Are there any new primers being made?????

[teddy12b]

I went onto the local gun shop today and was flabbergasted to see that Black Hills 75gr .223 ammo was $77.00 a box.  I have dealt wth the owner exclusively for over 12 years and I had to practically beg him to sell me a box (1k) of small rifle primer for the "old" price of $46.00!  The problem is that I live in Hawaii andeven if I could find supplies on the "mainland" the shipping is outrageous.  Well, live and learn...

Wow, that's aweful!  If it wasn't for the warm sun and sandy beachs I'd feel very sorry for you, instead I just feel kinda sorry for you.   What is there to hunt on Hawii?  I can't imagine that there are many shooting ranges or do you guys just let something float out into the ocean a ways and start shooting?

[gypsyman]

Being in the firearm industry, this is my understanding. Reason that primers and powder are in short supply, easy. Profit. It's not the reloaders that are hoarding, it's the casual shooter. The guy that normally only shoots 300 to say 500 rounds a year, goes into the local Walmart, Dick's Sporting goods, Bass Pro Shop,Gander Mtn., whatever, buys a 2 year supply of ammo. I've heard several story's in the last couple month's, of one guy going up with a shopping cart and emptying the ammo shelf of a particular caliber. Now, if your name is Remington,Winchester,Federal, and your making 40 or 50% on your ammo, and 20 or 25% on your components, and you can't keep up with the demand for your ammo, what would you do. Make ammo. More profit. One of the larger ammo dealers I know at the gun shows, was telling me, was a usual 2 month order, was lasting him 2 or 3 shows. Will the demand drop, ya, couple month's from now. Seen this happen in '94 when slick willie was in office. The guys I will not feel sorry for, are the ones paying $50/1000, now. And those were old white box Winchester primers, that were 4 or 5 years old, and originally sold for around $20/1000.  Seen that today at the gun show I'm set up at. Middle of summer, when the price drops back to $30 or less, lot of unhappy reloaders that will have overspent.  gypsyman

[troy_mclure]

at my local members only shooting range(where i have been getting my primers/powder) a non member came in and offered to buy all the powder primers. he also wanted a discount, lol.
when he was told he had to be a member to buy, and that it was $225 a year, he got angry.
he said it would cut into his profits too much. then he says he sells the stuff on the internet.

while he was ranting on how they HAD to sell him the stuff, otherwise it was racist, i bought 1 of the last 2 boxes of win large rifle magnum primers.

i hung around to listen to his rant. quite entertaining.

[45-70.gov]

any  item  is  worth  every penny  that some one else  is willing to pay  for  it

and  often  more


maybe  we should  replace  the gowging  laws  with rationing

at  least  until  we can replace it with socialism

[ButlerFord45]

at my local members only shooting range(where i have been getting my primers/powder) a non member came in and offered to buy all the powder primers. he also wanted a discount, lol.
when he was told he had to be a member to buy, and that it was $225 a year, he got angry.
he said it would cut into his profits too much. then he says he sells the stuff on the internet.

while he was ranting on how they HAD to sell him the stuff, otherwise it was racist, i bought 1 of the last 2 boxes of win large rifle magnum primers.

i hung around to listen to his rant. quite entertaining.

This is priceless. Thanks for shareing.  I have a feeling that in the next few months you'll see/hear a lot more of this.

[Ladobe]

I told before in this thread how I planned ahead and so have not been caught short during these shortages for decades.   Call it ironic I guess though that I planned ahead so far that I am buried in supplies that I no longer use now that my health went south for keeps.   After I get moved to the Elephant Bone Yard this week and settled I'll be selling a bunch of bullets and brass, etc in the classifieds (no presales, so don't ask), but it's just too much trouble and expense to deal with the Hazmat fees to sell the powder and primers.   I probably have several thousand primers and 40 plus pounds of powder (3/4 of it unopened) that I'll never use.    But they ought to make one big smoke cloud when my son and I take them out on the dry lake bed to touch them off one of these days. 

[45-70.gov]

I told before in this thread how I planned ahead and so have not been caught short during these shortages for decades.   Call it ironic I guess though that I planned ahead so far that I am buried in supplies that I no longer use now that my health went south for keeps.   After I get moved to the Elephant Bone Yard this week and settled I'll be selling a bunch of bullets and brass, etc in the classifieds (no presales, so don't ask), but it's just too much trouble and expense to deal with the Hazmat fees to sell the powder and primers.   I probably have several thousand primers and 40 plus pounds of powder (3/4 of it unopened) that I'll never use.    But they ought to make one big smoke cloud when my son and I take them out on the dry lake bed to touch them off one of these days. 

where  you located??

might be woth  the drive for someone.....

i  heard  you might get $80  rather  than  some one  run out
but  then  some one  here  on another thread  would  beat  you for that

[Skunk]

Where you located??

