Current Primer Prices

[akinswi]

Its hard to believe its been 4 years since the Pandemic, Primer Prices were around $34.99 For 1000 on Average pre pandemic, now they are $94 to $105. pretty much not changing.

Im starting to wonder if these prices are here to stay. 250 to 275% increases seem pretty astronomical. I understand there was once in a lifetime shortages,but they are coming back instock pretty frequently in most places

[FITASC]

And then there is inflation, profiteering, and the political unknown of the future.

[MarkCO]

Based on a lot of factors, I've held that $50 is the floor price for the last several years. I bought 10K last month, SPP at that $50. I've seen everything except LR drop below $70 in the last 3 months. Even picked up some Fed GMM LR for a buddy at $80, and those are the most expensive ones around.

In the last 12 months, we have gone from 4 primer manufacturers in the US to 6. The 7th is supposed to open this summer, and that company is buying primers through another entity to keep the prices above their target price.

It's not going to get better. We have a large percent of the population that would gleefully tax hunting and shooting into the rich only arena, and it won't let up anytime soon.

If you see primers in the $60s, buy them is my best suggestion.

[cdoc42]

I have a Cabela's/Bass Pro Shop 8 miles away and finally, there is a large stock of Federal, Remington, and Winchester primers, ranging from $89 to $109 per thousand. About 40 miles away there is an independent dealer gun shop with the Winchester primers at $69 and Remington $10 less than at Cabela's. I have rarely used Winchester primers, but I do now.

[reddog81]

$35 per thousand would have been kind of high pre-covid. Sub $25 was possible when buying on sale and rebates were running. $30 was what Powder Valley was charging for most flavors.

I bought some Federal SPP and LPP for $71 and $81 from Brownells in December. With this being an election year, I'd be surprised to see to see anything much lower than $70.

[MarkCO]

I just looked, I paid 25.88/K in 2018 for SPP up to $34.60 for #34 CCI LRP.

[akinswi]

I felt like I paid around $30.00 to $35.00 per 1000. I remember complaining about those prices, well not anymore.

I tend to limit range sessions to 50 to 100rds.

Shooting has been a really expensive hobby / pastime now. I hope we never lose our right too do so, be the end of our freedom

[Nathan]

Pre-Covid:

Powder Valley (November 11, 2019)

Product Quantity Price
Federal GM215M Large Rifle Magnum Match (1000) 1 $39.00
Hodgdon H4831SC (Short Cut) - HODGDON H4831SC 1# 4 $109.40
Winchester StaBall 6.5 - WINCHESTER StaBALL 6.5 1# 2 $50.50
Nosler .264 / 6.5mm 140 Grain AccuBond (50) 2 $67.56
Nosler .308 / 30 210 Grain Spitzer Point AccuBond Long Range (100) 1. $63.06

[seanc]

Supply seems to be catching up with demand. Prices may start to come down. I agree that with inflation, $50 is what we'll probably see as the new baseline price.

For the past 6 months, the Palm Bay, FL Bass Pro shop seems to always have something on the shelf for SPP.

I think the hoarders (and we're all hoarders to so some degree) have enough so people aren't feeling that uncertainty pressure where they think they need to buy all of whatever's on the shelf at whatever the price, screw everyone else.

[reddog81]

I put in a order with Powder Valley on Nov 9th 2019 and bought a few different Winchester primers for $28

[stagpanther]

I have rarely used Winchester primers, but I do now

I really like their BR primers.

[akinswi]

Isnt remington producing primers now? under the new management that bought them out?

[Grey_Lion]

I've been hoarding 2 pre-covid bricks of CCI's for years now... Pretty sure I didn't pay more than $33 for either one...

[FITASC]

Isnt remington producing primers now? under the new management that bought them out?

They were when Federal/Vista bought them and now the Czech company seems to have things going as well.

As to pricing, I get sale flyers in my inbox with primers, powder, etc. "on sale". While the prices are lower than a few years ago, they aren't close to what they were. I reload (and shoot) a LOT of shotgun shells, and I was buying sleeves of 5000 Win 209s for $125.00 delivered OTD at my gun club. Pistol primers were even less.

[akinswi]

I cant find any 209s I have been buying the already primed hulls from Ballistics

[zeke]

At least where i'm looking, primer prices have been going up again. Imo, we are only an election away from being lucky to find any at all. And depending on the state ya live in, being legal to reload at all, or taxed into oblivion.

[FITASC]

I cant find any 209s I have been buying the already primed hulls from Ballistics

https://ammoseek.com/reloading/primers?ikw=209

[Pathfinder45]

There are wars going on right now that have created a high demand for munitions and components. Add another conflict and we likely won't be able to buy anything ammo related at all. If you are not already well supplied, take up fishing, like me. This situation could make the shooting sports go into a long hibernation if not extinction.
On the other hand, as production has accelerated and will likely continue to do so; if the conflicts get abruptly resolved, there will be an over-supply and prices could drop dramatically. Not likely to happen anytime soon if at all.
Consider buying an axe. You can chop wood all day and at the end of the day you will still have an axe.
Then buy a box of ammo and go use it...At the end of this day, you have no ammo! But if you save a box, at least it has better shelf life than food.

[akinswi]

Well said! Pathfinder45

[Nathan]

As far as I can see, Remington, Winchester, Federal, Fiocchi, Servicio Aventuras, CCI and maybe 1-2 more have primers for sale now.

Prices vary from $60-$160 per 1000. It is my humble opinion that this is simple economics.

Primers shot up to around $250 per 1000 and someone bought all the could at that price. Many of the heavily funded buyers have dropped out of the market causing primer inventories to rise at $250, then still at $150, then still at $90. Those companies looking to pay for inventory storage are starting to discount them. That said, they will balance inventory and price….meaning they want pretty high prices because they likely paid $50+ per box and don’t want to pay you to buy their primers…so, we need strong production and high inventories to keep pushing price lower.

We do this by minimizing our purchases to what we need until they hit the $30-$50 per box that signals we buy in to restock. This will happen pretty quick.

I just went to the local Cabelas. They reorganized during the drought. They now have so much ammo that they had to move primers and powder. This area is filling up. Soon they will need to spend money to create space or spend money to discount powder & primers.

So, keep looking for deals and buying only what you need right away. At this point, paying $90 now and using in 3 months could cost you $10-$15 vs waiting to buy in 3 months.

Oddly, the large form facto is harder to find. I thought military was a heavier user of small.

[rc]

Local shop was asking about $120. Pass!

[Unique]

Here in central Texas our before prices were around 32 dollars per thousand now I’m having to pay 80 bucks per thousand.

[44caliberkid]

I’m still using primers I paid $10 per 1000 for.

[ciwsguy]

You obviously don't reload much.

[lll Otto lll]

I recently bought 12K Fiocchi for $62 per K delivered to my door. No Hazmat, shipping or tax. Shop around, get on mailing alerts and be patient. Leave the drama out of it.