Chasing Shotgun shells in the Upper Midwest

Day by day the shot shell shortage continues,

I travel all over for work and will try to report my shell finds or not as I travel for the trap shooter.

Today was the Walmart in Lake Delton Wi. Zero shells

Thanks

 

So I have checked the Fleet Farm in Oshkosh Wi Zero Shells
And I have checked the Walmart in Oshkosh Wi Zero Shells

 

They’ve had pallets of Winchester AA and Super Targets in Walmart in Lincoln, Ne
Numerous pallets of Federal in economy target loads also.

 

Great to here, my work has me travel all over and I just wanted to to help fellow shooters in there search,

Most of the places I stop at are big box stores just because they might have a sizeable load at there locations.
Thanks for putting the word out.

 

North 84th Walmart. No limit on how many you can buy at the north location. The south location has a limit. Go figure

 

Hello All.

I just stopped and checked the Fleet Farm in Waupaca WI Zero Shells

 

So I checked 3 more places today for shells.

Cabela's in Richfield Wisconsin Zero shells
Midwest Shooting Supply in Lomira Wisconsin Zero shells (note: They have Lowrance Shot 6, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, a good supply some wads, No Primers)
Blains Farm and Fleet Waukesha Wisconsin Zero shells

 

No shells at the Fleet Farm or Wal Mart in Fondy as of 9/14/2021

 

I think its odd with the proximity of Anoka MN home of Federal and no one up in the Midwest has shells

 

I believe they've got the lines set up to crank out hunting ammo, they'll switch back to target when they've filled their orders.

 

Boy I sure hope so, I did hear that there was millions of rounds at there location and looking around there you would not think there is a shortage.
But its only a rumor.

 

3 more locations checked and 3 more fail to find shells
Blains Farm and Fleet in Janesville Wisconsin Zero Shells
Dunham's Sports in Janesville Wisconsin Zero Shells
Mid City Guns in Janesville Wisconsin Zero Shells

 

Westerville, Oh Walmart….. 2 boxes 30-30,
1 box 7mm, 1 box 7mm08. Not a shotshell in the place. No pistol ammo.
Shelves bare.

Regards……Gerald

 

Have you noticed ~~~

Now that they got the toilet paper prices sky high, there isn't any shortage of that anymore.

 

The Rural King in Van Wert, Ohio had plenty of 5.56 and 223, 9's and buckshot but no shotgun shot except 4 boxes of AA 28ga that I bought for 12.99 a box. I haven't seen a 12 or 20 ga at any store around NW Ohio for about 3 months. There seems to be plenty of 00 buckshot everywhere.

 

The direction that this country is heading the OO's may be a much better type of shotgun ammo to buy than AA28ga skeet loads? I am really worried that soon some of the Biden sheep will push too far at the wrong place at the wrong time and all hell will follow.

Dave Berlet

 

Dave,
Don’t be so quick to disparage the little 28 ga shell. Sure they are fine for doves right out of the box. But a sharp pocket knife and a well placed “ring” on the shell will turn those dove loads into Biden sheep killin ammo!

 

Don I'll shootem if I can get you to ringem !

Dave Berlet

 

Great to others on the hunt for Ammo.
Most of the places that I have been to have some rifle and pistol ammo.

But like most, we are looking for that unicorn Trap load, Does anyone know who make those Challenger Shells?
How about Clever? Rio? Maybe they are out there and this country wont let them ship them into this country.
Maybe they are around and we are not looking in the right places.

To be honest, the Trap load I want to find are even harder to find then most
I really would like to find the 12ga 24gram 7 1/2 or 8 international loads, But that's a dream.

Just a thought.

 

So I checked out two more places

Mitchell South Dakota Cabelas Zero Shells
Mitchell South Dakota Runnings Zero Shells

Oh boy, what it will be like if we ever find any shells.

 

Today I checked in Rapid City SD.

Cabelas A small amount of flats Federal Top guns
Fleet Farm Zero Shells
Runnings Zero Shells

 

Challengers are made in France. By who exactly I’m not sure.

