when will you buy primers?

[Goldstar225]

I still have about a two year supply on hand so I will buy more when:

a. I see $45.00 per thousand

or

b. I'm about to run out of primers

 

[SMSgt]

I'll buy when the price comes down to match inflation. If I run out, I'll pick up a book to read.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I saw some late last year for $79/1000 but have 20K so I'm good. I'll occasionally replenish a box if they're $89 or less but I'm not buying any huge quantity right now. Between what I have loaded and the primers I have I'm good for quite a while.

As to coming down, possibly but I'd say not below $75.

 

[TheTinMan]

The 44th President taught me to buy primers when they were available. However, somehow I missed small pistol Magnum primers in my planning. I paid $11.99/100 for several trays because I need them now.

I don't think that the primer manufacturer(s) are conspiring to push prices to the moon by hoarding warehouses full of product. If they had more product to ship, they could sell it and make profits. LOTS of profits. The only thing that make sense to me is that they are making more money selling primers to ammunition manufacturers.

 

[GB]

If I live long enough to shootup what I have, which I doubt, I think that for the foreseeable future the low end price will be in the 75 to 85 dollar range with 90 dollars being the new normal, I would buy what I need at that price. We have shown what the market will tolerate and baring major changes in the political fortunes of the country prices will not drop significantly.

 

[ME94]

I just purchased fiocchi small rifle primers $8.99 for 150. Pretty happy with the purchase. Limit 5 trays.

 

[scattershot]

When I first started reloading primers were $7.00/1000. I don't expect them to ever get that low again, but $50.00/1000 seems reasonable, and I think they will eventually come down to that level.

 

[Patrick L]

I too will just buy them as I need/see them. Right now I wouldn't pay $110 per M for large pistol primers, but would for small. I'd buy anything at $80 per M just to add to the stash. Anything in between I would assess my need and act accordingly.

I agree, I'm not letting current costs deprive me of what I enjoy. I don't drink, smoke, pay alimony, or chase 22 year olds. I think I'm entitled to enjoy something!

 

[BC38]

View attachment 609037I just purchased fiocchi small rifle primers $8.99 for 150. Pretty happy with the purchase. Limit 5 trays.

I'd buy 750 LRP for $45 in a heartbeat if I could find them.

When I first started reloading primers were $7.00/1000. I don't expect them to ever get that low again, but $50.00/1000 seems reasonable, and I think they will eventually come down to that level.

$50 per thousand, I'd definitely be a buyer...

 

[Skeet 028]

View attachment 609037I just purchased fiocchi small rifle primers $8.99 for 150. Pretty happy with the purchase. Limit 5 trays.

I bought the Fiocchi many years ago. They had 1500 per "brick" and were small rifle primers. I still have the receipt...saw it last week. The cost was 20 dollars per brick. CCIs were 18 dollars per 1000 at the time. I bought 70 bricks. Sold like hotcakes.The ones I used worked great in 222 and 223.I have never seen them in LRPs or LPPs.I also IIRC bought Fiocchi shot shell primers in 1500 packs. Been a lot of years ago. If anyone remembers Alcan...their 220Max Fire primers were the same primers sold today by Fiocchi as their 616 shot shell primers. They have an ammo plant here in the US now. They probably make their primers here too...So maybe another primer company in operation in the future??

 

[shil]

For large pistol primers, my supply of which is dwindling, I'll go to $90/1000. Tears will spring to my eyes, but that seems to be the kind of market we are all suffering.

 

[mtgianni]

For me the question isn't when but how many. My last primer purchase was 10,000 spp. I still have some but I cannot foresee buying 100 at a time. I doubt that I will see 10K for sale at a reasonable price any time soon.

 

[9mmPatriot]

Big R stores locally went from $70/1000 to $10+ per 100 with a 1 per customer limit a few months ago. Certainly not shop there for anything anymore.


$75 and I'll buy when I'm out.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When I started reloading the lowest I ever paid for primers was $14.95/K.
For a very long time they were then under $20/K but when they climbed up near $25/K I bought 40K at a show when they were selling them for $105/5K. Soon after I bought 5K of CCI #34 and #41 primers. Any time I saw them under $25/K at a show I bought more until I had well over 60K. My friends thought I was crazy but I was reloading when they ran out lol. If I knew then what was coming (2009) I would have bought twice that and more. I didn't see it coming, I was just being cheap and didn't want to pay $25/K or more lol. Now I would jump at $25/K so fast my hand would leave my wrist getting my wallet out!!!

 

[kbm6893]

I just want to see them on shelves again so I can decide if the price is too high. People post pictures of 10 bricks at a Bass Pro Shop and get all excited. Midway gets them in and they're out of stock before you can put your card number in, and then you have shipping and hazmat to pay for. I don't have a Bass anywhere near me. My local shop hasn't had any in since 2020. I know the price is gonna be higher. At my reloading pace it doesn't really matter much. If they settle around $80 a brick I'll be satisfied. Not happy about it, but satisfied. But doing drive-by's to see if they are in has gotten old. I honestly believe the manufactures are holding back product to inflate the prices. They've seen we are willing to pay 3 times the old price. They're not gonna flood the shelves again and drop the prices. If the shelves were packed with $90 bricks they wouldn't sell out after very long And the price would drop.

 

[Patrick L]

My second reply...

So I found them today at $99 per M for CCI. Bought 1 each small pistol and large rifle. Also 1M Cheddite 209 shotshell primers at $75 per M. I shoot a lot of clay birds. I was happy with these prices. Well, not exactly happy, but you know what I mean.

 

[tmd17]

...t I cannot foresee buying 100 at a time...

I have not had to buy any primers for a while now, but each time I walk past a stack of the 100 count sleeves under glass or behind the counter, I shake my head.

 

[glenwolde]

That sounds sensible BUT I don't think primer sales will make or break an ammo company. I wonder how much of their total revenue is from primers?
I believe they make a lot more profit on ammunition.

Ed

My guess is primer sales in bulk to reloaders is, at best, an afterthought and a very small part of their business.

If I had an ammo plant I would match my primer production to my ammo production. Much of the time, due to changes in demand, the ammo plant would not be running at 100% of capacity which would also give you excess primer capacity. You sell off your excess to reloaders. It keeps the line running and helps cover overhead.

Then it happens. Ammo sales skyrocket and you start running your ammo plant at max capacity. That uses up all of your primer capacity at the same time. Nothing left to sell reloaders. Sorry dudes...

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't need no stinking primers.

I have tons of them.

Just a few years ago I had 10,000 sitting on one of my relloading shelves.

I just went in to the reloading room to look at them all, they are right.........
well they WERE right there?

This ain't right.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't need no stinking primers.

I have tons of them.

Just a few years ago I had 10,000 sitting on one of my relloading shelves.

I just went in to the reloading room to look at them all, they are right.........
well they WERE right there?

This ain't right.

Even IF I had 51,600 primers I would not be comfortable and should worry I don't have enough.