Light at the end of the tunnel?

[AgPilot]

I’ll believe primers when I see them

 

[AgPilot]

Prices on SPPs and LPPs will show a sharp decline very shortly. I just stocked up on both at prices I would rather not disclose. The stock market works the same way with me.....

for some reason I always buy high and sell low

 

[Random 8]

Interesting local auction just closed last week. Primers were still WAY high. Powder was mixed. A couple you'd expect to go high in 8lb cans... Varget and IMR 4064, but a bunch of individual 1lb cans of relatively common powders went only slightly above retail. Seemed the same 2 buyers were bidding against each other on the top end of ALL the primers. I strongly suspect one was the seller, as the same lot of primers was also listed on the previous auction a month ago (don't ask me how I know they were the identical lot, but a hint would be I'm sneaky and brought a sharpie to viewing day). I suspect I'll see them on the next auction also, in which case my shill will be identified.

Ammo was the interesting one. Non-blammo ammo in calibers other than .223, 9mm, X39 etc still went relatively high. Above retail even for old and mixed lots. A lot of older, quality trap load (1990s Fed GM and Win AA) went for a not unreasonable 10-12 a box. Blammo ammo was going for slightly above pre-panic retail pricing. I think people are pretty deep at this point and starting to question their sanity piling deeper.

Local situation has improved significantly in the last 2 weeks. Friday I was able to buy LP primers in person in the morning, and CCI 41s in person in the evening after the truck for that day came. .223 and .308 bullets are staying on shelves, and ammo is lasting a few days now when it comes in. Online, been seeing .223 and .308 blammo bullets staying in stock for multiple days. My canary in the coal mine has even shown up. A small quantity of Speer .224 bullets were on the shelf at Grafs for a little bit. I believe this is an indication that commercial ammo production is catching and about to surpass demand, as it's my understanding that Speer bullet capacity is devoted fully to commercial ammo in times of shortage. Powder is still tight, and will catch up after ammo, bullets, and primers. Some options will become available, but popular ones will disappear quickly. You'll see GD and St Marks powders before any significant quantity of Finnish, Swedish, Israeli or Aussie powder. If you're low, be prepared to be versatile.

Happy days will be here again!

 

[jaysouth]

At a local gun show today, powder was $70 per pound. Primers were $1,000 per base of 5k.

 

[Mark_Mark]

At a local gun show today, powder was $70 per pound. Primers were $1,000 per base of 5k.

Gun Shows are not fun anymore.

 

[BCR#1]

I should receive my 2K RMR 124 FMJ order today after 14+ weeks but I ordered on 12/31, the last day to order before the price increase so they were slammed with 100's if not over 1K of orders that took close to two weeks for Joe and his crew to get them bagged and shipped. Still no tracking notice by email from the p.o. but Joe was good enough to supply it in a prior email.

I believe wait times on shipping are around 30 days or less on in stock bullets which they seem to have a bunch of right now. Order #4 will go out soon.

Bill

 

[CQB45ACP]

At a local gun show today, powder was $70 per pound. Primers were $1,000 per base of 5k.

We’re having our first DC area show in a long time in two weeks. It used to have 1300 tables, but has been reduced to 900 to space things out. Now that I’ve been fully vaccinated, I plan to go, maybe. It’s been more than a year. But in best of times the lines are 1/4 mile long.

I’ll contact the reloader vendors beforehand...if they won’t have primers at reasonable prices I may not even go. I don’t really need powder, but if the price is not too bad...

edit: just saw the number of tables is down to 500. Not work going.

 

[kcofohio]

I should receive my 2K RMR 124 FMJ order today after 14+ weeks but I ordered on 12/31, the last day to order before the price increase so they were slammed with 100's if not over 1K of orders that took close to two weeks for Joe and his crew to get them bagged and shipped. Still no tracking notice by email from the p.o. but Joe was good enough to supply it in a prior email.

I believe wait times on shipping are around 30 days or less on in stock bullets which they seem to have a bunch of right now. Order #4 will go out soon.

