Gut feelings on primer shortage

[BSkerj]

Just wondering about everyones "gut" feeling about the primer shortage. Right now I have plenty to last a couple of years but now I replace everything I shoot. I don't want to be part of the hoarding, but also want to be able to shoot when I want. I have noticed that around here in Idaho SP and LP as well as rifle primers have freed up quite a bit, but my gut tells me to keep buying primers while I can. I am afraid that after hunting season we will go back into the same primer shortage that we are now experiancing.

 

[Maddog 521]

I want to buy some now also but I have a hard time paying 50 or 60 dollars per thousand. The price will probably stay up there anyway.

 

[perrazi]

primers are a lot more available than just a few months ago. two weeks ago grafs actually had federal pistol primers on their web site. they didn't last too long,but were there for a few hours. they will get easier after the first of the year when the prices all increase on ammo and reloading supplies. the only problem will be if congress or potus starts talking gun control, the whole thing will start over again. i would condsider replacing what you have shot this year just to be on the safe side. but then, i bought a lifetime supply after the 94 primer shortage and was in the business at the time.

 

[cgt4570]

I agree. If the price comes down any, I plan to stock several more thousand of each. Stored properly, they will last a lifetime. (luckily I haven't felt the shortage in my reloading room yet!)

 

[Brian41]

I've made a habit of restocking what I shoot if I find them and pay the extra.
I keep thinking if they ever give up on gun control and instead ammo control that primers and secondarily powder is what I can't make myself.

Glad to hear they're somewhat in supply again as I hadn't checked in a couple months. I'll check on small pistol as those are what I'm most low on.

 

[Smithhound]

I've only had to buy 1K of SPMag's lately, $50! Considereing how long they will last at a nickle apeice that is almost acceptable (makes me choke, but not cry...yet) I do shake my head when I look at the price tags on the boxes of older ones that have $14.95 on them.
I've got enough stuck back to last years, but probably will break down and start replaceing.
It's amazing, the people who I tried to get into reloading 5 to 10 years ago, who now want to start. I have to tell them, they missed the curve, by a wide margin. To start now? I couldn't calculate the cost. Actually I have already, it's phenomenal.
RD

 

[Marksman]

Two gun show ago SP primers were $45.00, I passed on purchasing at that price. At the same show this weekend I paid $38.50 for CCI LP Magnum. I need them for some hunting loads for my Ruger 77/44 otherwise I might have passed. Last fall I bought Winchester LR primers for $27.50. I believe that if the hoarding stops we'll see prices come done to more reasonable levels.

 

[delta-419]

Two weeks ago at a gunshow in NW FL, LR primers (10 boxes of Federals 1k each)were $30 per K. The vender also had 2K worth of CCI primers in the old red and blue boxes. I bought both for $40. They look like new to me. Primers are coming back here in NW Florida.

 

[ajpelz]

It is getting better, and from reputable dealers who are not gouging, I am only paying $30 per 1000. I know this is more than before, but I do not really think that it will go back to $15 or $20 per 1000.

Remember 12-15 years ago when gas was 95 cents a gallon? It seems once things triple in price, they NEVER make it back down to what it was before the crunch...

I just started reloading myself, but my father has been reloading since the 60's or so, so I did not have to buy any equipment. Just some dies for the calibers I am doing, and some primers and powder. Luckily here in AZ, both powder and primers have been available in the last few weeks.

I have about 1200 SP primers, 600 or so LP primers, and 1500 LR primers right now. I do not want to be part of the problem, but like everyone else, I do want an adequate supply. Probably 10 times what I have now. Like said before, 20 dollars or 30 dollars... It is only a 1 cent increase per primer. Nothing compared to paying a dollar a round for premium ammo.

 

[DonD]

I wish I could say that the shortage is easing. Here in Albuquerque, about all you can find are a few shotgun primers. If anything else comes in, it's inhaled instantly. Don

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Primers....what's a primer?? I haven't seen any now for months. I have had an order for small pistol and small rifle primers with Cabela's since last May...still waiting. Everyone blames the "War", the panic buying of guns, more people than ever buying guns, etc. I could almost believe that in the beginning, but when everyone says the manufacturers are working 24/7, I say that's BS. I am not a conspiracy nut, but I am beginning to believe there is more to this than people realize. Let the people buy all the guns they want, but restrict the ammo so that there is nothing left to shoot. What better way to eliminate ammunition than to take away the primers. Look how many calibers are eliminated by taking away one type of primer. I just returned from a 4500 mile trip that took me from Arizona, to Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and New Mexico. I stopped at 3 large Bass Pro Shops and about a dozen Walmarts. No primers at any Bass Pro's and limited ammo at all the Walmarts....plus, a lot of Walmarts no longer sell any rifles or shotguns. Makes me want to go out and buy a muzzle-loader or a cross-bow!

 

[Landric]

I was in a gun shop today, the most local to me that actually sells handloading supplies (~ 30 miles away, and there are 3 gun stores in my town, none of which have much, if anything, related to handloading). They had a reasonable stock of most kinds of primers, the only real absentee was small pistol. They had Federal and CCI, I didn't see any other brands. They were priced at $33/1000, which would have been high last year, but is pretty reasonable this year.

They had 500 Federal SP primers left, so I picked them up, plus 1000 Federal Small Rifle. One thing I will say for this primer shortage, its allowed me to do a lot of experimentation with different primers and their effect on my handloads. I actually have plenty of small rifle for .223, which is the only cartridge I load that uses small rifle, but I wanted to give the Federal SRs a try in my handgun loads. I've used Wolf SRM primers in various handgun loads with mostly satisfactory results, but the Wolf SRM is a hard primer, and I got the occasional light strike when using them in handguns. Federal primers, being the softest available, should do much better in handguns, but of course that means more load work up. No problem there though, its what I enjoy most about handloading.

When supply is good, I like to use the following:

Federal SP
Winchester SP Magnum
Winchester LP
Wolf .223 (SRM)
Federal LR

However, given the current situation, I take what I can get and work with it.

 

[TSQUARED]

If all the shooters stop hoarding and/or paying those outrageous prices the alleged primer shortage will cease.

 

[perrazi]

to all those waiting for $20 primers to come back, might as well find another hobby. lead and copper are not going down and in fact have started back up. the people who make primers would like their hourly rate to increase or at least stay the same. just like gasoline will never be $1.00 a gallon again. i don't recommend that people go out and buy every primer they see, but if i wanted to keep shooting, i would buy enough to replace what i used. and yes, the liberals learned the last time about reloading ammo. take away the primers and you are screwed. you can't make your own.

 

[MWAG]

i think $30+ is goin' to be the norm. i saw plenty of sp,sr,lp at the gun show in marietta ga this past weekend. $36 per M. earlier this spring i paid $50 per M for sp CCI white box!!!! had to have 'em.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

The last Dayton, OH show had Federal,CCI, Winchester for $35 a 1000.