Aoraki Amunition Company

Interesting.....all of a sudden there seems to be quite a good supply of well priced ammo in NZ after drooling over what they pay in US.

Gunsupplies out of Rotorua are doing some good deals on bulk. Latest bullshooter out has Serious Shooters also doing some good bulk ammo deals also 1000 rds 9mm $395, 200 rds 308 win 147gr FMJ target $197.50
I'm going to have a bit of that....
Reloaders $675/1000 Hornady 223 55gr SP

Found the Barnaul 308 ammo was ok, goat-o-clock, but never fancied their 223, that other crap Gun City has goes bang is about its strong point and seemed allergic to small A-Cat mags.

I hope Aoraki keep going and would really like to hear further what their ammo is like, as lets face it PMC used to be shit, and would it really worth paying more than that for it?

Have found Hornady ammo to be very good apart from American Whitetall in 308, but hey that could also be a particular rifle thing as I also moved from 150 SST SP to 165 SST SP and it went a bit wonky, but also found a problem later with my base working loose (on a side note, learn to do all scope, base & rings set up yourself rather than any gunshop, no matter who they are, they seem to cock things up. Instead of being lazy and getting an "expert" to do it, just do it yourself and learn what is quite basic but so important to do right, its your rifle after all)

For the time being think will stick with the Hornady training ammo SP as it is MOA and well proven for killing shit too.

I hope Aoraki keep going. I can well imagine how some local boys bringing in ammo for low margins would make the owners of the chain gun shops get their panties in a bunch. There must be a similar dynamic with farmlands selling shotgun ammo for $15 odd a box when the chain gun stores sell it for $25 odd a box. Normally the way this sort of thing is stomped on is for them to complain back to the manufacturers and try and get them to stop supplying the parallel importers. This is all based on nothing but mt own speculation but I have seen it happen before.

There is another side to the equation....the cheaper it is, the more we shoot and they end up with the same amount of profit from us. Only difference is we have more fun....I guess also more cleaning products, wear barrels out faster....damn they got us again

Most people shoot fuck all. The most common ammo I see at the range these days is hornady superperformance. I cringe when I see blokes sighting in new rifles and blasting through two boxes of ammo trying to get on paper at $75 a box.

Well Aoraki said their new orders are due in June. Frankly I dont see why the Koreans would give a toss about NZ, now wholesalers in NZ, yes indeed. Would the Koreans care about some NZ wholesalers whining? I dont see why.

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Originally Posted by MassiveAttack

I hope Aoraki keep going. I can well imagine how some local boys bringing in ammo for low margins would make the owners of the chain gun shops get their panties in a bunch. There must be a similar dynamic with farmlands selling shotgun ammo for $15 odd a box when the chain gun stores sell it for $25 odd a box. Normally the way this sort of thing is stomped on is for them to complain back to the manufacturers and try and get them to stop supplying the parallel importers. This is all based on nothing but mt own speculation but I have seen it happen before.

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barnual which shoots like crap is 62cents each and cant be reloaded. Many gunshops seem to have it and along comes brass PMC for 52cents which you can sell or reload, yeah I bet they are happy, not.

I guess that's a big advantage of having either at least either a 223 or 308 as one of your rifles in the cabinet.
We all know there are far better calibers if looking at ballistic performance on paper but to have option to be able to buy factory 223 @ 50C and 308 $1 a pop to practice plus great barrel life in these calibres is something sometimes overlooked.
Can then switch to hotter ballistic tip hunting loads or the more expensive to feed calibre on the hunt.

I am hoping it is a rumour as I and other members have ordered a huge amount of ammo.
When following it up we were told it may not happen.
I spose time will tell.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by jackson21

Looking at getting into reloading soon with a progressive Dillon for .223 and 9mm as chopping through a bit. Came across this Aoraki ammunition company wholesaling and appears you can buy bulk .223 for around .55c each and 9mm around .40c bulk buying.
Can anyone compare roughly what they think they are reloading these calibres for?
The .223 is FMJ so not trying to compare to a carefully constructed hunting type load.

Comments on their facebook page seem positive so far.
Any thoughts, or anyone else sampled?

Searched on here and nothing came up?

