Are Small Pistol Primers a Thing of the Past?

[ScotZ]

I just used the last of my CCI SPP's and have been amazed how impossible it is to find these things. I never dreamed I would ever have problems finding primers. I am starting to believe we are our own worst enemy. I have to wonder how much of all these shortages are self inflicted.

 

[Landric]

I'm pretty sure its all self-inflicted.

Place a backorder and wait, it will be filled eventually. Once the situation calms down and primers and back to available at normal prices (yes, it might be a while), remember this and stock up.

I'm hoping that the shortage wraps up soon enough that I can never drop below 5000 of any kind I use in reserve.

 

[jimmertoons]

Heard an interesting take on the primer shortage. Since all of the domestic manufacturers are running full-tilt at ammo production, they are using almost all of the primer production for inhouse use. They can make between 3&-7% extra profit margin on ammo vs. componets. Comes down to an economic choice, maxamizing profits. I got this info from the supplier I have been using for several years, he from his CCI rep.

 

[angus6]

But the thing is you can go to another list and hear , my bothers MIL who heard from the mail man that so and so plant isn't runnig full tilt in fact just laid xx off , SO who really knows other then alot of it we are creating ourselfs

 

[ants]

If all primer production is going to commercial ammo, then why are the commercial ammo shelves empty?

The primers are scarce (like all other components) because we're all buying them 5000 and 10000 at a time, then keep them stockpiled in a closet for later.

It has happened before, and each time it all levels out after a while. Prices never seem to drop back down to previous levels, but it all smooths out and we're happy again. Sorta.

 

[loadedround]

When we shooters stop hoarding powder and primers, there will be enough around for all of us. I have watched shooters buy all the primers off the shelf at one time(10-12 bricks) and buy 2 or 3 8lb kegs of pistol powder. Where in H--L are they going to use those quantities unless they're loading for the 7th Cavalry. Come on guys just buy what you need and leave some for the rest of us. Many dealers in my area are rationing primers...one brick per person.

 

[Steve H]

Just my 2 cents. There are some of us that buy primers by the case and large quanitites of powder and bullets. BUT to me I don't hoard, I shoot 500+ rounds a week. That's not hoarding, it's enjoying the sport.

 

[Eric F]

I have always bought my primers by the case execpt for large rifle which I buy 500 at a time. I have likewise bought powder 10 pounds at a time for the discount. I buy powder every other year and primers every year, usually in early january. Did it this year and will likely do it again next year too.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

there's no sp's around this neck of the woods - I got a brick of spmags as I got caught short and they can be used.
I'll henceforth have a brick of each I load stashed back.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Boils down to this-

Heavy users upped their purchasing a little bit, moderate users also, but low volume users are currently buying like heavy users used to. Capitalism. Supply and demand. Period.

Want to scare yourself a bit?

FOOD is done on the exact same economic model, as was shown by the recent run on bulk grains. Same results, hard to find with stores limiting purchases when they had stock. Luckily that turned out to be a very short term situation.........

 

[Rembrandt]

....When we shooters stop hoarding powder and primers, there will be enough around for all of us. I have watched shooters buy all the primers off the shelf at one time(10-12 bricks) and buy 2 or 3 8lb kegs of pistol powder. Where in H--L are they going to use those quantities unless they're loading for the 7th Cavalry. Come on guys just buy what you need and leave some for the rest of us.

When someone who doesn't shoot in large quantities begins telling others how much they should have.....it borders on "Nanny State" mentality. Free market capitalism, supply and demand dictates who gets the supplies that are available. The next time there's a component shortage maybe those that came up short will prepare better for the volatility of the market.

 

[RustyFN]

loadedround:
When we shooters stop hoarding powder and primers, there will be enough around for all of us. I have watched shooters buy all the primers off the shelf at one time(10-12 bricks) and buy 2 or 3 8lb kegs of pistol powder. Where in H--L are they going to use those quantities unless they're loading for the 7th Cavalry.