 

always try to keep two years of shells on hand-- Still have 15 flats for next year at $4.99 a box { Gander mountain close out}-- been scrambling to get ahead of the game -- chasing a 200 mile radius for shell and components -- Finally got supplies for another 5000 rounds - just put a pencils to it -- not figuring mileage -- just components -- It will cost $9.65 to reload a box of 1 1/8 oz. trap loads-Lucky I am retired - not a kid just starting out--

 

I was at Wal Mart in Defiance, Ohio yesterday and they had 1 box of Winchester 20ga number 5's and I bought them. That was the first shotgun ammo I've seen there since July.

 

My understanding of how shells are stocked at WalMart is that the store manager, or sporting goods manager, decides on how much to stock. The WalMarts close to me in the city never had a good stock of shotshells, the shelving reserved very little room for them. Move out to the rural stores and there is more shelving set aside.

A friend of mine that lives in western ND reported to me today that there is now target ammo available at the WalMarts near him. Not just hunting but target. So hopefully that's a good sign that the mfg's have switched back from hunting to target. Timing would be about right, most of the hunting ammo should have been produced by now.

 

We all should enjoy this one. The manager of our local sporting goods store, who by the way sells tons of ammo, was contacted by his Winchester rep recently. Since his back order was so huge the rep promised he'd resolve the situation shortly. He sure did-10 cases of light 7.5's just showed up-not skids-10 cases.

 

Checking in
Appleton Wisconsin to Green Bay Area this week

Scheels in Appleton WI Zero Shells
Dicks Sporting Goods Appleton WI ( this place is a joke ) Zero shells
Fleet Farm Appleton WI Zero Shells

Looks sad

 

Still plenty of buckshot at most North West Ohio stores, no hunting or trap loads.

 

Rural King in Hillsboro, Oh has Federal (appears to Top Guns) 3 x 8s. $9.99 per box. With tax, $10.71.

 

Great to hear from you and your search,
My focus has on just trap loads, All of the places I have been to seem to have
some hunting Ammo, But that is even limited.

I should add I checked the Fleet Farm in Cedar Rapids Iowa Zero shells

And I would hate to say it but I think if you find the shells you might want to buy some
It just seems hopeless.

 

Another placed checked, another wasted trip.
Cabelas in Green Bay Wisconsin Zero Shells

Seems bleak in the Upper Midwest
Buy them, when you find them.

 

Just checked the Walmart in Koler Wisconsin Zero Shells

Unbelievable

 

I was able to pick up a few flats and some supplies at the Fall Handicap

 

This morning Guns Unlimited had no trap loads and very little waterfowl. No upland game shot shells. They do have a variety of centerfire.

 

Cabela's & Bass Pro had Top Guns recently in the Chicago area.

 

Thanks ken -- Rub it in -- Donated $305 dollars to your club for 5000 Fiocchi oversize primmers and you find Winchester primmers !!!- I heard they will not be available for a year? Please don't post wHat you paid for them --Just kidding - $305 was a great donation to a great bunch of guys and I can still shoot -- thanks again

 

rrisum, We do thank you for the donation on the purchase of the primers. Just to let you know that most of the primers I was able to pick up are gone to shooting buddies. I did keep some for myself.

 

Local lions club had a benefit shoot for one of their fallen members --His daughter shows up with her dads shotgun to honor the memory of her father. Broke only one bird. Went to the line to help her out the second round ,only to find out she was shooting OO buck shot loads- said she went to every hardware store in town and that was the only 12 gauge shells she could find .

 

rrisum that is good shooting for 00 buck

 

Ouch
00 Buck and clay birds, that's a combo.
Shells are tough to find.
Next I will look in Nebraska.

 

Just back from Nebraska
Omaha area and checked out:
Cabelas they have ammo for rifle and pistol, Zero Trap loads
Scheels All Sport they have ammo for rifle and pistol, Zero Trap loads

I sure hope the big ammo manufacturing places are get Ripped a new one, for this poor attempt to fix this.
Yes I understand it could be raw materials, worker shortage, and any number of things make since
but they have said this for a year now.