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Get the Dillon sorted, all this cheap ammo is great and I use it when it's available with a good projectile BUT often it's not. In fact the supply is VERY unreliable. That means you have to choices, buy a shitload when it's around OR crank up the press.

Surprised to see so many using 2208 for loading the .223. 2207 is minute of rabbit past 200 and with less powder needed.

Good hunting projectile 25c
primer 5c
2207 powder 15c

Going to get 1 more bulk lot then start reloading. Will have a nice Brass stockpile, next dilemma is the Dillion 550 vs 650 debate.
Will go back through some of the pros cons on the forum but what I have been lead to believe is if going to start cranking ammo out after a few months you will want to try upgrade to a 650?
Obviously it is a more expensive proposition on initial setup.

Honestly can't see why the Korean's would give a fuck about them selling their stuff cheaper than others. Not like they have been importing this ammo beforehand.

I was given 500 rounds of PMC 22lr by a mates dad, best behaving ammo I've ever had in my wee Marlin. Wish I could get more of it. Miles better than most other stuff.

Attachment 36051

Serious Shooters, get in best deal I have had yet. 1000 9mm $395 200 308 $197 should be good ammo and good brass to load later, only problem was I almost walked out with a scope didn't really need��

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Originally Posted by jackson21

Going to get 1 more bulk lot then start reloading. Will have a nice Brass stockpile, next dilemma is the Dillion 550 vs 650 debate.
Will go back through some of the pros cons on the forum but what I have been lead to believe is if going to start cranking ammo out after a few months you will want to try upgrade to a 650?
Obviously it is a more expensive proposition on initial setup.

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Same here, I am collecting brass, handloading 223 is no fun when I can go through 100~200 per hour at the range. A 550 kitted out $800 a 650, $999 so 2 hundred more. Banana quotes 37cents each, v 52 cents. 52-37=15cents. $999/0.15=6660 rounds to break even, so for me that would be 4+ years. The time saved however is huge.

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

8><-------

Good hunting projectile 25c
primer 5c
2207 powder 15c

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For a rabbit why use a SP at 25cents? a FMJ is going to vapourise a rabbit anyway? and its 13.5cents.

2207, thanks for that tip, I use 2208 as I get it cheaper ditto 2206H than in the shops works out about 19cents.

primers at 5cents? where from?

But the differance is at 1333 rounds - so go the 650. The time saving is massive as you mentioned

I have one and its the shit. I shoot more 9mm than 223, but store up the 223 until theres a few, prep and load all of them, then swap the press back to 9, and i load in smaller sessions but more often. Ie load up 3-400, every week or 2, but 2-300 223 maybe 3 monthly ( soon to change:) )

On thread though, that pricing is rather good. Hopefully they hang around

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Originally Posted by steven

Same here, I am collecting brass, handloading 223 is no fun when I can go through 100~200 per hour at the range. A 550 kitted out $800 a 650, $999 so 2 hundred more. Banana quotes 37cents each, v 52 cents. 52-37=15cents. $999/0.15=6660 rounds to break even, so for me that would be 4+ years. The time saved however is huge.

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If this ammo hangs around (Is readily available) then even I will buy some just to get the case to reload. Will it continue to be available?
Its close cost wise for my first round reload cost where I have to purchase the case. Cost per round reloading using once fired cases is 15 - 20 cents per round cheaper so I wont be stopping reloading any time soon.
The best invention ever is one of these brass catchers if you reload.
Caldwell AR15 Brass Catcher Picatinny Rail - Magazines - Gun Parts - Reloaders Supplies Ltd

If you shoot +800 rounds a month buy a Dillon 650 with a Mr bullet feeder. I have one set up for 38 super and set up correctly, +1000 rounds per hour is easy. These are better left set up in a single calibre in my experience.
I use a couple of Dillon 550 for everything else (One set up for large rifle primers and one set up for small rifle primers. I am lazy). 500-600 .223 rounds per hour is easy on these and calibre changes are quick and easy.

That is real pain with the 650( or any other progressive) swapping primers......
However i use small rifle for pistol and 223,.....

