Not much action on "Where are Reloading Components Available"

Just got an order of primers from Brownell's after seeing the tip on the "where" thread earlier in the week.. I'm pretty confident that sub-$50/1000 primers are a thing of the past. They show up randomly at Bass Pro and Cabela's here, and I pay the going rate of $74 without complaint, and will continue until I feel I have a comfortable amount stashed.

I'm a newer reloader, at least as far as solid projectiles go. Have pulled the handle on MEC progressives thousands of times for shotgun loads, but going into the "crisis" last year, I owned one .38spl revolver and a Lee Loader for .38/.357 that I'd never used before. Had 1500 primers and a scale left over from a friend trying to get me into reloading years ago. Those primers got me shooting again, and I really enjoyed the Lee Loader, so I upgraded to a single stage press and bought dies. Must've scored some of the last .38 and .9mm dies available, and a couple pounds of powder before it all disappeared. Then I used my long-dormant C&R license to get a CZ-82,and found 9x18 casings and bullets still pretty easy to stock up on. I felt I did okay under the circumstances. Recently added a CZ-P09 to the pistol safe, and was very glad I had already picked up the die set for it. I can still scavenge some 9mm brass at the local outdoor public ranges, and have been able to buy quantities of projectiles, although not always my first choices.

Bottom line, I feel lucky to have the choice to overpay a little for components right now, and don't plan on getting caught without going forward.

The rulez on the "where are reloading" components require a link. Was at Scheel's today - Johnstown, CO. It's a big-box chain in the upper midwest. Their web site doesn't say they have 5 bricks of SRP for ~$50 ea. Nor does their website say they have projectiles and VV powder. Doesn't say they have Blazer 9mm, nor does it say Fed White Box for $1.10/rd (ouch!).

OK, no link, so no post.

Typetwelve said:

I still cannot wrap my head around a person that is willing to pay that kind of $$ for one box of ammo.

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I just paid $71 for a box of 50 5.7x28 for a new Ruger 57. I won’t be paying that kind of price going forward, but the gun is no use without some ammunition.

Walkalong said:

Actually, we've been letting no link local heads up slide without a link.

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Didn't know that ! No idea why Scheel's website doesn't reflect local inventory - primers may be too transitory.

There was a post for "Murdoch's" that I forwarded to a friend. Limit one tray (100), but scored some SPP. The local guys seem to be getting a brick here and there.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

Do you live close enough to Midway t pickup in person? I saw posts from a few people who do...

With tax, S/H & HazMat, the $74.95 LIMIT 1 from Midways works out to 10.4¢ each for me. Taxes are 6% in Florida but 7% in my area - we pay for the local politicians to buy votes.

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I don't live overly close to anywhere, an hour drive to the closest Bass Pro Shop.

I think supply is improving. If SPP or LRP cross my path for less than 80 bucks all in, I’m buying. Still haven’t found any of those. I’m always an hour late online. But other than that…. Can’t say I need much. The panic *will* subside, and prices *will* drop, as stock builds up and manufacturers perceive a full pipeline and sales at a trickle rather than a flood.

I just bought 10000 small pistol primers and paid .10 a primer including shipping/hazmat. And I was happy to do it. Inflation is bumping 6% right now. Lead, Tin, Copper.....are all at historic highs, and in some cases have increased 200% per ton. There have been delays in the raw material supply side, and may be more in the future. Energy costs are rising, this will impact cost of production and transportation of goods. This impacts the future cost of brass, primers, projectiles, pretty much everything associated with shooting. Even once demand tapers off, those price increases due to cost of production will have to be priced in. 70.00 a box primers are likely here to stay for the remainder of the year, and that will only be at local gun shops and big box stores that can afford to make a big purchase and spread that shipping/hazmat fee out. With inventory so limited, if you have to buy online, and are limited to 1 or 2 1000ct boxes of primers per purchase.....you're stuck paying 70 + hazmat + shipping which will hit most people around 100 bucks for a thousand primers. At best, the next 12 months, prices are going to be unstable and fluctuate wildly. Some folks won't have any choice but to scale back, or stop recreational shooting all together in favor of being able to afford the rising cost of groceries and fuel. That will take demand pressure off the ammo/component producers...but it won't address inflation and raw material shortages. Things are going to cost more in our future. This is just how it's going to be. Until we have some sort of political stability, reduced threat (real and imagined) of gun control, a realistic outlook and science based approach to managing Covid (as opposed to a media and fear based approach), and a reduction in massive federal and state deficit spending......we aren't going to see things stabilize for even maybe years. 2 years ago, it might have cost a small ammo manufacturer .10 a round to produce ammunition, including all of their overhead, everything. Now, it's costing North of .50 a round, or 25 bucks a box. Now, they have to make a profit. If they want a 10.00 profit, that's 35.00 a box. Now you have to add the FAET, 11%. You're at 38.85. Now it has to be transported somewhere to be sold, or goes to a distributor. It get's sold somewhere they need to make a profit, and likely charge you sales tax. Now that box of ammo is finally going home with you, and it might be 40 bucks, or even 50 bucks. Everybody get's a taste, and most of the time, the government get's the biggest taste, and the more things cost due to inflation and increasing cost of production....the bigger the governments taste.

