Where have all the primers gone?

kingudaroad · March 31, 2007, 11:06 AM

I was in Sportsmans warehouse yesterday buying some bullets and the primer shelves were almost empty. The only thing they had in bricks were magnum pistol. I've noticed less and less availability over the past 6 to 9 months.

One customer who was there was convinced that its a government conspiracy to control reloading through primer availability. He said they do that in Australia also. I'm not sure I'm sold on that one though.

Anybody else seeing this? Any other theories?

ECLIPSE45ACP · March 31, 2007, 11:45 AM

No Problems Here....

cuate · March 31, 2007, 12:12 PM

I'm gonna guess that more people are reloading and the shortage in your store was due to an oversight or they looking for a better wholesaler's price.......

jamaica · March 31, 2007, 12:41 PM

I was in the store yesterday, and the owner told me that primers were going up in price drastically with the new shipments. "Get em while they are cheap." is what he said. Ya, I bought a few more than I really needed at the time. His inventory was going down fast too.

RERICK · March 31, 2007, 03:01 PM

I heard that they are all fulfilling military contracts.

layusn1 · March 31, 2007, 03:52 PM

I was able to find 1,000 CCI Small Rifle Magnum primers for $25 so I bought them but my Sportsmans Warehouse is looking pretty barren as well.

K96771 · March 31, 2007, 04:18 PM

I was at the Phila gun show today and they had plenty. He did say that they just went up. CCI 500 up $2 to 21.95 and CCI 200 at 22.95. Powder seemed to be up a buck too. I agree; probably more demand and more reloaders.

Glennster · March 31, 2007, 04:51 PM

I can't find Federal Gold Medal MATCH (210M) anywhere....

Edward429451 · March 31, 2007, 06:09 PM

Magtech primers keep coming up in my quest for primers, but I've never heard of or used them. Anyone know if they're any good?

RERICK · March 31, 2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

I can't find Federal Gold Medal MATCH (210M) anywhere

I couldn't find them either. I have however started using CCI BR4 in its place.
Just as good if not a little better.

kingudaroad · March 31, 2007, 06:47 PM

I was having trouble finding Fed 210m before deer season. I ran into a box of 1000 and bought it in November. Haven't seen any since.

Thankfully I only use them for my 6mm Rem and 1000 goes a long way.

armedandsafe · March 31, 2007, 08:01 PM

Is anybody noticing a reduction in shelf stock of percussion caps? My source shop (only one in town to carry them) says he is on a diet imposed by the distributor. Wonder if there is a relationship (as in resources/material/tooling/man-power going into primers?)

Pops

cheygriz · March 31, 2007, 08:58 PM

I don't want to get into politics any more than necessary to make a point, but after the last election, I think an awful lot of people are "stocking up" or perhaps "panic buying" just like they did when Klinton was elected.

If it looks like "the other" folks are going to get into the white house in 2008 I will buy another 50K to 75K (or more) and probably another 50 pounds (at least) of powder.

I may buy another "bushel" of AR-15 magazines, and the same for AK47, AK74, SIG P226, Glocks, etc.

Better to have too many than too few.

mrawesome22 · March 31, 2007, 11:36 PM

I am having no problems with primers here either, but if "Hildog" or any other "other" gets in there, I'll be buying like there is no tomorrow LOL.

cheygriz · April 1, 2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

I am having no problems with primers here either, but if "Hildog" or any other "other" gets in there, I'll be buying like there is no tomorrow LOL.

I think that in some parts of the country, lotsa pholks are already buying like crazy!

and, IMHO, that
s not a bad idea.

CrustyFN · April 1, 2007, 11:44 AM

I went to Gander Mtn yesterday and bought the last 1000 small rifle primers they had. They were Winchester for $25.
Rusty

cheygriz · April 1, 2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

I went to Gander Mtn yesterday and bought the last 1000 small rifle primers they had. They were Winchester for $25.

And so it starts!

Daniel964 · April 1, 2007, 05:03 PM

I bought 8,000 Small Rifle primers today at $23.00 a thousand. They had plenty left after I bought mine. Bought 1000 Small Pistol primers. They had lots of those too.

RERICK · April 1, 2007, 05:18 PM

You guys are scaring me now lol. Well its off to the gun store to clean him out before its too late

rem33 · April 1, 2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

If it looks like "the other" folks are going to get into the white house in 2008 I will buy another 50K to 75K (or more) and probably another 50 pounds (at least) of powder.

This may very well be the cause. In the early/mid 90's after the weapons/clip bans it became almost impossible to find powder, from every one stocking up.

Thesenator · April 1, 2007, 08:07 PM

It is definitely a/the cause.....along with continuing higher prices on ammo.

CCW · April 3, 2007, 08:03 AM

Please tell me there is NOT another primer shortage?

RERICK · April 3, 2007, 09:03 AM

Ok I won't tell you.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=243258

rickh · April 3, 2007, 06:03 PM

I stopped by the gun store Yesterday, the story he gave me was that one manufacture had a plant in LA and when the hurican went through it was disabled. The production was moved to the CCI plant and thats throwing everything behind. I really do not belive his story so I do not know.
We are fortunate to have a Gun Store that is a major wholesaler and has a retial front, so his stock always seems good. I think they buy by the tractor trailer load!
Everything I have every needed in any qty I have wanted they have had.
Now having said that, I bought the last 2 bricks of CCI #41 primers, but they had a big selections of others.
Rick H...

BigJimP · April 6, 2007, 01:47 PM

Military ammo contracts have a lot to do with it - and the prices are continuing to go up as new orders are placed thru distributors.

We've been seeing a shortage of Winchester and Remington shotgun(#209's) primers for almost a year now as well.

