Expect Higher Ammo Prices In 2022

I hate to be the harbinger of bad news but rises in raw materials combined with supply constraints will mean higher ammo prices in 2022. The ammo companies of Vista Outdoor which include Federal, Remington, CCI, Speer, and HeviShot have announced a price increase effective April 1st.

From the story at The Firearm Blog:

December 21, 2021 

Dear Customer: 

Thank you for your business and for your continued support of American jobs and manufacturing. As we continue to see supply chain constraints and increases in our raw materials, we are increasing our pricing to help offset those rising costs. 

Effective 4/1/2022, CCI, Federal, Hevi–Shot, Remington, and SPEER ammunition will take the following price increases: 

  • Primers – 5%
  • Powder – 5%
  • Handgun – 2-8%
  • Rifle – 3-8%
  • Shotgun – 3-12%

Additionally, due to continued demand, NO new Primer orders will be accepted until further notice. 

Unless you notify us to cancel an order, we will reprice all existing and future orders shipped on or after 4/1/2022 to the new prices. 

You will receive your finalized price list no later than March 15th, 2022

Thank you for your continued support of our brands and our American workforce

Jason R. Vanderbrink

President, Ammunition 

As you can read in the letter from Mr. Vanderbrink, reloaders are really going to be hurt as they are not accepting orders for primers. The price increase by 5% is what it is but it doesn’t matter if you just cannot get primers at all. There are four companies making primers in the US – CCI, Federal, Remington, and Winchester – and three of the four are Vista Outdoor companies. There are foreign manufacturers such as Sellier & Bellot, Armscor, and Fiocchi but they have their issues as well.

80% Receivers

If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time you know that I’m a big fan of infographics. I think I first became aware of them by reading political science professor Edward Tufte’s book The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (#commission earned) many, many years ago.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has developed a social media share center that is loaded with infographics on a variety of shooting and firearm topics.

Given that the Biden Administration is currently contemplating moves against personally made firearms, I thought this one on unfinished receivers or lowers was particularly relevant.

The gun control lobby conveniently forgets to mention many things in their jihad against personally made firearms. For example, while it is 100% legal to make the firearm for personal use it is against federal law to sell that firearm to anyone. If you want to make firearms to sell, you need to federally licensed by BATFE and each firearm must have a serial number.

The Same Old Same Old In NYC

I think the old saying goes “that the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Eric Adams, Mayor-elect of New York City, has announced a number of his selections to head various departments and agencies within city government.

Among the positions that he filled was that of his communications director.

From the New York Post:

Meanwhile, Maxwell Young, the head of public affairs at gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, will be Adams’ communications director. He previously advised Sen. Chuck Schumer (D- NY), and led the MTA’s external affairs.

Image
From Twitter profile

According to his LinkedIn profile, Young has been the Chief Public Affairs Officer and Senior VP of Everytown since September 2019. He also seems to have worked on and off for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) since 2007 with interludes working for the MTA and the Rockefeller Foundation. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 2006.

The only surprise here is that he didn’t work in the Bloomberg Administration. That said, Bloomberg and Schumer both hate individual freedoms. I will admit to being amazed that Young announced on Twitter that he bought a subscription to Stephen Gutowski’s The Reload. Maybe he can learn something and have his viewpoints expanded.

Brutal But Accurate

With the 2022 Olympic Winter Games being held in Beijing, I thought this biathlon poster I found today on Facebook seemed timely.

If you don’t get it, do an Interwebs search for “uighurs”.

UPDATE: The above was done by Chinese dissident artist Badiucao. He has won the Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent in 2020.

Badiucao’s work above is part of a five canvas series criticizing Chinese human rights abuses ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. He resides in exile in Australia where this art was created. It seems some Australian billboard companies are fearful of pissing off China and have refused to allow his work to appear on their billboards.

Jon Wertheim of CBS News just did a long story about Badiucao and his artwork this evening on 60 Minutes.

