[jbradley]

For those of you that went through the last round.
Were primers the only thing that got scarce, or was powder an issue as well?

Wanting to get my supplies up. Not sure if to focus on buying primers, or if I need to get powder as well.
If it makes any difference, I use Power Pistol.

I am assuming that bullets were not an issue.?.?.?

Thanks!

[USSR]

It was the primers. Get all that you figure you will need. And since you will be ordering online to get the best deal and paying the HazMat fee, you might as well pick up a little powder as well.

Don

[Certaindeaf]

The bottom line is that one is no good without the others. None really go bad.

[Rule3]

Primers were the main issue, BUT due to overwhelming demand and panic everything was effected. Powder and Bullets were also hard to find and companies were backed up so much that it took forever to get some items

Crazed HOARDERS bought so much that it was pretty much them to blame. They bought more primers then they will use in a lifetime. There are still folks that have primers from the time before the last craze.:scrutiny:

BUY, BUY, BUY, NOW Everything!!!!!!!:uhoh:

[USSR]

Crazed HOARDERS bought so much that it was pretty much them to blame. They bought more primers then they will use in a lifetime. There are still folks that have primers from the time before the last craze.

Hmm, if they bought more than they'll use in a lifetime, then you don't need to worry about them this time around.;)

Don

[Rule3]

Hmm, if they bought more than they'll use in a lifetime, then you don't need to worry about them this time around.;)

Don
Sure ya will, they will still buy even more!:eek:

Just like the TV show, they can't stop!

[Certaindeaf]

Sure ya will, they will still buy even more!:eek:

Just like the TV show, they can't stop!
Sure they can. With today's economy, how much gold/blammo can you push around in a shopping cart? never know.

[cfullgraf]

In 2009, my experience was that primers were in the shortest supply, but some powders, bullets and brass were short as well. I had to make substitutions in some cases.

It was very difficult to get into 30 carbine loading at that time as well. Even dies were in short supply.

Of course, loaded ammunition was in short supply as well.

[BYJO4]

I had the greatest difficulty getting primers. I had some delays on bullets also.

[USSR]

Sure ya will, they will still buy even more!

No I won't. I go my hoa... ,er, supply back in January when they were available and the price was cheap. You guys who wait to the last minute and then complain have only yourself to blame.;)

Don

[zxcvbob]

It was .380 ammo, .380 once-fired brass, and primers, in that order. Then other ammo, and some powders.

I buy another 5000 primers whenever I find them cheap and plentiful. I should have about 2 lifetimes worth now, but not sure so I keep buying ;)

[Wildbillz]

Powder and bullets were also in short supply. Brass got pretty costly and some of it disapered. Some is still hard to find, try finding some good 357mag brass at a good price. I ended up buying brand new cause it was as cheap as once fired brass. Plan for your needs and balance your supplys.

As I recall a lot of Reloading equipment went up in value also.

WB

[Rodentman]

Speaking for myself, I got involved in the "panic" buying and stocked up. I won't do that this summer. I really do have enough for awhile. I am also running out of space to store stuff. I'm glad that I got some extra brass since with some of the calibers I shoot I have pushed the brass a bit and that's a risk I don't want to take for a few cents a round.

[kingmt]

I could find everything but why people was buying it I have no idea. SKSs were $500, primers $70, & I did buy 1 box of 380 Egale for $40 so my new gun wasn't a paper weight. I told him when I bought the box of ammo it would be the last thing he sold me. I wounder if he made enough off that 1 box of ammo he bought at Walmart to cover the profit for the last 5 guns & everything else he would have sold me. Sometimes I was lucky enough to be the one standing a the counter when Walmart opened the box of ammo & I would buy half of what ever they had if I planed to use it but tried to save some for the next guy. I also had another LGS would call me when he got in what I needed & would save up to 2 boxs of each ammo I wanted until I could get there. They now get my business. He had a hard time getting primers tho but never raised his prices even when the gun rack was bare.

