Who's paying $110 per thousand for primers?

[Targa]

I can tell you that my predictive, even common sense abilities can be….well let’s just say
procrastinating/lackadaisical, more of a buy things as I need them kind of guy. Now my wife and shooting buddy, she is the analytical planner who would constantly suggest that I stock up on at least a few years worth of supplies to stay in the business of not wanting on range days. As she put it, that’s why you got all of this reloading and casting stuff right?.
Well, I have a habit of listening to reasonable suggestions but implementing them is a whole different ball game and because of it, I recently started casting for 9mm because my $10 a box of manufactured stuff is dry and a year from now I will either limit our range days (wife says not an option) or pay whatever the new norm for primers is.
Yep, long story short is and no, it is not listen to the wife…that is ridiculous... personal accountability for your short comings, that’s it for me…

 

[packetloss]

I do. Primers won't stay at $110/1k or anywhere close to that.

Depends on what you mean by "stay". It's already been at that price for over a year and will likely stay that way for another. Hopefully then it will start to come back down. Back to $30 or below, we may never see that price again.

 

[1-cavediver]

I bought two bricks of Federal Match large pistol primers from the local Sportsmans Warehouse for less than $50 each including tax last Saturday. I got two bricks of CCI 500 small pistol primers for less than $40 each the week before. Sure, that’s more than what I paid a couple years ago but still a very fair price that I’m happy with.
Things are getting better.

 

[Walkalong]

And y’all think demand for ammo is going to hit rock bottom… when?

Not rock bottom anytime soon, but it will stabilize when people are spent out, sales will drop, and if it is a sudden steep drop deals will show up.

Be patient my friend, be patient, and add a touch of optimism.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Not rock bottom anytime soon, but it will stabilize when people are spent out, sales will drop, and if it is a sudden steep drop deals will show up.

Be patient my friend, be patient, and add a touch of optimism.

That's the problem, Walkalong. I AM an optimist.

My prediction/hope is that those 8.6 MILLION new, first-time, never-thought-about-owning-a-gun gun-owners stick with the sport, learn and become skilled and start doing something more than buy a box of ammo a year. If that kind of demand - last year's panic-buyers combined with this year's conviction-oriented buyers - holds at even 20-30% of current, we WILL see prices remain high because DEMAND will remain high and the numbers of anti-gun-voters will diminish significantly. If nothing else, the number of apathetic voters has and will continue to drop significantly.

I'm optimistic for the future; the present is a fleeting memory.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I bought two bricks of Federal Match large pistol primers from the local Sportsmans Warehouse for less than $50 each including tax last Saturday. I got two bricks of CCI 500 small pistol primers for less than $40 each the week before. Sure, that’s more than what I paid a couple years ago but still a very fair price that I’m happy with.
Things are getting better.

Your corner of Idaho appears to be recovering more quickly than other parts of the country. Good for you and keep bugging your locals to keep stocking reloading supplies even when prices drop and it is no longer profitable for them to do it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today or are you just normally this way? He wasn’t bragging or showing off, he just replied with his current status on the subject. Lighten up a bit.

No and no. A) As I pointed out, driving 800+ miles EACH WAY at $3+/gallon ends up being BIG $$$ more than buying from the worst of the internet rip-off artists. Ignoring the math and telling me about his travel exploits accomplishes... what? Nothing. Except maybe to point out that us working folks who aren't retired yet and can't take off a few weeks to drive around the country hunting primers at out-of-whack prices didn't plan good enough. Okay, maybe or maybe not. A little thing called cardiac arrest interfered with my reloading purchase plans. Bad planning on my part. Should have rescheduled dying for after the panic-buying. Oops. B) He could have dropped it at, "Well, there will be feast and famine - there always is, good luck." But No, then we get into Mr. SooperPlanner had the low-down thirty years ago - I wasn't even reloading then, took a hiatus to go back to college - and has more $20/K primers than can be counted. Nice. Sweet. Need more salt? I'm sure there are people posting to this thread about having to overpay or give up the sport who are eager to admire such wisdom.

A little empathy and manners don't hurt nobody. If being reminded you're acting like a jerk hurts, there's probably a reason why. Grumpy? Me? Nope. Just don't like being lectured at.

 

[Bill M.]

I will fess up. I just ordered 1000 for $110 delivered and was glad to get the opportunity.

