Primer Shortage?

[Skip Sackett]

I haven't noticed a component shortage since, well, 2006 or 2007, to be honest.

Last time I took a look, I have some Federal LP and SP primers that have 2006 written on the box. Right beside them, are some Wolf of every kind and they range from 2009 - 2011.

You will notice, none from 2008 (because I already had some) and none from 2012 (for the same reason).

Sometimes, you gotta think ahead and what COULD happen, before it actually does!

 

[Maximumbob54]

Skip, you are my Obi-Wan in these things. Next time you order you need to slap a brother in the side of the head to do the same thing.

I'm down to one box each of the needed primers...

 

[steamloco76]

In western PA any primer other than large rifle magnum has been a scarce commodity since July. As soon as BHO won re-election every last pistol primer was scarfed up at lightening speed. Since Sandy hook, all popular powders have just about dried-up and forget finding pistol caliber bullets in bulk.

Two weeks ago I found a store that had some primers in stock and at their normal price! 2K limit per type, so I grabbed 2K each of CCI Small and large pistol. Now, at least I can load some ammo without dipping into my stock.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Skip, you are my Obi-Wan in these things. Next time you order you need to slap a brother in the side of the head to do the same thing.

I'm down to one box each of the needed primers...

Will do! It isn't anything special. The ONLY thing that scares us gun folks is the political scene. When it begins to look like storms are arising, buy components!

I will try to remember, my, friend!


p.s. Wish you were closer so we could share hazmat. I have a few I could lend you, next time you are in the neighborhood, drop by!

 

[old&slow]

Short supply ??? It's about HOARDING and stupid panic buying, that's it. Exactly the same thing happened just before the last AWB.

The President CANNOT just pull executive orders out of his a##......

So, fourth,......everyone needs to calm the f&%$ down ! The sky is NOT falling.

K-framer,
I agree with your first sentence. It IS about Hoarding and Panic buying.
But the rest, you be smokin' some good stuff there.

I work part time at a large LGS. We kept getting more and more stock in, months ago ( summer / fall ) . I asked the owner , You getting geared up for the election? He said what do you mean "Getting" ?
We had everything stacked up to the ceiling. After the election everything went crazy , after the Conn. school shooting everything went totally insane.
We wouldn't get the last customer out the door until a hour sometimes 2 hours after closing time..
Folks that wouldn't know a bushmaster if it bit them on the butt, were buying AR's.
People that buy a box or two of ammo every year or so, were buying 2 or 3 cases.. People in their 40's that had never owner a firearm before were buying stuff.
The shelves are almost empty now.. Long guns, short guns, ammo, reloading components, mags.
.22 ammo, everything.

So, yes I agree, it's a Total Panic Buy Everything Mode.

As far as, King Obama 'cannot just pull an executive order out his .. '
I'd bet you a cold one on that.

 

[rburg]

Would it be out of order for me to say "THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!"

Because for all practical purposes it does seem to be. No, I haven't bothered to buy anything right before or since the election or Sandy Hook. Well, last weekend I did buy 3 boxes of prewar 357s. But I'd have done that regardless of who the idiot in the white house was. I didn't bother buying any primers because I still had some from the late 1970s. And a few remnants from much earlier. I've even got a few trays of UMC 8 1/2 where the trays are wood. Probably from the stone age where it was made from stone or wood. I'm guessing 1950s.

And now for the big news. There is a primer shortage. At every gun store around. And at the gun shows, too. Many of the dealers handle it by charging more for what they've got. It'll keep some on the market for a longer period of time. If you really need some, you can probably buy what you need at a significantly higher price. I prefer it that way than have them sell out to the first rich guy who wants to spend a couple of grand. Remember the gasoline shortages of 1973 time frame. Where you could only buy fuel on the even or odd days depending on the last digit of your license plate.

