Primers

[frosty]

This kind of a dumb question but is everyone else having as hard a time as I am finding small pistol primers?
I got plenty of Large Pistol primers and have been shooting more .45's then 9 mm lately just to save the last few hundred SP's I have.
When will the hoarding stop?

 

[Skip Sackett]

Not an expert but..............

I don't believe it is JUST primer hoarding that is causing this phenomenon.

It all started when gun owners MISTAKENLY voted for the current administration ignoring their left wing stance.

Then there is the fact that factories can only produce so much. It's called "capacity". If a company is running 24, 7, 365 and produces xxxxxx number of parts, how do they increase output? Build machines? Hire more people? I mean, what can they do that will alleviate the problem RIGHT NOW? (We get this kind of thinking because we are so "Fast Food-ized")


I've been involved in supporting manufacturing for more than 30 years. The ONLY way you can increase production is if there is available capacity. I.e., machines that are not running that could be or hours that the machines are sitting idle that they could be running.

Forward thinking companies MIGHT have been able to predict the shortage and use capacity when there was no real need to, such as before the disappearance of said product. Then there is the whole thing about flooding the market, price considerations, warehousing and such like to consider as well.

Did some of us have that foresight? Yeah, I bought enough primers in June and July of last year to last several years. Of course, I'm not in management at one of the component producers!

 

[snw19_357]

Although they raised their prices and are limiting how many you can buy, there are at least two stores locally that have them on the shelf. I hope that's a sign that things are getting better.

 

[jrplourde]

This kind of a dumb question but is everyone else having as hard a time as I am finding small pistol primers?
I got plenty of Large Pistol primers and have been shooting more .45's then 9 mm lately just to save the last few hundred SP's I have.
When will the hoarding stop?

You can't hoard what is not available. This problem is coming from higher up and not from manufacturing capacity.

bob

 

[Smith357]

Here in central Ohio primers are scarce. I got very lucky, an old friend had just about 4000 small pistol primers collecting dust in his basement for the last 5 years and gave them to me at the price marked on the box. I now should have enough to get me through the summer.

 

[MTKTM]

Interestingly, aside from shotgun primers, small pistol primers, both magnum and standard, are the only ones that seem to be generally available around here. Large pistol are sometimes available. Small rifle are tough, and large rifle are just about impossible to find. Don't ask me why.

 

[torrejon224]

I got 10K of mixed small/large pistol and small rifle from Cabelas about two weeks ago, all Remington and they hadn't been on backorder very long. I would get on a backorder list and be patient. I think I waited less than a month for the Remingtons but have had CCI's backordered for many months.

 

[Littledragon777]

I heard that Cabelas had about 7300 back orders for primers. This was coming from one of there customer service reps, who knows how true it is. All I know is I have had mine on back order since late April.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

the situation should NOT even be like this.....it is the fault of the left-wing, liberal, commie-lovin' administration we have....that is destined to turn us into socialist pigs. Vote now.....vote often....write your congressman every day of the week.....join the NRA....and most of all.....if the jerk that is the senator or rep. in your area is anti-gun.....use recall election and get his ass out of office ASAP. America first.....the hell with everybody else!!! My soapbox for the day.....I have had a bad week.....I am mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore!!!

 

[flash60601]

Well, here in PA (Pure Apalachia), yesterday I bought 2k of Federal small pistol primers for @29.95 (one for self, one for a shooting bud who has to WORKthrough the day and can't go shopping like a gentleman of leisure), and the shop had more in the back room - I don't know how many more, though. He had some Large Pistol and Large rifle, but no small rifle.

The shop also had a fair-to-middling selection of ammo, at decent prices, and a selection of .223ammo at @$23.00/50 rds. Another shop I was in had PPU .223 at $89.95/2C. Wolf ammo in .224 and 7.62x39 at both shops, though I din't remember prices.

The country store I was in today had a very good amount and selection of ammo (still no .380ACP). But no primers - go figure.

Flash

 

[VonFatman]

I agree with torrejon224...get on a list and be patient....I picked up some this week that had been on order for many months....but they came through...better than hitting the gunshows and paying $75.00/1k!!!

Bob

 

[Recon]

I recently read this press release from Hodgdon Powder. The release concerns the powder shortage but relates directly to the primer problem I think.



"Chris Hodgdon
Hodgdon-The Gun Powder People
Phone: 913-362-9455 ext 120
Fax: 913-362-1307
Email: [email protected]

Why is there a powder shortage and when will it end?

