Steel prices (and 7.62 ammo prices) sky rocketed when Bush's invasion kicked off. All the plate steel was eaten by no-bid contractors signed up to reinforce HUMVEE's from guerilla attack. It devoured all domestic supplies of domestic plate steel. The 7.62 AK ammo disappeared when Russian factories shifted all exports from American recreational shooters to Mid-east Jihadies. Try to find AK ammo these days. I know damn well because I have a hungry AK to feed.