Primer Shortage Questions

[cmj8591]

The reason for the high prices is simple, it's because fools will pay those prices.

So when I run out of primers should I stop shooting and find a new hobby so that the prices will come down?

 

[BigChief52]

I've taken up woodworking. I don't know a soul that shoots recreationally anymore. I'm afraid things like target shooting and plinking steel with your friends may be one of those old normal things that never comes back.

 

[MDF4]

I've taken up woodworking. I don't know a soul that shoots recreationally anymore. I'm afraid things like target shooting and plinking steel with your friends may be one of those old normal things that never comes back.

Now that I think about your comment and the last couple times I've been to the range (outdoor) there have been fewer people than normal. Might just be a fluke...I don't know.

 

[llowry61]

Now that I think about your comment and the last couple times I've been to the range (outdoor) there have been fewer people than normal. Might just be a fluke...I don't know.

Price elasticity of demand at work. Ammunition demand is not inelastic like electricity, medicine etc. There is a point at which people will modify their usage patterns relative to the price of the product in question. We see this happen with gasoline all the time. Once the price reaches a certain point people begin to change their behavior by driving less (shooting less), buying more fuel-efficient vehicles (people shooting .22 rimfire) or carpooling (reloading). If the reduced demand reduces the price people will revert to their previous usage patterns.

With medicine / medical care they pay the price and reallocate monies from other areas of the budget until they can't, or they go into debt to obtain the goods or services. The vast majority of bankruptcies are driven by medical debt.

Just a few random thoughts FWIW.

 

[cmj8591]

I think it's more of a decline in volume than frequency with shooting these days. There are more gun owners than ever. The gun clubs around me all have long waiting lists. The LGS's are selling guns as fast as they can get them in. I don't think people are turning away from shooting. What I do see is this: People used to show up at the range with the latest plastic fantastic and 500 rounds of 6 dollar a box commie ammo, put up a silhouette target and be done in 30 minuets. Those people seem to be less and less now and when you do see them, it's 50 rounds instead of 500. Or maybe it's a once a month trip to the range instead of weekly. There seem to be more 22 shooters than ever. The shooting leagues and matches are going as strong as ever. When a recreation become more expensive, people adjust by changing their habits. They don't generally give up on what they like to do. I think that's what is going on now. Shooters are adjusting to economic and supply changes. It's happened many times and will happen again. I'm not a hoarder or a prep-er but I think the lesson is this, if you like to shoot you should keep enough supplies on hand so that you can continue to enjoy your hobby when there is an interruption in supply. As far as paying more for things, once I run out of what I have on hand I will pay the $125 for 1000 primers so that I can continue to shoot. I will do that as long as it is financially feasible for me. When it gets too expensive, I'll stop. It's as simple as that.

 

[cracker57]

When reloading I vacuum pack them with the seal a meal. I use to seal bags of 100, now they get sealed in bags of 50. When I go to the range I still grab a bag of each cal. so I guess I am trying to save my ammo by shooting 1/2 as many rounds. I have what I believe is plenty of ammo, but one never knows how long this drought will last.....

 

[MDF4]

^^^
Interesting...is there an advantage to vacuum sealing ammo, maybe for long term storage?

 

[scooter123]

I shoot competitive Skeet and while I don't like it I have paid up to 50 dollars a box for primers. Unfortunately Skeet is a sport that requires regular practice so stop shooting and it's not worth the time or effort to go to a match. This Covid stuff may end up in many shotgun ranges going out of business. Because attendance for the matches is down an least 50-60% and clays thrown for practice is off by about 70% at my club.

 

[cracker57]

^^^
Interesting...is there an advantage to vacuum sealing ammo, maybe for long term storage?

Don't know if there is an advantage or not but they make nice packages to grab and they don't take up much room. they can be a pain to open and you want to shoot them all.

 

[WildBill29]

It's sad to see fewer shooters here at the local ranges and reading the posts here that verify this is happening everywhere. It seems the days of heading out with friends for a day of shooting .45ACP, .357, .223 etc have given way to shooting 100 rounds of .22LR when you can find them localy. I pray things change soon. With all the new gun owners out there, they need learn how to safely handle a loaded weapon and shoot it well. I worry about their safety and those around them. Hopefully this shortage of ammo and components for reloading will clear before they loose interest in becoming competent with their firearms or, in my case, their shiny new press and dies with nothing to do with them.