Did we ever think it would get this bad?

[karlborman]

Okay, I am new to reloading, but c'mon this is America where we are supposed to be free and where a capitalistic economy and demand and supply are supposed to work, and maybe they are.

That to say, I don't think there is a retailer in the country that has SMALL PISTOL PRIMERS in stock. No mom and pop shops, not the big 3 of Cabela's, Sportman's or Gander Mt., not the online stores like Gaff or Midsouth. Nobody!
Most are also out of LG Pistol and SM Rifle primers also.

I know it's not a loaf of bread, but doesn't that tell us something.

Anyone know if any retailer has primers... or is it the whole country?

 

[Mainsail]

I just a box of 500 small pistol, and 300 large pistol primers at the Outdoor Rec center on Ft Lewis. They had plenty. Sportsman's in Federal Way had some but were low on everything.

As an aside, is $30 for a box of primers pretty much the going rate?

 

[RVenick]

I read somewhere, (may have been on here) that you can use SP mag primers in place of the regular SP primers. Hope this helps. I see that Wideners has Wolf SP mag primers.

 

[CSA 357]

No sir, it is sad, the times we live in! And will only get worse

 

[birdman]

Primers are the one component I have to buy since I'm a bullet caster and hand loader. I've been stocking up for the last couple of years for the very reasons you mention. When you can afford them and can find them then you'd better get out the checkbook. I store mine long term in a frost free refrigerator in my garage.

 

[NCsmitty]

I read somewhere, (may have been on here) that you can use SP mag primers in place of the regular SP primers.

Caution swapping to mag primers in established loads, especially if they are already near Max. Mag primers will increase pressures in most situations.
Nothing wrong in working up loads from recommended starting loads with mag primers though.

NCsmitty

 

[Davionmaximus]

Get ready... if things keep going the way they are going most things needed for life as we know it will be scarce...

 

[Walkalong]

We've been through primer shortages before. It will be OK as soon as everyone quits buying 10K plus to stick back for hard times. The primer manufacturers will catch up soon.

 

[rickomatic]

A quick perusal of this and other gun boards will give you one very good reason. Look at how many posts start off with the same phrase you used. "I am new to reloading". Look on the bright side. We've got lots and lots of Americans coming into or regaining interest in our "hobby". Those of us who've been in it for a while have seen shortages before, and know that sooner or later, the manufacturers will catch up. This time may be a little more severe though, due in part to not only the new administrations' views on our rights, but also the uncertain economy.
I've had pretty good luck on components by shopping at the smaller local gun shops. Also, if you don't see something on the shelf...ask. They just might have some in the back room. I recently was looking for powder, and a clerk saw me staring at his empty shelves (this was a semi big box store), and said they had a whole pallet of powder in back, but the guy who stocks the shelves had gone home. I went back the next day, and got my pick of the new stuff.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

pretty much ditto #1 and #9 small pistol primers are scarce in this area but many more handloaders comeing on line.
I'm short myself on them and large pistol and rifle both getting scarce.
not to mention 12ga Mag, .357mag (or .38spcl) and .223 cartidges shortages.

 

[ants]

Thank goodness for clear thinking, friends. Welcome to all the new reloaders on board, even if our new brothers clear the shelves once in a while. My regular supplier has tripled his orders to the distributors in the last year, who in turn have cut his supply to 1/3 of previous deliveries. Lots of us are either reloading or hoarding.

Factories who make primers and gunpowder cannot simply increase production, nor can they simply order new equipment and plug it into the wall outlet. Safety must be Number 1 when you manufacture explosives. Production catches up eventually, although price increases will always arrive faster.

 

[jcwit]

Isn't it amazing manufactures were able to keep up during WW2.

 

[FM12]

I was at a Bass Pro shop, their primer prices were $40-55/K.


lead shot for shot shells? $65.00/25 lbs.

Thought I'd wait. Bought 3k SPP wolf brand from Powder Valley, $19.00K.

 

[MADDOG]

I am a "hoarder" and I am happy. I still have some red--white--&--blue--boxes of S&W-Alcan Primers. Buy when you can.

 

[redbandit98]

the only thing i worry about on the whole deal is this ...quality. I mean be it powder, primers, bullets, etc...It seems that most everyone is backordered so you know the companies are running at 110 percent capacity. This means rush rush rush to make the dollar. I worry about QC suffering and possibly getting faulty components. This goes with everything though, not just reloading supplies. When you are balls out making something on a production line, more stuff usually slips out the door unoticed.

 

[redneck2]

Quite a few of the local dealers around here are starting to get primers back into stock.

Little Hawk's Guns in Warsaw had maybe 15-20K of Federals and CCI's this week. Blythe's in Valpo also had a bunch, maybe 10k or more.

 

[Dean Williams]

Grafs has Fed and Magtech in stock. Midway has Rems. Those are the only two I checked. The sky is not falling. People just seem to feel a need to spread doom and gloom.
This has happened in the past with primers, toilet paper, gas, and many other products.

 

[twg67]

I just picked up 3k Rem sp primers at the gun show today and he had plenty more. $27 per.

 

[RandyP]

My Widener's order for Wolf small and large pistol primers ($21 per K) arrived yesterday. They are running about 3 weeks after receipt of order for shipping it out.

My LGS in west suburban Chicagoland had several brands on the shelf at $26 per K the last time I visited.

Like others far wiser than I am have posted, this 'shortage' is partially a self-inflicted wound, not unlike the panic buying of stuff before Y2K.

I too am one of the recent "I better learn how to reload now, before it's too late" shoppers for all things reloading -lol

 

[Quoheleth]

Isn't it amazing manufactures were able to keep up during WW2.

Not to be picky, but they didn't keep up in commercial output. Like almost every other industry, the vast, vast majority of all firearm & ammo output went to the war effort, whether for our troops, Allies, Lend/Lease, etc. The only relatively easy-to-find ammo during the War was .22, 12 gauge, .30-30, .38 Special, and - maybe - .30-06. Most of this was further limited. Ranchers & farmers were given first crack at this stuff as part of their vocational need.

In fact, I believe it was Hodgdon who got his start after the War selling military surplus powder.

Q

 

[Landric]

One of my local gun stores has plenty in stock. They are getting $30/K, but that includes tax. Since I usually only buy 1 or 2 K at a time, not having to drive to a gun show or pay shipping and haz mat fees to "save" money on primers works for me. Besides, I'm supporting a local business.

 

[twoclones]

My local Sportsman's Warehouse got primers in this week. Not sure how long they'll keep them in stock but ...

 

[WarHall]

Everybody here is still out

of Small Rifle primers. Sportsman's has plenty of shotshell and small pistol. I've been trying to contact as many places as possible about buying them. Sounds like they should be coming in at the end of February. I suspect when they do there will be a 'run' on them since they have been dried up for so long. And, then, it'll be the same story until folks have enough of them.

 

[jal5]

Here in Ohio shops are short on everything, I went to 2 different big box Gander mtn stores in a city I was visiting this weekend, hardly any powder in either one. the small local stores at home haven't had a new shipment of powder in quite some time.
Joe

 

[warnerwh]

If you're patient for a few months there will be plenty of primers and the price will come down. Then get enough to last at least a few years. At least that's what I did last time after I went to buy primers and couldn't get any from anywhere. Still have 12k plus primers and lots of loaded ammo, no shortage here.

It's like money in the bank.