Veterans of the last components shortage...
- Thread starter Trey Veston
- Start date
- Status
CoalTrain49
Member
CoalTrain49
Member
What is a case of primers, 10K? I've only seen them for sale in 1K bricks. Where would a person by 10K primers in normal times?
twarr1
Member
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,042
The Carter shortages and price increases of '77-'80 were mostly just new loaded ammo and imported parts. That had more to do with the oil embargo, police departments across the country buying ammunition for larger payrolls, rampaging inflation, and a rush to conflict overseas in the Middle East and Central/South America. Carter gave billions in surplus to foreign governments which had typically gone to civilian shooters. In '86-'87, the Reagan shortage, it was almost entirely parts kits and spares, magazines for some odd reason, and some powders if I recall correctly. There were a lot of corporate mergers and acquisitions during that time, too, and those were bigger factors than the FOPA '86 changes. The Clinton shortages were politically driven and were the first such of my lifetime. Every shortage since has been. The 25-hour newscycle has driven those shortages. In my opinion. This one may last longer and have a more profound impact on availability going forward IF the 10 million or so new firearms owners keep their guns and practice more with them. Many of those new buyers are traditionally in the gun-grabbing column, not the gun-owning column, and they are being pushed by civic activists to "arm up." I'll leave it at economics but, these shortages - from TP to primers - are not effects, they are being caused.
EricBu
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2021
- Messages
- 1,433
Standard case is 5K. I usually buy 2 to 5 cases a month depending on what I'm going through.
The last time I bought primers, they came 100 count containers, 10 containers per box (1000 primers, and five boxes (5000 primers) to the case.
I bought them mail order. Also, at the local gun shows, there is a vendor selling reloading components where you could buy a case of primers. Buy 5000 primers of the same type and generally you will get a case.
Just note, this was back in the happy times.
earlthegoat2
Member
I was a firearms enthusiast during the Clinton Admin when I was 11-17 yrs old. I was dabbling in reloading even then (still haven’t got past that point) and I came to the conclusion that you need primers first. Then lead. Whether that that lead is raw, bulk, wheel weights, or manufactured bullets does not matter.
With primers and lead, you have options. Cases are easy. Especially if you have been saving your brass. You have been right?
Then powder. Powder is tricky but there always seems to be some available. It is never the popular stuff though. Like now, Varget and 4895 are nearly unobtainium. But there are other powders. You can use other powders if need be. Scrounge around for what you can and make your primers, lead, and cases work with it.
You may not be shooting your most loved or favorite cartridge gun but you will be shooting.
That is the bleakest scenario for components shortages but I hope you get the idea.
With primers and lead, you have options. Cases are easy. Especially if you have been saving your brass. You have been right?
Then powder. Powder is tricky but there always seems to be some available. It is never the popular stuff though. Like now, Varget and 4895 are nearly unobtainium. But there are other powders. You can use other powders if need be. Scrounge around for what you can and make your primers, lead, and cases work with it.
You may not be shooting your most loved or favorite cartridge gun but you will be shooting.
That is the bleakest scenario for components shortages but I hope you get the idea.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,142
They are generally 5, “bricks”, that contain 10 smaller, 100 count packages.
Then there are large, small, rifle, pistol, standard, magnum, shotgun, BP, not to mention some guns might shoot best with Remington 7 1/2’s, another might like Federal…if you only have one brand I guess you might not know that though.
Then there is some stuff like benchrest rifles where you might want to buy 1 (the same) lot of primers, powder and bullets for its lifetime to reduce lot to lot variables.
Not to mention being able to ride out the next panic, a competitive gun game fellow will go through 20,000 rounds a year easy.
Hazmat fees are also a consideration. Places like Natchez, Grafs, Powder valley, Midsouth will ship you 1000 primers for 1 hazmat fee or 48 lbs of primers for 1 hazmat fee, as far as raising the price per primer it’s easy to see the more there are the less the increase in price is.
A $20 fee on 1000 primers is + $.02 per primer.
A $20 fee on 50,000 primers is + $ .0004 per primer.
Last edited:
Toprudder
Member
The last shortage, I would buy a pound of whatever pistol powder I could find at the local gun shows. Prices were higher than mail order at the time, but I could buy just a pound to try, and not have to pay hazmat. I tested a LOT of different powders (over 30 in 45acp alone) some I liked, some I didn’t (for various reasons) but now I have load data for a lot of different powders so I know what will work in a pinch. Once I figured out what I liked, I stocked up on those, and used up some of those I did not like. Luckily, I had the forethought to stock up before the 2020 political campaign started.
This information doesn’t really help right now, but keep it in mind when/if things start getting back to normal.
This information doesn’t really help right now, but keep it in mind when/if things start getting back to normal.
I started reloading in 2013 and could find primers without much issue. Getting a specific powder would take regular phone calls to all the local shops for a few weeks, but primers could be found within a few days at most and at normal retail prices. Finding .22lr was impossible to find for awhile unless you wanted to campout in front of the shops or pay $100 for a brick...
For whatever reason primers are the hot commodity this time around. Maybe after the last go around everyone was stocked up on powder and .22's, so now primer panic buying is the current trend.
For whatever reason primers are the hot commodity this time around. Maybe after the last go around everyone was stocked up on powder and .22's, so now primer panic buying is the current trend.
Pretty much what I went though, though I did buy more online because at that time there wasn't a LGS that seriously carried reloading supplies. I still have a few 1 lbs. unopened.
2ndtimer
Member
Patience and persistence. If you aren’t waiting when they open the doors, you won’t get to buy these.
OP
OP
Trey Veston
Member
I can't read the receipt; where is that?
I've heard of a few folks that have buddies working at Sportsman's Warehouse in Lewiston and Tri-state in Moscow who tell them when primers come in. They show up first thing to grab what they can, and have family members buy up as much as possible. Seems a bit unethical and shady business to allow employees to do that.
- Status
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Locked
