Primer prices... your thoughts?

With the recent primer dilemma being worse than we have seen in decades, what is your price point?

  • $49.99 “I hate hoarders. I’m not a hoarder but I have tons or primers. You should have learned”

    Votes: 28 71.8%

  • Meh, I guess $75-$100 per thousand is reasonable.

    Votes: 9 23.1%

  • $200 per thousand, better than GB I guess.

    Votes: 1 2.6%

  • $250 per thousand.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • $350-$400 per thousand, I’m out and have no choice.

    Votes: 1 2.6%
  • Total voters
    39
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Worse than we have seen in Decades? How about Sandy Hook December 14, 2012? Within a few weeks it was just like we see today. All new manufacture primers were being sent to manufacture loaded ammunition. In 1996, for reasons never adequately explained except that the vaguely anti-gun Clinton Administration was in full flight, primers were so scarce that manufacturers were doling out bricks of them to wholesalers by the dozen, rather than the pallet; wholesalers were passing them on to retailers by the tray of 100 ... Granted that was a few decades ago but what we are seeing today is nothing new. The Sandy Hook nightmare lasted a few years. Many took away lessons learned and are doing just fine today. How many endless polls do we need on the subject? What will I pay per thousand? I will pay $30 and fortunately I have no need for any right now.

Ron
 
If I really needed to, I'd probably do $100-$150 for a thousand primers. When factory ammo prices have a little more than doubled, that becomes a consideration in my mind on how much reloading components are allowed to cost.

But that's probably the least likely price to find them for. Most people are either getting lucky and buying them from retail stores, or paying close to double from strangers. I know that one local shop has a line out the door every day for 200 primers at a reasonable price.
 
$50 is my price point. Not a hoarder. I bought a case of SPP with powder last fall. I got really lucky earlier this year, just as the pandemic was ramping up, and was able score another case of SPP with some powder. I had 4k on the shelf prior to my bulk purchases.

I’m good for a while. When I do need them, hopefully the availability is there and prices are ‘reasonable’.
 
Reloadron said:
Worse than we have seen in Decades? How about Sandy Hook December 14, 2012?
Click to expand...

That remains to be seen. I was buying primers by the brick as early as May 2014. That time there were Russian imports too, and a smaller amount of gun owners. I think this time the bullet and powder situation will be better, and the primer situation will be worse.
 
George P said:
I'll ration the ones I have and shoot more shotgun and air rifle
Click to expand...

same, I’m sitting on enough 12 gauge to keep me happy. The amount I used to shoot is way more than recent years. Fortunately I have enough loaded 12 gauge as well as enough components to keep me on the skeet range for the foreseeable future.
 
I just recently got back into reloading and have been using my primers from the 80's...they work fine.

I look at it as a cost per round basis. Recently purchased 200 rd boxes of winchester 9mm for $63 a piece at sportsman's warehouse.

That's about 30 cents a round or about $15 for a standard 50 rd box. I was extremely lucky as I was standing there when they brought out a case!

I have plenty of 9mm brass, and I can order bullets for about 10 cents each. I have enough powder, but primers are the key.

The way I look at it is that I can pay up to $300 per thousand, so far I have paid $160 and $200, so I'm a bit ahead of the game.

I've been accumulating the brass, some free at the range, so I don't figure that into my cost basis, nor the powder since I don't want to bother with the calculation.

If I can average 50 cents a round per completed cartridge, I'm doing ok as that same box of 50 would cost at least $35 if I could even find them in the PHX area.

My calculations may not be completely accurate, but I can live with it until things hopefully get easier.
 
Hockey7711 said:
I just recently got back into reloading and have been using my primers from the 80's...they work fine.

I look at it as a cost per round basis. Recently purchased 200 rd boxes of winchester 9mm for $63 a piece at sportsman's warehouse.

That's about 30 cents a round or about $15 for a standard 50 rd box. I was extremely lucky as I was standing there when they brought out a case!

I have plenty of 9mm brass, and I can order bullets for about 10 cents each. I have enough powder, but primers are the key.

The way I look at it is that I can pay up to $300 per thousand, so far I have paid $160 and $200, so I'm a bit ahead of the game.

I've been accumulating the brass, some free at the range, so I don't figure that into my cost basis, nor the powder since I don't want to bother with the calculation.

If I can average 50 cents a round per completed cartridge, I'm doing ok as that same box of 50 would cost at least $35 if I could even find them in the PHX area.

My calculations may not be completely accurate, but I can live with it until things hopefully get easier.
Click to expand...
your gear has bern sitting around since the 80’s... that’s Rad!
 
Hockey7711 said:
I just recently got back into reloading and have been using my primers from the 80's...they work fine.

I look at it as a cost per round basis. Recently purchased 200 rd boxes of winchester 9mm for $63 a piece at sportsman's warehouse.

That's about 30 cents a round or about $15 for a standard 50 rd box. I was extremely lucky as I was standing there when they brought out a case!

I have plenty of 9mm brass, and I can order bullets for about 10 cents each. I have enough powder, but primers are the key.

The way I look at it is that I can pay up to $300 per thousand, so far I have paid $160 and $200, so I'm a bit ahead of the game.

I've been accumulating the brass, some free at the range, so I don't figure that into my cost basis, nor the powder since I don't want to bother with the calculation.

If I can average 50 cents a round per completed cartridge, I'm doing ok as that same box of 50 would cost at least $35 if I could even find them in the PHX area.

My calculations may not be completely accurate, but I can live with it until things hopefully get easier.
Click to expand...

I’m in a similar situation. Luckily, I think I’m at 21cents per 9mm and (luckily) at 70 cents per rifle (30-06 and .308). My costs will change per round if the industry prices do not.
 
NWcityguy2 said:
That remains to be seen. I was buying primers by the brick as early as May 2014. That time there were Russian imports too, and a smaller amount of gun owners. I think this time the bullet and powder situation will be better, and the primer situation will be worse.
Click to expand...
That's right we had the S&B primers coming in also. Wish we still had imported primers pouring in but there are none I am aware of now. Yeah, I agree as powder is turning up as well as bullets and brass but no primers. :(

Ron
 
Yeah, I bought the S&B primers they were cheaper on GunBroker, now they are pretty much the same price.
 
Mark_Mark said:
and GB is not the Blue Book of Primer
Click to expand...
It may not be, but it accurately reflects the current supply/demand market.

I wouldn't pay over $40/k...most of my stash was bought at about $30/k (but I'm down to about 18k)...but anywhere from $60-$90/k is currently considered a "great deal". $200/k is currently considered normal and not taking advantage of people who didn't stock up
 
9mmepiphany said:
It may not be, but it accurately reflects the current supply/demand market.

I wouldn't pay over $40/k...most of my stash was bought at about $30/k (but I'm down to about 18k)...but anywhere from $60-$90/k is currently considered a "great deal". $200/k is currently considered normal and not taking advantage of people who didn't stock up
Click to expand...
disagree... I just do
 
4 cents a primer is my cutoff. I'm currently at a nickel per cartridge for pistol. The sellers can take those prices and shove it up their butt.
 
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