Believe it or not I have some friends that will shoot 2,000 to 3,000 rounds per week. I'm sure there are others.
Rusty

 

[ScotZ]

Hoarding may or may not be a part of it. Are primer manufacturers running at 100%? The guy at my Bass Pro told me the same 5 or 6 guys are in there seven days a week buying everything they put on the shelves. He speculates that they are taking them to Gunshows and increasing the price. So basiclly they are interuptiing the flow of a finite product for proffit. It kind of made sense to me. Although I consider that morally wrong I can find no fault with the practice, given that this is a capitalist society. I am sure the market will correct itself. I have PLENTY of ammo. My father died recently and I inherited his considerable stash. The only thing that has been interupted is my way of replenishing my stock. I think it is time to look into entering the primer market on a mass scale. As someone said. Supply and demand.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll buy what I need to supply my shooting needs. If those who are crying got caught short, it's your fault. I have enough supplies to shoot my normal numbers for a while to come. (which may seem large to some but small to others)

If I had known how bad things were going to get I would have bought 100,000 primers before the prices went over $19/K. Luckily I bought a good supply but not because I thought there was going to be a shortage but because I wanted to get my supplies before the prices went too high.

 

[threefeathers]

I just picked up a brick at the Ft. Huachuca Sportsman's Center. I had to get Bencrest quality, but I got them.

 

[apachejack]

Around here I have noticed some guys who have the time to stand around the shooting shops and don't even reload are buying up the primers and waiting until the prices go up and selling them for large profits. It irritates me but what can I do? I have to work so I can't be there when they get a batch of them so maybe they will let go of them when things get better.

 

[armoredman]

I have to get bulk, because I have to order them. When you gotta pay the premium haz-mat freight, you might as well get plenty.

 

[pwrtool45]

begins telling others how much they should have.....it borders on "Nanny State" mentality.

No, it's nanny state mentality when they tell their Congressman to do the regulating. When they're just calling out a jerk for acting like a jerk and screwing it up for everybody else, they're simply engaging in their right to free speech.

Personally, I'm fine on SPs. Bought up enough to see me through a little while at my current rate of 3-4 matches per month. But I did so when purchasing a couple cases wasn't cleaning the place out. Y'know, back when availability wasn't an issue. Back in the heady days of ought seven and ought six. Back when we thought we had it bad because Federal 100s weren't always in stock like the other brands. Thinking ahead and all that.

However, while I'm set for .38 and .223, I just started shooting .45 ACP again. I suppose I should have planned ahead even more and bought up components for calibers I didn't even shoot much of, eh? I mean, taken to its logical conclusion, that's just ridiculous. Maybe I should stock up on premium .311" bullets in case I get the urge to build a bolt action 7.62x39 for F-class?

Point being, there are folks who "planned ahead" and are still getting burned by the dipsticks who're fueling the panic buying nonsense. And getting irritated about the mouth breathers who keep nonsense going isn't "nanny state" thinking. Calling my congressman and demanding he sponsor legislation that mandates rationing would be nanny state thinking. So far as I've seen, nobody's doing that. I'm certainly not doing that. However, I will, in all probability, engage in more than a little bit of schadenfraude when the bottom drops out and folks who bought primers to scalp end up taking massive losses on them.

 

[LightningMan]

This is the worst I've seen as far as finding primers are concerned. I consider myself to be a regular shooter. I shoot all spring, summer & fall doing the Cowboy action thing and in the winter shoot my auto pistols at the indoor range I belong to. For cowboy shooting I use 3500 to 4000+ primers a year and maybe 2000+ for my .45 acp & 9mm shooting at the indoor range. That doesn't include all the .22 rimfire ammo I shoot indoors too. At this current time I have on hand 22,000 pistol primers (majority of them small pistol primers), enough to last 3-4 years. If that makes me a hoarder, so be it, but those primers will get used. FWIW I didn't just suddenly start stocking up on primers, as many of my 1000 ct boxes have prices of $16 & $17 on them, but like most shooters I know, I like to replace what I use from time to time, so when times get tough like they are now, it makes it easier to weather the storm. LM

 

[Eaglecreekbrewer]

