Recomend a good place to buy primers

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sturmruger

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I finally spent all the money I need to start realoading. I have found places to buy bullets, cases and powder. I am still not satisfied with the places I can buy primers. My local SW has Win small pistol primers for $19.99 per thousand, but I really can't seem to do much better then that. I did notice that Dillon has 5K Remington Primers for $80, but then there is a $20 hazmat fee!!:banghead:

Right now it looks like I am just going to have to see if a few buddies want to go in and buy a bunch of primers.
 
Right now it looks like I am just going to have to see if a few buddies want to go in and buy a bunch of primers.

That's the better way to do it. Buy in bulk and split haz mat and shipping among several people. Some places will ship powder and primers together which is even more savings. Try www.powdervalleyinc.com for a start; you might be able to get everything in one place.
 
+1 for powder valley. I could by 5K and pay the hazmat fee and still be ahead of some local prices and at least match the best local prices.
 
We gun people are an odd lot,eh?

hundreds for a gun,even thousands..

but PENNIES savings on primers??? :evil: :D



Yea,I do it too.!!:D

If all I was after was primers I'd skip the gun show idea,the entry and parking fees do add into the cost.Luckily my local wal mart has them at a reasonable price.
 
A 1000 primers is 1000 rounds of ammo. I buy mine at the local Gun stores and don't begrudge them the $2 they make on it. The major expense in reloading is the bullet and with rifles and monster magnums the powder can start to add up but a $2 to $4 per 1K rounds on primers isn't much savings.
 
Small savings

Steve C has it right, IMHO--Let the local gun store make a couple of bucks on you for primers. Primers are cheap even so. Buy 'em local and forget the HazMat fee.

That is--IF you have a gun store near you that you like supporting. IF. :)
 
Wal-mart with primers? Wow.

I get components either from the Trap & Skeet Club which will order anything for members that their distributor handles, even if not for shotshells; or from the commercial reloader 40 miles down the road.
The only store nearby that handled components has closed due to the disability or death of the owner.
 
One more for gun shows

I have got some great deals on components at gun shows, but make sure to know what you are looking at and what it is really worth. I picked up a set of RCBS 45 ACP dies (new in box) for $20 last show I went to. Sure, they were about 15 years old, but brand new just the same. I also picked up 1K winchester large rifle primers for about $15.
If you are going to go the gun show route, do yourself a favor and see how much you can get the components you want (or anything else, for that matter) by making a phone call to one of the big places (midway, cabelas, bass pro, etc), and then take it from there. I'm always amazed at folks that want to charge 1.5 - 3x the sale price for something I can get cheeper online. Call me tight if you want (truth is, my wife and I took the Dave Ramsey course on Financial peace, and I don't pay retail for much any more), but if I don't save at least the same amount of money I paid to get into the gunshow on my purchases (combined on little stuff, more on larger things), I don't buy it. I don't mind paying to get in, but I expect to get a deal. Needless to say, even though I love shooting my TC Contender, and there are about half a dozen more barrels I would like to have for it, I'm not going to pay $300+ for a used barrel that I can buy brand new (even custom made) for about $250.

D
 
If all I was after was primers I'd skip the gun show idea,the entry and parking fees do add into the cost.Luckily my local wal mart has them at a reasonable price.
I wish our local WalMarts carried primers.

The last few gun shows have not had real good prices on reloading components. Small shows and not a lot of competition I guess.
 
Support the local shop

For the few extra bucks it costs me I prefer to get powder and primers locally. I want the guy to stay in business in case I need something right away. Plus he's a helpful guy at times.
 
A 1000 primers is 1000 rounds of ammo. I buy mine at the local Gun stores and don't begrudge them the $2 they make on it. The major expense in reloading is the bullet and with rifles and monster magnums the powder can start to add up but a $2 to $4 per 1K rounds on primers isn't much savings.

For the few extra bucks it costs me I prefer to get powder and primers locally. I want the guy to stay in business in case I need something right away. Plus he's a helpful guy at times.
__________________

Ditto. Primers are cheap by comparison. Buy from a local dealer or a gun show vendor who is consistently there.
 
A 1000 primers is 1000 rounds of ammo. I buy mine at the local Gun stores and don't begrudge them the $2 they make on it. The major expense in reloading is the bullet and with rifles and monster magnums the powder can start to add up but a $2 to $4 per 1K rounds on primers isn't much savings.

A noble idea, on the face of it. Last time I did that I bought a Sig 220. Some savings.:banghead:

(I did get a good deal on the Sig)

Hmmmmm.. I have been meaning to try a pound of IMR. Maybe it's time for another trip.

In addition to Powder Valley, you might try Wideners.com
 
Trouble is the service and hassle. My favorite local shops don't sell primers. The ones that do are a hassle. Either way to far away or poor service. I was going to be 4K yesterday, but after waiting about 20minutes I gave up. Powder Valley it is then...
 
I bought some primers today, from that commercial reloader. I got the last 4000 Federal Small Pistol he had. He said that Federal has told distributors that there will be no more until after the first of the year (how long after not stated) and that they will then be at a 14% higher price.
I also got 2000 Winchester SP which was a good part of what he had of those.

A war with only one government arsenal producing is putting a pinch on supplies. That and the Communist Chinese and (Hindu) Indians arming rapidly.
 
With Wideners only 25 miles away life is good. Guess where I will be spending my tax refund check again this year. :neener:
 
Gunshows in MN are hit and miss with primers Wolf's Den out of Hugo has decent prices and there is MWCA show this weekend. I get my stuff from www.gunstop.com (they do not ship haz mat stuff) as he is local to me. The last sleeve of 5K Fed 150 was 100 plus the share for the governor and his powder prices are better then PV before you factor shipping and HM charges.
 
I'd like to support my local gunshops (4 in the city & county) but none carry reloading supplies. Bass Pro just opened up. I picked up a box of a thousand today for $25.

I'll be sniffing around online but with the hazmat fee and shipping, it would have to be a heck of a deal to be worth it.

Jim
 
Gun Show.

I'm going to the National Gun Day show this weekend in Louisville. I can usually pick up primers for $16/1000 or so. Not to mention nearly every kind of powder made is usually available and cheaper than most online retailers before shipping or hazmat. I'd support a local retailer, but none offer good service or their prices are insane. I'd have no problem paying just a couple more dollars to support them, but we have none worth supporting.
 
-1 on the gun shows around here. They never have any components at all. I buy from the local shops or from Powder Valley.
 
$2 to $4 per K isn't much.. until you are purchasing 40k. The last order I put together, we bought 60k primers. That's a difference of $120 to $240.

Of course we split this among 3 or 4 competition shooters who were buying primers for the year before the prices were going to climb, again..

As I recall, these were Federal primers. With double hazmat and shipping, it came out to $19.02/k. It was double hazmat because they had to be shipped as two boxes. Federal primer boxes are huge. We went through Wideners.

Vince
 
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