Here is a preview:

Just Slipped Wayne’s Mind

Mike Spies of The Trace is no friend of the NRA. He also does damn good research and always has his facts correct. He pretty much has to or else he’d be sued by the NRA for libel.

He came out with a new report yesterday in The Trace regarding Wayne LaPierre’s yacht trips in the Bahamas and the role played by Colleen Sterner, Wayne’s niece, in the NRA. The yacht trips in the Bahamas were on a yacht owned by David McKenzie whose company is a contractor for the NRA. Sterner was hired to work with the NRA’s Womens Leadership Forum and is still employed by the NRA. Her hiring came at the behest of Susan LaPierre.

Wayne has testified that the yacht trips were for security reasons. This was especially true of the 2013 trip as it happened just a few months after the Newtown school murders. What Wayne failed to mention in his sworn testimony is that this trip just happened to coincide with his niece’s wedding in the Bahamas and that both couples then cruised around the Bahamas afterwards.

From the article:

Under questioning about the yacht trip, LaPierre did not disclose the wedding. Instead, he testified under oath that he used the boat that summer because his life was in imminent danger. He said that trip — the first of six annual summer voyages on the yacht in the Bahamas, from 2013 to 2018 — was a “security retreat” and the only way he could be safe after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. LaPierre explained that he was under “Presidential threat without Presidential security” and that the boat “was offered” as a refuge. When he finally got to the yacht, he recalled thinking, “Thank God I’m safe, nobody can get me here.”

Internal NRA documents, other records, and interviews with former staffers suggest that LaPierre repeatedly made misleading and possibly false statements under oath about the yacht and his niece. LaPierre testified that Sterner, whom he hired at the NRA, was an integral employee in the organization, but former colleagues, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, say she did little work. 

The NRA’s outside counsel Bill Brewer contends that these trips were disclosed and they were for security reasons. Note that supposedly Brewer represents the NRA and not Wayne LaPierre. Right.

As to Mrs. Sterner, numerous staffers involved with the WLF say she really did very little work for the Forum. The work she did do such as ordering flowers was rather menial. No one has mentioned nepotism but it is what it is. One of the events she was supposed to be involved with was a 2017 event held by the WFL in conjunction with the Safari Club International Convention.

From the article:

The former staffers expressed astonishment to me at LaPierre’s claims under oath. “Colleen was not involved in the planning of, or participation in, any event or donor visits,” one said. “If she and her husband were there, neither of them had a hand in helping coordinate donor activities, events, or soliciting items for the annual auction.” The person added: “There were corporate relations individuals who needed to be at events during show season and had children at home. They were never offered any enhanced accommodation, let alone traveling by private jet with their spouse and child.” A second person said that “there was absolutely no indication” Sterner worked at the Las Vegas gathering. She could not be found on the convention floor or at parties, dinners, receptions, or strategy breakfasts hosted by Susan. At one point, the WLF sponsored a private luncheon for about a dozen wealthy female hunters who, based on their accomplishments, were called the Dianas, after the Roman goddess of hunting. The event, in the penthouse of the Four Seasons, was hosted by Susan. Sterner was not there, either, people with knowledge of the gathering told me. 

I’m getting the feeling with Susan out as co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Forum that staffers are feeling less constrained about venting their frustration over her treatment of them over the years.

I do disagree with Spies NYU Law School Professor Stephen Gillers that this will be ammunition that will help James dissolve the NRA. What it will help do is remove Wayne and the existing leadership of the NRA. I believe the judge in the case is less inclined to actually dissolve the organization but probably has no hesitation cleaning house.

Every Life Has A Story

This post is totally off topic. It has nothing to do with guns, politics, bourbon, or anything else I normally write about. However, I think it is quite appropriate for this season as well as what life has given us the past two years.

We had a regional training meeting this past week. It was a roll-out on a customer service improvement project. One thing that the training emphasized is how we should treat both external and internal customers. That is, those who we normally think of customers as well as those within the company that help us do our jobs.

This video was played during the training. It comes from Chick Fil A. It brings home that everyone has a story about their life, good, bad, or indifferent. We just need to bother to read it.

