[Unclenick]

Military orders for ammunition are up about 4 fold this year over last. Stocks must have gotten low. That is the cause of the primer shortage. Prices go up to prevent hoarding what remains available. That's actually a good thing, and the price should back off again when the military stocks are replenished. Same thing happened in the last shortage.

Bullet prices are up partly for the same reason, but also competition with China's exploding manufacturing and construction for basic metals has driven metal prices up considerably, lead and especially copper, included.