Anyone with Spare Small Pistol Primers? Willing to Compensate Via PayPal

[VariableRecall]

I'm getting started with reloading for .38 Special, and there's one thing that I need in order to finally get started. Small Pistol Primers.

I've only acquired 100 cases with primers in them thanks to a generous user, but that's all the primers that I have.

Right now I'm bidding on Gunbroker for some primers, but I doubt that my current bid is going to stay. All of my local and non-local retailers have no pistol primers left.

I'm thinking I can arrange the purchase a brick (or Half Brick) of Small Pistol Primers off of here instead, preferably CCI 500 or Winchester. I'm willing to pay, using Paypal, $50 for 1000 primers plus any extra shipping charges that may come with it.

All I need is One Brick to get me going in all of this.
Is anyone willing to make me an offer?

(This may be the wrong place to ask for this, I sincerely apologize. I have not been on this site long enough for Swap N' Sell, so I'm asking here.)
(Let me know if I'm violating any rules, and if so, how to delete this thread.)

[JimB..]

I think I explained, but maybe not, it is not possible to legally ship primers without a very specific and expensive license. Primed brass can be shipped, it isn’t considered hazardous and doesn’t even require special marking or ground only.

Watch out on gunbroker or any buying online, make sure that you know what the seller is going to charge you for a hazmat fee and for shipping.

[brewer12345]

The problem is the shipping. If you were local to me I would happily meet up with you. Look on your local armslist.

[elmacgyver0]

If Trump wins at some point you will be able to buy primers again.

[Conditor22]

You may need to send them 1000 pieces of brass and have them install primers to send back to you legally.

[VariableRecall]

You may need to send them 1000 pieces of bras and have them install primers to send back to you leagaly.

A lovely user managed to send me primed brass in the same method. If worst comes to worst, what would be the reasonable acceptable limit of price when it comes to a Brick of primers if I were to purchase one through Gunbroker? They are mostly selling for over $100 plus shipping per 1000 primer Bricks. My bidding limit is around $75, around $15 over the MSRP of CCI 500. With around $30 in hazmat fees, it would total about $105 plus tax. That's a real terrible deal.

Does anyone around here have the Magic Hazmat shipping touch?

If you want to make your blood boil, check this out!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880237949

[jdfoxinc]

No. No spares.

[bakerjw]

Heck, I paid $700.00 for 10,000 from a member here. It was 2x normal prices but a hedge against what happens in November.

[GhostHawk]

http://www.americanspecialtyammo.com/Primers.html

[Thunder Stick]

If you want to make your blood boil, check this out!
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880237949

$30.50 plus $18 shipping for 100 primers?!! Yikes! That's insane!

[Conditor22]

http://www.americanspecialtyammo.com/Primers.html

https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/rittman/profile/gunsmiths/american-specialty-ammo-llc-0272-90006969/complaints

[VariableRecall]

https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/rittman/profile/gunsmiths/american-specialty-ammo-llc-0272-90006969/complaints

My heart jumped a little seeing CCI 500s for a completely normal price, but considering that BBB review, I'm going to have to hold off on that one.

Check this out from the BBB website:
"56 complaints closed in last 3 years

51 complaints closed in last 12 months"

"On April 6, 2020, BBB submitted a written request to the company encouraging them to address the pattern of complaints. BBB was able to contact Kelly Reed by phone on 1/27/2020. She provided responses to a number of open complaints at the time. BBB has not been able to reach her since then, nor has the business provided any additional responses as of June 2, 2020. "

[MUSTANG]

Variable Recall:

If you can travel to Kalispell Montana (267 miles according to my Google Foo) I will sell you 1000 Pistol Primers for what I paid $38.00. I have been in places where components were almost impossible to get (at any price). It's a long round trip - but an option. Drop me a Private Message (PM) if other options will not work out for you and you want to pursue this.

[VariableRecall]

Variable Recall:

If you can travel to Kalispell Montana (267 miles according to my Google Foo) I will sell you 1000 Pistol Primers for what I paid $38.00. I have been in places where components were almost impossible to get (at any price). It's a long round trip - but an option. Drop me a Private Message (PM) if other options will not work out for you and you want to pursue this.

I'm going to have to decline that option, but thank you for the offer. My vehicle gets pretty terrible gas mileage and I'm probably going to pay $100 in fuel alone to get there.

[Battis]

All I need is One Brick to get me going in all of this.
Why do you need 1000 primers to "get going"? You have 100 primed cases - that's a good start.
What about bullets and powder? Do you have those?
And what about a loading press?

[VariableRecall]

Why do you need 1000 primers to "get going"? You have 100 primed cases - that's a good start.
What about bullets and powder? Do you have those?
And what about a loading press?