NoDak Spud Acquired By JJE Capital

NoDak Spud is well known for their retro AR receivers, AK receivers, sights for Ruger 10/22s, and other gun parts. They are currently located in Edina, Minnesota but that will be changing.

The company has been acquired by JJE Capital Holdings which is the holding company for Palmetto State Armory and other related companies. Among the numerous firearms lines JJE Capital acquired during the auction of the Remington assets was Harrington and Richardson. NoDak Spud will be part of the H&R subsidiary.

Here is the announcement made by PSA on AR15.com:

Effective Jan 3rd, NoDak Spud will become a subsidiary of Harrington & Richardson. Mike Wetteland, co-owner of NoDak Spud will become the CEO of the newly reformed H&R.

Mike brings over 30 years of experience in the firearms industry to our team. As many of you know, Mike’s attention to detail and passion for Retro AR15’s has helped grow our hobby.

NoDak Spud will cease all operations at their Edina MN facility Dec 23rd in order to complete ship outs before the end of the year. NoDak Spud will then be relocated to West Columbia SC.

All customers that had backorders and/or were on the interested parties list for retro lowers/parts will be notified by Harlan via telephone or email.

All NoDak Spud retro parts will be rebranded as H&R. Most of the other NDS products, such as Ruger rifle sights will still be produced. Please be patient as it will take time to spin production back up.

NoDak Spud will continue to field calls and emails until we get the H&R website and staff up and running.

PLEASE DO NOT call Palmetto State Armory to place pre-orders or make product inquiries as the customer service staff has not been brought up to speed yet.

Please be assured that we will do our best to contact everyone on the NoDak lists to give them the opportunity to purchase H&R retro products.

This sale and move has generated a lot of comment on the AR-15/M-16 Retro Forum on Arfcom. From what I see it is mostly positive. Mike Wetteland is a participant there and is assuring people that this is meant to be a “sustainable endeavor”. As H&R made some of the M16A1 lower, people seem excited to be able to get a new lower with the H&R rollmark on it.

Upside To Outrageous Gun Show Ammo Prices

If you have been to a gun show in the last couple of years and priced ammo, you know the prices can be outrageous. That is, in comparison to what they were just a few years ago. The reality is that we are seeing the economic laws of supply and demand working as they should. We don’t have to like it but it is what it is.

Knowing I was going to miss the next Asheville Gun Show as it coincides with the Dallas Safari Club Convention, I trekked over to Waynesville to attend their little gun show. It was…sad. There weren’t many vendors and the ammo selection was poor.

I had hoped to find some ammo in 9.3×62 (not likely), 6.5×55 (possible), and .30-30 Winchester (more probable). Nobody had any of the first two but one vendor had a few boxes of .30-30 Winchester. I wanted the .30-30 ammo as I plan to use my old Marlin 336 rifle for deer hunting this coming week.

The nameless vendor had a couple of boxes of Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain and a couple of boxes of Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain. The vendor wanted $59.95 and $69.95 respectively for this ammo. That was out of the range that I wanted to pay.

The upside is that I knew I had a box or two of .30-30 ammo around the house in one ammo can or another. I just had to find it. I will admit to and the Complementary Spouse will confirm that I’m not the most organized person in the world.

But find it I did.

Now it wasn’t in the first place I looked nor in the second. I think maybe it was the third or fourth place I looked. Along the way I did discover I had more 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Savage, and 6.8 SPC ammo that I realized. This turned out to be a win all around!

Like many of us, I had gotten into the habit of picking up a box or two of ammo when I went to Walmart or my local gun store just in case. I’m guessing the above box of Federal .30-30 Winchester probably cost me $15-20 when I bought it. This is truly a case of it paying off for me.

I can’t say that my old habits still will work given today’s condition. That said, if you find something you might be able to use in the future at a reasonable price, go for it. I did come home from that gun show with two boxes of Hornady 6.8 SPC 110 grain V-Max for $30 a box. Not cheap but cheaper than what I could find on Ammoseek.com and I’ll be prepared for coyotes whenever I go for them.