My guess is that Ladobe lives somewhere within The Mojave Desert. Note the Red outlined area in the picture below. But like I said, I'm just guessing.

[Ladobe]

Skunk must have some Native American blood in him, or like me knows a little about their interesting languages.   

I'm in Las Vegas, but save your gas money.

[Skunk]

Skunk must have some Native American blood in him, or like me knows a little about their interesting languages. 

Ladobe, no Native blood here, but my wife has Cherokee ancestors. The location on your profile was what lead me to that guess.

[ButlerFord45]

See, I told you this topic belonged here!   Nothing to do with the thread, I just wanted to make the 100th reply.     If you check, this is the most responded to thread in the Hand Loading for Rifles and Handguns forum and it is also currently the 11th most viewed thread in this forum.   
This is proof positive there are too few components available.  These folks just don't have enough to do.

[chucky52]

As soon as all the reloaders have 250k of everything they want and the ammo hoarders have all they want the bottom will drop out of the market and I'm buying.

[Cheesehead]

As soon as all the reloaders have 250k of everything they want and the ammo hoarders have all they want the bottom will drop out of the market and I'm buying.

+1

[troy_mclure]

thats why im not paying $50+ for small pistol primers, even tho i have  NONE!

[Sweetwater]

+1

Ladobe- I will be going through Las Vegas either May 3rd or 4th, if any small pistol primers might be available.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[LaOtto222]

After all these responses - there is still no answer "are there any new primers being made". Well of course there are new primers being made - there is your answer. So why all of this? Why they are in short supply? Lots of speculation and lots of teeth gnashing, but no answer just speculation. It is simply a supply and demand economics issue for Pete's sake. The government is not going to step in and say there is price gouging like they did for generators after Catrina or investigate high gasoline prices last summer. They take delight in the fact people pay $50+ for primers and they are difficult to get. Heck the higher the price the better as far as the liberals are concerned and as far as not being able to get any, they take more delight in. Their attitude - Let those idiots pay high prices. Not much about reloading going on here.

[res45]

I wrote CCI last week here the email I received.

We've seen unprecedented demand for certain calibers of ammunition and
the primers that charge them over the past several years. We've added
capacity to meet the increasing demand and are fulfilling backorders.

 
Linda Olin
CCI/Speer Technical Services
2299 Snake River Ave.
Lewiston, ID 83501

Some other info

Associated Press - April 2, 2009 2:34 PM ET

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) - Ammunition maker ATK Armament Systems in northern Idaho says it is rehiring at least some of the 70 to 80 employees it laid off in January.

Spokeswoman Amanda Covington is declining to say how many will be rehired but that the company, part of Minneapolis-based ATK, is reaching out to former employees who are already trained.

The plant is the Lewiston area's third-largest manufacturing employer with about 850 workers.

Shooting enthusiasts say concern the Obama administration could impose a new ban on some semiautomatic weapons is driving worried gun owners to stockpile ammunition and cartridge reloading components at such a rate that manufacturers can't meet demand.

 

[gypsyman]

Stopped by the local Walmart store today, havn't been back in the sporting goods dept. for a month or so. Looked in their ammo case. Had less than 10 box's of ammo. Rifle only. And a guy next to me asked the clerk to unlock the case, as he wanted to buy the last 2 box's of .243. That left 3 box's of 22-250, and some .300Win Mag. It'll slow down shortly.  gypsyman

[SHOOTALL]

The big reloading store here says it will be 12 to 18 mos. before primers come back .

[Ladobe]

+1

Ladobe- I will be going through Las Vegas either May 3rd or 4th, if any small pistol primers might be available.

Regards,
Sweetwater

My plan when I have time to mess with it is to load up all the primers, powder, brass and bullets (maybe the reloading equipment and several firearms) and make a run out to the gun club I used to belong to on a day when they have several matches scheduled.  Easiest way for me to get rid of a lot of it and be done with it.   

Sorry, but that's the closest thing to a FTF I do now days since I no longer invite folks from the Internet to my home.   I've also learned it seldom works to hook up with somebody passing through.  One in ten actually show up.

[Lloyd Smale]

I think if a gun dealer tried to rip me off for 77 bucks for a box of .223s id wait in a dark alley for him to get off of work!!!!

I went onto the local gun shop today and was flabbergasted to see that Black Hills 75gr .223 ammo was $77.00 a box.  I have dealt wth the owner exclusively for over 12 years and I had to practically beg him to sell me a box (1k) of small rifle primer for the "old" price of $46.00!  The problem is that I live in Hawaii andeven if I could find supplies on the "mainland" the shipping is outrageous.  Well, live and learn...

Wow, that's aweful!  If it wasn't for the warm sun and sandy beachs I'd feel very sorry for you, instead I just feel kinda sorry for you.   What is there to hunt on Hawii?  I can't imagine that there are many shooting ranges or do you guys just let something float out into the ocean a ways and start shooting?

