.223 ammo cost before the hoarding started

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  • willtill

    The Dude Abides
    MDS Supporter
    May 15, 2007
    24,316
    Hey all,

    Just curious, how much was .223 going for (on the average), before the great ammo hoarding act of 2008-2009 started? Just wondering....

    Kindest Regards,

    -Will
     

    mikec

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 1, 2007
    11,453
    Off I-83
    In August of '08, during the Great Metals Shortage, Federal XM193 cost $202.50 for 500 rounds

    1K of the Privi came to $370 yesterday.

    Not sure of the differences in quality.
     

    t3tech

    Active Member
    Oct 15, 2007
    500
    Elkton
    From what I've seen prices now seem to be back to about the same as they were ~6 months ago. Going back further than that to a year or so ago, I want to say it was easier to find deals in the sub $.40/round price range but my memory on this sort of thing isn't that great.
     

    DD214

    Founder
    Apr 26, 2005
    14,080
    St Mary's County
    Here is a receipt I found in my email from 11/2007:

    PPM193 PPM193 PRVI PARTIZAN 5.56 M193 55GR FMJBT AMMUNITION $66.00 / 200RND CLEAR PLASTIC PACK $320/1000 rd. Buy 2 cases = $315/1000 64.00 5 320.00

    PPUM80 PPUM80 200 ROUND FACTORY SEALED CLEAR PLASTIC PACK OF 308 145GR FMJBT AMMUNITION $94.00 94.00 3 282.00
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    I bought a couple cases of Fed XM193 back in late 06 for about $120 per 500rds/$240 per thousand, same ammo is about double the price now. I also picked up some Win Q3131 surplus and british radway SS109 for $100 per 500rd case at about the same time, I haven't seen that around for over a year.

    Privi is decent, although not as hot, much dirtier, uses cheaper brass with over crimped primers, and is not as accurate as the "gold standard" of 55gr 5.56 surplus, XM193.

    I also used to be able to pick up 200rd SA battlepacks of 7.62 nato for about $50, and Win USA3081 for about $60 per 200rd pack, now they run about $120 and $150 respectively
     

    JeepDriver

    Self confessed gun snob
    Aug 28, 2006
    5,193
    White Marsh
    I use to pay $90 for 500 rounds of Federal XM193 and could get all I wanted. I think about the thousands of rounds of that I shot and cry. Last month I paid $175 for a case or 500 and thought that was a good deal. Sad.

    Federal American Eagle was $2.99 a box for 55 & 62gr stuff. Oh how I wish I would have bought more of the 62 grain. That stuff shot great in my 16" HBar. I just wish I had been into the collecting when the SA Tubs were around. I'd love to be sitting on 2 or 3 of them.

    Wolf .223 & 9mm CCI Blazer as $99 a case of 1000 delivered from Natchez. I was an ammo snob and wasn't shooting or buying Wolf then becasue the XM193 was everywhere.

    Wal Mart was $9.99 for 100 rd Value Packs of 9mm

    Australian 308 was $189 a crate of 800 delivered (another one I shot so much of and didn't save enough) British Rad Way Green was $35 a can of 180 in 3rd M60 links (the tracers were removed) I still have plenty of that stuff stored away.

    Of course all that was prior to 2002 or so, since then its just gotten stupid.
     
    Last edited:

    mikec

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 1, 2007
    11,453
    Off I-83
    man i came way late to the game

    Well, if you want to get nostalgic....

    I bought an HK93, 5.56, back around '88 or so. SA 200 round battle packs were maybe $30 each. I recently shot the last of my SA 5.56 but I still have some of the 7.62 and .303.

    How about a box of Winchester AA 12 gauge 2 3/4" 1 1/8oz Super-Handicap Heavy Target load for $5.99. MidwayUSA shows that for $10.99 now.

    J&G used to have ads in Shotgun News for barrels of either 5.56 or 7.62 US surplus brass.

    How about 50 round boxes of Federal .44 Magnum 240gr JHP or JSP ammo for around $14.99 at Dicks.
     

    ghost

    Member
    Jan 20, 2008
    55
    Just received an e-mail to the effect that the government has backed off on the 223-308, etc brass destruction, due to the amount of calls, etc., it received. Don't know for sure if it's true, but hope so.
     

    mikec

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 1, 2007
    11,453
    Off I-83
    Just received an e-mail to the effect that the government has backed off on the 223-308, etc brass destruction, due to the amount of calls, etc., it received. Don't know for sure if it's true, but hope so.

    Check around the forum, it has been posted many times.
     

    weldingshop

    Active Member
    Jan 24, 2009
    595
    I just paid roughly .43cent per round, I can remember the day when that was .19cents. But I was poor then so its kinda relative to me.

    Pricess will come down just give it time.
     

    Half-cocked

    Senior Meatbag
    Mar 14, 2006
    23,937
    I pulled the following post off another forum - it's dated exactly 3 years, 6 months ago:

    hartzpad 09-17-2005, 01:25 PM
    Just came back from the local gunshow, where in the past I've been buying 1000 round cases of Wolf 7.62x39 FMJ for $75-$85 (even last May it was only $80), today I was expecting that it might be in the $95 range, but I was shocked to find it $119!!!! I didn't buy any and instead bought some at Cabela's for $98/1000. I guess mailorder is worth it now. The strange thing is that Wolf .223 and Wolf 5.45x39 were both the same price as always, ~$120/1000.

    :cry: <- emoticon needed for this post!
     

    gdubyacobb

    Active Member
    Mar 6, 2009
    320
    Patagonia Arizona
    I just bought a 700 round spam can of 5.56 here in AZ for $309. Seemed spendy but it was available and y'all make it sound like I won't be able to get it when I come home in two weeks.
     

    Llyrin

    Yankee-Rebel
    Mar 14, 2009
    2,602
    Charles Co
    I don't know about 5.56 (I only have 2 x .22 and a 12 ga.). I know Dick's has some good prices on cases of 12 ga shells (about $4.98/box if you buy 10) with 4 shot. I picked up a brick of .22lr for $19.99 last week.

    I was considering a .308 which, if you have to shoot zombies in a complete meltdown...and then go out and hunt up some dinner that night...is a pretty good caliber. But I'm concerned more about the price just practicing with the rifle than taking out zombies.
     

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