Student in the austin area. I shoot a 6.5 cm. Have had trouble finding any 6.5 creedmoor ammo in general. And when I do, I can't afford it. Anyone know any stores in Austin area that have been getting in shipments?

If you can't afford it, does it matter if they're getting in shipments? I'm not trying to be rude but just about all the gun shops know 6.5CM is going to be $2.50-4.00 a round depending on the brand/load.

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/6.5mm-creedmoor

Man. $2.50 - $4 per round is just craziness. I'm out of the loop on cost of ammo because I reload. You can buy all the components for about $1.20, and then after the first firing, you can take the cost of the brass out, making it around 60 cents per round. I have always heard that you really don't reload to save money because you won't. But even with the extra stuff that I buy for reloading, I gotta think that I'm still coming out WAY ahead. Young man, invest in a reloading press and some components. It may hurt a little financially now, but you'll be much better off in the future.

edit: And you'll end up with more accurate ammo.

There's multiple factors right now driving up the cost of the ammo. Your cheaper brass, like the Hornady brass, is unavailable to purchase. The other brands, like Sig and Starline I can find, but they are more expensive than the Hornady brass, and a better quality brass. I can also get Peterson, Lapua, and Nosler/Norma brass, but they are 2x to 3x the cost of the Hornady brass. This is just the brass component alone. There are several brass manufactures discontinuing their bulk items (buying brass in 1000 count boxes), and switching to smaller 25 and 50 count boxes, and doubling their pricing for the brass. Primers pricing, when I have gotten some in, have gone up 3x-4x the regular cost. Bullets have gone up about 40%-50% also. Powder, my pricing has gone up right at 60%. Add all this up, and pricing for ammo goes up.

The next big issue is limited availability. I have multiple suppliers who will only sell you a small amount of product, even when they do get materials in. The other OEM suppliers who do not restrict you on how many you can buy, sell out the minute they get materials in.

If it helps, I do have plenty of 6.5 Creedmoor available with many bullet options. I have thousands of Sig brass on hand right now, and just got in a very large shipment of H4350 powder.

Chad, as an industry insider, what is your opinion on the following? I am sure that part of the inflated pricing is supply vs demand, and part is cost of materials. Once supply catches up or demand subsides, so you see pricing coming back down to earth? or do you see that we will be stuck with 300-400% increase in primers and 40-60% increase in powder, bullets, and brass?

HTXdude, Chad does make some pretty good ammo at fair pricing.

At some point, it will certainly come back down. I've spoken to several of my suppliers who speak to the big companies, and they all predict they do not see things loosening up until at least late 2022. So, we will be in this state for at least most of next year.

But, every high demand comes with a slow down after, at some point. The bigger the demand, is generally followed with a larger slow down. Since this is the biggest demand I've ever seen, the slow down after all this will be huge. That's what I worry about. Not just for me, but the industry in general. So it's a difficult balance on limiting your spending on capital to purchase goods at a higher cost now. If you buy too much and have to sit on it at a much higher price, you may never sell it. I passed on a deal to buy several hundred thousand 9mm brass and bullets. The price was way too high for the lower quality item, and I didn't want to mess with it. And I don't load 9mm, unless it's a special run.

Chad, i tried sending you a pm but its full. Can you send me one regarding ammo availability?

Thanks

I don't mind the $35-50 for a box of 20 rounds, that has become the new standard almost for deer hunting rounds since covid. I am talking about the online retailers some of the stores that have started selling what stock they get in at $80-$90 for a box of 20 bullets. I understand that is how supply and demand works. Was more just wondering if people have had luck at Academy, Bass pro, smaller shops, etc., for dining 6.5 at prices similar to the $40ish range that other calibers are selling for.

Yeah, retail CM prices are stupid right now. Glad I load my own. Here's what you are looking at for loading prices:

Starline Brass, order 1,000 pieces and you get them for $0.46/each: https://www.starlinebrass.com/65-creedmoor | I do my cost per round (CPR) based off the MINIMUM number of firings that I get from a particular brass caliber/brand. And the MIN for 6.5 CM starline brass that I get with proper brass care, is 15 firings. So, CPR is calculated at $0.46 / 15 = $0.03/per round.