[Sweetwater]

Still no new primers showing up in North Idaho, just a little powder and this and that.

Ladobe- I totally understand, and timing would be difficult on the trip we are taking. Thanks for the reply.

Guess my saving grace will be that I left all my small pistol and lots of large rifle at my Dad's when I left there over 4 years ago. I thought he would use them, but he hasn't fired a round since I moved North.
Next week, I will be bringing them and the rest of his gun-stuff back to North Idaho. "tis a sad day....

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Steve P]

RES is correct and has the up to date info.  One of the unfortunate things is that ATK can hire folks back, but has to do their background checks and get the licensing up to date.  Yep, every one of the employees that are involved in operations has to have an FFL fabrication license. 

Contacts in one of my other circles tell me that the primers are going to the distributors and the distributors are dispensing as they (the distributor) sees fit.  I have heard a gun club in the area by-passed their normal channel, went up a level or two, ordered primers directly from the distributor (excess of 150k primers) and the truck is on the way. 

Heard from several other sources that the little guy (you and I) will not have a chance at getting primers until the volume sales slow down.  If the distributor can sell primers by the 5K sleeve and 50k case, he is going to save on shipping and handling costs, thus more profit, without having to raise the price.

Best bets on powder and primers right now are to get involved with your local gun club and buy similar items in bulk.  8lb kegs of powder and full sleeves (5,000) of primers.

Good luck out there.  Stay safe, and let the gouging SOBs drown in their overpriced merchandise.

Steve

[ButlerFord45]

Ok, if they are being shipped to their major distributers, who are these distributers if not MidSouth, Midway, Grafs, Weidners, Gamaliel, CC, Natchez, Gander and Cabelas?  My local guy that has been able to get a few here and there is now down to 5000 209's and I'll pick them up tomorrow.  He's been able to get a little more powder and a few bullets as well.  When I talked to him today, he said that he had 200 357 SSP bullets.  I'm glad to see them!  They are sorely needed for the new-to-me 357 Max. 

Is anyone finding any components to be any more available??


BF

[teddy12b]

Is anyone finding any components to be any more available??

It's hit and miss for me.  I can find 209 primers all day long without a problem, but finding the powder I want to use is an uphill battle.  I usually buy all my bullets from MidwayUSA.  I got lucky the other day and found some bulk packs of 22lr.  I thought I hit the jackpot. 

[bajabill]

I finally found small rifle primers for my 357 max.  Its a single shot so I dont shoot too many rounds a year, my first 100 lasted about 3 years.   It has been over a month since I ran out and wanted to load some more ammo for this gun.  I just stopped in my reloading store without calling first (gave up on that a few weeks ago) and could not find any primers on the shelf. I heard them talking to another customer about being able to get him a couple hundred primers.  So, I asked, and they said they dont keep them on the shelf anymore, in the back room, and are limiting sales to about 200. 

Being true to my word ---  I asked for 100,

and was very appreciative of their policy.  Many semi happy customers is better than one happy hoarder and a bunch of unhappy potential customers - in my opinion.

[ButlerFord45]

Bill, I think one mans hoarder may be anothers "I'm going to have to change my shooting habits".  I'm not a heavy shooter but when things are going well, 5000 209's won't last 5 months.

[MrJames680]

Shields in Reno, NV got a large shipment of primers and powder. They are limiting purchases to 2000 (twothousand) primers per customer. As a new reloader its been fusterating to only load about 100rds (all I could afford at the time) and then have to sit and wait for someting that may or may not be available soon. Grrr.    I have yet to check cabelas. The clerk told me that he had heard of other gunshops finnaly getting their orders filled and shipped. When I get back home to the SF Bay Area I will have to check to see if hopefully some stores are getting their stock...

Yay! 

[sr sawyer]

At a gun show in South MS this past weekend the only dealer I found with rifle and pistol primers had them marked $75.00 M.  Another dealer had several powders at about $22.00 lb, which I think is about right,  just none that I needed

Luckily for me I have replaced my supplies before I use them up and have no real shortage at this time.  One thing is certain though, those dealers charging these heavy handed prices better make their money now,  because they will see no more of my money and I'll bet there are a lot more that feel the same way   

[45-70.gov]

At a gun show in South MS this past weekend the only dealer I found with rifle and pistol primers had them marked $75.00 M.  Another dealer had several powders at about $22.00 lb, which I think is about right,  just none that I needed

Luckily for me I have replaced my supplies before I use them up and have no real shortage at this time.  One thing is certain though, those dealers charging these heavy handed prices better make their money now,  because they will see no more of my money and I'll bet there are a lot more that feel the same way   

SO................the  people  that are out  of primers..........what have they got  to offer you in the way  of primers?