 

Our lonely target ammo needs pale in comparison to the demand of hunting ammo. As a producer, the priority will go to the biggest buyers. My hope is that the period of manufacturing hunting ammo is done and they can return get back on target ammo for the next season.

 

Hoffman Estates in Chicago Illinois

Has trap loads today
Federals Top guns and Winchester Super speeds
1 oz. and 1 1/8 7 1/2 and 8 s
Price 85.00 a flat

They have Pistol and Rifle ammo and a fair selection of Guns.
Quite a surprise but at least they have some.

 

Very interesting -- sure their is more hunters than sporting clays -- Would love to see shell numbers - Personally - Two boxes of hunting load a year -- to 2000 boxes for clay targets!

 

The number of shells shot on opening day of Dove season are more than all year at registered trap, skeet, and sporting clays.

 

Is this at cabela's?

 

Yes. I posted 2 weeks ago that Cabela’s and Bass Pro had Top Guns for
about $85/flat.

 

So I have just stopped in to a couple of places,

In Peru Illinois'.
Rural King Zero Shells
Dunham Sports Zero Shells

Keep looking I guess

 

I finally looked at my recite for the 85.00$ a flat of shells from Cabela's at Hoffman Estates.
Wow, They charged my two taxes, is that right?
First tax was 85.00$ at 10%
Second tax was 85,00$ at 12.5%, What is this BullS%4t.

So 85.00$ flat final was 106.00$. Thanks a lot antigun state.
Recommend, don't buy anything from this place.

 

Cook co., I mean crook co. charges a tax on all ammo .05 cents per shell . They also have a tax of $25.00 per gun sold. This got thrown out in court yesterday.

 

I just read the Illinois State Supreme Court overturned that tax. Ask for your money back.

 

Good to hear that, Someone in that state with common sense on extra tax charges.

 

Stopped in to the Cabela's in Richland Wisconsin,

They have a fair amount of Rifle and Pistol ammo, Not a lot of shotshells,
They said they have Herter's Dove and Quail Loads for 85.00$ a flat and a limit on flats was 5.
I hope this is for real and we are going to see more to choose from soon.

 

Except for five boxes of 28 gage, no target or "field & target" loads in my local Wal-Mart Superstore.
Lots of steel waterfowl loads....if you like Winchester Xperts.

 

Stopped to Check Cabela's in Owatonna MN.....

No Shells, why would I ever believe the YouTube post from the Head of Federal
stating how the Remington shells are back and on the shelves.
Silly Me.
And I checked Theisen's in Cedar Rapids Iowa, No Shells
( I just thought they would have a few, But I am wrong again )

One thing is consistent is the shells are not there.

I had to go to Texas for work and went to Academy Sports and Outdoors,
They had a few and only could buy 4 boxes per day. They were a brand called Monarch. Priced @ 7.00$ a box

 

Back in the 1950's and early '60's, Federal sold a Monarch brand of shotshell. If I remember correctly, they were a low-base field load.
They can't be the same thing......

 

I did some more stops in Minnesota and North Dakota this week.

Scheels All Sport in Mankato MN, No Shells
Scheels All Sport in Fargo ND, No Shells ( they did have a good selection of Rifle and Pistol ammo )
Also in Fargo they had a good amount of Reloading supplies for Shotguns
Keep on checking until something shows up.

 

Ok, well I think these are a good looking shell and they are a Low base field load, They should work well.

 

Stopped in and checked the Shells at Scheels in Sioux Falls SD.
Well they have a large selection of Rifle and Pistol and a good selection of Shotshells.
But No 12ga 7.5 and 8 s trap loads in flats, Now they did not have a limit on the shells.

They have a large selection of reloading supplies, Shotgun, Pistol, Rifle
So far this has had the most of any selection.

Now it may not have had the favorite Rifle grain load or it may
not have the best Hunting Shotshells to choose from but at least they have some.

 

Add another to the list of No Shells

Stopped at La Vista Nebraska Cabela's
And then on to Scheels in Des Moines Iowa, another waste of time.

