My primer buying is on pause

Before the shortage Walmart would have popular calibers set out, stacked up like cord wood as deer season approached. It wasn't just kept in the case, but out in bulk... and they went through a LOT of it. It all depends on where you live.

 

Data is data.

 

Noticed today at the Range that brass was in abundance on the ground,,, Something I wasn't used to seeing lately.

Supply is catching back up with demand, but It still has a long way to go.

 

Yup- So no reason why a box or two couldn't have been set aside in the closet and not immediately expended.

 

Hindsight is 20/20. I would probably be fine for a decade without buying another shell or primer, if not more. Doesn't mean I knew everything 2 years ago and there were plenty of things I wish I had bought or done back then.

 

I started stockpiling ammo when I was 12 (get two boxes- shoot one, store the other). The only real sympathy I will have for folks who don't have ammo are new shooters. Any one of the hunters in question could have skipped a case or two of beer or cigs and secured a small stash of ammo, but they chose not to execute such a plan. Owning a firearm (excluding some oddball collecter example) and not maintaining at least a small "basic load" of ammo is rather non-sequitur to me.

 

We are now closing in on 2 years of this nonsense. The longer it goes on, the more people will find their stashes exhausted.

 

I wish I had a Bass Pro Shop or any store that sold primers close by. I'm probably buy a few SPM primers, right now I'm ok for another two years based on my current level of shooting. If I got low and I could find them for 8 cents a piece vs 4 cents I'd go ahead and buy them, just probably would alternate which guns I shot at the range instead of bringing them all.

 

If in the past two years, a shooter has depleted their supply to the point of not being able to go hunting- what were they thinking, and what where they shooting at? If the answer is that they shot their last three cartridges harvesting a deer last year, then that is a legitimate concern. If they blew the balance of a box shooting with their cousins on the 4th of July, and were just "sure they could get more", then yes, the 6P's are in play.

 

We are now closing in on 2 years of this nonsense. The longer it goes on, the more people will find their stashes exhausted.

I guess. Like I said, I am good for a long time, so I don't have the same issues or motivations as the box at a time crowd. Just pointing out that the longer this goes on, the more people are in the same boat.

 

I don't mind filling in the holes to maintain supply.
What caught me with my pants down was I bought my first large primer Rifle right after the poop hit the propellers.
Starting with zero LRP's can be a challenge, but even a sleeve of 100 here and there helped.

 

And IN steps the all knowing, perfect person we should all model ourselves around... who never violates his own accord... and who's infinite wisdom is only exceeded by his modesty and warm personality. Lol

On topic, LRP are probably the least consumed among 'sport' and defense shooters... and most consumed among hunters. LRP likely has the lowest production among all primer types. This time of year is hunting season for most medium to large game, and manufacturers will shift most of their limited production to feed the need. Most of the relatively small amount of LRP produced will indeed be used to make factory ammo. That is why I assume they are hard to find right now.

 

It's called prioritizing for what is important in your life. If hunting is that big a deal for somebody, they should be thinking and planning to have those tools on hand.

I only have about 30 rounds for my primary elk rifle. I shot three rounds to confirm zero and then will keep the last three from the box to load in the mag. The other box is a couple years newer, so I don't want to mix and match lots, etc. In the ideal world, I would put more time in on the range, but that's not in the cards at the moment.

Just different mentalities about preparation and organization.

If you need LRP, then just bite the bullet and pay for getting a brick shipped. Don't blow the brick playing "gun games" or other high volume range activity. Post the receipt above your reloading bench as a reminder to pick-up some at retail the next time you see them.

 

I’m tired of the primer situation. This is the 3rd time I’ve seen it happen, and worse each time, this one lasting over 2 years and still no end visible. These are primers: 2 small stamped simple brass shapes and a smidge of compound.

The manufacturers, whom we’ve supported, use each event to raise prices and profits far beyond any real cost increases. But not supply. They and others in the chain clearly refuse to use their excess profit to increase capacity or to reward customer loyalty by preparing for these events. They may be capitalists, but they are dumb ones in the long run.

Three years ago primers delivered from Brownells were $130 / case, about $26 / 1000. Nothing justifies the current prices, nor the recurring shortages, except greed, short sighted and stupid. Perhaps some new player who actually knows business will emerge to the opportunity created, but I’m not hopeful.

I’m done with them. I’ll keep adequate guns and ammo for security but I’m finished with shooting as a hobby or a sport. I’ll move on. Life is short, and the needless relentless aggravation and gouging has spoiled shooting for me.

 

So are you going to stop driving too?

 

I try to drive my Prius as much as possible, My MiniVan only gets 18mpg

Prius 625 miles a tank, ~$29 to fill tank, 115,000 miles…. $5,152 in gas for the last 5 years= $1,025 a year!

 

It's about capacity. When ammo was plentiful, peoplenwould only buy 1-2 boxes at a time. Now that it's hard to get, people buy all that can find! Same goes with primers. On top of this, we have millions of new shooters and tons of new reloaders.

Sure, they could build new plants to increase capacity, but what happened after Trump got elected? People stopped panicking, and STOPPED buying. They simply started shooting up what they already had and didn't buy anything. There was a supply glut and prices dropped to super cheap as there was more supply than demand.

If someone builds a new plant, they are taking a huge chance. They may either end up with a plant they don't need or the Democrats might find a way to throw a branch into their spokes right after they make their huge investment... screwing the entire business over.

This being said, the manufacturers are surely making record profits. They COULD build other plants. But if the dems are smart, they would encourage them to do so, then open the door to foreign ammo again. This could put them under, especially if we go Republican again and people stop panic buying.

 

I don’t underestimate the effects of a shadow market either. Online price gouging and organized buying by shadow resellers, nearly all operating illegally but somehow left alone by the agency charged with enforcement, decimated supply and drove demand - but not by end consumers, by likewise shadow resellers. Can’t ignore the influence that initial spurt of activity has had.

 

We haven't reached the point of gas lines, yet. And unless one lives near places to buy food and supplies it's kind of hard to stop driving. The issue with primers is partially the price and partially the fact you just can't buy them. I have to drive 50 miles to find a brick and mortar place that sells primers and you just can't find them online except for the odd name brands for 14 cents each before shipping and hazmat fees. If they didn't have gas to sell, one would have to quit driving. That's closer to the current primer situation.

 

Primers have been available through this entire 18 months, or so, on the secondary market. An unwillingness to pay the asking prices doesn't mean there is a shortage.

 

10mm 180gn JHP was selling for $27/50 yesterday. with the lack of affordable brass and components, I seriously might go buy some.

 

Yes and no. Yes, primers have been available if you were willing to pay the price. But there is a shortage of the product, which is what has made the prices so high.