The cost of the raw materials is not representitive of the true cost of the production material. Those involved in providing that material also need to make a profit to remain in bussiness. Therefore I am in dissagrement with your matrrial cost figures. The market for rifle and pistol components as well as ammo far exceeds the need for shotgun shells. These manfactures also have goverment contracts to fulfill both here and abroad and generally at a lower profit margin and those contratcts do take priority over the sportsman's needs.

Tell me who controls this company's output?

Alliant Technologies (ATK) is a major defense contractor. The civilian ammunition component of their business comprises only about 20% of their overall business. Their Security and Sporting Group is comprised of Federal Premium ammo, CCI ammo and components, Speer bullets and ammo, RCBS reloading equipment, Alliant Powder, Champion ammo, Weaver optics, Eagle Industries, and Blackhawk! Industries.Alliant Technologies is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia and has 60 facilities in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally.

The government could tell Alliant that there is a need to supply the domestic market and to work on that, couldn't they? Or doesn't the government know that? After all there is only 1/2 war going on, it's not like when there wasn't a shortage and we where suppling two wars. How could it be that w/o that war need, we could now have a domestic shortage?

John,
Double or triple (no one will be able to do that to a prime contractor like Alliant),  the material cost of the brass for our products. What does that do to the end price? Nothing close to what has happened to prices of primers, for sure. Again, why hasn't shotgun primers gone up, noting 3 times more material and lower volume?

Also, only rifle and pistol people are capable of hording and not shotgunners?

Frank

And demand being driven by a profound distrust of our present political establishment.

There is a fine line between hoarding and just making sure that you have enough of a substance to meet your needs before you can no longer acquire it.  Did people hoard good whiskey in 1919?

waterman wrote Quote:

I suspect whiskey is easier to make from scratch than a modern cartridge in its current configuration.

My grandfather wasn't a horder, but he did set aside a few extra rounds of 22RF before WWII stopped all availability for civilians. When the shortages of regular goods that required purchases with govt coupons became the norm, he was able to barter with his 22RF and mitigate some of the adverse impacts for his immediate family.

There's nothing wrong with the reasoning behind the old Scout motto of Be Prepared.

Unless something has changed, ATK does not own the ammo mfg facilities where military ammo is produced. They simply have the multi-year contract to operate and administer it. They don't set prices to the gov't, simply pass costs through and are paid an administrative fee, etc., for same. Does anyone know if they are allowed to load commerical ammo at these sites? I would think not, so the availability of commercial ammo should not be affected by gov't purchase other than by drawing down raw materials, which are so readily available that there should be limited impact.

My guess on shotgun ammo (I'm one who stopped reloading as can't do it for any less money then I can purchase when on sale w/free shipping from Cabela's, etc.) is that the margins are fine on it is the reason that there has never been much of a shortage for same. I've never had a problem purchasing lead for casting.

Back jn the day it would have went to the DCM and offered back for use to the tax payers who paid for it in the first place. That type of misuse of the tax payers money should be a punishable crime and those overseeing it should be held responsible for the miss-management. Why should the taking of inventory be any different than what is required from civilian business's? If the ammo isn't considered fit for civilian use I am sure the pull down powder should be.

I read the ammo being destroyed is obsolete mortar rounds and bigger stuff that even the components don't have a sporting use. While .gov can't or won't sell ammo they do have components sold after dismantling.  

Edit to add...

I know it doesn't help the massive conspiracy theory. And I do appreciate conspiracy theories. But when you have individuals buying up 22 lr ammo just because it is hard to find. They are creating their own shortage. I believe some day maybe 10 years from now. 22 ammo will be back to normal and estate sales will have massive piles of 22lr for sale cheap. When someone starts going through dads stuff and finds 50,000 rounds what else would you do.

Local cabelas had 3 different kind of 22lr this evening. I did buy any but thought about getting some cci standard.