Apparently there is a new panic going on with that caliber due to talk that the sale of cheap imported steel-cased ammo is about to be outlawed. Thus the high price.
it's not the steel case it's the steel core that's the issue. the surplus ammo has a steel core. that's what's being barred from the importation. that's the stuff that is 16 or 17 cents around. the commercial rounds which are heavier bullets usually use lead instead of Steel in the core. they also are not corrosive. commercial 5.45 runs about 26 to 30 cents around. there is no ban on importation of the commercial stuff.
You are right. I used the wrong term. They are trying to label the steel core stuff armor - piercing or something.
Good to know that it will still be available in some form even if it's more expensive.