I don't think it's political republicans vs democrats - but I do think the price of factory ammo and guns - and reloading components will continue to go up ( so buy what you can afford now, and what you can reasonably store ). You can share stock with your buddy's or whatever - but why buy in less than case lots anyway .... or 4 or 5 cases at a time for that matter.

March 31, 2007, 11:06 AM	#1
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Where have all the primers gone? I was in Sportsmans warehouse yesterday buying some bullets and the primer shelves were almost empty. The only thing they had in bricks were magnum pistol. I've noticed less and less availability over the past 6 to 9 months. One customer who was there was convinced that its a government conspiracy to control reloading through primer availability. He said they do that in Australia also. I'm not sure I'm sold on that one though. Anybody else seeing this? Any other theories?

March 31, 2007, 03:52 PM	#6
layusn1 Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Posts: 54	I was able to find 1,000 CCI Small Rifle Magnum primers for $25 so I bought them but my Sportsmans Warehouse is looking pretty barren as well. __________________ www.ammobrasstrader.com

March 31, 2007, 04:18 PM	#7
K96771 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2006 Location: NJ Pinelands Posts: 120	I was at the Phila gun show today and they had plenty. He did say that they just went up. CCI 500 up $2 to 21.95 and CCI 200 at 22.95. Powder seemed to be up a buck too. I agree; probably more demand and more reloaders. __________________ Tom

March 31, 2007, 08:01 PM	#12
armedandsafe Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Location: Moses Lake WA Posts: 1,001	Is anybody noticing a reduction in shelf stock of percussion caps? My source shop (only one in town to carry them) says he is on a diet imposed by the distributor. Wonder if there is a relationship (as in resources/material/tooling/man-power going into primers?) Pops __________________ Armed and Safe: Not just a theory If it time to bury them, it is time to dig them up. Remember, "Behind every blade of grass."

March 31, 2007, 08:58 PM	#13
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	I don't want to get into politics any more than necessary to make a point, but after the last election, I think an awful lot of people are "stocking up" or perhaps "panic buying" just like they did when Klinton was elected. If it looks like "the other" folks are going to get into the white house in 2008 I will buy another 50K to 75K (or more) and probably another 50 pounds (at least) of powder. I may buy another "bushel" of AR-15 magazines, and the same for AK47, AK74, SIG P226, Glocks, etc. Better to have too many than too few. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

March 31, 2007, 11:45 AM	#2
ECLIPSE45ACP Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 177	No Problems Here....

March 31, 2007, 12:12 PM	#3
cuate Junior member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Comanche Co. Texas Posts: 737	I'm gonna guess that more people are reloading and the shortage in your store was due to an oversight or they looking for a better wholesaler's price.......

March 31, 2007, 12:41 PM	#4
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	I was in the store yesterday, and the owner told me that primers were going up in price drastically with the new shipments. "Get em while they are cheap." is what he said. Ya, I bought a few more than I really needed at the time. His inventory was going down fast too.

March 31, 2007, 03:01 PM	#5
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	I heard that they are all fulfilling military contracts.

March 31, 2007, 04:51 PM	#8
Glennster Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 226	I can't find Federal Gold Medal MATCH (210M) anywhere....

March 31, 2007, 06:09 PM	#9
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Magtech primers keep coming up in my quest for primers, but I've never heard of or used them. Anyone know if they're any good?

March 31, 2007, 06:47 PM	#11
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	I was having trouble finding Fed 210m before deer season. I ran into a box of 1000 and bought it in November. Haven't seen any since. Thankfully I only use them for my 6mm Rem and 1000 goes a long way.

March 31, 2007, 11:36 PM	#14
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I am having no problems with primers here either, but if "Hildog" or any other "other" gets in there, I'll be buying like there is no tomorrow LOL.

April 1, 2007, 11:44 AM	#16
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I went to Gander Mtn yesterday and bought the last 1000 small rifle primers they had. They were Winchester for $25. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

April 1, 2007, 05:03 PM	#18
Daniel964 Member Join Date: September 14, 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 62	I bought 8,000 Small Rifle primers today at $23.00 a thousand. They had plenty left after I bought mine. Bought 1000 Small Pistol primers. They had lots of those too.

April 1, 2007, 05:18 PM	#19
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	You guys are scaring me now lol. Well its off to the gun store to clean him out before its too late

April 1, 2007, 08:07 PM	#21
Thesenator Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Posts: 126	It is definitely a/the cause.....along with continuing higher prices on ammo.

April 3, 2007, 08:03 AM	#22
CCW Junior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Posts: 14	please Please tell me there is NOT another primer shortage?

April 3, 2007, 09:03 AM	#23
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	Ok I won't tell you. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=243258

April 3, 2007, 06:03 PM	#24
rickh Member Join Date: January 10, 2007 Posts: 47	I stopped by the gun store Yesterday, the story he gave me was that one manufacture had a plant in LA and when the hurican went through it was disabled. The production was moved to the CCI plant and thats throwing everything behind. I really do not belive his story so I do not know. We are fortunate to have a Gun Store that is a major wholesaler and has a retial front, so his stock always seems good. I think they buy by the tractor trailer load! Everything I have every needed in any qty I have wanted they have had. Now having said that, I bought the last 2 bricks of CCI #41 primers, but they had a big selections of others. Rick H...

April 6, 2007, 01:47 PM	#25
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Military ammo contracts have a lot to do with it - and the prices are continuing to go up as new orders are placed thru distributors. We've been seeing a shortage of Winchester and Remington shotgun(#209's) primers for almost a year now as well. I don't think it's political republicans vs democrats - but I do think the price of factory ammo and guns - and reloading components will continue to go up ( so buy what you can afford now, and what you can reasonably store ). You can share stock with your buddy's or whatever - but why buy in less than case lots anyway .... or 4 or 5 cases at a time for that matter.