What are you paying for primers?

[BruceB]

Actually, for my peace of mind, I DO require a substantial supply of "stuff"...all kinds of stuff.

I get twitchy if my lead-alloy stockpile drops below 1000 pounds, so I watch the available supply quite closely. I'm trying to cut back on the powder types I use, but at last count I still had over thirty different "numbers", mostly in multiples of pounds.

On primers, my NORMAL stock runs around fifteen to twenty thousand of various sorts, and has done for years. I've been increasing that level somewhat as opportunity presents itself. Just yesterday, Urny (in Elko) introduced me to a fascinating shop WAYYY out in the countryside, and they have Winchester primers in most sizes for $22.50 per thousand.....so, I bought three thousand "just because".

I owe nobody any apologies. This is my hobby, and primers are literally the spark-plugs that make my hobby "go". I may not even live to the end of my current supply, given the medical realities, but by gum I WILL be shooting as long as I possibly can. The primers on hand will make that possible.

One marvelous thing about casting our own bullets is the virtually unlimited range of components that are usable with our favorite projectiles. Jacketed bullets are a very expensive proposition if we try to build a reasonable stack of them for future consideration, and they need a fairly-limited range of powder types for good performance. The shop Urny took me to has bulk .308" 168-grain "match" BTHP bullets at $125/500. My M1A munches very happily on cast bullet loads that cost me PENNIES, completely loaded, compared to the 25-cents-per-bullet that most handloaders have to pay IF the bullets can be found.

Independence is a wonderful thing, and that pile of primers in my shop are a large part of that independence.

[Idaho_Elk_Huntr]

I LOVE ALL THE PRIMER SPECIALIST INPUT. I think most of the problem is most companies manufacture ammo and the ammo production is number one priority. If you were in buisness , are you going for the big profit or the smaller one?

[Idaho_Elk_Huntr]

I bought 50K Wolf Large Pistol from Widener's for $20 a thousand last week. Checking my CC, I found where Chris hit me a double whammy on HAZMAT; charging $45; even after writing the package fell under one HAZMAT charge of $22.50. His site displayed $20. I was also charged nearly $57 for shipping. Should I complain? I feel fortunate to have found any at all. I honestly believe the vendors think they can treat us, the consumers anyway they wish right now. Chirs has ignored my last two emails. It ain't over.

GRB

GRB

Hazmat is $22.50 a box up to 50 lbs. How many separate boxes was in the shipment?

[beanflip]

Just think 50,000 primers would last 34.722222 days if you shot continusley 1 shot every second.
With all that shooting I would think your gun would be wore out.

[Ron B.]

Here's a thought for you. And, a question.
What is the one component of a live round not easily layman made?

We all know the government has been wanting to serialize ammo for years. They know it's impossible; we know it, because of it's reloading capabilities. However, primers can easily be coded.

Now, do you believe something is going on? Or, are we all just paranoid gun fanatics?

GRB

[GSPKurt]

I stopped by Powder Valley last week in hope that they had gotten some primers in as their web page showed that they were out of allmost everything. I was in luck, paid $22.00 a thousand for CCI 200's. What a deal, I wish I had more money.

Skeet1

No kidding!

[Ron B.]

Got to love the sarcasm BCP & Beano!
What are you two doing on this forum, trying to start a squabble? Lol!
If primers are for sale, and we wish to buy them isn't it a little like our own business? Most of us own more than one or two guns. I know I do. And, a heaping mess of reloading stuff. Without primers, all of it's obsolete. Personally, I'm protecting my investment.

Idaho!
Widener's refunded my overcharge of $22.50 Hazmat!

GRB

[oldhickory]

I'm still able to get pretty much what I want at the local gunshop between $22-$26 per thouand, depending on brand and type. Guess we're pretty lucky in central Pa...So far!

[Ron B.]

So, some may question our sanity buying primers for 30-35 a thousand. Has anyone checked out the auction sites of late? I just came from GunBroker. $60 per thousand is a normal sight.

GRB

[Catshooter]

So, do you guys REALLY NEED 20,000....or 50,000 or more primers on hand, at any one time ??? Sorry if this sounds like I'm criticizing, but you do realize, don't you, that buying up and hoarding so many primers (as well as other handloading items) is EXACTLY the reason that the prices are going up by leaps and bounds....not to mention the fact that you are adding very much to the shortage problem ??? You DO get that, don't you ? NO ONE is going to ban primers - so there is NO need to panic. Really ! No wonder we can't get the d^mn things !

