Price of 338 LM ammo

[Texas_Republic]

I understand that the 338 LM ammo is super high and you pretty much have to reload it unless you have money to burn. But why is it so much higher than similiar calibers?

Is it only because its a newer round and has not yet been taken up by many major manufacturer's?

Anyone see the price going down in the near future?

I have seen more and more rifles being chambered in the 338LM. You think this will prompt more manufacturing soon and bring down the price some?

 

[desertHK]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

Hopefully, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that.

 

[Beale338]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

Not sure why it is priced so high but I don't see them droping any time soon.

 

[dvdt]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

I think there just aren't that many rifles out there chambered in .338 LM. I think as it becomes more popular the price will go down. I mean, most folks in the shooting world probably are into handguns and self defense. I think now that we're seeing a lot of military folks using these and police dept's are picking up the round, we'll see better prices.

That said, now that I'm learning to reload and feel somewhat confident in what I'm doing, I don't really plan on buying factory ammo. I might pick up a little here and there so if I take folks shooting with me the liability of reloads is gone. However, I doubt if I had a new shooter friend I'd introduce them to a rifle in .338 LM. That's what my 40X is for

Call me a cheap bastard if you want...

I do hope ammo prices in general come down. I've finally started seeing .223/5.56 coming down.

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I understand that the 338 LM ammo is super high and you pretty much have to reload it unless you have money to burn. But why is it so much higher than similiar calibers?

Is it only because its a newer round and has not yet been taken up by many major manufacturer's?

Anyone see the price going down in the near future?

I have seen more and more rifles being chambered in the 338LM. You think this will prompt more manufacturing soon and bring down the price some? </div></div>

You are kidding right? What in this world that costs money-that gets cheaper if it becomes more popular?

When I started loading 338LM cases cost $1.19 each. I still have some of those cases-over 20 loads. Next, short of a Remington Police MLR (IIRC) about the cheapest you'll get a 338LM is about 1800 dollars (AR30M). Bottom line-if the cost of ammo IS YOUR BOTTOM LINE- you have no business shooting it.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but if you are going to shoot a 338LM-chances are you are into the Extreme Long Range game-at least 1000yards. You can't get away with a half ass scope. Since Premier is a new company-they did shit right and got popular-did you see the price go down on their scopes? Nope. Lapua is expensive because it is manufactured in Finland-the dollar is weak. It is what it is. Norma is $$$, Hell,Hornady is made here and its $$$$. The 338LM is a 68K psi+ cartridge-it needs high quality brass. Hell,now the 338LM isn't ENOUGH-they are building 375/408 cheytacs and shooting monolithic solids. About 3 years ago Kaltran-Pettibone,the importer for Lapua-sold Lapua 750/800 match solids for the 50BMG at $19/20. Now some places have them priced from 70-90 dollars!!! I'm glad I bought a shitload. You want to drop the cost-buy alot of everything whenever you can.

Seriously, compared to alot of other hobbies,the average working man can have-it isn't that expensive. I'm not into fishing-but did you ever see what a nice Bass Boat costs?A ski boat. Who would have guessed that new pickups would cost upwards of $50K. Nothing is getting cheaper.

When I shoot 50BMG or the 338LM, there is always somebody who asks-what does it cost to shoot it? Not enough to keep me from the range. Life is short-I'm not leaving a PENNY to anybody.

So to answer your question. No.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

While what Lt. Arclight said is painful, but it's true. I still remember when a brand new box of 338 LM brass went for $90/ 100 brass at Cabelas. I bought a couple and bitched about it. Now, it's $250+ per 100 brass.

While the statement that if it gets more popular, you are hoping that more companies will manufacture them, but unfortunately, the price doesn't quite come down. Why you ask? Because there will always be someone out there who will cough up the "bucks" to get what he/she wants.

 

[viav13]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

I think that the price will come down when the wars start cooling off.

The 338 LM is very popular with foreign military's who are fighting in the war on terror. That fact, along with there only being a few companies that produce factory ammo, has driven the price sky high.

Military's dont care so much about cost. They will pay almost anything for the best of whats out there. Lapua makes the best ammo and it is the only factory that produces it enough to supply our allies. Anything left over is sold at inflated prices to civilians.

When the war originally kicked off I remember you couldn't find civilian MRE's at a good price because they were all going to the war effort. This example holds true for many other things also. Look the Barrett M82 since the war has started, its price has went up about $4000. Im not saying that there arn't any other factors that are helping the high prices stay high. I just believe that this is the reason with the biggest influence.

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

I cant disagree with any of what you all have said. But I do know this.
When multiple companies manufacture the same product, the price will eventually come down once it surpasses its demand curve. If quality within each product is somewhat similar, the factor of price will determine which company sells its product over another. Competition for sales drives down price to a certain point. Unless of course every single company in the product field agrees to keep the price high. But the more companies competing, the less likely that will occur.
I think the underlying problem to this whole deal is high demand right now. Like yall have said above, war and scarcity have inflated demand right now.

I do think that eventually...maybe...once the demand drops so will prices. When..no idea.

 

[Wind50cal]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

What does it cost to shoot it? Not enough to keep me from the range.

That is good!

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

Yes, the cost is pretty high. Let me know what you want, and I could help you out. The brass itself is about $1+ each. Add the powder, primer and high-end bullet. and there you go.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But why is it so much higher than similiar calibers? </div></div>

OK, let's look at some data:

308 reloads: Bullet 155gr, powder 47.8 gr
338 reloads: Bullet 300gr, powder 95 gr

So, in two important metrics, 338 is twice as much as 308:: the bullet weights twice as much and you use twice as much powder. At todays prices, I can reload my 308 long range round at $0.43-44 per pop (assuming 20 pops per brass). This chould put 338 LM around $1.00 per pop. and if you look up the variuos data, it indeed does come in just over $1.00.

Now manufactured cartriges are an entirely different story. But look at FGMM at $1.85 per pop (Midway today) versus 338 LM at $3.20 (Lapua) per pop to $6.00 per pop (BH or FGMM). So they are somewhere between 2X and 3.3X. Lack of volume can easily account for the more than 2X multiplier.

 

[Texas_Republic]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

Send you an email ChadTGR42. Your PMs are full apparently.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I understand that the 338 LM ammo is super high and you pretty much have to reload it unless you have money to burn. But why is it so much higher than similiar calibers?

Is it only because its a newer round and has not yet been taken up by many major manufacturer's?

Anyone see the price going down in the near future?

I have seen more and more rifles being chambered in the 338LM. You think this will prompt more manufacturing soon and bring down the price some? </div></div>

Look at it this way, 200-300 rounds of factory 338LM will buy you a nice little reloading setup.

I've got 10 cycles on a batch of Lapua cases and while not cheap, you ammortize the overall cost downwards, the more you shoot.

Chis

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Price of 338 LM ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texas Republic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Send you an email ChadTGR42. Your PMs are full apparently. </div></div>
Yes, I got filled up while at SHOT show. I'm clear now. I'll be sending an email in a few. Thanks!

Chad