PRIMERS

Ask @Mark_Mark . He has the skinny.

marine one said:

Does anybody know what's going on with Primers?

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I do, but I ain't telling.

Lot's of opinions, lot's of theories, lot's of "secret insider knowledge" by people who know a guy who has a friend who heard from a cousin.. The actual manufacturers have also explained it. But it's up to you which story you'll listen to and accept, you'll find plenty to choose from.

Hooda Thunkit said:

Ask @Mark_Mark . He has the skinny.

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let me roll my primer dice_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

November 2024

Actually things are starting to get better slowly.
Natchez has had Federal Large Pistol Magnum primers in-stock for over a week now. Large Pistol has shown up several times this past week at Midway and Natchez.
Brownells had some small pistol for a short period a couple of days ago.

Keep an eye on the sticky thread "Where are reloading components available" - and be prepared to move fast. Pricing will not be like it was before Covid.

Cheesemaker said:

Actually things are starting to get better slowly.
Natchez has had Federal Large Pistol Magnum primers in-stock for over a week now. Large Pistol has shown up several times this past week at Midway and Natchez.
Brownells had some small pistol for a short period a couple of days ago.

Keep an eye on the sticky thread "Where are reloading components available" - and be prepared to move fast. Pricing will not be like it was before Covid.

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Yeah, but they sure are spendy

marine one said:

Does anybody know what's going on with Primers? I mean what's the use of these company's
selling reloading equipment if there's no primers,

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Perhaps check the gazillion other threads on the subject? Same as it has been.

They simply aren't going to make hand loader primers when they make much more on ammo contracts. They simply can't make enough ammo to meet demand. It's a matter of time till things get caught up. Reloading components are a privilege of a surplus economy. Remember that when times are better.

Bcwitt said:

Reloading components are a privilege of a surplus economy. Remember that when times are better.

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Everyone would be wise to reread those lines.

Memorize them.

Tattoo them on your forehead, in reverse, so when you are brushing your teeth you can read it again.

You too could be sitting on 100K+ Small Pistol Primers in your personal stash, as are some I know.

Bcwitt said:

They simply aren't going to make hand loader primers when they make much more on ammo contracts. They simply can't make enough ammo to meet demand. It's a matter of time till things get caught up. Reloading components are a privilege of a surplus economy. Remember that when times are better.

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Absolutely. In the meantime, if you are short on primers, think about airguns or black powder. Plenty of fun to be had shooting without needing primers to do it.

Bcwitt said:

They simply aren't going to make hand loader primers when they make much more on ammo contracts. They simply can't make enough ammo to meet demand. It's a matter of time till things get caught up. Reloading components are a privilege of a surplus economy. Remember that when times are better.

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I bet the Talaban got some good primers!

They sure got everything else.

I’m just glad somebody finally thought to ask.

1. Over the last several YEARS MILLIONS of guns have been sold.
I'm guessing they also bought ammo.
That's above & beyond the %existing gun owners.

2. When the Democrats take the White House it causes a panic buy on all gun related items.
When the Democrats take the WH & Congress, it creates a HUGE panic.,

was in a gun store last week where i saw some remington 6 1/2 primers being put on a shelf .they lasted about 15 minuets

Let me explain it like this, all of the ammo mfgs. that make primers will make many more $$$$$ selling loaded ammo to the masses. We reloaders are at the bottom of the food chain and they sell primers to us when they have a surplus. Plain and simple.

Encoreman said:

Let me explain it like this, all of the ammo mfgs. that make primers will make many more $$$$$ selling loaded ammo to the masses. We reloaders are at the bottom of the food chain and they sell primers to us when they have a surplus. Plain and simple.

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Only thing I don’t know for certain is if we get surplus or seconds.

I'm hoping ammo and reloading supplies come back in availability soon. Someone up above posed a good reply. Stock up when times are good. There were a couple administrations in the past that I learned that lesson from.

Down South said:

There were a couple administrations in the past that I learned that lesson from.

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For sure!! Most of the primers I am using was purchased on or before 2012. Most folks have a limited budget for loading supplies so it isn't like you can buy 500,000 primers and tons of powder and bullets. I haven't quit loading yet, maybe I can stretch it for 2 years.