So no mater how many times this owner of Federal and Remington, comes on YouTube to tell you about how this stuff is out there for us to buy, It's not.
What a Joke.

 

The last few times I’ve been at the Wet Des Moines Walmart I’ve purchased a couple of Federal 100 packs. $63 for two tax included.

Stopped at Fleet Farm in Waukee this week. They had 8 boxes of STS light hcp. 10.99 a box. They had some 20 gauge also. Can’t recall what they were or price.

 

We just cant get the shells in the upper Midwest.
Without seeing much in all these locations it seems hopeless.
And I find it hard to believe we will see truckloads at these places in the spring ready to fill the shelves.

 

Yesterday, local WalMart had one box of Super X 100 year anniversary 12 gauge hunting loads. $20.99 for the box.

 

Stopped at the Fleet Farm in Oconomowoc WI.
No Shells, just a said selection of pistol ammo.
Glad to see nothing has changed.

 

I stopped by Fleet Farm in Deforest WI and the had 9 boxes of Remington STS light handicap for $10.99 per box

 

Sure seems like slim pickings any place you go.

 

Fleet Farm in Winona MN
2 Flats of Remington STS 10.99$ a BOX Ouch.....

Not a lot but they also had some pistol ammo not much rifle.
Sure glad nothing has changed for the better, if it did and the shelves were full,
I might have a hart attack....

 

Fleet Farm in Stevens Point Wisconsin
No Shells
Don't waist your time here.

Keep on trucking I guess

 

IowaShooter I enjoy your updates, thanks.

 

No problem
I travel all over and do like to stop at places with a few supplies

I hope I hit the motherload soon.

 

I bought some Winchester Super Targets at Walmart this morning for $7.47 a box went back this afternoon and they were $8.35 something like that.

 

So I did make one stop in a small town in MN this past week.
Lakes Sport Shop in Detroit Lakes MN No Shells, very few guns.

In the past this place always had large selection but like most places today nothing.
On to the next random location.

 

I found a neat gun shop in McHenry ILL it had some shotguns, some rifles, a lot of Tac style weapons and a lot of pistols.
The place was called 2nd Amendment they have a nice website and a indoor shooting range.
But No shells for trap shooting. And not really even a lot of pistol and rifle ammo.
This is the first place that has more guns then shells that I have found.

On to the next one I guess, Forget the lies on YouTube that are saying the ammo shortage is over.....Not even close, its alive and well.

 

For those near make a trip to the Walmart in Sparta,Illinois. I stopped there on Tuesday and they had lots of target ammo. AA flats, Federal 4 packs, Super Target flats and individual boxes. Prices are up from a couple months ago when last there but then what isn't.

 

Blains Farm and Fleet in La Crosse Wi
Some Clever trap loads 12.00 a Box

 

Our Walmart in Big Rapids Mi. had about 3 boxes of 1oz Top Guns on the shelf . The same shells that prior you could buy in a four pack for less the $24.00, now they take out of the four pack and charge $9.67 a box for them. I let them sit on the shelf for someone that wanted them more then me!

 

Out of curiosity, what did a box of shells cost in 1978?

 

Around 3 bucks a box for AA's when you got a deal.

 

Heck, even five years ago you could find STS and AA loads for $5 a box on sale/w' rebate without much trouble.

 

Right

 

Using the $3/box in 1978, and the "official" inflation calculator, that $3 in 1978 is $12.94 now. It looks like we had a period of "prosperity" and now have reverted to the mean.

 

I’ve been hitting up local Walmart’s every week in SW PA and WV- been finding some AA’s for just under $11/box and the Federal 4-packs for $29.44- I shoot mostly sporting now and have been getting the Federals. Some local stores have been getting some heavy dove loads (1 1/8 oz 7.5’s @1250), but they all want $12-$14/box. I’m still looking, but getting tired of fighting to find ammo and components- I spend more time doing that than I do shooting these days!

 

You got that right
The hunt for shotshells is dam tough

 

Bass Pro in Gurnee had a couple of shelves of Win Super Target 4packs and flats of AAs in several gauges on Sat.
4 packs were $40, flats of 12 ga. AAs were $119. I have components, so I left them for the occasional shooter.