Thank You LuckyGunner.com!

I have been an affiliate of LuckyGunner.com since 2011 when they sponsored the Blogger Shoot. If you look at the very bottom of this page, you will see a link to their website. Using that link to buy your ammo generates a small commission for me. I use the proceeds to either pay for some of my research costs (Pacer is not free) or it goes as donations to pro-Second Amendment organizations.

Over the last few years Anthony Welsch, their marketing guru, has sent out some very nice Christmas gifts to affiliates. This year he sent some wonderful buffalo steaks and roasts which I can’t wait to taste.

I do plan to play with Olivia and Aria next week. I’m sure I will watch at least one episode of Paw Patrol as well as numerous episodes of Sophia, Bluey, and one or more involving Disney Princesses.

Thanks again to Anthony and the whole team at LuckyGunner.com for this wonderful Christmas gift.

Now go buy some ammo and use the link at the bottom of the page!

Questions Not Asked (Updated)

I received a press release late this morning regarding a recent shooting in Durham, North Carolina. It was from the North Carolina chapters of Everytown, Moms Demand, and Students Demand. The tenor of this missive was that “gun violence” (sic) is killing the youth of North Carolina.

Lest I be accused of selective editing, here it is in its entirety:

DURHAM, N.C. —  The North Carolina chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement after a shooting in Durham left two people dead and four others injured. According to local reporting, the six victims were driving in an SUV when they received fire at around 3 a.m. Monday morning. Most of those shot were under the age of 18, with some of the youngest being just middle school students, WRAL reports.


“The shooting in Durham is another tragic example of the devastating impact gun violence has had on North Carolina’s youth,” said Sylvia Burns, a volunteer with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We can’t sit idly while young lives continue to be cut short by gun violence. Enough is enough.”


The shooting comes at the end of Durham’s deadliest year — by September 30, 2021, Durham police had investigated 43 homicides, surpassing 2016’s previous record of 42, according to INDY Week.


In an average year, 1,388 people die and 3,407 are wounded by guns in North Carolina. Guns are the second-leading cause of death among the state’s youth population, with an average of 104 children and teens being killed by guns every year. 60% of these deaths are homicides. More information on North Carolina gun violence can be found here.

There are a number of questions that this press release ignores while saying “enough is enough.”

Why were these “youths” out driving around at 3am on what is a school night?

Did the parents of those that were identified as “middle school students” know their children were out at this time of the morning? According to a more recent report, the middle schools students included a 13 year old boy, a 13 year old girl, and a 12 year old girl.

Given police say this shooting was not random, were any of these “youths” members of a gang?

Did the victims know their attackers?

Was this shooting gang related? Durham officials said earlier in the year that the city has a gang problem.

Were any firearms found in the SUV of the “victims”?

With one of those killed being 19 years of age, does Everytown consider this victim a “youth” or an adult?

The Durham Police Department reports that the SUV, a Hyundai Santa Fe, was reported stolen sometime on Sunday. Were these “youths” involved in the theft of the car and did the theft play any role in the shooting?

I do agree that it is a tragedy to see any young person’s life end prematurely. However, there are so many factors at play here that to heap all the blame on firearms is both misleading and simplistic.

UPDATE: More details emerge on this incident.

In addition to there being a seventh passenger in the stolen car, a firearm was found in it by police.

From WRAL Raleigh:

A police report indicates a .308 Winchester 88 was recovered from the Hyundai Santa Fe, which crashed into a utility pole near the intersection of Mathison and Eugene streets after the shooting.

Police said the SUV had been reported stolen on Sunday from a location in Durham that they didn’t disclose. There was no information as to whether the rifle was stolen along with the vehicle. Police haven’t said whether any of the teens have been linked to the vehicle theft.

A Winchester 88 is a magazine-fed lever action rifle. I will say it is not what one would expect to find at the scene of the crime.