I do have some primers still left from before the crisis. But am okay with dropping a few bucks extra to smooth the transition back into the times of better supply. Now I still will be looking constantly for primers but in a more relaxed fashion. I am old enough so that the long term is short term for me. I want it/need it now. Now if I can find another jug of Trail Boss I will be okay again. I thought I had another one back there but alas, I seem to be mistaken. I do not shoot an awful lot but have managed to stay at it for the last 2 years with what I had on hand and have found along the way. I was lucky enough to get orders through from Starline Brass and Bayou Bullets early in the crisis by ordering and waiting a long time. And I got 750 Berrys bullets from Midway a couple of weeks ago.

My locality, not many gun stores and only a few of them carry primers and then not much stock even in good times. I think the local fire marshall has a lot to do with that. We also have limits on how many primers we are allowed to have in a house, I think. Loading rifle, pistol, and shotgun it is hard to keep up with all the primers needed. I am sure I am over whatever the limit is most of the time.

 

[unwashed]

I'm guilty as charged, just bought 1k spp from midway and another 1k from brownells. Although I have enough to last me maybe 2 years I wanted to replace the NFT deal that fell through. Who knows, it seem we are all gonna die again from the delta variant, oh my god, the sky is falling . The scaredy cats and newbies may screw us again.

 

[bluejay75]

A store local to me has 200 plus cases listed on Gunbroker for 129.00-179.00 a brick but has not sold a single primer in the store front in well over a year. Some of this stuff is sickening to watch.

But the other side of me understands that the free markets is what makes America what it is.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Depends on what you mean by "stay". It's already been at that price for over a year and will likely stay that way for another. Hopefully then it will start to come back down. Back to $30 or below, we may never see that price again.

Not really. Primers can be had for $65 or less a lot more regularly. I can still get them for under $40 when they come in. I expect that trend to continue throughout the year, barring anything unexpected.

No one should be paying $110 for primers right now unless they're completely empty and can't shoot without them.

 

[Average Joe]

Nope, I'll just go out and improve my golf game until all this goes away.

 

[Ray P]

Just found & ordered CCI SMPP for 76.99 at Midway. Yes, with the one item per purchase limit, I wind up paying about $112 delivered. What I find funny is that I discovered the primers on Ammoseek, not by receiving any sort of product availability notice from Midway, which I had signed up for a month ago.

Edited to add: SnowBlaZer2, I bought a S&W Model 60 on base a few months back, and generally haven't found .357M ammo for it. I have range pick-up brass collected over the last few years, and a box of projos that were all alone on the LGS shelf, but no primers. This is the first time I've needed SMPPs

 

[ParallelCode]

Just found & ordered CCI SMPP for 76.99 at Midway. Yes, with the one item per purchase limit, I wind up paying about $112 delivered. What I find funny is that I discovered the primers on Ammoseek, not by receiving any sort of product availability notice from Midway, which I had signed up for a month ago.

For future reference, be aware that Brownells has typically allowed two boxes (2k total). It really helps offset the shipping/hazmat.

 

[mljdeckard]

I just paid $90. That will hold me for now, I can wait until things settle.

 

[CQB45ACP]

For future reference, be aware that Brownells has typically allowed two boxes (2k total). It really helps offset the shipping/hazmat.

If one is a Brownell’s “Edge” member (about $45/year, mine just expired) shipping is waived including I believe for components. You still pay hazmat though.

 

[packetloss]

Not really. Primers can be had for $65 or less a lot more regularly. I can still get them for under $40 when they come in. I expect that trend to continue throughout the year, barring anything unexpected.

No one should be paying $110 for primers right now unless they're completely empty and can't shoot without them.

I agree, I won't pay more than $50, but I have not been able to find any for less than GunBroker prices without resorting to extremely time consuming measures (discord, multiple trips to stores, etc.). So basically, most folks will not find primers for a reasonable price unless they get really lucky with their timing.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I agree, I won't pay more than $50, but I have not been able to find any for less than GunBroker prices without resorting to extremely time consuming measures (discord, multiple trips to stores, etc.). So basically, most folks will not find primers for a reasonable price unless they get really lucky with their timing.

It's an hour drive each way to Bass Pro and the nearest Academy Sports is 150 miles away. It's not likely i'm going to be checking often, especially since the retired geezers comb the area ever morning buying up whatever does come in. More power to them but, greed is ugly no matter your age.

 

[Bill M.]

Actually the primers were $75. Not that bad. $10 was because I live in Tennessee. First time I have ever paid the hazmat for just 1000 primers but that is cheaper than going to stores that do not have them anyway. And a phone call does not always get correct information. And the store most likely to have them is 80 miles away. I was buying some reloading stuff at Academy but they just did away with that section and put something they could get to sell in that section. The one store that actually carries primers was pricing them at $80 before the shortage hit.

Likely the longer you wait to buy the better off you will be price wise at least for a while. Merchants will try to hold on to the higher pricing as long as they can.