I even remember "loaning" my license plate to the cop who lived across the hall. We thought it was funny, but he was on fumes and need to go some place. He took his off, put mine on and drove across the interstate to a filling station. Filled 'er up, then came back with my plate. Worked like a charm. I'd rather have fuel available at a higher price than not be able to get it or have a ration book limiting me to 10 gallons a week or 1000 primers a year. You learn from those things and buy what you need in advance. When it gets to the point at the larger gun shows where all you see are Tula primers and those are priced at $35 a thousand, there's a problem.

So thinking back, I remember a primer/ammo shortage in the early 70s, another in the early 80s. Then a huge problem around the assault weapons ban in the mid 1990s. And then one just after the 2008 election, and now. We can learn from history. Its been occurring often enough that we can probably predict it will take place again. The intervals seem to be 10 or so years apart, but this cycle its only been 4 years.

We also know that during WWII there was literally no ammo on the open market. Farmers/ranchers could obtain some for pest control, but they needed a permit to do so. And no one was buying 5k primers except the war effort itself. Back then if they allowed you to buy 2 boxes of shotgun shells and a box of 22s, the person felt good. If they "profiteered" on it and resold them, they'd not be getting any more. We're spoiled rotten by the good times since WWII. Gun stores and shooters feel no guilt about buying a brick of 22s. There was a time when that was just unfathomable. Both for supply reasons and expense.

We have an empty pipeline from the ammo makers to my closet. It all sold out over the last month. Probably mostly in a week or two. Part of that is the Japanese "Just in Time" model and then panic buying on our part. If we're correct and the factory is still producing on the high end or their capabilities, then the pipeline is refilling right now. I'm going to guess that the primer lines can easily out produce the centerfire loading lines ability to use the primers. I'd also guess the rimfire lines are independent of the center fire production. But if we all scarf up the current production, the shortage will extend much longer. And the producers will get the idea and raise the prices just a bit.

If nothing else, that would tend to quicken the supply returning to normal but at a higher price.

 

[old&slow]

K-frame,
Guess I owe you a cold one..

King BO's 23 executive orders more like a fart in a whirlwind,
than sweeping reform.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Even a stinking liberal like Barry Sotero knows not to take on 90%+ of the American people by doing something drastic on his own. Remember though, he is from Chicago and Illinois is the ONLY state now that doesn't allow concealed carry by law abiding citizens.

Remember that....

 

[K-framer]

" As far as, King Obama 'cannot just pull an executive order out his .. '
I'd bet you a cold one on that. "

Of course, you understand, I hope, that what I meant was that Obama cannot simply change or create laws or anything other than simple procedural changes (within Federal government departments) by executive order....i.e., he just can't make up laws by decree, even if he wants to.

Whether anyone chooses to believe this or not....those are the facts.

If you DON'T somehow understand that.....well then, respectfully, I'd have to say that you, like most of the people I run into these days, haven't got a clue as to how the Federal government actually works - let alone how laws are made.

 

[daniel lawecki]

Primers Toledo Ohio mostly gone or at a 45.00 per thousand when found. Put I feel the days of 26.00 - 32.00 dollar days may have passed.

 

[fredj338]

Geeze, you been out of country or what? With all the anti gun sentiment, people are stockpiling for future worse times. We are already seeing limitations & increased fee/taxes on ammo. Can the same for reloading components be far behind? I think not. SO it's rpudent to PAY attention. I bought ammo, powder & primers BEFORE the election, to add to the reserve I already have. So for at least another 2-3 years, I don't really care what is available, I planned ahead. WHen thigns quiete down in about a year, you would be wise to do the same. The stuff doesn't go bad.

 

[old&slow]

"

If you DON'T somehow understand that.....well then, respectfully, I'd have to say that you, like most of the people I run into these days, haven't got a clue as to how the Federal government actually works - let alone how laws are made.

I understand how the government is suppose to work.
But personally don't think it has been working that way for quite sometime.
I personally think the system is broken and We The People , are getting screwed from both sides.
( I worry more about the future of my kids and grandkids than myself)

But, I'm glad the big press conference and executive orders were more show than go.