 

Keep up the good work -- getting tired of looking for shell every time you post, I drive and they are out!!,let me know when they show up in pallets. --- Keep up the good work!!!!!!

 

Glad to see nothing has changed. Stopped at Mills Fleet Farm in Delavan WI.
NO Trap loads
Frustrated..... Yes
Disappointed...... Yes
Happy to the Spring Migration of Waterfowl...... Yes
On to the next one.

 

I picked up 3 - 100 shell value packs at Wallly about 6 weeks ago. Haven't seen another dam shotgun target load anywhere since then.

A guy at club told me Sunday he has been getting shells from Rural King Guns (RkGuns.com) He said he got 3 flats of those Winchester's in the white boxes from RK and they charged him a flat shipping rate of $14. Well, I just went to their site and of course they were - Out of Stock.

Local Rural King has plenty of pistol and rifle ammo just no dam shotgun shells unless you want 00.

 

Yes you are right
I am glad to see someone else is finding this completely stupid in trying to find dam shells
Unbelievable

 

Our Walmart finally has a good supply of both Winchester Super Targets and Top Guns, $8.43 for the Win. and the Top gun's were $9 and some change. Bad part was limit 3 boxes. Meijer has the Win. Super Targets @ $7.99 a box, but they will only sell you 2 boxes at a time.

 

I did not know Meijer had Shells...
If you can find shells around 8$ a box seems to be the better price ,,,, Its not great but better then most prices found at 12$ a Box
Now we can say remember the old days when you could buy a box of shells for 4$ and were glad to pay it.

 

My local Walmart has a three box limit at the sporting check out -- Seen a mom, with six boxes ahead of me, never get questioned -- Asked the checkout gall, she said "if it isn't in her register as a limit, it goes through". Sound like we have to start tipping check out girls

 

Checked two places today,,,,, Surprised, Well maybe.
Davenport Iowa ........ Field and Stream ( Its a offshoot of DICKS) They had a big selection of Guns, A big selection of Pistol ammo
and Some trap Loads- Brand Sterling in 24 gram 8 shot and 28 gram 7 shot 13$ a box OUCH Limit 4 boxes per transaction
Wal-Mart........ A few boxes of Estate trap loads, A few boxes of Federals top gun, And some Remington STS Gold Nitro 27 in a 4 Pack ( I have never seen this )
Is this new?
Priced at just south 50$ Double OUCH

 

I'd have to say those folks are pretty proud of their target loads!

 

Agreed

 

Up date, Meijer has just raised the price on their Super Targets. They went from $7.99 a box to $9.99 a box. Still not as high as Dunhams that for the same shells want $11.99 a box.

 

They are missing the boat, Meijer has a opportunity to get into your pocket book and they backed off. How can this be?
Must be a new guy at the pricing gun that day.

 

Today stopped at the Scheels All Sport in Iowa City
,
Shell Up Date, They have flats of a brand called Fetter 1oz 7.5 @ a happy PRICE of $149.00 a flat.
There were Remington STS at $14.99 a box no flats
Some top guns at 10.00$ a box
Winchester Xpert 4 packs at $40.00 or buy a small flat of 2 4 packs at 80.00$

So they have the most that I have seen around here, is it coming back? Maybe. Can you afford it, Well ?????

 

Now that the greedy corporate bastards have had success in driving out many ammo/component distributors, good luck in finding any quantity of decent ammo and components at big box stores. It appears their new plan is to sell shotshell ammo direct to consumers for $15/box! What they failed to consider is that if this continues much longer many smaller clubs will be looking for a new purpose. Once these shooter's leave, they won't be back. High school trap/skeet/sporting leagues will also disappear if this continues right at the time of attaining critical mass for the best thing we've seen for clay target sports in decades.

 

Indeed

 

Just came back from Wal-Mart. They have Winchester AA's for $11.49 a box, maximum of 3 boxes per customer/per day. That was it for target loads.

Dunhams has Top Guns for $10 box, no limit.