You can't find a primer other than 209's within 200 mile radius of here, and you haven't been able to for months. It's not that people are hording them, the dealer isn't getting them to horde. Several of the dealers in my area haven't seen a delivery in over two months. And keep in mind I live less than 80 miles from the CCI plant, so I am not sure it's a location issue. I have heard four different stories.
1. Your gov't is buying them all up. ATK claims that they have gov't contracts that need to be met. (I have my doubts about this one, as I find is questionable that gov't demand has suddenly spiked when this war has been going on for over six years)
2. They are keeping them for themselves for their factory ammunition(again, where is the factory ammunition?)
3. They are running full tilt and are filling orders as they can (again, where are they then? I talk with all my dealers about 10 of them, and none of them have seen a primer in months)
4. They are just not releasing them and increasing demand from their end. (I have my reservations about this also)

Take your pick, your guess is as good as anyone's. Two of the above came from ATK employee's I know, so who knows.
I do know this, when I find them, I am buying all I need for a long time to come. I get nervous at less than 2K of any type I use, but my daughter and I both shoot a lot and I really don't feel guilty about it. I am not going to change my buying habits because someone else thinks I use to much, sorry, buts that's the great thing about being free. All of my dealers have put limits on powder, 22's rimfires, and bullets in an attempt to keep other merchants and scalpers from draining their stock. If you are a regular, they will let you buy at will.
And frankly, I think it's ridiculous to expect to get into a new caliber at this time in the market and be upset that you can't get components, then condemn those that buy them as hoarders. Just sayin......

 

[threefeathers]

In actuality I think it is a number of factors.
1. Many people are getting into reloading, my son's, their friends, etc. This weekend one of our local gunstores sold 5 RCBS re-loading kits. Two weeks ago Cabelas sold a bunch of Lyman Kits. Multipy that nationwide.
2. Ammo is too expensive.
3. Folks who are out of work who got severence packages have time on their hands.
4. Trust in the Dems to leave shooters alone is nil, hence stockpiling.

 

[pwrtool45]

And frankly, I think it's ridiculous to expect to get into a new caliber at this time in the market and be upset that you can't get components, then condemn those that buy them as hoarders. Just sayin......

It is ridiculous to get into a new caliber right now. No doubt about that.

And folks who shoot 1k per year buying 3-4k of primers I can understand. I think it's flat silly to buy in bulk right now. It's the boom/bust thing. But I can at least understand it. People are concerned about a lot of things. A surge in demand in only natural.

But you're overlooking the folks who are buying every damn primer on the shelf at places like Gander Mountain and Cabellas and then selling them at gunshows. Look around. Look, especially, at places like arfcom or auctionarms. Heck, I just typed the word "primers" into the search box at auction arms and came up with this as the first hit. $70 starting bid for 1k of Remington SP magnums, not including hazmat/shipping/etc.

This is not uncommon and the people responsible are jackals. Yes, they're free to do this. I'm free to criticize them for it, and best of all, the dealers are free to not sell to them. What you describe (dealers rationing except to regulars who shoot a lot) is probably the ideal solution.

Personally, I'm content to just wait it out. This is just like the tagents powder scare and primer scare back in the 90s.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

if you have a couple bricks of large or small rifle id gladly swap you for some small pistol [email protected]

 

[ar10]

I've got plenty of SPP , SRP, and LRP's along with powder and cases and it has nothing to do with panic buying, hoarding or any other term people complain about. I started stocking up long before the current change of politics simply because I was going from employed to retired. I knew back then I wouldn't have the income I have now and I also wanted to keep shooting.

SPP is not a thing of the past, and not going away.

 

[showmebob]

I just visited the Sierra and Starline factories and I think this link from the Sierra web site pretty much sums up what the problems are. Starline told me that the last time demand surged like it is now that it took them twice as long to catch up as the excessive demand lasted. The demand has already been happening for 6 months so it will probably be at least a year before they can recover. They are running as hard as they can to meet demand. Those machines only run so fast and they are running as many shifts as they have bodies for. There production is running 1.5 million a week. Sierra is in the same boat for production. They make 1,000,000 bullets a day.
My guess is after the excessive demand ceases, production will catch up and prices will drop. I have enough primers for 2 years and I'm going to wait to buy more.
http://www.sierrabullets.com/why_cant_I_find_Sierra_Bullets.html