reloading again, but whats up with primers

[MikeC]

I haven't reloaded in quite a few years, but have started up again. I still have many of the components I need, but I noticed I am not able to find CCI primers (large Rifle & large pistol mag). Is CCI going out of business, or is this a back door gun control situation?

[Masterblaster1]

Supply and demand issue in my opinion. If you were cci you would put most of your primer production toward loaded ammo right now because all ammo is selling at an unbelievable pace. Primers can be had but you have to be at the right place at the right time. It just took me a year to get 2k of cci small pistol primers for my 9mm....

[LaOtto222]

Be at the right place at the right time - but do not be choosy right now. I have been at it for about a year and a half and now I feel that I am to a relaxing point on primers. I have been able to pick up 5K CCI small pistol primers, but have had to buy Wolf primers for some of my other stock. I just made sure I bought enough to develop loads with and still be able to shoot for a while afterward.  Gun powder can be hard to get off and on. Varget is one that seems hard to get and there is a new IMR powder - 8208 XBR that I would like to try, but is in short supply. Just have to pick up what you can, but in large enough quantities to make it worth while. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[necchi]

No back door stuff going on,,their just that busy,They make Mil Spec,,That's ammo for our service men and women,,
Switch brands,,they all usually work. I switched to Rem,,they cost a dollar more per K so nobody buy's em',,I'm happy cause I can get my brand of primer

[Darrell Davis]

CCI & Speer are both located about 45 minutes drive from where I live, and I hear of no slow downs.

The supply/demand issue is very slowly coming back to "normal".

I again saw cases (5000 rounds) of CCI .22 Blazers at one or our local retailers, and other then walking out with shopping carts full of ammo there was no current limit.

That is good, but there is still aways to go before the manufactures will be running surplus sales.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[MikeC]

Thanks everyone for the reply. After cleaning out and taking inventory, I found I have about 1500 CCI 200's so I will be able to get started. I bought these quite a while ago ... the price on the box was $8.45 for 1000. I am not sure if their age will be a problem.  The powder I have on hand is old as well (about 22 yrs). I have a couple pounds of Unique I used for shotgun reloads that are still in Hurcules cans as well as 2400 and Bullseye. I am thinking I should throw out all of the powder and re-stock.

[Darrell Davis]

Morn'n MikeC

Unless bad storage conditions took their toll, your powder and primers are probably good to go.

I have been using up some primers - large pistol standards - bought by a friend's father years ago.

Also about mid way on using up 6 or 8 lbs. of bullseye given to me in 1984.

The primers are Winchester and rather then flat on the surface where the firing pin strikes, they are slightly domed.  Enough so that the added depth prevents them from feeding through my progressive press priming system.

Once seated, the dome area flattens to look more like what we buy today.

Every one goes bang!

With the Bullseye, I used to load .38s at about 2.5 - 3grs. per load which figures out way over 2000 loads per pound.

Have recently started loading the .38s, .40S&W and 45acp with 5 grains which puts me down to about 1400 loads per lb.  Really going through it now. HA!

Anyway, I'd suggest a few test loads to make sure everything is OK, but I'd expect you are good to go.

If your powder has a funny or rusty color or a bad smell, it is probably to the place where it makes a good addition to your yard or garden.

Keep em Coming!

CDOC

[Steve P]

We just got a drop shipment of primers direct from CCI.  They were about 9 months from order to receipt.  We only got about half of what was requested.  They are trying to keep up, BUT, if they keep up with demand and everyone is hoarding, then in a couple years, there will be NO demand.   Keep checking the local mom and pop stores and keep them in business.  They will know you and will get you primers........eventually.

Steve

[Dances with Geoducks]

As fast as they come in, they go back out again

[rickt300]

I have been getting my primers at gunshows. I buy no less than a thousand at a time and I reload using all sizes. I am still looking for some small rifle magnum primers. I also bought some Magtech primers when times were really tough and got 2 misfires per 100. Good thing this never happened shooting at game.

[Oldshooter]

Lafayette Shooters supply in Lafayette La. will sell you all the cci you want at $44.00 a thousand. Thats out the door not shipped

[millwright]

     I purchased 1000 cci large pistol magnum primers today.  $44.80.  The price has doubled here in Maine in less than two years.  Talk about supply and demand.

[kctibs]

I haven't reloaded in quite a few years, but have started up again. I still have many of the components I need, but I noticed I am not able to find CCI primers (large Rifle & large pistol mag). Is CCI going out of business, or is this a back door gun control situation?

It all started with obama. Supply is getting somewhat better for now. But just until he brings up gun control or taxing componets. It will be a repeat of after the election.

[Darrell Davis]

I spoke to the counter man at the retailor I mentioned a few posts back, and he said they are still getting ammo in a "shopping cart at a time."

This shorage is not all the dreaded horder's fault, but partly the supply chain problem.

They also had a bunch of new guns in the show case, and the situation is pretty much the same for guns and ammo.

When things were hard to come buy, they kept ordering and now those backorders are slowly being filled.

At this point, incoming stock levels are way higher then retail sales, but they are afraid to cancel in coming orders as that puts them waaaaaaaaaay down the list to get product.

They still have products missing in their lineup, some of which they haven't seen in a long time, but slowly the products are showing up on the shelves.

One bad point to all this is, the small retailor is likely to really get hurt.  He sold and ordered everything he could get for awhile and now orders are coming in and sales are way off.

This could put some small shops out of business.

Bad for us!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[ezwider85]

hey ive got acouple questions about reloading a 45 colt for any one who has expirence with this round.i have a 1858 pietta .44 c&b converted by a kirst cylinder for .45 long colt cowboy rounds only due to the black powders barrle strangth. any ways i ordered a lee classic hand reloader for .45 colt havent got it yet but seen it on youtube and for 20$ it dont look to hard to use for small time reloading.since i need a lower velocity load and i already have some american pioneer powder i was going to use that instead of smokeless. so in doing so i was wondering would it make a differnce in the type of primer i use since its a black powder subsdatute? and should i use the same amount of powder i use in my cap&ball cylinder?and for my last question does that type of powder need to be pack tight in the cartridge in order to go off properly? if any one out there has any info one this id much apreciat it.

[dakotashooter2]

Must be a regional thing. around here CCI makes up about 90% of what is available unless you are looking for shotshell primers.