New primers in stock at LGS

I've used small rifle primers for 357 Mag before without a problem, not sure if SR Mag primers would be too much flash for a std SPP application.
Where are you located?

$9.00 for 100 primers !?!?!

derek45 said:

$9.00 for 100 primers !?!?!

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Yeah that's $90 per 1k but no hazmat or shipping, comes out to just a little less than Midway or PV.

I just loaded some 357 magnum with small rifle magnum primers. I tested a few in two revolvers with no powder or bullets to make sure my guns would light off the harder primers. All went well so I loaded up a few rounds and they tested fairly well also. They were just medium soft loads with my cast bullets. Nowhere near a hot load.

derek45 said:

$9.00 for 100 primers !?!?!

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Several shops around here were getting that for them. The few shops getting some are now around 7.50 per 100.

I got an email from one my LGS's notifying customers that they had some CCI and Federal primers earlier this week. Limited 100 per customer per day. I don't know how many they had, but they were gone the next day. I called and asked price. Clerk wasn't sure but thought $6 or $7 per 100 and mentioned a long checkout line.

LonesomePigeon said:

A local gun shop had some CCI Magnum Small Rifle Primers No. 450 in stock. Can these be used instead of small pistol primers?

I currently use CCI Small Pistol Primers No. 500 for .32-20 smokeless loads in a Uberti single action revolver as well as black powder loads in an old Colt Bisley. I was hoping the small rifle primers can be substituted.

By the way, the LGS said that these small rifle primers were new stock which came from their distributor. This is the first time I have seen any new primers since the shortage began some months ago. I only bought one 100 count pack since I wasn't sure they would work with my guns. It cost $9.00 for the pack.

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I’m trying that combination tomorrow in a Colt Lawman, but with Federal SRM, not CCI. The Lawman has an inertial firing pin like a semiautomatic has. I’ll post tomorrow evening how it goes.

If you guys keep buying at these high prices, they will never come back down. Let's try to wait it out a little more.

LonesomePigeon said:

The only primers I have seen in shops before today were random used ones for $150 - 225 per 1000.

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Used primers aren’t worth much.

higgite said:

Clerk wasn't sure but thought $6 or $7 per 100 and mentioned a long checkout line.

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I wouldn’t stand in a line for 100 primers. 1000? Yes.

I use CCI SRPs in my 38/357 wheel guns with no issues and good results. I probably will not even go back to SPPs. I have been picking up SRPs locally for 5 bucks a hundred limit 5 a day just to replenish my stash so I can hit the range at least once a week. The primers are staying on the shelves longer with limits and no lines.

Like GeoDude mentioned, my biggest concern with subtituting SRPs for SPPs is whether or not the firing pin strike is hard enough to ignite the SRPs. I have had light primer strikes with my S&W 638 and SRPs in 38 special This is not an issue with my Ruger SP-101.

I think it is wise of you to try it out first OP with your firearm before you commit to more SRP's.

twarr1 said:

Used primers aren’t worth much.

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I was thinking the same thing

twarr1 said:

I wouldn’t stand in a line for 100 primers. 1000? Yes.

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I wouldn’t stand in line and actually avoid the area for $60-70/1000 primers.

The only lgs here that has primers has a 100 limit at $9.99. But they had 9mm for $20.99.

CMB said:

I was thinking the same thing

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I've found them to under perform.

Klaatu Barada Nikto said:

I've found them to under perform.

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Maybe theyre marketing them as California Compliant.

GeoDudeFlorida said:

I’m trying that combination tomorrow in a Colt Lawman, but with Federal SRM, not CCI. The Lawman has an inertial firing pin like a semiautomatic has. I’ll post tomorrow evening how it goes.

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Testing went well. No failures in the Lawman or an older hammer-nose Taurus 66. The SRM primers did pretty well. No complaints.

I don't know how other manufacturers' primers compare, but ...
CCI small rifle primers are the equivalent of CCI small pistol magnum primers: thicker cups and more priming compound than small pistol primers for standard loads. I'd expect small rifle magnum to be a step up in priming compound.
Some compact pocket pistols (both striker and dao hammer fired) will regularly pop spp but have prpblems with srp or spmp.

The .25 ACP with some pistol powders has a safe charge range of 1.2 grains to 1.4 grains. Going from small pistol to small rifle or small pistol magnum primers is like dropping an extra half grain or more powder. In a .25 that's a lot. In other calibers, it could be enough to push a near max powder charge over the edge.

I check several sites everyday and was able to order 2k from Midway. Within 10 minutes they were out. Higher cost than normal but when I counted my reserves and found that I was down to less that 100 small pistol primers I had to pay or be unable to load. I read a earlier post that said that used primers weren’t worth much. True words.

If they are getting any stock at all and the previous excuse was valid, holding them back to support commercial ammo makers, then production must be getting in balance with demand, and availability should gradually improve.

derek45 said:

$9.00 for 100 primers !?!?!

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$14.39 for 100 at my lgs!

Misplacedtexan said:

$14.39 for 100 at my lgs!

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Yikes! Double that price and you get what they used to cost for 1k.