When President Bush was re-elected I knew that he had been doing such a bad job that the democrats were going to get in. So I knew that this would be happening and stocked up accordingly. I haven't bought primers for two years. Didn't you see it coming too?

Now maybe you weren't in a position to spend the money needed to do the same, but when you say: ". . . do you guys REALLY NEED . . ." it makes me think that you voted for the sock monkey?

The liberals are allways saying things like that, you know, you don't really need an AK-47 . . . or magazine bigger that ten rounds . . . just saying.


Cat

[BruceB]

I'd like to drift the thread just a wee skosh.

For many years now, I've been dating the powders and primers I buy. Just a stationery-department sticker with month and year is needed. I then place the newest components at the bottom of the stack to be used last.

Over the years, I think this is a useful way of extending the reliable life-span of the stuff.

Yep, I know that lifespans can be measured in decades, but I'm still occasionally surprised to find that the powder I just removed from the shelf was bought 20 (or more) years ago.

Just a suggestion, lads....

[troy_mclure]

i wish i could find some large rifle primers, im on BO at 4 stores in hopes i get some by may.

[troy_mclure]

just got lucky, my local shop/range got in 10k primers in as i was signing in.
they got(all win) 2k small rifle, 3k large mag rifle, 2k large mag pistol, 3k small pistol.
this from an order of over 100k primers, and 300lb powder(they got no powder).
they broke up 1k of each, so i was only able to get 2k large magnum rifle for $26 per 1000.

[RSOJim]

I got the last 1000 Federal small pistol magnum primers today at my local reloading emporium. Local means about 45 miles from my house. No other small pistol magnum brands available. Shelves nearly bare. I paid 36.95 plus tax. But I need them for my WC 820 habit. I tried some Wolf small rifle primers for my 357 mag loads of wc 820 and it appears that these primers are made of something harder than small pistol magnum primers. Out of 4 357 guns only one would reliably go off with the wolf small rifle primers. I tightened the hammer strain screws down as tight as I could get them on my two smiths, still about a third would not fire. I have an old ruger flat top that goes boom everytime. That guns loves a good dose of wc 820and old Elmers 173 grain SWC. I am rambling too much. Jim

[Baron von Trollwhack]

For our shooting friends who question why otherwise sane citizens are buying and hoarding primers, how about telling me why the stock market dived so badly and continues to display great uncertainty with hopey changey in charge, why my 75 year old pal across town lost 37% of his stock value since november, and even more of his retirement income? Why are crooks, cheats, and pigmented people rewarded for melanin instead of receiving just deserts? Only a fool thinks great losses in life or business can be recovered by even greater spending for debt.

Can it be that citizins do not want the assault ban re imposed, the borders left unsecured, crooks bailed out, 20 millions of illegals killing and raping us and stealing the wages we work for, in addition to the unwarranted use of the taxes we pay , sanctuary cities flaunting the law, the gubmint importing third world scum by the tens of thousands, and on, and on, and on. Without a doubt, the nation I once gave years of service to is declining. Unneccessarily, I think. And I am aware of many of the causes.


Citizen's grievances are unanswered. Prudent people stock the pantry in times of perilous uncertainty.

Bvt

[inuhbad]

At least you guys can FIND PRIMERS!!!

Every single darn place in the entire states seems to now be 100% OUT of & PRIMERS!

Most places don't have any smokeless powders in anything larger than 1 pound jugs!

It's a CONSPIRACY, I'm telling you!

[Old Ironsights]

I'm paying nothing... because I ain't buying any until the price goes down. the 15K I have should last me until then.

[bkbville]

Bass Pro near me has primers for $5.99 a hundred!?!?!?!?!

I bought these after spending a week going shop to shop looking for SR's - but only one package.

When - or should I say "if" I find them on-line the hazmat makes them unattractive (but I'm figuring on buying in bulk to amortize the cost.)

Next day I found them for $32/1000 (60 mile drive though...)

[Ron B.]

Well said Baron!
GRB

[LqChrome]

Ivisited Gander Mountian Friday and found federal primers for $4.99 per 100 and unique for $129.00 a jug, 4 lb jug not 8!! Left money in pocket!!!!!!