Retail bullet cost is the big one and that varies significantly depending on what you are wanting to shoot. We'll use some 140gr Hornady ELD Match for this analysis, which is currently $0.44/bullet: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018227839?pid=896802

Powder's aren't all that far off from each other in pricing, but we'll use some Hodgdon Superformance for this analysis. If you buy 8lbs, you'll get it for $28.25/lb .. MAX load for the above bullet is 44.7 gr. That's about 156 rounds per lb. or $0.18/round.

I'm going to use $0.03/primer in the calculation because that's my cost given how many LRP I bought at that price before this price craziness - but they are running around $.09/primer for anyone that is just getting into loading now.

Brass: $0.03
Bullet: $0.44
Powder: $0.18
Primer: $0.03
______________
Total cost per round: $0.68/round ($0.74 if using new primer pricing)

Of course, if you cast yourself a 140 gr 6.5 CM bullet, you would get about 50 bullets per lb of lead....which would run you about $.045/bullet ...approximately 10x less per bullet! So, around $0.28/round. Rough estimate and assuming all other things being equal, which they aren't - there are differences like the amount of powder you use... and some people might want to add in the cost of gas checks (if they using them) - I use them but make my own (from soda/beer cans) using a Patmarlin die, so no cost ... and the cost of powder coat but that is negligible.

you will never see 6.5 prices at $40 again

signs of times

if you're hunting , an $80 box should get you a few harvest

if you're plinking, take a break from 6.5 and take up .22LR

I can spare you a few boxes of 6.5, but it'll be at $70 ( my cost with tax and shipping cost I've paid )

here's some good prices for you :


https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...o-sale-6-5-creedmoor-and-308#Post8464763

That's why I included the link-if you're okay with $2-2.50, there are some options on there if you shop online. Dallas Reloads builds good ammo-since Chad said they've got components in stock, I'd start there. Good luck with your search!

Stop by academy’s when you can I got lucky with Winchester 29.99 or less a box on a couple recent visits

6.5C seems to be the one caliber besides .224 I can get components for fairly easy right now. I've never seen Hornady 140 ELD-M's completely unavailable and brass has been in stock each time I've looked. I just started loading for it and feel fortunate to have bought some A4350 and H4350 the other day since I've read these are the best powders.

I picked up Hornady Match 147’s at Cabelas about a week ago for $39.99 a box

Patience young student of creedmoor

When you find the ammo for regular 2019 prices buy 500 rounds of it

While this may seem expensive I assure you the peace your mind and body will feel after securing the stash will be worth it.

Leveling up in the 6.5 calibers takes a different game plan

This surprises me because I found 6.5 bullets hard to find and H4350 was almost impossible to find before the market went crazy. 224 and 30 caliber bullets seem to be more plentiful than any other.

Correct, it will be lower. It actually is already. Bought quite a bit the past 30 days at Academy and LGS, ELD's are around 40, you can get S&B for around 27.

No way i would give 50 for a box of 20. Hell Atwoods in Paris had the Hornady Precision Hunter in. 6.5. CM. couple weeks ago for 35 a box.

Please stop shopping at my store

Ok. Just 20 mins from me too

It'll come back down. Folks are buying now (and have been for the last year) because supply is low. Once supply chain issues go away, people will stop buying out of fear and prices will drop hard and fast.

I load my own 6.5. If I didn't, I'd just be waiting this out and not shooting. I'm not going to spend $2+ a shot for anything. I've got enough reloading components to get me through at least 2022, so I'll just hold out til things get reasonable again.

If you think the 6.5 CM is high price the 6.5 PRC. ELD-X is flying off the shelves at $130 a box. It’s crazy but if you rethink your shooting strategy maybe not. Do your plinking with a 22 or maybe a 556 if you feel the itch for more power. Sighting in takes some ammo depending on how good and or how picky you are. Beyond that I bet the average big game hunter uses what 5 maybe 10 rounds a year unless they are chasing hogs? With all the other costs involved in hunting a $130 box of shells that will last 2-4 years is not really significant. I do a lot of shooting but with the high cost per round hunting ammo they only get fired at animals.

And people use to mock wby pricing