Thursday, April 23, 2009

Firearms Availability...Pipeline Filling Up?

I can't speak to ammo, which is still darned hard to find, but I note a flier from CDNN (that's their accessory website; you gotta call about the guns — 800-588-9500) that advertises ARs in stock, including Colt, Bushmaster, S&W, Charles Daly and Les Baer, assorted varieties of Mini-14s, a bunch of exotics and — amazingly — .308 FNARs in the heavy and light barrel configs for the MSRP of $1295. I say "amazingly" because the first FNARs coming into the pipeline were selling for crazy prices on auction sites like GunBroker.com...although there's now a zillion of them at roughly $1500. I got an email from FNH yesterday saying it would be a while, if ever, that the guns would be available to writers for purchase, although we could get a loaner for 3 weeks.

I did buy 2500 rounds of .22LR Aguila Target — I've used before and it's is pretty good ammo, although a little light for some conversion units —  from Cheaper Than Dirt for a reasonable price...a little over $300 for 5k rounds. I plan to use it in the cowboy practice guns and save my hotter CCI for the conversion units and other semis. They've also got Wolf steel case .223, but they're selling it dear...almost $600 a thousand! Ammo Engine's average 5.56 price today is between $400-500. 9mm is still crazy off the charts...

11 comments:

Tim Covington said...

The firearm pipeline opening up will be good. But, I can't wait until the ammo (and compnents) pipeline opens up. I've reached the point of rationing my shooting (all calibers). I just don't want to go below a certain stock level of ammo and components.

Unknown said...

I use a lot of the Aguila .22lr in my suppressed upper. Like you, I get mine from CheaperThanDirt.com. The target rounds are sub-sonic, and seem to be as accurate as the CCI sub-sonics that are scarce in these parts. At least I can always get a brick from CTD.

Lawrence said...

I just wish I could find a source for 1K rounds of 230 gr 45 acp ball that wouldnt force me to mortgage my house.

Any ideas?

Kilgor said...

Local Walmart has Federal bulk for $137 for 5,500. It's been good ammo.

nj_larry said...

For you shotgunners out there, Dicks Sporting Goods has Winchester and Remington Shotgun ammo on sale this week at 7.98 a box when you purchase 10 boxes.

Haji said...

One of the reasons I'm in the industry I am is to be able to get stuff with my employee discount, but even though that extends to ammo, I simply cannot get my hands on any. It wasn't too long ago that PMC Bronze was available in case lots fairly easily. Its been months since we've had any or been able to get it from the big distributors.

seeker_two said...

I'm with Tim....can't wait until we can get a good supply of primers and revolver ammo (esp. .38SPL) at reasonable prices...

John Richardson said...

$600 per thousand for Wolf .223? Damn! I am sure glad I bought two cases of Prvi Partisan .223 for $350 each on Election Day. I didn't have a good feeling going in so I thought better safe than sorry. If only I had been that smart about my 401(k).

Anonymous said...

I reload.

And I cast boolits.

I stocked up on primers and powder like 2 years ago.

I could see this coming.

I went to shooting my conversion equipped pistolas for steel matches.

That saves me at least 400 to 500 centerfire rounds...err... primers a month.

The flipside though is finding .22LR in brick form on the cheap that will actually run 100% in my conversion kits.

My local Wally Worlds are always out of bullk .22.

They are also always out of 9mm, .38, .40, .45 and .223.

If you have a 7mm Remington Mag elk/deer bolt gun or a .22-250 prarie dog/coyote killer, then, yeah, you might be in luck finding ammo at my local Wally's.

Anonymous said...

sorry but this FNAR abomination is the fugliest gun I have seen in a long time and I simply don't get what it is for?

why not buy an AR-10 or clone, or a FAL or an HK clone, or if you want a FUDD gun get a BAR or 7400...what is this FNAR thing supposed to be? who will use it? for what?

Unknown said...

Don't overlook the Aguila Super Extra HP's. They are the one of the best hunting rounds from a handgun. The soft lead expands nicely even on squirrels.