Potential new source of American made primers!

lrrifleman · Jan 20, 2022

I just discovered this article (Ammunition plant to open near Texarkana) about Expansion Industries and their plan to resurrect Line G at the old Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. Their intention is apparently to be fully online by 2023 employing over 400 people manufacturing primers!

Not immediate relief, but a glimmer of hope on the horizon!

Sevens · Jan 20, 2022

First I have heard of this. In order:

1) thank you for sharing this!

2) I cannot find the words for how much I HOPE that this happens

3) I am not a negative person by nature, I can with my whole heart say that I will be cautiously optimistic about this, and specifically for the “red tape” mentioned in the article. The hazards and requirements and licensing would make my head spin and is probably an unfathomable volume of lawyers/MONEY to wade through. I would suggest that being in Texas is a massive help in this regard.

4) Xtreme/Freedom Munitions made a similar announcement back in 2016 and it never happened, but I’ll be frank, as much as I like the Xtreme product, I’ve not once been impressed with their business practices and customer relations, so again, I’m far more hopeful this time.

As a long time, high volume handloader (like many who will read this), anything these guys add in volume to the ammo/primer situation is a net win even for those of us who never buy ammunition.

This is fantastic news and I’m smiling.

jimbo728 · Jan 20, 2022

Now I know how long my supply has to last.
Thanks
Jim

smoothshooter · Jan 20, 2022

jimbo728 said:
Now I know how lond my supply has to last.
Thanks
Jim

In all likelihood it’s ( your supply ) going to have to last a lot longer than you think.
I wouldn’t be going out and burning thru your current supply too soon.
Better plan on 2024 or 2025 for any significant improvement in the supply primers at reasonable prices, if ever.
10 cents apiece will be the new normal price. Maybe 15 cents.
And shipments to your house will no longer be an option.

STORMINORMAN · Jan 20, 2022

Well, this would be very good news: might be a good investment in that with 400(?) people making primers they ought to be able to make a LOT!

Cheers!

P.S. My personal experiences with %Xtreme have been fine: bought a bunch of fully reprocessed, primed 45acp (small primer) brass years ago for about $0.04 more each than what SPPs were going for, way back then! Still had to size and expand them but...

Now, THAT was SWEET!

STORMINORMAN · Jan 20, 2022

smoothshooter said:
In all likelihood it’s ( your supply ) going to have to last a lot longer than you think.
I wouldn’t be going out and burning thru your current supply too soon.
Better plan on 2024 or 2025 for any significant improvement in the supply primers at reasonable prices, if ever.
10 cents apiece will be the new normal price. Maybe 15 cents.
And shipments to your house will no longer be an option.

Why? Why do you predict that? 2024 could be a whole new deal!

DWalt · Jan 20, 2022

Have never heard of that company. I also couldn't find much about them. Their state business registration just says that they incorporated in 2017 and are located in Carrolton TX. It doesn't list any company officers, just a registered agent who is some attorney.

WildBill29 · Jan 20, 2022

I would love to see this happen. Competition in the marketplace could help with pricing and supply. At my age I can't wait more than a year or too before the rifle and pistol gives way to the scatter gun due to shaky hands

Nevada Ed · Jan 20, 2022

I still can't beleive there is a primer shortage and the length of time that we pulled out troups out of Europe and no wars going on right now that
I know of so.............

All the ammo now using primers is for LE and Military war games , here in the states ?? !!

That should be a 50% reduction in ammo needed, at least............
so whats the problem ?

I still don't understand why there is a primer shortage.
Even hoarders have to fill the space up in their homes by now.

ArchAngelCD · Jan 20, 2022

Well, sometimes a product doesn't have to be online before the prices drop. Sometimes just the fact they are in the works can lower prices. Of course that is not always the case but I can hope lol.

Racer X · Jan 20, 2022

And still none flooding in from overseas. That's the odd thing.

jimbo728 · Jan 21, 2022

smoothshooter said:
In all likelihood it’s ( your supply ) going to have to last a lot longer than you think.
I wouldn’t be going out and burning thru your current supply too soon.
Better plan on 2024 or 2025 for any significant improvement in the supply primers at reasonable prices, if ever.
10 cents apiece will be the new normal price. Maybe 15 cents.
And shipments to your house will no longer be an option.

I must then make every shot count.

Jim

jimbo728 · Jan 21, 2022

I expect my suppiies will last a long while.
I can not reload now due to losing almost all use of my hands.
Lyme disease and a stroke badly disabled me.
I am thankful that I can still shoot my rifles. Hand gunning days are all but over.
Jim
ps
cant shoot matches as before but I can run pin and rifle shoots for my club. Thankfully There are friends that help at the reloading press.
Jim

Beemer-mark · Jan 21, 2022

Walked into a local sporting goods store and the shelves were stocked with Winchester pistol and rifle primes. $75/1000, which seems to be the mew normal. I was shocked. Didn't really need any so I passed on buy. Maybe I should have bought it and put it one Gunbroker.

BC38 · Jan 21, 2022

Beemer-mark said:
Walked into a local sporting goods store and the shelves were stocked with Winchester pistol and rifle primes. $75/1000, which seems to be the mew normal. I was shocked. Didn't really need any so I passed on buy. Maybe I should have bought it and put it one Gunbroker.

What?!? Only 7-1/2 cents apiece? Not 10 cents? Or 15 cents?
So much for all the Eyeore predictions about the "new normal".

ACORN · Jan 21, 2022

BC38 said:
What?!? Only 7-1/2 cents apiece? Not 10 cents? Or 15 cents?
So much for all the Eyeore predictions about the "new normal".

Yep, opinions on the internet, are worth what you pay for them.

Dave Lively · Jan 21, 2022

WildBill29 said:
I would love to see this happen. Competition in the marketplace could help with pricing and supply.

The article didn't say where the $100,000,000 came from. Maybe Vista is going from owning 3 of the 4 US primer manufacturers to owning 4 of the 5 US primer manufacturers.

Lets hope Winchester stays independent. Or if they get bought out someone beside Vista buys them. Mergers and buyouts can get blocked by the FTC for being anti-competitive. And owning all the major ammo companies in the US would definitely qualify.

M29since14 · Jan 21, 2022

If anyone in .gov cared to actually do their jobs in that regard.

skwchock · Jan 21, 2022

sure would be nice to see primers again on the shelves...

glenwolde · Jan 21, 2022

smoothshooter said:
In all likelihood it’s ( your supply ) going to have to last a lot longer than you think.
I wouldn’t be going out and burning thru your current supply too soon.
Better plan on 2024 or 2025 for any significant improvement in the supply primers at reasonable prices, if ever.
10 cents apiece will be the new normal price. Maybe 15 cents.
And shipments to your house will no longer be an option.

They mostly sell for around 8 cents a piece around here in North Texas and they are starting to show up more often.

While inflation is obviously an issue the high prices are more about supply and demand. Even at two years of 10% inflation price would be more like 6 cents apiece given an equal supply/demand profile.

I think you're forecast is too pessimistic. As too when...well...maybe not.

Potential new source of American made primers!

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