Chasing Shotgun shells in the Upper Midwest

in what state are you located?

 

These have been around a while. I bought quite a few of them Pre covid. Back then they were about $29. The West Des Moines WM had some but in #8. Haven’t been in there for a couple weeks. Hopefully some 7 1/2s soon.

 

Central Kansas

 

So 2 stops today in my travels,
First stop Fond Du Lac WI Fleet Farm No Shells
Second stop Stevens Point WI Fleet Farm No Shells

Glad to see there consistent,
Now if you are close to Walker MN coming up April 29-May 1 Reeds Sporting Goods Gun Fair
They will have shells there

Good luck on the hunt

 

So I made another stop today at Cabelas in Owatonna MN,
You guessed it looking for Shotgun shells - Trap loads to be clear.

AND again we have NO shells, What a joke, They had rifle ammo, pistol ammo, And all of the gun racks were full of guns That' s a first.

You would think a place this big with all of it buying power would have tons, Ha Ha jokes on you.
So what do you do as you wonder the store looking then what do you see over there Under the Blue Green Vacation sign and someone trying to tell how you need a vacation. A box of shells, Nope some jerk left there garbage there.

If you made a living off shooting trap loads, you would be broke by now.
Ugh.......

 

Checking the shells at Bass Pro in East Peoria.
No shotgun shells for trap shooting again
Figures.

 

I stopped by the local Walmart a few months ago. I found some Federal 4 packs there, they had 4 - 4 packs there and they let me buy 3 value packs - they were $26-$27 then. Been back at least once a week for last two months - they never got any more in. A few days ago, I stopped in and they had one - 4 pack of Winchester Universal shells - $36.42. With sales tax that would be pushing $40 - $10 a box. I left em there. They only had one value pack anyway. Here it is almost first of April registered trapshooting season should be kicking in and still no shotgun shells.

It's going to be a difficult year for trapshooting. I have no plans to shoot any registered this year, just can't find the shells. I have been shooting games at our local clubs. With the games we play - 5 bird, one at each station at varying yardage with trap cranked up. Shooters who break 5 move back to 45 yards and shoot off from there. You can shoot most of a Sunday afternoon and only go through 3-4 boxes of shells. If you don't shoot well in the Annies you might not even shoot that many. And heck if you shoot well in the Annies you can actually win a little money. Last local registered I won - I got a ribbon.

A local club president called me and asked if I would be interested in shooting a 500 bird doubles marathon this Spring. I love shooting doubles more than anything, and I would normally be the first in line, but this year, NO. First I don't have the shells and can't find anymore, and if I could find the shells at $10 a box, I'll pass. A 500 bird marathon would cost $200 in shells another $25 - $30 a hundred for targets, ATA fees - another $150. $350 for an afternoon? I told him I'll come shoot just a 100 doubles some day you have a shoot - if I can find the shells.

I guess everybody has their own price point on when to say - when. I remember reloading for like $2.20 a box. Then probably 15 years ago I could buy Remington Gun Clubs by the flat at Rural King for $27. Then when they had their "sack" (anything you could get in a paper sack. I couldn't get a flat of shells in their sack but a local multi millionaire trapshooter showed me how to take em out of the flat and stack em in the sack to get another 10% off. LOL) sale you could get em for less than $25 a flat. So I quit reloading and only shot Remington Gun Clubs. Then I accepted the fact that I would have to pay $5 a box for RGC and did that for a dozen years, and I just got around to accepting the fact that in 2021 if I could find shells I was probably going to have to pay $7.50 a box. Now it looks like Winchester Universals are going to be $10 a box at Walmart if you can find em. I haven't accepted that fact yet - don't know if I will. At this point I left the last value box of Universals on the shelf at Walmart.

 

I understand what you are saying about this and AGREE, I do not know how many chances I will have to shoot registered but the few times I can I will shot penalty because as you now it boils down to if you have a good day and others have a bad day, yardage or classes separate by 1 bird .
So with that said I will random pick and choose a shoot, and shoot just that day event and call it good.
Yes clubs will suffer big time.
Has anybody thought how the grand will standup for this or even the state shoots, These places really do a lot for putting on a shoot but can't draw any people that sucks.
Hope the future of Trap shooting holds up.

 

If you think new shells are expensive, try reloading 'em at current component prices-if you can find components that is.

 

I hear that, I have to say that if you are looking for components for reloading try Scheels All Sport if one is near you they have the biggest selection of reloading supplies that I have seen anywhere.

 

I spotted these today at a local outdoors sporting goods store.

 

$10/box for cheap stuff-the new norm.

 

Don what do they have for hunting loads, 410's to be exact?

 

Brad,
I went there looking for .410 shells for a wonderful 1934 Winchester Model 42 that I recently acquired. Not a single .410 shell in the place. I also checked Bass Pro for .410 shells with no luck. Might as well be searching for fire breathing dragons and unicorns. I saw some hunting loads in 12, 16 and 20 gauge. Winchester Super Pheasant 12 ga were just under $31 a box. Didn’t see any 28 ga hunting shells but there were a couple boxes of 28 ga target loads. Shelves were full of handgun and rifle ammo which was good to see. Had a good supply of .22’s. Reloading components were sparse and ridiculously priced. $37 for 1 lb bottles of ClayDot and E3. Shot was $49.99 a bag. No primers. I’m hoping I will run across some 28 ga and .410 hunting shells before this coming November when my friend opens his game preserve for the season.

