ?

 

Surely I'm not the only one thinking this ?

 

[banus02]

good evening why not try ..rws.sako. geco. ppu .norma.lapua.and ggg, I am sure there are other makers of European rifle bullets/rounds.we have been held to ranson by the usa for too long

[MrCetrizine]

You can get reloading kit that will build much better than factory ammo for way less than £300-£500.

 

The first bunch of stuff I bought was a used Lee press, used RCBS scales and new Lee dies. The whole lot for 3 calibres was £130 and paid for itself in months from .357 magnum alone going from £18 per 50 to £3.50 per 50.

 

It would be nice to have an overabundance of cheap, good quality ammo but you don't even get that in the US these days.

[bradders]

Depends what you want and what for, I always have plenty of .223 ammo and components

[Shuggy]

As far as I am aware there are 4 manufacturers of centrefire ammunition in the UK: one big one - BAE Systems at Radway Green. And 3 small/medium/boutique ones - HPS, Primetake and Kynamco. But it is very frustrating that none of it is stocked by your average RFDs. My local RFD won't even stock the european target stuff that is readily available - PPU and GGG.

[bradders]

As far as I am aware there are 4 manufacturers of centrefire ammunition in the UK: one big one - BAE Systems at Radway Green. And 3 small/medium/boutique ones - HPS, Primetake and Kynamco. But it is very frustrating that none of it is stocked by your average RFDs. My local RFD won't even stock the european target stuff that is readily available - PPU and GGG.

 

Radway won't sell to the likes of us, Primetake can't be fussed with us, Kynamco deal with niche ammo and HPS......well, let's move on!

 

All that ammo is expensive and shops have to balance the purchase cost against expected RRP and how long it will sit on the shelf as dead money.

They know what they can sell locally and weigh that up against their regular shop clientele, who being shooters can be notoriously stingey

[Shuggy]

Sadly...that's absolutely right.

[Brillo]

Bradders, what's the knock with HPS? Have you dealt with Matt? Their ammunition quality has moved up a scale and they make it to specific requirements if you want it.

[bradders]

Bradders, what's the knock with HPS? Have you dealt with Matt? Their ammunition quality has moved up a scale and they make it to specific requirements if you want it.

 

Things may have changed, but I've seen some very dubious ammo from them in the past, and apart from that I had a bad experience dealing with them once

 

Once bitten and all that....

[VarmLR]

I think that HPS use an RCBS Chargemaster, and have staff trained in reloading. I've had a few "hot" loads from them prior to starting reloading but Matt seems to be on top of things now and is a great person to deal with. I can't complain about the service I've had from Matt at all, quite the opposite. Only good things to say about him and as Brillo suggests, he'll make up ammo tailor made to your requirements. Sorry to hear you've had previous bad experiences. However, I agree that HPS are not big enough to be supplying ammo country-wide! They're first and foremost a gunsmiths specialising in target and precision shooting & builds.

 

In this country if you want truly reliable supplies, you have to reload. If you're shooting that much anyway, reloading has got to be the cheapest long term solution. My Lee kit paid for itself within the first 6 months and I've since aquired more kit from RCBS and Wilson, which will have paid for itself by end year, all compared with buying factory at £1 a pop minimum for the ammo I want. You can reload for half that amount.

[JTO]

http://gunshop-eb.com/CF%20Target%20Ammunition.php

http://gunshop-eb.com/CF%20Sporting%20%20Ammunition.php

[baldie]

You will find most dealers simply don't want to know for a variety of reasons.

 

1. There are thousands of makers/loads/permutations out there.

 

2. If you made a fiver profit on 20 rounds you would be doing well.

 

3. Most is extremely difficult to get/keep in stock....Hornady for example.

 

4. You need a very large amount of spare storage for it all.

 

5.Paperwork.

 

6. Last but not least...most shooters would skin a fart, for its hide , and would rather deal with europe to save a quid.

 

Why would anyone in the UK bother ?

 

I dont, and never intend to sell loaded ammo....not even .22 . There is a dealer near me who has to sell the stuff almost at trade price to move it.

 

Reloading supplies are a far better bet. You can tailor it to the customers needs, and you don't have years worth of dead stock, holding ,money [for minimal profit ] when it could be used for better profit/service to the customer.

[andybrock]

Any of you think there is an opening in this country for someone to set up making bullets to sell or would the market be too small and out weigh the costs of setting up with machinery etc, I'm talking varmint, hunting and match bullets? I think most of the US bullet makers started of on a small scale.

[MrCetrizine]

If you can make me bullets that shoot as well as the American bullets I currently use but for 1p less per 1000, I'll buy them.

[bradders]

Any of you think there is an opening in this country for someone to set up making bullets to sell or would the market be too small and out weigh the costs of setting up with machinery etc, I'm talking varmint, hunting and match bullets? I think most of the US bullet makers started of on a small scale.

 

Would they be your own design, or would you just copy and nick someone elses?

 

Anyway, this thread is about ammo.

I've toyed several times with the idea of making my own brand of .223 ammo, but it would never be cheap, brass would always be a factor, and then there's the HSE licensing costs and a separate premises away from dwellings is necessary, so it always ends up a non starter.

 

As for commercial vs reloaded ammo, not everyone has the time, knowledge, inclination or even the space to make their own, son there will always be a market for ready made stuff

[The Burpster]

As Bradders says there will always be folks that dont want to reload. Reloading whilst part of my pasttime is a (as once described to me) hobby in its own right. I don't reload to save money but to obtain the best results possible from the barrels in my rifles, this means using components that when added together probably cost more than I could buy factory ammo for.

 

Again the inclination to understand and apply ballistics knowledge is beyond the amount of time that a proportion of shooters want to invest in their hobby, and rightly so.

 

A large proprtion of shooters at the clubs I attend want to turn up make some noise punching holes in paper and go home and, why not? I am lucky to have the time funds and enough knowledge to make my own ammo and as long as I can I will.

 

That said if I wanted to buy the rounds I make I very much doubt anyone would make them as the components are from various parts of the world although I am using far more European parts now as the availability is more reliable....

[Ballistol]

 

6. Last but not least...most shooters would skin a fart, for its hide

Dave, your vernacular truly is without equal.

[chaz]

If you can make me bullets that shoot as well as the American bullets I currently use but for 1p less per 1000, I'll buy them.

Same here. I don't care if the price is equal to that of the USA, i'd still buy it! If we don't, in years to come, it will ALL be imported, and at a lot more expensive than the current price!! We need to support our UK dealers, (And i really do, do my best, with what i have to spend!) trying to support my UK dealer. I've never bought UK made ammo, but i have spoken with a couple of people that do. I hope they continue to flourish....