Primer Availabily

[Pitchman1968]

Hello All, This is Pitchman, complaining again about the scarcity of primers. Since the beginning of the current shortage, I have been rationing my Winchester Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers. I am only a few weeks shy of my 80th birthday and I've been thinking that in my life (I hope to be enjoying the shooting sports until my late 80's) I might not see normal supplies of primers. Therefore, today I decided to treat myself to a normal supply of primers in spite of their exorbitant price. I called one of the prominent on-line reloading supply companies and got through to a service rep with whom I used by best telephone skills. She took the time to look up when their next delivery of Winchester primers will occur (last week of May). She put me on their "Notify List", and assured that I would receive an email when the shipment arrives. Even though for year I have been on 3 other reloading companies' "notify Lists" and have never received a call-back or email, I feel better about this situation. So, over the next two months, I am going to fire-off just about all of my reloaded ammo, then use up my remaining primers to re-load the brass that I have shot-off, and await delivery of the primers that I have been assured I will receive. If that order never arrives, I will pack-up my reloading shop and list the equipment as an estate sale item after I am gone.

[JEBar]

I'm seeing more and more primers listed for sale .... unfortunately, they run pretty close to $100 per thousand .... I can't help but wonder it that isn't going to become the "new normal"

[Mags]

Not much change in availability seen here in the LGSs. When there are some it's usually the SP and SR versions. Availability LP and LR remain a distant memory.

[fortyshooter]

Would love to see some Winchester primers along with some Alliant Unique...2400... and Red Dot powder. Haven't seen any of those in over a year.
Not to worry though as I am okay on primers and powder but would pick up some if I saw it.

[Pitchman1968]

Hello Mags, Unfortunately, there are no LGS outlets in New England. I have a Cabelas about 20 miles north and a Bass Pro Shop about 30 miles south of me. I haven't seen primers on the shelves of either store for over two years. Powder selection is about half as good as pre-Covid times.

[Headhog]

Good luck with primers. They seem to be drying up again. By me only one shop has them and they go for $100/1000 or more, as JEB pointed out. Several months back i did manage to get some large pistol primers for a reasonable price so I ordered 5000. Add on Hazmat and shipping they came to $83/1000. Using AmmoSeek I see small pistol primers are available online, but all are imported brands. CCI, Winchester or Federal come at a higher price.

Paul

[Luv the lever]

Same pain here, ordering some small pistol magnum just because they are there. $100/1,000 and haz mat shipping fees.

[BigAl52]

Target Sports has SPP 445.00 per 5000 shipped Thats Winchester they have Fed and Rem to.

[Vaquero]

Target Sports has SPP 445.00 per 5000 shipped Thats Winchester they have Fed and Rem to.

I've seen them at the one shop I visit the past two times. $90 per k + tax of course.

RP

[BigAl52]

Target Sports also has a membership program for 95.00 a year that knocks another 8% off the totals and gives you free shipping on any amount you order from them. So if you buy much from them it will save you enough to make it worth while. There prices with the 8% and free ship are very competitive.

[Luv the lever]

Just ordered CCI 550 from Target Sports. $88/1,000. That was a little cheaper than Midsouth, Brownels, and a few others that have primers in stock.

[5shot]

I can't help but wonder.....What is the original price tag on a brick of primers that the manufacturer charges the distributor? I'm going to guess it's under $50.

[BigAl52]

As ling as politicians keep playing shootem up cowboy the price isn’t going to change much. Not to mention people keep buying them at inflated prices so why should they come back down

[Mags]

I don't get why there is such a price descepancy depending on where the primers are bought
Current price spread for the same CCI 550, $50.30/1000 to over $99/1000.

[Mags]

Out on errands today with a side trip to Sportsmans. Lots and lots of primers. But 80% of them small pistol and rifle. 20% of them standard large pistol. 0 large rifle.
Single function, standard, magnum and match grades all less than $6/100. Multifunction Magnum/Match less than $7/100. Benchrest less than $9/100.
I was hoping to pickup large rifle, but settled for the standard large pistol @ $5.71/100.

[BigAl52]

Was there a limit on them Mags. I have a Sportsmans about 15 miles away. I might call them tomorrow

[Mags]

Was there a limit on them Mags. I have a Sportsmans about 15 miles away. I might call them tomorrow

Yes. 2 packs of 100 or with Fiocci 2 packs of 150. If your store is selling bricks, the limit is 1 brick. Limits are per day per person. So take a friend to buy for you too.

[BigAl52]

Thanks Mags. My local store has none. I can buy them online shipped to my house for 380.00 per 5K. I may go that route

[Mags]

Thanks Mags. My local store has none. I can buy them online shipped to my house for 380.00 per 5K. I may go that route

I guess they have problem balancing inventory between stores. Not only was the usual shelf space full, but they also had 3 wood boxes spaced across the gun counter full of primers.

[Mr. Neutron]

Like was said above, availability seems to vary widely from store to store.The BiMart store in Damascus (what is it, like 10-12 miles from my home?) had no primers, not much powder, and not too much in the way of components, compared to my "local" BiMart in Sandy. The store in Sandy has a friend of mine behind the sporting goods counter, a young man who grew up riding my dirt bikes when he came to hang out with my son after church. When I kiddingly remind him he never did wash the bike after he was done riding (neither did my son...... ), he sheepishly said "I'll call you when we get primers in".

So yesterday morning, I got a call to come in and buy a 2 box limit of CCI large rifle sparklers.

They were around $6.50 per 100. They only had one brick of those, but had quite a few small rifle, and small pistol primers. No idea what those prices are.

The cool thing about my buddy at BiMart is that he reloads, and is working to get more components and related stuff in stock. I also bought a box of Hornady #3035 150 grainers for somewhere in the $38 range per 100. Like a good male shopper, I cannot find my receipt to double check the bullets' cost. Sometimes I have to hide the evidence from my better half, or she beats me......

Added in EDIT: The primers I bought were CCI BR-2 LRPs. Are these the "Bench Rest" primers, and if so, I wonder if there's a nickel's worth of difference between those and their "regular" LRPs?
And sorry about all the EDITs here for this post. When I post using my phone and my sausage fingers, things get a bit weird.....