Most of my supplies were pre 2012. Some later. I sort of did a Johnny Cash. I put it together one piece at a time. A few K primers here, an 8lb jug of powder there, and jacketed bullets by the thousands I collected more brass than a small community would ever use. Upgraded a loader here and an upgraded reloader there.
About 20 years ago I got into casting so I bought molds and casted for every handgun caliber I had plus numerous rifle cartridges. I've still got over two tons of lead, mostly cleaned wheel weights in ingot form and some pure lead in sheets. I don't have an idea how much tin I have and I've got several buckets of linotype and monotype,
Shotgun shells are the same. Bags of shot, bags of wads and plenty 209 primers. I have garbage bags full of STS and AA hulls. I have a mold for 00 buckshot. I made about 20 lbs of 00 and graphite coated it in one of my tumblers. It turned out well.

I feel for the newer reloaders. They can find equipment but not components, Been there, done that. And every time you could score, the price was a rip off.

This has been one of the longest shortages I've seen. What was the last shortage was about? Sandy Hook that started a shortage? Or was it Paducah? Two administrations were troublesome back then too. Remember when Clinton signed the assault gun band in 1994? I still have my old Colt AR with the roll marks down each side, "For military and law enforcement use only. I bought that AR new in 2004 right after the ban ended. Then there was Obama. He was a great gun salesman.


All I can say to you guys looking for components. Sooner or later they will start appearing. The prices will be high but should settle some over time. I doubt we will ever see prices we saw before this shortage began.

They will come around. They seem to be coming around at reduced or limited quantities more frequently these days...albeit at inflated prices from many retailers. Same with powder, bullets are becoming much easier to find so that is a positive sign. 9mm, 5.56, X39 are now sitting on the shelf at my local retailers and price drops are starting as a response. Another good sign. I honestly thought the situation would improve faster than this, but it will with time.

People can only hoard so much, especially at $100 per K plus HAZMAT. Kind of like buying real-estate you don't intend to live on in this market. If you need it, tough luck, pay the price. Not a time to stockpile!

Down South said:

Most of my supplies were pre 2012. Some later. I sort of did a Johnny Cash. I put it together one piece at a time. A few K primers here, an 8lb jug of powder there, and jacketed bullets by the thousands I collected more brass than a small community would ever use. Upgraded a loader here and an upgraded reloader there.
About 20 years ago I got into casting so I bought molds and casted for every handgun caliber I had plus numerous rifle cartridges. I've still got over two tons of lead, mostly cleaned wheel weights in ingot form and some pure lead in sheets. I don't have an idea how much tin I have and I've got several buckets of linotype and monotype,
Shotgun shells are the same. Bags of shot, bags of wads and plenty 209 primers. I have garbage bags full of STS and AA hulls. I have a mold for 00 buckshot. I made about 20 lbs of 00 and graphite coated it in one of my tumblers. It turned out well.

I feel for the newer reloaders. They can find equipment but not components, Been there, done that. And every time you could score, the price was a rip off.

This has been one of the longest shortages I've seen. What was the last shortage was about? Sandy Hook that started a shortage? Or was it Paducah? Two administrations were troublesome back then too. Remember when Clinton signed the assault gun band in 1994? I still have my old Colt AR with the roll marks down each side, "For military and law enforcement use only. I bought that AR new in 2004 right after the ban ended. Then there was Obama. He was a great gun salesman.


All I can say to you guys looking for components. Sooner or later they will start appearing. The prices will be high but should settle some over time. I doubt we will ever see prices we saw before this shortage began.

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Darn shame but my time machine appears to be broke - like my bank account - or I could follow your advice.
Mind you I did stock up as much as possible and have been sharing the fruits of that good planning with those less fortunate, but unless the new reloaders out there have a time machine, and a full bank account back then, your advice is only good for the next go around - and it’s been said a lot already. Bragging about your supplies is salt in wound. Kinda low class.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

your advice is only good for the next go around

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If the past can be used as an example of how these things go, it will come back around again. That's the main point I'm trying to make. I apologize if it appears that I'm bragging.
I'm trying to share the things I've done after things would return to normal from past experience.
You don't need a huge bank account. Start buying a little at a time and stashing it back.

If you're just now needing primers you're in luck, because I've seen them for sale on various websites twice on the last 3 weeks for about $75/1000. It's been basically 18 months of nothing prior to this unless you wanted to spend $180/1000 at a gun show or from someone selling on Armslist. I'm seeing powder slowly become more available as well.

It's fun to finally go to gun shops and see plenty of ammo on the shelves, even if it's twice as expensive as it used to be. I think the light is at the end of the tunnel and maybe in another 6 months maybe prices will start to come down to somewhere in the neighborhood where I'll be comfortable stocking up again.