Lead Shortage?

[TwoGun]

I stopped yesterday to pick up some hard cast 180 grain bullets in .40 cal. and the gun shop didn't have any. The owner, a friend of mine, told me that he was having a difficult time getting bullets because his source told him that a couple of major US lead mines had been shut down and because the US dollar is weak overseas, China and various European countries were purchasing up resources as fast as they could, to include lead.

Then he told me that when he did get more in, they would be about 30% higher in cost than what I had been paying. This was not good news.

I was wondering if anyone else had come across anything like this. I live in a small town in the middle of South Dakota and the gun shop is the only one in town. While I can get jacket bullets at one or two other places, this the one and only source in town for hard cast lead.

If anyone has had similiar experinces, I'd like to hear about it.

Thanks, and good shooitng.

[shred]

Lead/copper prices are going up.. my bullet suppliers (and pretty much all the others I know about) have already raised prices to compensate.

[texasag93]

Yes, price of all metals has been going up including lead, brass and copper. Not sure why, I am not an ecomnomist. I do know that a friend of mine that deals with steel products has told me the Chinese are buying up metals of all kinds. Is that causing our shortage here? Not sure, but bullet prices have gone up and supplies have been harder to get. TXAG

[EricW]

Part of the "shortage" has to do with certain cast-bullet supplier making commitments they are unable to fill. The price of lead is going up, but there is no "shortage." I've spoken to two bullet suppliers directly and they both indicate that they are able to get a consistent supply, but just are paying more.

I have hear the same story about the Chinese and have heard a version that it is also the Koreans and/or Taiwanese who are on a shopping spree.

[Round_Gun_Shooter]

Copper, steel, lead and other metals have increased in price dramatically over the last three months. Steel pipe has about doubled. No sign of a let up either. As for why?? I can speculate but I have no proof.

Copper and Steel usually go up in July and back down in September but it will probably just go up this year

Regards,

[TwoGun]

Thanks for the imput. Sometimes when you live in a small out of the way town you get paraniod because most every thing seems to cost more. (Our fuel prices tend to be the highest in the state). So I'm always wondering if we are just getting gouged or if the prices we pay reflect national trends.

In this case it sounds like we are not the only ones who are experincing higher prices.

Thanks again.

[Jack Suber]

The story I have heard is that we are at war and all of these materials are needed by our armed forces. Therefore, priority is given to military contracts. Makes sense to me. I would find it hard to believe that there would be a large market for the export of lead - other materials maybe, but not lead. Just my 2 cents (copper/zinc) ...