Seeing a little improvement in availability

The real fly in the ointment has been primers throughout.

Took a trip to the LGS this past week... a LOT more bullets, a lot more loaded ammos, a LOT more powder, including Varget and H4350 in quantity... but, unfortunately, the same high prices.

I did notice... as I cruised the rifle rack... that he had no less than 30 AR's setting, and by the looks of them, all used. I think we are seeing market saturation, again, like we did around 2015... after the market finally caught up to demand.

Now that powder is finally starting to actually get dusty on the shelf, people will perceive that it's not Unobtanium, finally, and quit opportunity buying... but, sadly , we are still there with primers.

At our local Bass Pro, it's more than a little improvement. 2 months ago, they'd generally have a few powders available, but a pretty limited selection. And it had been months and months since I'd seen primers on the shelf there. The last 2-3 weeks, the powder selection has increased 10 fold, and they suddenly have lots of primers on the shelf. And it's not being snapped up like in the past. Prices are still high and I'm not buying, but inventory has taken a big time positive swing in my area.

Was in there yesterday, taking the grandkids to see Santa, and cruised by the reloading stuff. I kind of expected with the Thanksgiving/BF shopping going on, they might be cleaned out of primers again. But there were at least 75 1K boxes sitting there.

Around here at all the big box stores, Sportsman's Warehouse, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Academy .... tons and tons of common calibers ammo, more and more powders of various flavors (Hodgdon brands seems to be dominant), plenty of pills but ... no primers. None.

We haven't seen primers on the shelves in ages and it's been even longer for small pistol and small rifle primers specifically.

I go by the LGS here about once a month or so, and one has been getting in some powder and primers. The other one has gotten in some powder recently, and some 209's, but no other primers. Funny thing is, that shop had CCI 450's when no one else had any primers, and the same with powder.

Prices are still high here, and I'm not buying unless I see some LRP. I am gearing up to load for my 7.62x39 and this is the only thing I have that uses LRP, so I was caught short on this one.

I'm optimistic though, since things are showing back up, that prices may fall a bit. Buy it if you need it, and wait a while if you don't.

chris

I have a few powders that I started wanting to try 3 years ago. I should have got them then, but then the pandemic hit. I could get them now, but they are pricey and I bought a few alternative and extra primers and a premium cost, so - my plan now is to just work with what I have. I'd like to try some different things, but - my attitude is I'm glad I have what I've got and for the foreseeable future, my wallet is closed on any reloading, shooting, or any associated purchases. It is hard, because there's always just one more calling out.

My LGS had CCI SP primers in stock yesterday, 12 cents each though so I passed. I think with supply issues and inflation we won't see them as cheap again as they were for a long time, but I do think they will come down more.

My local bps had more primers than they ever had yesterday.

A few places by me have had primers for a couple months. Seeing things turn around finally. Cci federal and Winchester’s in stock $89 per k. Small pistol

I have been seeing lots of 209 primers.

Local Cabelas has more powder for sure and they had SR and a few LP primers the other day. $89 a brick for the CCI 450s. Sportsmans is somewhat less well supplied, but they did have CCI 450s for $6.12 a tray. With a 2 tray a day limit, it is almost rounding error.

I check our LGS online a couple times a week and they have more powder than before, but not back to pre-virus times. But still no primers. Still I am hopeful hearing of more metropolitan areas having large amounts of primer coming back.

Went to a gun show yesterday. Looking for an out of production pistol, so attending shows again. Normally I stay away. Anyway, pretty good supply of reloading stuff at a few tables. Way too expensive of course. $120-$150 for non-BR SR/SP primers, $50+ per pound of powder, often in ratty looking bottles, etc. Can run 5 miles up the interstate and get the stuff cheaper at Bass Pro.

I think come spring. Primers will be more reasonable. As long as something bad in the world don't happen.