And those brass catchs are the best out i reackon. Easy on and off, and the bag holds up so doesnt slow/stop cases coming out ( ie the velcro on ones). Plus just buy a couple of extras mounts and you have a few rifles covered with one bag

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Originally Posted by Simon

If this ammo hangs around (Is readily available) then even I will buy some just to get the case to reload. Will it continue to be available?
Its close cost wise for my first round reload cost where I have to purchase the case. Cost per round reloading using once fired cases is 15 - 20 cents per round cheaper so I wont be stopping reloading any time soon.
The best invention ever is one of these brass catchers if you reload.
Caldwell AR15 Brass Catcher Picatinny Rail - Magazines - Gun Parts - Reloaders Supplies Ltd

If you shoot +800 rounds a month buy a Dillon 650 with a Mr bullet feeder. I have one set up for 38 super and set up correctly, +1000 rounds per hour is easy. These are better left set up in a single calibre in my experience.
I use a couple of Dillon 550 for everything else (One set up for large rifle primers and one set up for small rifle primers. I am lazy). 500-600 .223 rounds per hour is easy on these and calibre changes are quick and easy.

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I think the rumors might be a bit misconstrued. They got a lot of shit from NZ retailers for selling direct to the public. PMC was one of the few manufacturers that were interested in their business model, so I was told.

Ok can someone possibly please put their balls on the line and tell me why whether or not a 550 or a 650 Dillon is a better investment ? or do I have to create a debatable thread on various versions of Eugene Stoners
Mil spec ar15 to gain some interest?😉

Hahaha. It isnt that easy.

Ok, I am going to buy a 650 just for 223 reloading, OK?

:P

However getting a "manual" 550 for 308 and 303 and an auto 550 for 223 for $200 more instead also makes sense for what I do. Either that or get an auto head and a manual head for a 550 which also makes sense.

See it isnt easy.

IMHO, if you are going to shoot 500+ per month of 223 then its worthwhile getting a dedicated 650, if shooting 500 a year well just buy it in bulk as ready made and sell the brass, you should get 10~15cents for it and go shoot.

Just got into pistol shooting so the main one I will be reloading for is 9 mm, possibly 38 super as keen to get a 1911 also. Can burn through 200 rds in 30 mins so reloading is a no brainer really. The other caliber I really need to reload for is a Tikka .260 I have. 260 is a great calibre but ammo is scarce and $75 a packet of 20 min.Probably getting either Dillon not a life changing decision

I load my 308w on a single stage purely for accuracy ie 1000yds target work. My 303brits are either used for 100yds or target work to 600yds. My Ar15 just for practice and probably WSRA at 100yds when I get the time. Looking at the price of this 223 ammo right now I have decided to spend my $s on getting as much as I can afford while it is available at this silly price and get a 550/650 press in the spring. NB Everyone I have read has said that the 650 isnt good to keep swapping calibers on so for your mix I would suggest you consider the 550 with a head for each caliber.

Ok, cool. Good answer! think will get the 550. Maybe load the 260 and 308 carefully on single stage too. Bought a packet of that $$ Federal target ammo a while back and after flattering seeing bullet holes punching over the top of each other the penny dropped why people turn to the reloading religion

I guess you can run the 550 like a single stage also and just manually drop a measured powder charge in for likes of 308 if you were trying to be precise rather than use a powder thrower?

Yes you can use the 550 as a single stage press.
When I load 2506 (Used for target shooting) I size, Prime and powder the rounds then remove them from the next station.
Then I check each powder weight and correct if needed then return to station 3 and seat the bullet.

I only do this for my long range target rounds and in this case using the magnum powder bar, the powder drops can vary a little more then what I like due to the size of the charges being dropped and the powder (Ball / Stick).
Every other round (38 super, 223, 300 blackout, 243, 308) I don't bother doing this as the powder charges are normally within +- 0.1 grains or less.

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Originally Posted by jackson21

I guess you can run the 550 like a single stage also and just manually drop a measured powder charge in for likes of 308 if you were trying to be precise rather than use a powder thrower?

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I do this for my rifle reloading too, anything other than volume 223 loading that is

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Originally Posted by steven

For a rabbit why use a SP at 25cents? a FMJ is going to vapourise a rabbit anyway? and its 13.5cents.

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BECAUSE you have slightly more margin for error if your shot isn't spot on. a fmj will in most cases pencil through a bunny as stuff all resistance to start a tumble
also SP will REDUCE ricochets by considerable amount Vs fmj .so safety and humanitarian reasons.