 

Don,
In what location did you see these?
I still don't understand with distance to Federals plant in Anoka MN that I don't see at some of these shells on the shelf.
And with the big box stores I travel to all over the upper Mid west I don't see this as well. It certainly is not buying power
because these places are some of the largest places and they will write the check to get it in the stores.

I agree 10$ a box the new norm, kind of sucks , but I guess we pay the price now...

 

IowaShooter,
This store is located in Northwest Ohio just south of Toledo. It’s a Fin, Feather & Fur Outfitters. I believe they have three locations in Ohio. I’m fortunate to live only a couple of miles from this location. There is a Bass Pro within a 1/4 mile of the Fin Feather store.

 

As I mentioned before I don't understand how some places can have a selection and others have nothing
As you had mentioned the hunt for 28ga and 410ga has been hard, I can say I never see those as well.

I guess all we can do is keep looking with wonder

 

Stopped into Cabelas in Woodbury MN looking for shells

Well forget that place for shotgun shells, Not a one
Ho Hum nothing new

 

Cabela’s in Wheeling WV. had a decent supply of AA’s- mostly 1250 and 1300 FPS loads but also some 2 3/4 dram 8’s. I think they were either $12-$13/box. I passed, but looks like that is what they might cost going forward.

 

Through more investigation I have just found a large selection of shells for trap shooting.
Location: Fin and Feather Iowa City
They are no limit on buying but they may not interest every one
Brand: Federals Flats, Remington Flats, and I think Sterling ? Not sure
Top Guns, Gun clubs, Ultra ? Not sure
Price 9.99$ box
Its not AA, Gold medals, STS but its nice to see

 

Walked through Mills Fleet Farm in Winona on the hunt for shells.
And as you should know it again is a waste of time, No Shells.
This is 120 miles away from Anoka MN home of federal's plant. Glad to see it again is a waste of time
to look for shells.

 

Walmart in Lorain Ohio had a decent stock today.

fed 4 packs were $29 and change, AAs were $11 and change per box

I didn’t see any signs about limits on ammo

 

3 box limit posted on the glass next to them

 

Why is it the Jerk off in the WH can create a new gun law but we can't buy a shotgun shell?
I guess its easier to write down crap laws and make the honest people suffer AGAIN, then it is
to make our shortage a supply and we can get back to normal.
No, I am sure glad we have Uncle Mumbles and the Laughing Hyena. Sure glad.....

 

no sign at this walmart, and if there was the rule wasnt enforced

 

There was, I went that same night and there was a sign with 3 box limit. Went on several times and wasn’t turned away. But there was a sign so don’t be surprised if some is limited to 3 boxes. I wasn’t, but might not be the case at different times of the day. I went an hour before closing.

 

Went to Cabelas in La Vista NE
They had 2 flats of AA 119.00$
They had a number (maybe 20) of Winchester 4 packs at 39.99$

So if you rush in you might get some, but otherwise its nothing like we had before.

 

There's hope! The Dunham's in our local town had a pile of 3 drm. Federal Tp Gun's $100.00 a flat. But they offer a 20% discount to gun club members which makes them only $80.00 a flat No handicap shells though, maybe that will be next.

 

Sure seems like slim pickings any place you go.

 

"Only $80.00 a flat"

That pretty much sums up the new reality.

 

Rural King had a few boxes of Challengers today. 5 box limit on all shot shells. I think they were around $10 a box. I left em there - 125 shells would just rewet my appetite and not be enough to quench my thirst.

 

Thank goodness I never sold my two Spolar reloaders and have plenty of components to feed 'em.

 

We are getting a regular delivery of AA in Wal Mart's in NC $11.49 a box, I think the Price is where they want it now ?

 

So I did the normal check at Fleet Farm in Appleton Wisconsin. Any shells?
No, don't waste your time here.
Nothing to say anymore, depressing and the lies we fed from the president of federal comes on YouTube to tell you they are working hard, just laugh.....
Why doesn't someone ask Why is there millions of rounds setting on the floor in Anoka MN plant not being shipped?
Lies, Lies and more Lies....
Good Luck on the hunt

 

Checked out Cabelas in Green Bay Wisconsin today Just the off chance they have any shells.
Hah what a joke, Not a one for trap shooting,
They had rifle and pistol ammo and a lot of reloading supplies for rifle and pistol.
So don't rush up here to be disappointed.

 

Dunham's Sports in Janesville Wisconsin.......
Checked for the 3rd time this week looking for shells.
Another bust ....... unbelievable not a shell for trap shooting.

 

They are showing up in force here in Michigan, at our Wally Worlds. Mostly AA's , some Estates 4 packs were like $36.and some change AA's $11.47 a box.Just depends on which Walmart you go to, some have lot's, other's have none. Hopefully they will be available every where soon.

 

I dropped into Cabela's in Richfield Wisconsin I did a my normal shell check.
Found some shells Remington Game Loads flats at 120$
Federal Top Gun Loads flats at 120$
Winchester AA Flats at 140$ There was not many of any these flats.
Stopped at Midwest Shooters Supply in Lomira Wisconsin
Federal Gold medals 150$ a flat
Federal Top Guns 140$ a flat
They had a large amount of Lead shot and a large amount wads for reloading shotguns, No Primers

 

I'm getting closer and closer to saying the Hell with it and spending my time fishing! I finally was able to buy 10,000 primers and now can't find any powder. The vendor that sells supplys at Mason (Mi.) had a two bag limit on shot. That and the high prices is really taking the fun out of it!

 

I, too, have bought my 3 boxes, taken them to the truck, gone back and gotten three more at Wal-Mart. The poor cashiers there don't know about the limit or just don't care to enforce it. I guess we can be thankful for some things.....