I do think the ammo and reloading components will be back in stock ,, soon I hope.
But since I've been thru primer shortages in the past. I stocked up months and months ago.
And I try to stay at least a year ahead.
I haven't purchase any firearm related stuff since probably the first of Nov.
So hopefully I'm not adding to the panic buying mode.

( sorry ,,didn't really mean to quote you out of context above. your point was well taken and well said )

 

[judgecrater]

Short supply ??? It's about HOARDING and stupid panic buying, that's it. Exactly the same thing happened just before the last AWB.

Everyone needs to remember several things:

Two, all of the mindless yammer regarding "executive orders" which could suddenly create major restrictions is massively overblown. The President CANNOT just pull executive orders out of his a##......and decree whatever he might like. It DOESN'T work that way. There is a very limited range of things he can do by executive order - and in any case, NOTHING which would involve creating laws where they didn't already exist (that is Congress' sole right).

Three, whatever is enacted or changed, the odds are overwhelming that there will be grandfather clauses, allowing for items already in the pipeline or already owned by individuals. It is logistically IMPOSSIBLE to impose some sort of "confiscation" scheme...or for that matter, a "turn it in or else" program. Bloody nonsense.... fomented by nattering pinheads. Besides the practical (logistical) problems with something like this, both parties KNOW that this sort of draconian measure would be political SUICIDE.

So, fourth,......everyone needs to calm the f&%$ down ! The sky is NOT falling.

Tell that to NY with their "watered down/will take months to enact" 7 round mag law. This can strike at any time. You wait, I am acting now!

 

[Culina]

Well this guy has no plans to buy any ammo related items for at least another 6 months. I guess I could hold out for another year if I had to. My next powder valley order is going to be huge

 

[C.S.63]

An apology in advance to fellow forum members and all viewers!!

A bit off topic and please excuse me but all that are put off by the shortages!! Either suck it up,
Or get active if you have not, and lobby elected officials We are our own worst enemy. E mail write letters and send post cards,Especially post cards!! claiming your position!!! Do not roll over and loose your rights and also join the NRA if you have not and fly your colors
Ready for the flames,

Moderators excuse me but!!

WTT, FTF? L Pistol Primers (winchester) for 9mm bullets (components)?

Sorry and Thanks, Oh wearing Nomex draws. HA
Carl

 

[rwsmith]

Sandy Hook

That is a good point but why did the manufactures not start ramping up production before election time?

????you kidding??? The real problem came after Sandy Hook. Nobody foresaw that coming.

 

[quneur]

Re-post from the Lounge forum:

Email response from CCI:

Samuel, we are making 3,000,000 rimfire, 2,000,000 primers, and 1,500,000 center fire a day and shipping. When people stop hoarding the product will be on the shelf.


Make Every Shoot Count.
Justin M.
CCI/Speer
2299 Snake River Ave
Lewiston, ID. 83501

 

[Cdog]

I have plenty, but I often stop by Ga. Arms just to see what's in.

They've had all types of primers during most visits. Powders and projectiles are at best hit and miss.

 

[richeyo2]

It's on on GB & other auction sites being sold by the hoarders....

 

[Skip Sackett]

It's on on GB & other auction sites being sold by the hoarders....

You mean those that are making use of our free market system, right?
Because, anything else is akin to communism. If someone didn't watch the political scene and begin to prepare back in June or July for last November, they deserve to be gouged and taken advantage of. Most likely, they were caught with their pants down in 2008 too and NOW, it is someone else's fault that they cost so much.......stupid.

Is it a retailer's business to keep things at a price that you like to pay for things when they get scarce or is it your job to be prepared in the eventuality of a shortage?

And, no, us hoarders are not selling anything........that's not what we do, we hoard. I have yet to sell the first primer that I own. I am adding to my collection of them though.........hoarding....