I technically have everything I need to start reloading for my chosen caliber: .38 Special. From a hand press, two types of scales, dies, priming tools, brass, Powder (Win 231) and 650 bullets (158 Grain SWC). however, Other than the 100 primers that were gifted to me in some brass, that's all I have.
I'm kinda looking into the future considering how primers are one of the major consumable resources in this entire process. Thankfully, acquiring brass and bullets was really simple, but primers are currently another matter.

Right now I've re-sized, expanded, and otherwise prepped every piece of brass that I have availible to make the only steps after priming them being filling them with powder, and seating/crimping them into place.

[JimB..]

Gonna load and shoot your first round this weekend?

[kevin c]

How much unprimed brass do you have?

[VariableRecall]

Gonna load and shoot your first round this weekend?

Unfortunately, I've got a problem preventing me from doing that. Turns out my Hammer Nose on my model 10 broke while I was dry firing with Tipton Snap Caps. Even worse, the chunk of broken hammer nose is jammed in the cylinder. From what i can assume, the spring loaded pin in the snap cap is depressed to a degree.

The good news is that I believe I can still remove the hammer by moving the hand out of index so that I can manipulate it with the cylinder stuck in place. Thankfully, I've ordred another Hammer Nose from Numrich, but it's been almost a week and they still haven't shipped the Nose yet.

I've found a gunsmith somewhat in my area but to get to him in the middle of nowhere, about a 2 hour drive there and 2 hours back. It will be well worth giving it once over for a professional. From what I've heard when I called him he's got a lot of firearms in line he needs to work on so most likely this will be a two trip affair. I've honestly been really embarrassed about this but considering the hammer nose has lasted over 50 years that's a pretty damn good track record. I can post some photos of the problem if you would like.

Side profile with the Hammer Nose tip broken off:
https://imgur.com/UMAvCSR

Side view of the piece stuck in the Cylinder.
https://imgur.com/DsLIviV

[VariableRecall]

How much unprimed brass do you have?

I have about 300 or so cases of unprimed brass. Overall, I have enough lockable ammunition storage in my place for about 400 rounds. I'll probably get some more in the future to boost my capacity to 800.

[JimB..]

You believe that the hammer nose is stuck in the hole and pressing on the snap cap?

Have to tried sticking a rod down the barrel and tapping the snap cap lightly a few times while holding the gun upside down with the barrel tipped up? That’ll probably dislodge the broken part.

[Battis]

Good luck with your project. I was just a little skeptical when you said you'd pay $50 for 1000 primers, and then seeing what they were selling for online. Heck, I wish I could find primers at that price.
If I only had 100 primed cases, I'd work up a load, test it, then recalculate it if needed. You don't want to load up hundreds of rounds and then realize they they're not "right."
How are the gun related laws in WA? Here in MA, you need at least an FID card to buy loading components.
I checked out the IMGUR site where you posted your pics - I'd never heard of it but I don't get out much. But, geez, that is one Trump hating site.

[richhodg66]

We're starting to have a lot of gun shows around here again, that's where I'd look. Last weekend I went to a local show where a guy was selling all kinds of primers for $45 a thousand and he had a lot, just wouldn't sell more than 1000 to a single customer. I didn't need any, but it was good to see.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Dude, now is not the time to stock up. Things will loosen up after the election and have a vaccination for Covid.

[kevin c]

I have about 300 or so cases of unprimed brass. Overall, I have enough lockable ammunition storage in my place for about 400 rounds. I'll probably get some more in the future to boost my capacity to 800.

I have access to my club's reloading equipment. Let me see if they have a 38 Spl. shell plate (I have the same press). If they do and if you want, I can prime your brass for you for the cost of the primers and shipping. This will get you started and give you more time to source your own. Of course, how you reload the brass is controlled at your end and is at your own risk.

[VariableRecall]

I checked out the IMGUR site where you posted your pics - I'd never heard of it but I don't get out much. But, geez, that is one Trump hating site.
I just used it as a way to host images at a higher resolution than the not so great methods of posting images locally. Imgur is pretty cringy, but it works.

[VariableRecall]

You believe that the hammer nose is stuck in the hole and pressing on the snap cap?

Have to tried sticking a rod down the barrel and tapping the snap cap lightly a few times while holding the gun upside down with the barrel tipped up? That’ll probably dislodge the broken part.

I have some long wooden dowels that I use to jam my windows shut to try that out. I also have my cleaning rod I can use too. Keep in mind that the cylinder is filled with Tipton Snap Caps, which are made of plastic with a brass, springloaded primer area. I'll give that a shot when I get the chance but I'm pretty busy with school things at the moment.

Either way, my Numrich Hammer Nose is currently being prepared for shipping, so that's a step in the right direction. Have a look at the imgur links I posted if you want to get a look at the situation.
The only way I can manipulate the hammer is by taking that side plate off and moving the hand out of the way myself. I'm thinking that I can remove the hammer to prevent it from being damaged, and allow for clear access to the area that the hammer travels through. It will also allow me to open the cylinder independently from the trigger position, looking at the internals there.

