drought of 55 grain 223 target ammo

[shotgun sam]

Has anyone else noticed that there is a drought where 55 grain 223 target ammo is concerned.

I phoned Kranks, Lawmans, midyayuk and Clarks none in stock and waiting for the manufactures to resupply them.

[Magus69]

The lads overseas in the thick of it are using up FMJ's as fast as they can be produced so all production has been switched to try and accomodate them,expect the drought to get even worse. Our friends from across the pond aint helping either by seriously hoarding whatever ammunition and components they can lay their hands on.

Mike...

[shakin stevens]

very true alot of the lads round our way who use the 223 round cant get hold of ammo neither

gunshops are coming back with the same answer!

[Vince Green]

The lads overseas in the thick of it are using up FMJ's as fast as they can be produced so all production has been switched to try and accomodate them,expect the drought to get even worse. Our friends from across the pond aint helping either by seriously hoarding whatever ammunition and components they can lay their hands on.

Mike...

 

Thats the excuse but its not the true reason. Importers like Kranks only buy intermittantly, several container loads at a time because of the difficulty shipping it and to try and get the best prices so if the .223s have run out but they still have stock of the .243s , .270s, .303s etc you will just have to wait until everything goes low enough before they place another order. It seems to me that they only place about two orders a year. Once one big supplier runs out the others tend to follow because the gunshops switch to other sources and clean them out as well. Last summer at the height of the gallery rifle season there was a big shortage of .357 Mag ammo.

 

The only problem with .223 as far as I know is that lots of people have started buying the PPartizan ammunition this year because its good and its cheap so stocks have run out.

 

The supplier of 5.56 ammo to the British Army, Radway Green does not sell ammo to the public and from what I hear they are not even running at full capacity at the moment. They were on overtime before Christmas but that has been cut back now.

 

The British Army do not buy ammo from the likes of Privi Partizan, Sellier and Bellot, Norma, Lapua etc so they are totally unaffected by the War so next time your dealer gives you that excuse tell him he is talking complete rubbish.

 

As for the other excuse, the hoarding of ammunition in America, yes there have been shortages but mostly pistol ammo but how much can the average person afford to buy? Its only because they expect a tax to be placed on it so its not as though they are going to draw out their life saving and buy tons of the stuff.

 

The real truth is that everyone in the gun trade is being very cautious about money and ammunition is not a very good investment, its slow moving and doesn't give a great return. So stocks are low.

 

Ammo Zone is still selling the German "blue label" .223 at £38 per 100 as far as I know

Edited March 18, 2010 by Vince Green

[mag357]

Have you tried Tim Hannam for Hornady .223 ammo, I have had no problem getting 50 V-max.

John

[Dekers]

Thats the excuse but its not the true reason. Importers like Kranks only buy intermittantly, several container loads at a time because of the difficulty shipping it and to try and get the best prices so if the .223s have run out but they still have stock of the .243s , .270s, .303s etc you will just have to wait until everything goes low enough before they place another order. It seems to me that they only place about two orders a year. Once one big supplier runs out the others tend to follow because the gunshops switch to other sources and clean them out as well. Last summer at the height of the gallery rifle season there was a big shortage of .357 Mag ammo.

 

The only problem with .223 as far as I know is that lots of people have started buying the PPartizan ammunition this year because its good and its cheap so stocks have run out.

 

The supplier of 5.56 ammo to the British Army, Radway Green does not sell ammo to the public and from what I hear they are not even running at full capacity at the moment. They were on overtime before Christmas but that has been cut back now.

 

The British Army do not buy ammo from the likes of Privi Partizan, Sellier and Bellot, Norma, Lapua etc so they are totally unaffected by the War so next time your dealer gives you that excuse tell him he is talking complete rubbish.

 

As for the other excuse, the hoarding of ammunition in America, yes there have been shortages but mostly pistol ammo but how much can the average person afford to buy? Its only because they expect a tax to be placed on it so its not as though they are going to draw out their life saving and buy tons of the stuff.

 

The real truth is that everyone in the gun trade is being very cautious about money and ammunition is not a very good investment, its slow moving and doesn't give a great return. So stocks are low.

 

Ammo Zone is still selling the German "blue label" .223 at £38 per 100 as far as I know

 

 

I think that says it all pretty well........

 

Not that it will be much help to some of you but my man Andy at TFSA does have 55g FMJ .223!!

 

http://www.tfsa.co.uk/

 

Henry K is due a delivery of PRVI at the end of the month (don't hold your breath, I'd give it an extra week or two!)!

 

Edit

I have used RG 5.56 (62g) so someone has either done a dodgy deal or RG do/or used to, sell to the public. It is rubbish anyway, odd, as their 7.62 was good stuff generally!

Edited March 24, 2010 by Dekers

[MC]

RG won't sell to the public, however you used to be able to buy their 7.62 and 5.56 from Fultons or the NRA. Nearly all the ammunition used in Target rifle competitions was issued RG 7.62.

 

The NRA have now gone over to RUAG as a supplier and although I have not used any yet it is meant to be a lot tighter.

Edited March 24, 2010 by MC

[Dekers]

RG won't sell to the public, however you used to be able to buy their 7.62 and 5.56 from Fultons or the NRA. Msoly all the ammunition used in Target rifle competitions was issued RG 7.62.

 

The NRA have now gone over to RUAG as a supplier and although I have not used any yet it is meant to be a lot tighter.

 

 

That could explain it as mine came from Fred at the Range Office around 3 years back I seem to recall!

[goldypurple]

try these guy for radway ammo

 

http://ammo-zone.co.uk/AboutUs.aspx

[Vince Green]

I have used RG 5.56 (62g) so someone has either done a dodgy deal or RG do/or used to, sell to the public. It is rubbish anyway, odd, as their 7.62 was good stuff generally! :o

 

The MOD routinely sells off its old stock of ammo once it has reached a certain age, usually about 5 years old. In times of peace it won't all get used up just with training because they have to hold a much larger amount in case of war. So there was always plenty of surplus 5.56 RG around. At the moment that won't be happening because of the present conflict.

 

The NRA has bought 7.62 direct from Radway Green each year since the 1950s to use in all its competions (Green Spot). The NRA is the only non military organisation allowed to do this.

However, there has been a lot of criticism in recent years because it wasn't really up to match shooting standard so this year they switched to RUAG as the supplier of ammunition. The NRA used to buy surplus 7.62 from the MOD as well and sell it as their "budget " ammunition for practice but that has dried up although they still have some left at the moment for 50p a round. They have said when that is gone there will be no more.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens then, my guess is they will sell PP as that is what they are selling in .303 and other calibres.They are asking for all the old 7.62 RUAG cases back and say they intend to get it commercially reloaded in the UK.

 

For 5.56/ .223 they are selling the German blue label, or at least they were last summer. Its far from target standard but .223 is only used in F Class and most of the competitors reload for that using much heavier bullets in 1 in 8" (or less) twist barrels. PP sell a .223 Match FMJ version using a 75grn bullet which is well thought of but its no good in 1 in 12" barrels. Its £51.60 a hundred from Kranks. PP also sell a 55grn FMJ round that was £39.60 a hundred fom Kranks but you can bet that will go up when the next delivery comes in.

Edited March 24, 2010 by Vince Green

[hawkeye]

Have you tried Tim Hannam for Hornady .223 ammo, I have had no problem getting 50 V-max.

John

 

 

 

 

He always seems to have plenty in !!!