Primer Shortage

[AVP]

I noticed a month or two ago that the price of primers seemed to be suddenly going up. Now high prices are being replaced with "Out of Stock" flags. I know there's a war going on, but what's new, it's been going for roughly 4 years.

Ever since the last great primer shortage 15 or or so years ago I've maintained a good inventory of them, so I won't be hurting anytime soon, but I'm curious about what's happening.

 

[Eric F]

I have not noticed anything out of the ordinary my 3 or 4 local supply shops have plenty on the shelf

 

[The Bushmaster]

Other then the price going up...I have not had any problem getting primers. I just today bought 1,000 WLR and 1,000 WSP...There as no shortage of primers in the store either...

 

[ReloaderFred]

The prices are going up due to world markets for metals, plus the increased costs of transportation, not only of the finished product, but for everything involved in making them. There is going to be another increase the first of the year, which was announced last month in the trade magazines.

Hope this helps (at least to understand).

Fred

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Around here(Utah) avalibility has been horrible for about a year, now supply is slowly trickling in, but pricing is up 60% or more.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I think that the spot shortages of primers, brass, and bullets are due to people stocking up in anticipation of yet another price increase due to metal and energy prices.

 

[evan price]

Lately primers have been in short supply, the local shops get in a sleeve of 5K infrequently. Just bought some Win SP and paid $25.90/thousand for them and said they will be going up on next shipment to $29.99/thousand.
The other shop is currently pricing them at $36.99/thousand.

 

[bobaloo]

Here in Oregon it's been bad for 6-8 months. I normally pick up sleeves of 5,000 at gunshows for a good price from large dealers. The last few shows those same dealers, who normally have 50-100 5K sleeves for sale, have had ZERO. Even picking up single 1K packs at Bimart has been hit or miss, they tell me when they do get them in they're gone right away, and the price has gone from around $17 to $26-27.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I've been buying a brick of CCI small pistol at every gun show around here, about 5 per year. At the most recent show, nobody had CCI small pistol, so I bought 2 bricks of Winchester small pistol. My stockpile of small pistol primers is now at 5000. We're having another show in mid January, I'll buy yet another brick. If there is going to be a primer shortage, I'll be set for a long time. I only reload pistol rounds. By the way, I paid $21.95/1000 for the Winchester SP's.

When my supply of primers dips below 2000, I get nervous, time to buy more.

 

[JCT]

I was told by a local store owner that the Military recently contracted Federal for some odd Billion dollar deal. This store had a backorder going for a few months then the federal sales rep said they'll be unavailable indefinitely.
I think that's true, since most store and online shops are out of federal primers and have no back order going.
Luckily I got the last two cases recently, which should last awhile.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

I was at Cabelas in St. Louis tonight, 4 boxes of primers one the shelf, I was hoping to pick some up, since there is no one in my town that sells them, and I was near by, but not this time i guess.

 

[bigbird1]

I was in sportsman warehouse and they have all you could ever want, every brand, but not cheap, around 27-36 per thousand.

 

[RustyFN]

I buy all of my primers online. I just have to keep an eye on the sites I buy them from and they aren't to hard to get. Primers are to expensive to buy local.
Rusty

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

price has gone up 3-4 dollars in the past year, but no shortages whatsoever

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Where are you looking, or how much are primers in your area? Any i find online + shipping and hazmat fee cost more than it costs me to drive 60 miles and buy them for.

 

[RustyFN]

Where are you looking, or how much are primers in your area? Any i find online + shipping and hazmat fee cost more than it costs me to drive 60 miles and buy them for.

I buy primers from Grafs for $80 per 5,000 and Powder Valley $90 per 5,000. That comes out to $16 and $18 per thousand. I can buy 50,000 primers for $820 from Grafs. To buy 50,000 primers local at $29 per thousand I'm looking at about $1,400. I would say a $600 savings is well worth the $20 hazmat.
Rusty

 

[AirplaneDoc]

RustyFN

The savings is most certinly worth the shipping and hazmat fee, But I had not been able to find them for much less $20/k, at that point I can drive 60 miles and get them for $22/k and not pay extras. Thanks for the info I will check at those places.

 

[evan price]

I can find Wolf primers for $17/thousand. Win are $98/5K. But that's plus shipping and HAZ-MAT.

 

[strat81]

At the gun show this weekend, the reloading guy had plenty of primers. I picked up 2K Winchester Large Pistol for $20.43 ea plus tax.

 

[K3]

I buy primers from Grafs for $80 per 5,000 and Powder Valley $90 per 5,000. That comes out to $16 and $18 per thousand. I can buy 50,000 primers for $820 from Grafs. To buy 50,000 primers local at $29 per thousand I'm looking at about $1,400. I would say a $600 savings is well worth the $20 hazmat.
Rusty

How do you get that price from Graf's?

Their website lists them for a bit more. I see $125 for 5K small rifle primers, same or more for large rifle.

 

[Walkalong]

I have been through a real primer shortage. This is just an inconvenience. They are out there. Just have to look. They will be back in full force in time, although I wish I had bought more than the 6000 that I did recently.

 

[SSN Vet]

well, when I origonally read this thread, I thought you we're either nuts or lived in east Booneyville...

But the Kittery Trading Post (usually very well stocked) has been out of Winchester Large Rifle primers the last two times I've been in. When I asked the guy behind the counter, he said they've had trouble getting several items and were actually out of all brands of large pistol primers for 3 months!!

 

[BeJaRa]

I thought $27 I paid for 1000 Win Large rifle mag primers was bad until I went to order 1000 Plated .452 bullets from Berry's and saw a $39 lead sur-charge!!

 

[RustyFN]

How do you get that price from Graf's?

Their website lists them for a bit more. I see $125 for 5K small rifle primers, same or more for large rifle.

I buy Magteck and Wolf primers. I don't see the need to pay more for Win, Fed, CCI when Mag and Wolf work just as good. I also get a discount because I have a C&R lisence. They will also give an extra 5% off when you spend over $500. The C&R lisence cost $30 and I saved at least that on my first order. I will go in with some friends and we will order 50,000 primers at a time. That is the max for one hazmat fee. We will order powder the same way. When you split the hazmat and shipping between a few people it doesn't add much. Here is an example I coppied and pasted from Grafs web site.
Rusty


WIN PRIMER SMALL PISTOL #1-1/2 108 1000/BOX
Item Number: WINWSPB · Availability: In stock
Add to Cart Price: $20.99

WIN PRIMER SML PISTOL MAG #1-1/2M 108 5000/CS
Item Number: WINWSPM · Availability: In stock
Add to Cart Price: $97.99

WIN PRIMER SML PISTOL MAG #1-1/2M 108 1000/BOX
Item Number: WINWSPMB · Availability: In stock
Add to Cart Price: $20.99

WOLF PRIMER SMALL PISTOL (BOXER) 1000/bx
Item Number: WONCSPB · Availability: Out of stock
Add to Cart Price: $16.99

WOLF PRIMER SMALL PISTOL (BOXER) 5000/cs
Item Number: WONCSP · Availability: Out of stock
Add to Cart Price: $80.59

WOLF PRIMER SMALL PISTOL MAGNUM (BOXER) 1000/bx
Item Number: WONCSPMB · Availability: Out of stock
Add to Cart Price: $17.59

WOLF PRIMER SMALL PISTOL MAGNUM (BOXER) 5000/cs
Item Number: WONCSPM · Availability: Less than 5 in stock
Add to Cart Price: $83.59