Starline brass

[Don McDowell]

Sam I don't know for absolute fact that Mead acquired the machinery, but I'm reasonably confident they did. But about the same time they were about ready to gear up and start making stuff, is when the pandemic thing hit. So we shall see what happens when things begin to calm down. I do know that they produce bullets for several different outfits, and so I would imagine that trying to keep up with that will take precedence.

[Nuclearcricket]

Thanks Don. I didn't know who got the stuff and its nice to know that someone did and hopefully plans on using it at some point. If they are making components (bullets), and can get people in to work, my guess is right now they are shitting in tall cotton. These fantastic sales people in DC are doing a great job at promoting sales of firearms, ammo and components.
Sam

[Don McDowell]

The mostly peaceful protest, and the defunding of police forces last year brought approximately 7 million new shooters into the fold. The NSSF reports that many of those have discovered the fun of recreational and competitive shooting, placing a huge demand on the ammunition markets. Couple that with the pandemic and all the stuff going on with that, and it's going to take a long long time for the supply to get back up.
I know 2 people, one bought a 6.5 PRC and the other bought a 300 PRC long range rifles, way back in October, last I heard neither one had fired their new shooter gun, cuz neither one can find even a box of ammo. LOL sort of have to laugh about that.

[Kurt]

I had to go to the local Farm&Fleet store yesterday and I walked past the sporting goods section and looked through the glass doors and the shelf had some hand gun ammo and bulk .22 rimfire .223 and a few other rifle caliber ammo plus some Rem. shotgun primers.

[Don McDowell]

There is some of the common garden variety cartridges showing up occasionally. I was able to pick up a box of 50 380's the other day, if I would of known my cousin was trying to find 38 specials I could of grabbed a couple of boxes for him. He can't find any in the Alberqueque area. Another friend from Arizona the other day said he can't find any 30-30's anywhere. Funny thing this supply and demand stuff.

[Nuclearcricket]

Well Don thats kind of why I have a drawer full of molds and 2 full of dies. last factory ammo I purchased was a box of 9mm, that was just the test fire and get the brass. My neighbor sold me an ammo can full of 7.62x39. Its not re-loadable but then my sks isn't a tack driver either, I just took it to help him out and just add it to my stash. I keep my eye out for good deals on molds and such. There is always ways and places to pick up wheel weights and lead, as long as I have some of that on hand I feel comfortable, and kind of laugh at those crying at the ammo counter when they can't feed their new baby.
I went to the range over the summer and the firing line was littered with 9mm brass, there were a couple of guys firing at the far end so I didn't think anything of it and started picking up the brass, turns out it was theirs but they didn't reload. If they had wanted it I would still have picked it up and given it to them so I wasn't stepping on it. As it turns out they didn't want it, helped me pick it up and I ended up with 250 once fired rem cases and the boxes they came in. I was happy.
Sam

[Don McDowell]

LOL Sam I bought this little baby Browning 1911 about the time this shortage thing hit. 380 ammo was cheap and plentiful, I could get them for about what my 22 match ammo cost. But I did stock up at the time. As things started getting harder to find I decided well may reloading for this thing would be prudent... Alas no dies, and no moulds could be found. LOL so in some ways I do emphasize with those guys and their PRC's but not really to much because I told them both for the cost of those things, and the scopes and all the other junk, they could get some up with really nice Shiloh's and we could go have some real fun.

[Kurt]

Sam,

Law enforcement and state prison guards train at our range and they used to fill up 5 gallon buckets with brass and let me have it.
At one time I was going to build a kiln and melt it down to make a brass cannon barrel but never followed through with it. I still have .40 cal buckets full as well as .223 and some .38 spl.
I gave my Soninlaw the 9mm brass and a rock chucker press and told him to go and get busy.

[Nuclearcricket]

Don I can't help you out with dies or molds, I do have 380 dies, don't have any idea why I never sold them but I do still have them and use them to keep my brother supplied. I live a bit over an hour from a commercial caster so I have access to bullets and I have a gallon bag of 380 brass. About the only suggestion I can offer is put a WTB add on cast bullets and see who makes what kind of an offer. I have made some decient purchases there on some components. Another place to look for bullets might be diamondkbrass.com , not sure wat they have in stock but it pays to keep an eye on the place. They sell Berrys bullets and I just got an order of 9mm hollow points. They also are a good place to keep an eye on for once fired brass.
Sam

[Don McDowell]

Sam I'm in good shape for the most part for that cute little Browning. I have most of the empty brass, and still have several hundred rounds of loaded ammo. Eventually there'll be some dies and a mould, or possibly even some of the commercial casters will get caught up. 9mm I got lucky and was cruising Midway's ammunition page one night and lo and behold they had 500 rounds of Remington ammo at a decent price.