Help me understand the primer shortage.

NJM15 · Sep 18, 2020

do what is necessary

I have only about 200 spp, but a thousand small rifle primers,
I have been using them to load all my ammo , and large pistol primers for my .45 colts the last 1000 pack I bought about 2 years ago at the gun show in PA was 37.00.
the small rifle primers work in my semis and revolvers.
members at the range come in shoot about 10 rounds to conserve the supply, very low attendance there lately.

CH4 · Sep 18, 2020

Yesterday I picked up 3000 Federal SPP at sportsman’s Warehouse yesterday. I was first in line this morning. The early bird got what was left of the worm. 1000 Federal LPP ($23.99)and 200 Federal match SMPP ($2.89 per 100).

Johnrh · Sep 18, 2020

Folks need to think ahead. IF the dems take the WH and IF they take the Senate and hold the House things will change re ammo and components. Right now they have ignored the reloading aspect but I don't expect that to stay ignored for long. those young folks, I'm 75 and have more than enough reloading components to finish out my life, had better take heed for the future. We may hold it off for the next 4 years but sooner or later, the time will come. Seems to be the trend in the US.
SCOTUS can turn on a dime too.

DWalt · Sep 18, 2020

NJM15 said:
the primers are made in the US , but the material is made in china.

And where did he come by that information? Ammunition manufacturers usually make their own priming compositions using readily available common chemicals that don't need to come from China.

Rpg · Sep 18, 2020

What primer shortage.?

I have plenty!

Moe Mentum · Sep 18, 2020

Funny how you can now get toilet paper, same logic, panic buying

Turn4811 · Sep 18, 2020

At the first of the year my neighbor, a 29 year old single man, asked me to help him set up a Dillon 650 for 9mm with a case feeder. He knew I reloaded and shot a lot. His dad had bought the press and never used it. It sat for 10 years. I told him he needed to stock up on primers, powder, and bullets. He had half of a five gallon bucket of 9mm. I spent a few days with him showing him how to load 9mm. He saw what was about to happen with the Kung Flu.

He scoured the area and scored about 50 bricks of SP primers, 20k of bullets, and 8 pounds of CFE Pistol powder. He has over 10K of reloaded ammo now and is hitting the range weekly. I am showing him the process of reloading 5.56 right now. We are about half way through removing the military crimp on the 10k surplus brass he bought. He has 20K primers, 4lb of powder, and 10k of 68gr bullets.

He is an example of those who have just jumped into the reloading market. He spent a lot of money early this year to create a stock of reloading supplies. He is the 4th I have tutored on the reloading-fu.

27 Man · Sep 18, 2020

A few years back Academy had aluminum Blazer 9mm on sale for
$6.99 a box. I waited too long and they ran out. However, they were substituting Winchester White box in its place. I bought a case. Went to the other Academy we have here and got another case. Couple of days later, I did it all over again. Still got a bunch of that stuff left. I hear 9mm is hard to find right now.

Just another 22 shooter · Sep 19, 2020

There are a lot new players in the reloading game now, also. Not only are we seeing a lot of first time gun owners, there are a bunch of "first time" reloaders that have just recently figured out what we have known for years......that you can buy a lot more for your money and have a potentially better supply in tight times like these. Look at ALL of the reloading section at the big stores. There are few , if any presses in stock; no 9mm, 223, or 45 dies to be had. Heck, even the plastic ammo boxes are in short supply.

SLT223 · Sep 19, 2020

I would guess it has everything to do with a dramatic change is purchase behavior as of late both from hoarding and new buyers. I struggle with the idea there’s less for retail bc supply diverted to commercial ammo manufacturing. That would imply there was a bunch of under utilized capacity in ammo manufacturing that has now tightened. That’s not typically how manufacturing is operated, but then again I’m not in the commercial ammo business.

Nevada Ed · Sep 19, 2020

Ok, I get it.

BUY my ammo.................. Please !!

Then, maybe I will sell you some stinking primers.

Got it.

Moe Mentum · Sep 19, 2020

Fear not, just like after the holidays everybody gets a gym membership, and then a few months later they stop going.... same will happen with new reloaders, after a while, they will get tired and go back to buying factory ammo.

mikld · Sep 19, 2020

reddog81 said:
This time last year retailers couldn't give them away... You could find them on sale and the manufacturers were offering 25% rebates. I got some for close to $20 a case.

Are you guys talking about a case (5,000) or a brick (1,000)?

reddog81 · Sep 19, 2020

mikld said:
Are you guys talking about a case (5,000) or a brick (1,000)?

$20 for 1,000. $.02 each.

Moe Mentum · Sep 22, 2020

Last summer, Winchester had a 25% rebate on primers, the prices were low, I found a place that was selling them for $26 a brick (1000) + 25% off. That was June 1st to be exact, I purchased 11,000 ( 11 bricks) I always look for sales, and buy big time when they have them. Economics 101. Works out for times like these...Remember a few months ago, you couldn't find toilet paper ? So, this will pass too...

GeoJelly · Sep 22, 2020

The big indoor range in this area was still letting people buy up to two boxes of 9mil @$18 a box as of last month. Just a swag, but I bet they have several truckloads of that ammo in the back someplace. I am going there tomorrow and plan to shoot 20 each through two 9mm’s ... a little .380 and as much .22 through my G44 as $20 for an hour of range time will allow. I noticed that Xtreme bullets has had bullets in stock for the last two days so people must have realized it doesn’t do any good to buy other components unless you have primers

HorizontalMike · Sep 22, 2020

I am like many others,... I buy "cases" of primers and not just boxes/bricks of smaller amounts. Bought nearly all of my current supply of primers, after the last 2nd Amendment panicked buyer's episode. Saved quite a bit of $$$...

MRH · Sep 22, 2020

Rumors abound; I was told the other day that primers and 22LR are made on the same production lines and that production had been diverted to replenishing the 22LR supply long enough for things to get short in primer supply. First priority is filling the manufacturer's own needs, of course.

Frank237 · Sep 22, 2020

Why? Because Joe Average is lazy and stupid. Post election when components and ammo was plentiful he didn't buy much or anything. Instead, he waits until DEMAND is high before buying.

Then you have horders sucking up whats out there in larger quantities than they can ever use.As well as those hoarding for resale and profit.

Engineer1911 · Sep 24, 2020

American ammo companies cannot meet the demand for loaded ammunition at this time. Therefore, there are no excess primers for sale to the commercial or hobby (that is us) reloader. Europe was on "summer holiday" in July or August time frame, and ammo production was ZERO. Now Europe has returned to work. Foreign ammo and primers should become available before the November election.

The indoor range where I reload handgun ammo for their range use only, is supposed to receive 1 million primers in ?? October ??, hopefully. The distributor has stated emphatically, "I will never run out of primers again!" The distributor has signed a long term purchase contract to guarantee his supply from the manufacturers to his customers.

As explained to me, the primer and ammo shortage is high demand above production capacity, and the European summer holiday, not political intrigue. When the indoor range receives their primer shipment, I get my 2 cases of small pistol primers at cost.

Help me understand the primer shortage.

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