Bill

I placed an order for the .357" 158 gr. on the 25th of March. I received them on Saturday the 10th of April. These are in-stock items.

I did receive an email that a shipping label had been printed on the 8th. But no tracking info. On my way home on Saturday I had an email that they were delivered.

Hope you hear something soon.

 

[Typetwelve]

So last week I stopped at all my watering holes.

Most places had nothing, and I mean that literally. My local Bass Pro (one of the smaller ones) doesn't even have shelf space for powder or primers anymore. Asking about it, they told me they haven't been getting shipments of any kind save random projectiles.

Asking the smaller local shops, not a one of them reported getting primers since March or April of 2020 and all reported powder shipments stopping around Nov/Dec. Like I said, most have no powder of any kind.

Its nifty that people are finding stuff here/there but locally, we're not getting a thing....or 5 different shops, including Bass Pro, are lying...which I doubt.

Gun Shows are not fun anymore.

Around my neck of the woods, gun shows are and have been pointless for a very long time. Every time it's outrageous pricing...and that's when we're not knuckle-deep in a panic.

 

[Mark_Mark]

So last week I stopped at all my watering holes.

Most places had nothing, and I mean that literally. My local Bass Pro (one of the smaller ones) doesn't even have shelf space for powder or primers anymore. Asking about it, they told me they haven't been getting shipments of any kind save random projectiles.

Asking the smaller local shops, not a one of them reported getting primers since March or April of 2020 and all reported powder shipments stopping around Nov/Dec. Like I said, most have no powder of any kind.

Its nifty that people are finding stuff here/there but locally, we're not getting a thing....or 5 different shops, including Bass Pro, are lying...which I doubt.



Around my neck of the woods, gun shows are and have been pointless for a very long time. Every time it's outrageous pricing...and that's when we're not knuckle-deep in a panic.

very true.. very stressful to be cramped up and looking at over prices everything

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

None of the locals around here are planning to restock reloading supplies. Ever. Too much hassle and too many new regulations.

 

[IALoder]

The LGS around here have actually been getting primers in about every other week, powders at about the same rate. Small shipments, but it's helping. I'm not sure if it's getting better, but I sure hope so!

 

[Dale Alan]

I have had luck at the Runnings stores around here through this whole shortage , I guess they are a small chain, if you have one local maybe give it a try . I ask at the sports counter and they have a list of whats in the back . Lately I have been finding,3031,4895,4064, covers a big range of the calibers I shoot most . I picked some up saturday, $28-$31 a pound . Primers are trickier, they get very small lots in and go fast from what they tell me .

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The LGS around here have actually been getting primers in about every other week, powders at about the same rate. Small shipments, but it's helping. I'm not sure if it's getting better, but I sure hope so!

Where is "around here"? I've checked three counties in N. FL and found squat.

 

[IALoder]

Where is "around here"? I've checked three counties in N. FL and found squat.

Iowa, both Des Moines and Waterloo areas.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Iowa, both Des Moines and Waterloo areas.

Thanks!

I'm seeing similar posts from people in WA State, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan - with the exception of Indiana, the most anti-gun states "seem" to be getting resupplied first while the most pro-gun states are getting little or nothing except to densely-populated urban areas. Probably because that's where the majority of new gun owners are located. It makes good business sense for the ammo and component makers to resupply those areas first, IF that's what they're doing. My data is sketchy and unreliable at this point. For some reason, distributors won't share their data.

 

[Typetwelve]

Thanks!

I'm seeing similar posts from people in WA State, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan - with the exception of Indiana, the most anti-gun states "seem" to be getting resupplied first while the most pro-gun states are getting little or nothing except to densely-populated urban areas. Probably because that's where the majority of new gun owners are located. It makes good business sense for the ammo and component makers to resupply those areas first, IF that's what they're doing. My data is sketchy and unreliable at this point. For some reason, distributors won't share their data.

I live in central Illinois and I can assure you, when it comes to reloading supplies, I've haven't seen a thing in a very long time that wasn't new-old stock.

 

[TEXASJD]

Primers hit this morning on Midway, Brownells and Midsouth but gone quick but at least they have started to sell some. Powder is hitting once a week or so on powder valley Mid south and brownells.