Supply does look to be improving, midsouth had primers for $64/ 1000, I dont think we will see post shortage prices again but I beliave primers will go down to $50 per thousand. I have 2 years worth of everything I use a lot of, but will start keeping 5 years worth of inventory when the new normal gets here. Will stack 7.62x39 and 22lr deeper also.

My buddy just found and ordered two bricks of CCI large pistol magnum primers today for $60 each plus shipping. Not great, but not bad for today’s prices. Hopefully all the people hoarding ammo are about done and components will start showing back up with some regularity. Most companies are operating at full capacity loading factory ammo. I know there’s word going around about a couple different companies starting to produce their own primers (Hornady being the big one), but who knows how long it will take before we see the effects of that.

Spare Parts said:

The rulez on the "where are reloading" components require a link.

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One reason I haven't posted to that thread, can't seem to post links with my phone. I did manage to order 3 lbs of ramshot tac St midsouth 27.68/lb plus hazmat, shipping and 8% tax amounts to what I paid locally retail. Emailed a friend who also got 2 lbs.

Loaded up 500 rds for 223, 556 and it's half gone now.

twarr1 said:

I just paid $71 for a box of 50 5.7x28 for a new Ruger 57. I won’t be paying that kind of price going forward, but the gun is no use without some ammunition.

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LOL I might be sitting on a small fortune then, I have a boxes of blue and green tips. Ever since I started reloading 5.7 I don't touch the factory stash.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

Did components dry up or did we all finish restocking already? Or did our usual cadre of searchers (and thank you all very much, BTW) give up and stop looking/posting?

My hope is the next big surge in new reloaders is just now waking up to their needs/wants and are getting ready to start asking "How do I...?" questions instead of "WHere can I find..."

If even 20% of the panic buyers of 2020-21 stick with it, we should see higher prices well into 2022 BUT we will also see more interest in keeping the hoplophobes out of power for a long, long while. I'll pay more for powder and primers if it means more interest in the shooting sports and more support for the RTKBA long after I'm gone.

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I was in Sportsman's Warehouse in Mesa, AZ yesterday. They had bullets and brass on the shelves. Mostly pistol brass and pistol bullets. Lots of 9mm stuff .40 / 10mm and .45's. No .38/.357 .44 or 41. Rifle bullets in .22, 264 and .375. Very few 6mm or .308 but that should be expected with hunting season right around the corner, tho. Rifle brass was .25 WSSM and some other odd ball Winchester branded and several boxes of high end Nosler.

Hartkopf said:

Vista announced a price increase coming Nov 1st. They also announced “no new primer orders until further notice.” So more than likely, we won’t see primers for a long time.

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Show us the letter or link to it please.

Howa 9700 said:

FWIW, a guy on anther forum I monitor just posted a letter with updated price sheet from Vista, which I think was to be effective in either Oct or Nov 2021. Was putting dealers on notice of pending price increases. Range of 5% to 10% increase for most ammo and reloading supplies, except primers. Primers were going up 15%. So if you have been waiting for prices to drop on those.......something to consider.

Perhaps they will be rolling all those windfall primer profits into new primer factories?

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Show us the letter or link to it please.

A few posts away from yours cites the Vista letter as saying no primer orders for the time being or something like that. So, I say until I see the letter itself, it doesn’t exist.

CQB45ACP said:

Show us the letter or link to it please.

A few posts away from yours cites the Vista letter as saying no primer orders for the time being or something like that. So, I say until I see the letter itself, it doesn’t exist.

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CQB45ACP said:

Show us the letter or link to it please.

A few posts away from yours cites the Vista letter as saying no primer orders for the time being or something like that. So, I say until I see the letter itself, it doesn’t exist.

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https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7333672/1

Howa 9700 said:

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/7333672/1

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Perfect. Thank you very much.

I have sent an email to vista public relations department to verify the legitimacy.

Spare Parts said:

The rulez on the "where are reloading" components require a link. Was at Scheel's today - Johnstown, CO. It's a big-box chain in the upper midwest. Their web site doesn't say they have 5 bricks of SRP for ~$50 ea. Nor does their website say they have projectiles and VV powder. Doesn't say they have Blazer 9mm, nor does it say Fed White Box for $1.10/rd (ouch!).

OK, no link, so no post.

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I'm from Loveland and also scored a brick from Johnstown Scheels this weekend! First time I've seen them in awhile. Sportsman's doesn't even show stock online and has a banner saying in store purchases only. Scheels for some reason I don't think ever had a spot online for primers. Now I think they let you order some powder online for pick up but others say they are in stock but to check in store. Finding primers in store is nice to avoid hazmat!