[Walkalong]

It was primers, ammo, some bullets, some powder. I started stocking up better after the Clinton run, which wasn't nearly as bad. Since then I have always kept a good stock on hand. Some people probably did over buy, as well as buying too late to get good/normal pricing. They either sold at a loss, or still have them, and won't need any this time should there be a run on things. I will probably buy 3K small pistol primers at the gun show this weekend, maybe 1K large pistol, and maybe a couple K small rifle. Who knows. I like to keep my working stock at 3K each on hand at any one time for small pistol, large pistol, small rifle and large rifle primers. I am below that right now.

[rfwobbly]

Boy will some of these guys cry when Obama looses by a landslide and primers fall to $18.

:D

[Waywatcher]

Primers were tough to find, as were the bullets that one wanted. Never had a problem with powder though.

[zxcvbob]

Boy will some of these guys cry when Obama looses by a landslide and primers fall to $18.

Most of my primers, I paid less than that -- although not much less. The Gunpowder Fairy (she drives a brown truck) is scheduled to bring 5000 SRM's on Monday. $15.50 per thousand.

[1SOW]

Primers were the problem for me shooting SPPs. Brand name primers were scarcest.
Bullets weren't as plentiful. Powder was really scarce in local stores, but could usually be found (eventually) on-line. The big box stores had empty shelves.

[Snag]

Primers. Everything else no problem.

[dickttx]

I got lucky a year ago last January at a Fort Worth gun show. Don't know what the deal was but I bought a 5K carton of CCI Large Pistol primers for $100. The carton was dated 2/2/94. I am down to my last box of 1K of them.
I also picked up a zip bag of new old stock Starline 357 Mag brass for $10. While he was getting change for a $20 I woke up and said I would take the other bag too. I was pretty sure they were 50 per bag, but was having a hard time finding .357. When I got home they were both bags of 100.
I had just gotten back into reloading about six months prior to that and my old stock primers were mostly 65¢ per 100.
I am supplied up on powder, primers and brass now.

[4895]

I shoot about 200 rounds a month. When I am down to 200-300, I stop by the local store and pick up 1000. Last week, I went to 4 different stores to find small pistol primers. I can't believe the shortage is coming already.

I would buy them online but I am too cheap to pay a hazmat fee. I like being able to go to a store and getting a box and not worrying if they are going to be there in 4-5 weeks.

[Otto]

Wanting to get my supplies up. Not sure if to focus on buying primers, or if I need to get powder as well.
If it makes any difference, I use Power Pistol.

I am assuming that bullets were not an issue.?.?.?
Since the last craze, primers have actually come down in price...bullets however have not. If you want to stock up on components, bullets would be at the top of the list followed by primers. I wouldn't worry as much about powder.
Some call it hoarding, I call it hedging against inflation.

A single political event is all it would take to reignite panic buying.

[USSR]

Boy will some of these guys cry when Obama looses by a landslide and primers fall to $18.

I paid $16 per thou 4 months ago. Nah, the guys won't cry, they'll simply do dollar cost averaging (you guys who understand the stock market will know what I mean).:D

Don

[Swampman]

Which was harder to get back during WWII,
Gas or tires?
Didn't matter, unless you had both (and a car), you weren't driving anywhere.
I recommend a balanced approach.
Lots of primers and brass are made in the USA, most rifle powder is imported.
Which one can most easily be made unavailable by an executive order?
Remember cheap Chinese AK ammo?
Not much use in having 40,000 primers if you can't get powder...
Swampman

[TheCracker]

I started reloading the summer b4 the last election. The hardest thing to find was EVERYTHING! I was able to get a press but some dies I had to backorder for 90 days. Primers an bullets were the harder to find then powder but none of it was easy.

Since then ive built my primer, powder and bullet inventory evenly with enough I last me 10-15 years. If it gets to where we cannot find available components I'll hat stop shooting until it clears up. Now I only buy what I need to replace and that's been pretty easy.

I do agree with the sentiment that it's pretty silly to buy so much that u will never be able to shoot it up. I also think that you should basically stock your supplies evenly. No since in having 100,000 primers and only 8 lbs of powder and 2k bullets.

[50 Shooter]

People panic buying is our worst enemy period!

Everything for guns went out of control, what did they get? Over priced ammo and reloading components that are still lingering. If people would just relax and not listen to all the hype there wouldn't be any issues.