It is good that we have alternatives to choose from. And I like Midway and Brownell's.

 

[n2omike]

Looks like ammo is coming down. Just got this email advertising CCI Blazer brass case 9mm at $18.70/50 and $369/1000. Primer prices are sure to follow.
https://mailchi.mp/3f432ee3aa55/ammo-deals-available-at-true-shot-gun-club-1725788?e=c2f2157e2e
I have ZERO affiliation, and have no idea about shipping, etc. Proceed at your own risk.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Looks like ammo is coming down. Just got this email advertising CCI Blazer brass case 9mm at $18.70/50 and $369/1000. Primer prices are sure to follow.
https://mailchi.mp/3f432ee3aa55/ammo-deals-available-at-true-shot-gun-club-1725788?e=c2f2157e2e
I have ZERO affiliation, and have no idea about shipping, etc. Proceed at your own risk.

$19 for a $9 box of 9mm. Not bad!

My tinfoil hat slipped off for a second and I got a sudden realization that there may be a rope-a-dope at play. Politicians talking about outlawing "weapons of war" which they describe as any semi-auto chambered for 5.56x45mm/.223Rem or 9x19mm while the only ammo available after the plandemic is 5.56mmNATO/.223Rem and 9x19mm.

[slips hat back on] Then again, it's probably less coincidence and more just plain old market economics - demand creates supply and vice-versa - at work. Move along, nothing to see.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

I agree, I won't pay more than $50, but I have not been able to find any for less than GunBroker prices without resorting to extremely time consuming measures (discord, multiple trips to stores, etc.). So basically, most folks will not find primers for a reasonable price unless they get really lucky with their timing.

Everyone has to do what they need to do. I'll never tell anyone how to spend their own money.

But, we are definitely coming to a point where primers will be available for less than $110 for most people who need them.

 

[LiveLife]

I’m glad you’re so well stocked up - it keeps you out of the market ... I am wondering though, given how well stocked up you are, and you obviously have nearly perfect predictive abilities, why are you even concerned about the current price of primers?

I started reloading when I shot USPSA in the early 90s. I was told by other match shooters that I needed to reload to produce more accurate than factory ammunition at lower cost. They also told me to stock up enough supplies to last the shooting season and practice sessions (I was shooting 1000-4000+ rounds a month for practice).

Since then, I have seen several component shortages cycle and each time, I increased my supplies from 1-2 years to 3-5 years then to 5-7 years then to last my retirement (several times over).

Yes, I watched the market and bought A LOT during really good sales and Black Friday specials that peaked after the "Great Component Shortage" outlined in this archived thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...nts-available-not-a-discussion-thread.707473/

I am concerned about current price of primers because it allows us to price trend to see if cycle peak has reached and when the bottom of cycle has reached to alert members buy/stock up on primers. During my 30+ years of shooting/reloading, I have spent over $180,000 on shooting/reloading on 650,000+ pistol rounds alone. Believe me, if you shoot a lot, most of money spent will go to ammunition/reloading component cost and I am interested in saving members as much as possible. (BTW since Thanksgiving, wife and I had to liquidate our properties in anticipation of moving/caring for my aging parents and I had to liquidate over 90% of my shooting/reloading equipment and supplies. Much of my guns, ammunition, reloading equipment and component supplies including primers were "pay it forward" to neighbors, friends, family/relatives, ex-coworkers and their friends in need without charging them anything. So while I still have sufficient reloading supplies for now, I will be restocking primers in the future)

Then again, it's probably less coincidence and more just plain old market economics - demand creates supply and vice-versa - at work.

My predictive abilities come from having gone through previous component shortages and watching price trends. That's all.

We are simply seeing another component shortage cycle that has been aggravated by historic record setting number of firearms sold the past decade and in recent years. 100+ million new guns sold with many new gun owners put a demand on supply side of industry that has failed to catch up (Jake from RMR has anticipated this and worked to double his production capacity around the last shortage and found soon after he needed to have more than quadrupled production capacity).

Those fairly new members may not remember but due to cyclical nature of component shortages, Walkalong, I and many members reminded other members to stock up on supplies when we were at the bottom of the cycle on numerous threads. Here's one - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/what-to-stock-up-on.855885/page-2#post-11226344

"As to buying too much, don't worry.

Walkalong and many others will smile at this. When I was stocking up on Wolf primers for $14/1000, I thought perhaps I was buying too much. Fast forward to 2019 where primers are $28/1000 and I wish I had bought more. I stocked up on S&B and Winchester primers when they were around $20/1000 and looking back now, wish I had bought MORE!