 

[WeekendReloader]

A friend just bought a new 9mm Shield Plus last week. 9mm is a new caliber for him, so he needed components and dies. He looked all weekend for these items without any luck. We looked online together this morning and found everything at Midway USA for reasonable prices (close to pre-pandemic). He already had primers and powder, so he's all set when the delivery truck arrives. Things come in and go out of stock so often that one needs to just be persistent.

Small Rifle Primers were in stock for more than an hour at Midway this morning. Things may be looking up.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Primers hit this morning on Midway, Brownells and Midsouth but gone quick but at least they have started to sell some. Powder is hitting once a week or so on powder valley Mid south and brownells.

Hey Tex. Appreciate the insights but, switching from LOCALS to online is a thread redirection. The thread was about LGS's, not online sources.

I tell ya', it's looking like you just about have to retire and spend your days refreshing web pages to find anything ammo-related for sale. Then buy quick and pay HazMat on a minimal amount just to beat everyone else refreshing their web pages.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

A friend just bought a new 9mm Shield Plus last week. 9mm is a new caliber for him, so he needed components and dies. He looked all weekend for these items without any luck. We looked online together this morning and found everything at Midway USA for reasonable prices (close to pre-pandemic). He already had primers and powder, so he's all set when the delivery truck arrives. Things come in and go out of stock so often that one needs to just be persistent.

Small Rifle Primers were in stock for more than an hour at Midway this morning. Things may be looking up.

By the time I got the notice - in traffic on my morning commute - they was all sold out.

 

[WeekendReloader]

Hey Tex. Appreciate the insights but, switching from LOCALS to online is a thread redirection. The thread was about LGS's, not online sources.

I tell ya', it's looking like you just about have to retire and spend your days refreshing web pages to find anything ammo-related for sale. Then buy quick and pay HazMat on a minimal amount just to beat everyone else refreshing their web pages.

Oops.. sorry.

OK, Local then.... Where he bought his Shield (LGS) they got in 25 of them. By the time he drove down there they had 5 left. The next day they were down to only 1. They are selling 45 or more pistols a day. This is not necessarily a large shop, rather small actually, but they are getting shipments. It's just that people are spending their stimulus money on all things gun related.

General stock level of the store was about 20%. All reloading supplies and ammo was 0%.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

All reloading supplies and ammo was 0%.

Holy smokes! Where is this??? Boggles the mind how they are selling guns without ammo. A couple of not-very-local stores are getting in ammo but it's sporadic and they limit who they sell to - I managed to score a 50-box of Federal FMJ 9mm Makarov for $35 on Saturday - it's also mostly very expensive. A couple of shops said flat out they are mostly saving it for customers who buy guns.

 

[TEXASJD]

Hey Tex. Appreciate the insights but, switching from LOCALS to online is a thread redirection. The thread was about LGS's, not online sources.

I tell ya', it's looking like you just about have to retire and spend your days refreshing web pages to find anything ammo-related for sale. Then buy quick and pay HazMat on a minimal amount just to beat everyone else refreshing their web pages.

My bad did not see that. The local Cabelas (Waco TX) is getting Powder and primers about once a week I’m seeing ammo more and more sitting on the selfs especially no common stuff and Belted mags

 

[Bartojc]

I see stuff sporadically appearing online so I thought things might be looking up. After shooting at lunch I did my normal stroll around the store. It's been a LONG time since they had any primers and probably 4 months+ since they had any powder. Today where the powder used to be they had the little MTM boxes for ammo organization. I just chuckled. Can't keep that shelf space empty, gotta fill it with something. The gun cases and rifle racks are way less than 50%. I decided to look and handle a Shield Plus and the new Ruger. Struck out again. Guy said they had 20-25 of each but they were all gone in 2 days. No Sigs in stock, no Rugers, no S&W, not just out of one model, out of all models. Had some used police Glocks, and a dozen or so Dan Wesson 1911's, a couple Les Baer, and Wilson Combat 1911's. Hopefully we'll see some light soon.

-Jeff