How will the lead ammo ban affect you?

In October of 2013 the state of California passed a ban on hunting with lead ammunition http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/lead-free/ . While more states are looking at the same alternative to traditional hunting, I am looking for ammunition alternatives myself. Not everyone has a friend that works overnight in the Sporting Goods dept at the local big box retailer that can text them in the middle of the night to let them know that they got in 6 boxes of .380 (or whatever).

The Washington Times reported that the only smelter left in the U.S. that produced lead for ammunition closing will have absolutely no effect on the availability or cost of ammunition http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/2/obamas-epa-smelter-closing-will-not-affect-ammunit/?page=all . Most major ammunition manufacturers began making "green" ammo by 2008 when the lead ammo debates intensified. If you do a cost comparison between the two, non-lead ammo is not the same cost as traditional lead ammo.

It makes me wonder if the $11 core charge on a car battery is worth it, or is that something that I should save along with the lead I pick out of the hillside at the shooting range. I have been saving my brass for years. Why not save the lead as well? Many people are making their own bullets http://www.ehow.com/how_2212846_make-ammunition.html and have been for some time. As a child I can remember my father casting .54 caliber balls for his muzzleloader.

As more states are looking at alternatives to lead bullets I will keep collecting lead (and storing it safely) for my personal use. http://ehs.whoi.edu/ehs/occsafety/leadweightsafety.pdf . If it gets to the point where you need to make your own bullets, it will be too late to start collecting lead.

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Reloading vs. buying ammo during Obama rule.

 Like everybody, I am not having the easiest time finding ammo for the AR-15 (.223), or for the .308

 I ordered a Dillon 650 multistage reloader, but it will not come for 8-12 weeks. Even then, reloading only saves money if you do not overspend on your supplies. I have been shopping for ammunition like crazy. Having a hard time finding it. And going crazy.

 Most of the .223 ammunition I have found is between .75 cents and $1 a round. On bulk ammo .com a thousand rounds was going for $905. At small gun stores I found boxes of twenty  for $15.95. At the gun show a box of 500 was going for $435 (and it was selling like crazy). People are showing up to the gun shows with handcarts hoping to find almost anything. (I saw people buying Wolf ammo for $10 a box). This is in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon.

  And then there is me. I am just as hungry for ammo as everyone else but I'll be damned if I am going to pay to the gougers just because they think they can profit from the needy. Don't get me wrong. I believe in supply and demand, but the ammunition manufacturers have not seemed to raise their prices to the dealers. Over the last four weeks I have only been able to get my hands on about 1700 rounds, but I have only paid .30-.40 cents a round.

  DILIGENCE and PERSEVERANCE.

  I have been calling box stores and gun stores and checking online. This is a pain in the ass for some, but it pays off. Today I got 100 rounds for 27.78

  Two days ago 160 rounds for 64.00

  The most I have paid for ammo in the last month and a half is $90 for 200 rounds at the NEW Tannerite store in Eugene.

  Places to check:

Wal-Mart

Bi-Mart

Big 5

Check the manufacturer websites.

  Anybody want to trade ammo for your concealed handgun class?

What other good ideas do you have?

Where is a good place to get ammo?