I don't think we will be seeing $20/1000 primers anymore ... or $78/8 lbs of Promo ... So, stock up when prices are low and items in stock.

I have a feeling like 10-15 years from now, we'll be looking back when primers are $38/1000 and powders are $250/8 lbs and post that we should have bought more when primers were $28/1000 and Promo was $115/8 lbs at Powder Valley. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/what-to-stock-up-on.855885/#post-11225563"
​

I tell you, I didn't think we would be seeing $100-$150/1000 primer prices anytime soon but here we are.

But now's the time to be saving up money as looks like we have seen the cycle peak and prices are starting to come back down with more and more supplies returning back in stock. And as in previous component shortages, we will be urging members again to stock up when the cycle bottom looks to have reached as demonstrated by popular items in stock and readily available with manufacturers/vendors offering sales.

Be patient.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I started reloading when I shot USPSA in the early 90s. I was told by other match shooters that I needed to reload to produce more accurate than factory ammunition at lower cost. They also told me to stock up enough supplies to last the shooting season and practice sessions (I was shooting 1000-4000+ rounds a month for practice).

Since then, I have seen several component shortages cycle and each time, I increased my supplies from 1-2 years to 3-5 years then to 5-7 years then to last my retirement (several times over).

Yes, I watched the market and bought A LOT during really good sales and Black Friday specials that peaked after the "Great Component Shortage" outlined in this archived thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...nts-available-not-a-discussion-thread.707473/

I am concerned about current price of primers because it allows us to price trend to see if cycle peak has reached and when the bottom of cycle has reached to alert members buy/stock up on primers. During my 30+ years of shooting/reloading, I have spent over $180,000 on shooting/reloading on 650,000+ pistol rounds alone. Believe me, if you shoot a lot, most of money spent will go to ammunition/reloading component cost and I am interested in saving members as much as possible. (BTW since Thanksgiving, wife and I had to liquidate our properties in anticipation of moving/caring for my aging parents and I had to liquidate over 90% of my shooting/reloading equipment and supplies. Much of my guns, ammunition, reloading equipment and component supplies including primers were "pay it forward" to neighbors, friends, family/relatives, ex-coworkers and their friends in need without charging them anything. So while I still have sufficient reloading supplies for now, I will be restocking primers in the future)


My predictive abilities come from having gone through previous component shortages and watching price trends. That's all.

We are simply seeing another component shortage cycle that has been aggravated by historic record setting number of firearms sold the past decade and in recent years. 100+ million new guns sold with many new gun owners put a demand on supply side of industry that has failed to catch up (Jake from RMR has anticipated this and worked to double his production capacity around the last shortage and found soon after he needed to have more than quadrupled production capacity).

Those fairly new members may not remember but due to cyclical nature of component shortages, Walkalong, I and many members reminded other members to stock up on supplies when we were at the bottom of the cycle on numerous threads. Here's one - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/what-to-stock-up-on.855885/page-2#post-11226344

"As to buying too much, don't worry.

Walkalong and many others will smile at this. When I was stocking up on Wolf primers for $14/1000, I thought perhaps I was buying too much. Fast forward to 2019 where primers are $28/1000 and I wish I had bought more. I stocked up on S&B and Winchester primers when they were around $20/1000 and looking back now, wish I had bought MORE!

I don't think we will be seeing $20/1000 primers anymore ... or $78/8 lbs of Promo ... So, stock up when prices are low and items in stock.

I have a feeling like 10-15 years from now, we'll be looking back when primers are $38/1000 and powders are $250/8 lbs and post that we should have bought more when primers were $28/1000 and Promo was $115/8 lbs at Powder Valley. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/what-to-stock-up-on.855885/#post-11225563"
​

I tell you, I didn't think we would be seeing $100-$150/1000 primer prices anytime soon but here we are.

But now's the time to be saving up money as looks like we have seen the cycle peak and prices are starting to come back down with more and more supplies returning back in stock. And as in previous component shortages, we will be urging members again to stock up when the cycle bottom looks to have reaches as demonstrated by popular items in stock and readily available with manufacturers/vendors offering sales.

Be patient.

Moderator- @Walkalong- please edit this thread to delete dollar amounts. If my wife sees this she’ll kill me.

 

[LiveLife]

Moderator- @Walkalong- please edit this thread to delete dollar amounts. If my wife sees this she’ll kill me.

Then Walkalong would have to delete upwards of 100 posts ... I maintain transparency and "honesty" of my reloading and shooting practices so as to where I have conducted numerous "myth busting" and "real life/practical" threads where testing done were objective, factual, measurable and repeatable as much as possible. I let numbers and actual holes on target speak for themselves instead of my subjective speculations.