Primer shortage...

[mdi]

I've shared this before and maybe someone will understand and not get caught flat footed. For a couple reasons I've not been too affected by the "shortages". First, when I started reloading I was on a very tight budget and could just afford the minimal components. So, often when I was at any store that sold components, I'd buy a sleeve of primers, or one box of 22s. I'd stash a bit away and about every other month I'd buy one lb of powder (mostly Bullseye). Generic lead bullets were purchased the same, every other month at 250 bullets per box (smallest quantity I could afford). I kept this "method" all through my reloading and I still do this today. Also I grew up/lived in earthquake country so I was taught to stay prepared. A few of my employers even had "Earthquake Preparedness" training, info and even some supplies. I often pick up a bit of supplies and components when I go to Bi-Mart for something else, a brick here, a pound there, maybe a couple extra canned goods and TP. Maybe it was the way I was raised (parents went through the Depression) or just thinking ahead, but these simple methods keep me from running out during a panic trying to find components or household supplies (I even had plenty of TP when the unprepared bought everything on the shelf).

Not hoarding, not a "Prepper", not bragging, not preaching, just sharing my method. I can't remember buying the last item on the shelf during any panic, but leaving some for the next guy. I've been able to stand by and watch the run on components, food and TP, without worrying how it will affect my lifestyle...

Maybe I just remember "The Ant and the Grasshopper" fable from childhood...

 

[SQLGeek]

. Also I grew up/lived in earthquake country so I was taught to stay prepared.

As someone that grew up in CA and now live in Hurricane country, I know all too well about this! Buying a few cans of food every pay period is a lot less overhead than buying an entire stock up kit at one time. I had never really translated that over to reloading and shooting as it is usually cheaper to buy in bulk but I probably should have.

 

[Toprudder]

I have built up my stock slowly over the past few years. Basically, I would just buy twice as much as I used. When I emptied a jug of powder, I would buy two to replace it. Same for primers and bullets. So I now have enough components to last me several years, well into my retirement hopefully.

 

[mmb617]

I went to the LGS today to see if I could get some primers. I don't keep the kind of stockpile some of you do but I try to buy more when I crack open my last thousand. I was happy to see he had both small pistol and large pistol primers but only in magnum. I bought a brick of each so I'll find out whether there's really any difference between magnum and standard primers. I've read opinions saying to download with magnums while other say they are basically the same. I'm going to make up some test rounds and find out for myself as I've never used the magnum primers before.

 

[Walkalong]

After the 2008 shortage I started keeping a minimum of 3K of any kind of primer I used. After primer prices went way up I started buying in bulk when they were on sale, like the Wolf for $14 per 1K, and the $20 per 1K CCIs on stripes, and the $20 Per 1K S&B primers. I should have bought some of the Fiocchi primers when they were on sale.

 

[LiveLife]

I should have bought some of the Fiocchi primers when they were on sale.

Actually you were spared some grief by not getting Fiocchi primers.

I have found CCI/Magtech/PMC/Winchester/S&B SP primers to be comparable in size so priming even once-fired brass with tighter primer pockets is doable to slightly below flush but found Fiocchi SP primers to have slightly larger diameter cups so priming in once-fired or certain headstamp brass like S&B/RWS to be undoable, not even to flush.

I am also finding certain headstamp once-fired brass to have similar issues with S&B SP primers to seat flush yet cup will hang and not allow the anvil feet to contact the bottom of primer pocket for reliable ignition so reserving S&B SP primers for brass that have been reloaded several times.

If you have older brass that's been fired many times with enlarged primer pockets, Fiocchi/S&B primers could extend the usage life of these brass.

And particular lot # of Tula SP primers with harder cups that won't reliably ignite that may trickle into component market place? https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-your-experience.630512/page-6#post-9633734

I have found them to ignite reliably (so far) in small primer 45ACP brass (Sig/RIA/SA 1911, M&P45, PT145, JR Carbine) https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-your-experience.630512/page-5#post-7840156

 

[Big20]

Finishing up 500 rounds of 38 special. In that lot are my first test loads Using small rifle primers. I have 5000 rounds of 223 on hand so time to divert critical supplies.

 

[Toprudder]

If you have older brass that's been fired many times with enlarged primer pockets, Fiocchi/S&B primers could extend the usage life of these brass.

And particular lot # of Tula SP primers with harder cups that won't reliably ignite that may trickle into component market place? https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-your-experience.630512/page-6#post-9633734

I have found them to ignite reliably (so far) in small primer 45ACP brass (Sig/RIA/SA 1911, M&P45, PT145, JR Carbine) https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-your-experience.630512/page-5#post-7840156

Good information. I've got some Blazer small primer 45 that the pockets may be getting a little loose. I've got some of the Tula primers but have not tried them yet.

 

[TEKoken813]

I've definitely noticed. I'm gonna do a hard search this weekend in the Tampa Bay area.

 

[five.five-six]

I’m down to my last 5-7K of SPP, LPP, LRP and SRP. Only 2500 br2’s and only a thousand or so of each of the magnum varieties.

I was down to 2500 SPP a few weeks ago and found that most of the usual places were out but bought 5K from a local guy selling off extras.

 

[entropy]

I buy what I shoot a lot of by the 1000; Win. 209's, Large Pistol, and Small rifle. The LGS and nearby Fleet Farm usually have what I need, though Fleet Farm is more expensive.

 

[Texasgrillchef]

I called CCI and they say they are shipping 10,000 bricks of 1000 primers a day in each of the varieties. They are on 24/7 production and told me just to keep an eye out.

I did manage to get a couple of the Large rifle bricks from Cabela’s 2 weeks ago when they came in, but nothing since. I am keeping an eye out for them that’s for sure, I should have bought some back in January but I procrastinated.

 

[LiveLife]

I called CCI ... They are on 24/7 production and told me just to keep an eye out.

And just like that, we are in another "component shortage" cycle - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/where-are-there-reloading-components-on-sale.707473/

Members looking for reloading components, start saving your money each month so you can stock up when the supply side catches up to current demand level or during good sales like upcoming Black Friday sales.

Maybe things will ease up after the November election depending on who wins.