Opened my last box of primers.

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Hooda Thunkit

Hooda Thunkit

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At least, my last box of Large Rifle from the Clinton Administion.
Clinton primers (Custom).jpeg

As soon as W.J. "Bill" Clinton was elected, things got flaky. Primers were one of the first things to go. I could find them only sporadically, and then the primers were 'rationed' at the LGS, only X number of 'sleeves' per customer per day. I would get however many sleeves they would allow, and stack them in leftover boxes I already had.

Later, primers disappeared completely.

The Big Box gun stores didn't exist around here, and the internet didn't exist - at least not as we know it today.

Don't get too exited about the $1.79 price tag - according to an inflation calculator, it's roughly $3.15 today.

I have about 900 of these remaining, then it's on to stock from the Bush (The Younger) Admin.
I constantly see threads warning folks to secure their supplies whilst the getting is good. I think I'm good for now.

BTW, I had never heard the term "brick" of primers back then. Case, box, sleeve. No bricks.
Only heard that term a for the first time a few years ago.
 
I remember the times when Clinton was President and his policies created the shortages. I was just getting into reloading and still pretty naive about gun control and what it meant. Thankfully the LGS I did business with knew me and I brought 200 large rifle primers from under the counter I needed to load for my hunting rounds.

If this newest gun control push brings another shortage I am prepared.
 
I just figgered they were called bricks 'cause 500, 22s in a box was called a brick. I too kept a good stock of components, but I bought a little at a time. Whenever I went to a store that sold components I'd buy a bottle of powder, a brick of 22s or primers whether I "needed" them or not. I got a couple good deals on surplus powders, WC820 and BR-5 so I still have about 15 lbs of those left. During the "shortages/panics" I was unaffected and I still have a lot of powder, primers and lead, and about 9,000 rounds of various 22 lr...
 
Hooda Thunkit said:
That you purchased? Then, sir, you qualify as old - which is defined as anyone older than I.:rofl:

I remember the day JFK was killed, but I was too young to shoot anything but a Roy Rodgers capgun.
Click to expand...
No, I inherited them from my father who got them from a buddy who died of cancer. But I'm as old now as he was when he gave them to me, or close. Time flies.
 
sbwaters said:
Opened my last box of primers.

I thought prudent people never let stock dwindle to the last box.
Click to expand...
He still has primers from before I started buying ammo. And I started buying my own reloading components in 2000.
 
I remember that, too. I had just gotten into reloading pretty heavy. Some of the local shops around Columbus,OH wanted you to pay to join the Club so you could buy more powder and primers than everyone else, otherwise you were limited to something like 2 or 4 trays. Prices jumped to about $3/tray if memory serves. I may have some of those left, I'd have to dig through my rather sizeable stash to see... for you see, I don't ever want to get caught up in any of that funky crap again...
 
I still have ~1100 shotgun primers that my Dad bought in the late '60s (along with several sacks of Herters reloadable plastic 12ga hulls and shotcups). I didn't buy any primers until the '70s.

Funny thing ... I currently have 29k of assorted Boxer primers and 5k LR Berdan primers on-hand ... and whenever I see what may be a good deal (BEST = OK price+rebate+$0 HAZMAT+$0shipping) on primers, I seriously consider getting more. :)

Same with bullets (although I have accumulated 10s of thousands) ... I think that I have a handle on my urges to acquire more cases and/or propellants.

... unless, o'course, there is a reeeeeally good sale. :D

===
On Friday afternoon, 22Nov63 my 6th Grade class had just returned room the library and were reading our newly-selected books when the announcement came over the speaker system that our President had been shot on Dallas. BTW, I was reading the book that I had selected ... it was about the 3 US Presidential Assassinations. I was reading about McKinley when the speaker system activated. :scrutiny:
 
sbwaters said:
Opened my last box of primers.

I thought prudent people never let stock dwindle to the last box.
Click to expand...

I can assure you sir, that, unless restricted to primers purchased prior to 1995, I am in no danger of running out. Even so, I am considering an order from Powder Valley. A 'beat the rush' sort of thing.

I think next summer may be a very busy time for ammo and reloading component retailers.

The question of my prudence is still open for argument, particularly among people that know me well.
 
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