Agreed. Do it properly, use SP or HP for accuracy (I use Sierra HP for competition and rabbits).

Reloading wise, Lee single stage for 223 and 303, Dillon Square Deal for 9mm pistol, can churn out a ton very quickly. Downside to the Square Deal is that it's for pistols only. Plus side for me is the Square Deal is exactly what I want out of a reloader :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by jackson21

I guess you can run the 550 like a single stage also and just manually drop a measured powder charge in for likes of 308 if you were trying to be precise rather than use a powder thrower?

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yeah When started to reload I got the Lee autoloader (big mistake) with the idea Id charge singly for 308w but autoload for the 303brit when doing 100yds bulk ammo as it would be quicker. When the Lee worked it was great, just it didnt work well for long.

The Dillon comes as a basic loader,

Gunsmithing &Reloading Tools - Dillon BL550 Basic Loader, Presses

or an auto loader,

Gunsmithing &Reloading Tools - Dillon RL550B Loader, Presses

Its probably cheaper to get the Auto headed B and then get another block with the manual powder loader (funnel) something you need to work out.

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

BECAUSE you have slightly more margin for error if your shot isn't spot on. a fmj will in most cases pencil through a bunny as stuff all resistance to start a tumble
also SP will REDUCE ricochets by considerable amount Vs fmj .so safety and humanitarian reasons.

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Yep. FMJ are fucking hopeless if the dead shit counts. Even on a little wee rabbit. Hell, even some of the hollow points are pretty useless.

I heard another rumor; that Aoraki Ammunition were looking at getting ammo from Eastern Europe, e.g. very cheap 1200 round cases of milsurp 7.62x39, as well as a wider variety of rifle ammo from sources other than the Koreans. As someone who works in a sporting goods store I don't think this stuff is a bad thing, in fact I've been telling customers about it, at least people will (hopefully) still buy SP and HP ammo off us for their hunting needs. While most shotgun ammo for fowling can be gotten cheaper at Farmlands/CRT/whatever, retail shops still have the monopoly centrefire hunting ammo, right? Hell, at these prices for the Aoraki stuff I might have to get me one of them newfangled gas-guns! =)

Milsurp 7.62x39 would make me very happy-I'm almost out of norinco

Well there are a lot of SKSs out there in NZ, (I'd like one for the hell of it at $400 odd). If the Barnaul and especially the Tula is any example however it will shoot f'ing awfully I suspect. @tommygun well aoraki do 77gr 223 match ammo (SMK? looks like it) as well, if its anything like the ADI 69gr SMK it should do better than 1/2MOA and its about $26 for 20 v $40+ from gunsh*tty.

Interesting thing is the Barnaul is 62cents each while the Aoraki is 52cents each and brass which you can sell for 10~15cents (maybe even 20cents? if TM is an indication) each, ergo the Barnaul is way over-priced IMHO.

Do some mental math, you could buy 1000 FMJs, pull the FMJs, sell them at say 10 cents each? and pop in a SP at 20cents?, shoot them and then sell the cases for 15cents. 52-10+20-15=47cents a pop, if you can get 20cents a case via TM then 42cents, you would be hard pressed to handload SP for that. Or just shoot and sell the brass afterwards that would be about 32~37cents a go. FFS, that I think also shows how crazy components prices are here in NZ, you should be able to load considerably cheaper than bought ammo.

I hope Aoraki keep going and even advertise on TM, I would as it undercuts the Barnaul by a comfy margin at 10~12cents each, before selling the used brass (and it shoots better)!

/rant

:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by tommygun

retail shops still have the monopoly centrefire hunting ammo, right?

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Not for long

+1 on cheap 7.62x39.

good decent brass x39 just HAS to be a great thing.

Im reloading 357mag and 38spl for arround 20c each but i cast my own bullets so im only paying for primers and powder

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

good decent brass x39 just HAS to be a great thing.

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I have some new Lapua 7.62x39 brass, cant wait to do some reloads :o Ok Mickey Duck I know that's not what you meant... Just thought I would skite about it. Ok ok so so some might compare that to a Rolls Royce wheelbarrow :snooty:but not if you like x39 as much as I do.