222 Magnum

[Redcap]

I went in Cabelas today for 222 mag brass which I will resize to 6X47.  It was $40.99 per hundred for Remington cases.   Right next to that was 204 Ruger @ $26.99 per hundred also Remington cases.  Well you can make 222 mag and 6X47 out of 204 Ruger so it wasn't a hard decision what to buy.  Now I understand that there is more demand for the 204 Ruger and less for the 222 mag but better that 50% price increase just for a 222 mag headstamp is just plain robbery.   Has anybody noticed this in other calibers that share similar cases?

[Lone Star]

I would venture to guess that .222 Magnum brass is only made every few years - demand is very low so boxes of brass sit around for awhile.  Coupled with the ability to use .204 brass for reforming and it is easy to see why the .222 Mag brass is higher priced.  Not robbery, just recouping the inventory costs of brass that doesn't move very fast.   

Examples of 100ct Remington brass from the current Midway website:

.243 = $37.99
.260 = $44.99
7-08 = $48.99
.308 = $38.99
.358 = $60.98 (Win)



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[Redcap]

Lone Star,
     Your example parallels mine.  Half again more for 358 that 308. I'm know that the sales volume of 222 mag and 358 is no where near that of 204 and 308 but maybe if the prices were more reasonable it would increase.  Especially the 358, wouldn't mind getting one of them.

[Grumulkin]

The sales of the 358 Winchester and 222 Remington Magnum would never increase even if the brass was priced the same as 308 Winchester and 204 Ruger respectively.  Why?  Despite how good it's alleged to be, the 358 Winchester never caught the attention of many shooters.  In fact, .35 calibers in general aren't nearly as popular as the .30 calibers and never will be since the .30 calibers have such a head start and work so well.

As for the the 222 Remington Magnum; it's on crutches and ready to be buried.  It's not because it's a bad cartridge but it's to close ballistically to the 223 Remington which is so popular and for which brass is so cheap.

[skb2706]

One other consideration. .204 Ruger brass is manufactured by 3-4 different companies. .222 Rem. mag brass is a single source deal. For those who choose not to re-form brass that means you are at the mercy of Remington to price accordingly. Similar situation with .221 FB.