[FROGO207]

I just anticipate what stock I need for two or three years in advance and keep it there at that level. If a deal comes along I add against inflation. If we get a shortage in supplies then I would slow down or stop with the fun shooting until it goes away. IMHO you can cast bullets and there are a lot of different propellants that will work but primers are the one thing that is specific for your use. Those are the most important in the reloading link to me.

[USSR]

People panic buying is our worst enemy period!

Everything for guns went out of control, what did they get? Over priced ammo and reloading components that are still lingering. If people would just relax and not listen to all the hype there wouldn't be any issues.


Like anything else, it all depends on when you buy. You buy in advance, knowing that there will be a shortage and panic buying situation, you do fine. You buy in the midst of a supply shortage and panic buying scenario, you lose. Everybody here should have known this is an election year, and the likelyhood of a shortage and panic buying situation is, oh, about 100%, but some of you will wait until the shelves are nearly empty and the price stickers read like box car numbers. I'm sorry, if you simply cannot put together a cause and effect scenario in your mind, and come up with a plan to benefit yourself economically, I don't feel sorry for you. Blame it on the "hoarders" all you want, but you have nobody to blame but yourself. Just MHO.

Don

[Loco]

Primers for sure !!

[BullfrogKen]

Primers definitely were the hardest to find.

But some of the popular rifle powders, like Varget and 4895, and the pistol powders were stocked out, too. So were bullets.


In the order of hardest to find items to the easiest - primers > powder > bullets > brass.

At least you could find the non-reloaders willing to sell their brass, the only item left that could be recycled. A whole lot of those guys were asking stupid prices for handfuls of twenty and thirty pieces, too.

[Walkalong]

A whole lot of those guys were asking stupid pricesOh yea. I kept seeing used .357 Mag cases sell, yes actually sell, for more than new cases.

[cajun1948]

I made an $500 dollar order from Powder Valley today and they ship the powder and primers together with no problem and just one Hasmat Fee Good people to deal with...:)

[parker51]

Still seems to be plenty of powder, brass, bullets in stock locally (Charleston, WV) at this time. I was told that small rifle and small pistol primers are being delayed by the shipper in at least one store. They are opening a new Cabela's here this summer so hopefully they, Wal-Mart, Gander Mountain or Spring Hill Rod and Gun will be able to keep some supplies in stock until after the election. The two hardest components for me to locate were primers and 22 caliber bullets.

[JLDickmon]

stinkin' Zombies..
you're gonna need a lot more than components....

[Fishslayer]

Oh yea. I kept seeing used .357 Mag cases sell, yes actually sell, for more than new cases.

That was probly because Starline was waaaay backordered.;)

I started reloading in '09 and got super lucky on Castboolits & found a 500 lot of brand new Starline at a good price and a decent source of used brass.

Actually bought 300 rds of handloads of dubious origin & pulled 'em down for the brass & bullets.

Used .357 brass is still gold. When I stroll up to my lane & see the deck littered with a dozen pieces or so it's like Christmas! :D

[dickttx]

A couple of weeks ago I checked the brass bucket on the short range pistol lanes and like to fell over. Found 30 Winchester 357 cases, once fired and shiney.

[Walkalong]

That was probly because Starline was waaaay backorderedThey were showing back ordered on their site, but I ordered 500 and received them within a month. I still have them put back. I am shooting the 400 or so range brass I picked up over the last 3 or 4 years.

[gahunter12]

I think I have enough powder to last me for a while. I have a 8lb jug of W231, and 8lbs of WST. I have been buying 3000 primers SPP, and LPP every other week since April. I load on average 1000 40s&w per month and 1000 45acp per month. My goal is to have about 15,000 primers of small and large put back by fall. This should last me a year I hope. I have 3600 40s&w rounds loaded for IDPA which should be enough for this year and get me started next year. I only shoot 2 matches per month and practice twice per month. I average 300 rnds per month. My supplies out weigh my shooting here lately due to me wanting to put back ammo, but I also enjoy my time at my loading bench. If I can spend a couple days per week loading in small quanities next year if we have a shortage I will be happy. Enjoy and be safe!