I don't get it?

[RidgeRebel]

What's the deal with primers? I understand supply and demand but up until recently (last month) I could still get them by ordering them and waiting a month or so and every now and then I would hit the local stors just at the right time when their delivery arrived. But now the local stores are telling me that they won't be getting any and they don't know when they will get anymore. One shop owner told me that the suppliers were directing all of the primers to ammunition production because they can make more money selling ammo with the prices as high as they are. If that's true that bull crap. I would think with demand so high and prices higher than ever the suppliers would be cranking that stuff out at fast as they could to make more money. Anyway I don't even mind having to pay more for primers given current situation but I can't even buy any?

 

[Suasponte]

Re: I don't get it?

All the people that just bought guns that are not like us!! Hard core shooters that reload to get every MOA of performance we can out of our rifles.

They bought up all the loaded ammo and then researched and found out they too can reload! BOOM! There goes the supply!

I have guys that never shot that much that I know asking me to show them how to reload now! They went out and got the gear then bought up powder and primers as much as they could afford!

I am sure you all have that friend that did it!

Terry

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: I don't get it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: suasponte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All the people that just bought guns that are not like us!! Hard core shooters that reload to get every MOA of performance we can out of our rifles.

They bought up all the loaded ammo and then researched and found out they too can reload! BOOM! There goes the supply!

I have guys that never shot that much that I know asking me to show them how to reload now! They went out and got the gear then bought up powder and primers as much as they could afford!

I am sure you all have that friend that did it!

Terry </div></div>

There's one thread here where the fellow states that PowderValley is backordered 50,000,000 (fifty million) primers and Winchester is 600,000,000 million in arrears.

I'm sure people buying up ammo is part of it, as somebody posted 1,500,000,000 rounds were sold in December of '08 alone, to Americans so that's a lot of primers right there.

Reloaders are buying up extra primers and components, police agencies are shooting more and more rifle calibers and practicing with calibers they didn't shoot much just 10 years ago. People who never wanted to reload, are now reloading due to the ammo prices and scarcity, so it all adds up to shortages.

Chris

 

[Suasponte]

Re: I don't get it?

My local gun store has had Obama as their sales man of the month since the election! That says a whole bunch!

Terry

 

[Grump]

Re: I don't get it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But now the local stores are telling me that they won't be getting any and they don't know when they will get anymore.</div></div>
I've been hearing that for a year. Sounds like the retailers are in no better position than any ordinary consumer--all they can do is put in their requests and see *if* and *when* it comes in. The standard answer to "when will you have some" is now a pathetic "we're trying".

 

[montyb]

Re: I don't get it?

one thing about it, with components this scarce and expensive, it makes a better marksman out of most of us. we HAVE to make every shot count.

 

[Jrb572]

Re: I don't get it?

I guess I've been some what lucky. You have to be willing to travel once a week to different store's. You can still find primers about once a month here in Mo. But some places have made it only a 100 at a time. Which is fine by me. Powder has and has not been in. I found 2 pounds Of varget 1 pound of r-15 and r-22. I scored about month month and a half ago and got 1000 Federal large match primers and finally some Black hills 168gr .308 win. Match. I hope my luck holds out here. The only thing is I haven't gone to the range much lately in fear of running out. But I hope by end of summer this problem has gone away. I know I'm hoping for a miracle but what else can you do.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: I don't get it?

There is a lot of new reloaders (like me), however the most common thing is blind, idiotic paranoia. I have heard every excuse either in person, or on the internet. Some make me laugh and some just piss me off. Stuff like "Obama is gonna pass laws and the feds will come to your house" talks of "a race war" or "civil war" the Taliban or Chinese or {Insert whatever country is on the front page this week} are going to attempt an invasion. The Mexican drug lords are gonna stage an attack of the border, looters, riots.....some people feel that if they have a lot of guns, and thousands of rounds of ammo that this will accoplish the task of fighting off these (now) imaginary foes. And I alwayse wanted to ask....if you have 20000 primers, 49 lbs of powder, 1500 bullets, and 1200 rounds of brass that you are nesting on, what good will it do you if you do have to fight? Are you going to load the rounds as you are shooting? Or maybe this day of judgement will give you a warning so you have a chance to load an arsenal.

I have a couple hundred rounds or less for all my guns, should be enough to get me to safety IF there is an emergency.

 

[Super Bee 950]

Re: I don't get it?

I take a couple hundred rounds each time I go out for each gun. Some of us shoot a lot more than others. I am prepping brass now to reload 1-2K 45ACP, 1-2K of 9 mil, and I have enough 308 prepped for about 1K more. The reason I am reloading so much is because I shoot that much.

Being new to reloading I can see why you think 1500 bullets and 1200 pieces of brass is a lot. In my view, that isnt even a good start, and wouldnt last me a year. I can shoot for a few years and weather out any shortage based on what I have now. I call that being proactive.

 

[rdinak]

Re: I don't get it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">however the most common thing is blind, idiotic paranoia</div></div>

This type of quote usually comes from some myopic individual who failed to see the storm coming over a year ago.

If you were a match shooter back in the Clinton era then you well remember the primer shortage back then. Some of us learned a lesson the first time.

A couple of weeks ago my two sons and I shot a large match with multiple rifle, shotgun and hand gun stages. As were unpacking our gear several people approached and asked if we were selling ammo because they couldn't find any. I was able to enjoy shooting the match and see my sons shooting as well. Having enough ammo was not a problem.

We enjoyed quality shooting time together because the middle age fat man learned the lesson in the 90's and prepared well.

Everyone has a theory, some have friends in the industry, etc. Based on conversations with several people in the industry and those who know a lot more than I do, I believe it will be like this or worse for over a year. If new legislation is passed these will have been the good old days.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: I don't get it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: desertrat1979</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And I alwayse wanted to ask....if you have 20000 primers, 49 lbs of powder, 1500 bullets, and 1200 rounds of brass that you are nesting on, what good will it do you if you do have to fight? </div></div>

I tend to get 20-30 reloads per unit brass; so if I had 1200 cases, I would want 30,000 bullets and 204 pounds of powder.

One mush have a sense of balance about all this.

 

[Super Bee 950]

Re: I don't get it?

I believe in balance as well. Buy buying all I can find I pay todays prices for tomorrows ammo. As I look into my safe at Primers I paid 14 bucks a thousand for, your "balance" way of thinking is lost on all the money I am saving based on todays market. Your balanced way of thinking has you paying 20 bucks for a box of 45 ACP. I am reloading it for 5 bucks.

My ammo component stash is bringing better returns than the stock market.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: I don't get it?

I apologize fellas. I understand that there are high volume shooters out there. I was directing my vent to the irrational ones that I mentioned in my earlier post. I feel the most frustrating part is that I am new to reloading, I spent the money on the equipment, and I cant get any of the materials to load.