June 9, 2009

For Immediate Release

The answer is really quite simple. In November 2008 a liberal government was elected by the majority of voting Americans. Beginning the next day some of our fellow shooters began to purchase and stock-pile powder, primers, bullets, brass, ammo and guns. Soon word spread person to person and with the ease of communication through the internet enough shooters ran to join in that an unprecedented demand has occurred. Literally within weeks - before the end of November, the distribution pipeline was empty and demand far outstripped supply. The manufacturers of our industry, including Hodgdon® Powder Company, ordered new supplies trying to meet customer needs. We have been working at maximum capacity since that time.

There is no more capacity to make powder. We are currently making all burn speeds of Hodgdon®, IMR® and Winchester® powders. We are shipping these powders as soon as they are made and packaged. We are shipping every day.

Some will ask why we do not build more plants. The answer is simple, time. There is no time to build the plant before the unprecedented demand for powder slows down.

I have received calls from shooters who have heard all kinds of rumors why powder is so hard to find. These rumors are not true; there is no vast government conspiracy, the military is not buying up all of the powder and other components, we are not withholding powder from the market, no ships carrying powder are being held hostage by pirates, there is no magic chemical we are being forced to include in the powder which would shorten the shelf life.

When will the demand end and powder become available again? Who knows? Your guess is as good as ours. We have not found it possible to determine the end of this buying and hoarding as purchasing is being driven by emotion. The best advice is just be patient. As soon as the market relaxes the supply chain will fill back in and your favorite powder will come to your local store."

 

[Old Sarge]

I posted same question on another forum, several weeks ago, and received varied reasons/answers as to why the shortages. Hoarding, manufacturing on a slow down, government dictated reduction, etc. Lots of answers, and doubtful any of them are really 100% true. Maybe a combination of all the above?
Anyway, I too have a back order with one of the major suppliers. But was lucky when my local gun store, had a shipment. He said he received 85000 primers on Thursday evening, and when I was in Monday morning, they had just a few left. Personally, I feel the supply is slowly trickling in, and eventually all those hoarding them, will be satisfied, and we'll be able to once again reload with no worries. (I hope)

 

[dg101win]

Found some

This is probably against the Forum Rules but I will take a chance with it.
I was just looking around and Wideners has some Federal Small Pistol Mag Primers in stock as of now. $30 per thousand. $29 per thousand for 5,000 or more. Of course HazMat and shipping extra.

 

[buck460XVR]

I recently read this press release from Hodgdon Powder. The release concerns the powder shortage but relates directly to the primer problem I think.




Some will ask why we do not build more plants. The answer is simple, time. There is no time to build the plant before the unprecedented demand for powder slows down.

I have received calls from shooters who have heard all kinds of rumors why powder is so hard to find. These rumors are not true; there is no vast government conspiracy, the military is not buying up all of the powder and other components, we are not withholding powder from the market, no ships carrying powder are being held hostage by pirates, there is no magic chemical we are being forced to include in the powder which would shorten the shelf life.

When will the demand end and powder become available again? Who knows? Your guess is as good as ours. We have not found it possible to determine the end of this buying and hoarding as purchasing is being driven by emotion. "

......exact same thing I heard from a powder rep at the local gun shop today. It ain't Obama and his administration that has caused the shortage, but the hoarding that comes form the unfounded fear of what may or may not happen.


either way, I bought another thousand each of small pistol magnum and large rifle magnum, just in case........LOL

 

[Skip Sackett]

$30/1000 from a local supplier!

Well,
I went to our local shop that carries reloading supplies today. I asked if he had some Winchester Large Pistol primers and he said "No, but I do have CCI." I asked how much and he told me $30/1000. I asked how come so cheap? He replied: "That's just what they are selling for."

I thought that was real stand up of the guy! He may see more of my business!

 

[bnewc75]

I have seen a few primers locally "Oregon"

but they have a 400 limit..... 2.99 to 3.99 a hundred

 

[g17]

I've been contacted by midway numerous times that primers are in stock and even after clicking their link at time of email arrival, it always says sold out. I think what some have said above about back-ordering is the way to go. I luckily have enough to make due for the time being but my presses are running at creeping capacity. Around here, .22LR's are more difficult to find than primers.

 

[pds]

Better supply of primers seen today at gun show.

There was a very much improved supply of primers available today at the gun show in Salt Lake City as compared to the gun show 3 months ago. Prices are still a bit high $35-40 per K. I bought 1K Win LP for $30.00. The available ammo supply is way up also. It appears things are returning to a more normal state for ammo and reloading supplies.

 

[torrejon224]

Grafs called me this morning to let me know the backordered CCI mil spec small rifle primers I ordered three weeks ago were in stock. Now thats customer service!! Not an e-mail but a call, have 10k on the way so my primer buying is finished for now!!