[VariableRecall]

If I only had 100 primed cases, I'd work up a load, test it, then recalculate it if needed. You don't want to load up hundreds of rounds and then realize they they're not "right."


The trouble is that I only have 14 FMJ cartridges of .38 Special left to put to use, and I'm saving those for self defense, not practice. By some miracle, not realizing the imminent shortage, I managed to get a box of PPU from a local sporting goods store. I had went on a trial run with my revolver, getting more acclimated to the smaller grips and double action trigger pull by running 36 rounds through it. I had seen the writing on the wall regarding the ammo shortages but I knew that it was more important to get to know my revolver to build enough confidence to trust myself to use it properly should the dire need arise.

The indoor range that's available to me is a reasonable 40 min commute, but it would be tricky to justify going there if I'm going to only squeeze off six rounds and pay for half an hour of range time there.

[Battis]

Why not load up the 100 primed brass cases that you currently have? Save the 14 FMJ rounds for carry, as you said.

[downzero]

I have about 300 or so cases of unprimed brass. Overall, I have enough lockable ammunition storage in my place for about 400 rounds. I'll probably get some more in the future to boost my capacity to 800.

You lock up your ammunition? You would hate to see my reloading shop. There's tens of thousands of rounds in there, not a single one locked up.

It will be about 2 years before primers are available again. This happened in 2008 when Obama was elected and again in 2011 or so. Make sure when primers become available again, you get enough that you can weather at least 2-3 years without them being available at retail.

[VariableRecall]

Why not load up the 100 primed brass cases that you currently have? Save the 14 FMJ rounds for carry, as you said.

This is going to be literally my first time reloading cartridges. As far as I know I've done everything by the numbers after taking a good long look through the Lyman manual that was provided to me. I'm thinking I could just take the leap of loading 100 for my first run. I don't have a Powder dispenser, so I'll be measuring and charging all of my cartridges by hand. That way, I can make absolutely sure I am putting the correct amount of powder.

[VariableRecall]

You lock up your ammunition? You would hate to see my reloading shop. There's tens of thousands of rounds in there, not a single one locked up.


I keep my ammunition in a plastic ammo can with a lock on it. The lock is definitely not on the strong side, and you could probably use some tin snips to cut the plastic lock hole apart, but my imperative is that it will take an active, conscious effort to open it up. I dry fire with snap caps in my home (until the whole hammer nose thing), and I want to make sure that when it happens, ZERO ammunition is available for anyone to accidentally load into the revolver for any reason.

[BrassMagnet]

My Sportsman’s warehouse was well stocked with primers today. Yesterday they were out.

[kevin c]

This is going to be literally my first time reloading cartridges. As far as I know I've done everything by the numbers after taking a good long look through the Lyman manual that was provided to me. I'm thinking I could just take the leap of loading 100 for my first run. I don't have a Powder dispenser, so I'll be measuring and charging all of my cartridges by hand. That way, I can make absolutely sure I am putting the correct amount of powder.

It sounds like you are being very safety conscious, a very good thing. All the same I'd be willing to say most reloaders will assemble rounds that, for unanticipated reasons, are not shootable, despite care in the reloading process. Those get set aside, broken down or otherwise disposed of. Mistakes like that are much more common starting out.

Given the current scarcity and expense of components, and the fact that these will be the very first rounds you assemble, even going by the book I wouldn't recommend committing all the primer stock you have to your first batch. Yes you can break down your mistakes and usually can reuse everything, but it's much easier to break down a dozen cartridges than a hundred.

[BrassMagnet]

You should have a coach!

[Ianagos]

Wow I didn’t know primers are getting to be expensive not long ago I purchased them for $23 per 1000. And last I checked a week ago they were still available at that price. Definitely do some searching around locally.

[VariableRecall]

Given the current scarcity and expense of components, and the fact that these will be the very first rounds you assemble, even going by the book I wouldn't recommend committing all the primer stock you have to your first batch. Yes you can break down your mistakes and usually can reuse everything, but it's much easier to break down a dozen cartridges than a hundred.

I'm thinking of starting off with a 24 round batch, that way, I can get used to the rhythm of measuring powder and dispensing. I've already tested about six brass cases seated with bullets and my latest four I haven't been able to pull out with a kinetic puller without probably scaring the neighbors. I'll drop an image of the four I've discussed with in the other thread.

https://imgur.com/rrVup56

They look just right to me. All of the cases are from different manufacturers but the Lee Crimp+Seating die did a fantastic job with all of them.

[farmbif]

its too bad your so far away I would be more than happy to help and maybe do some coaching.
have you checked, arms list dot com, local to you for primers?

[clum553946]

You should have a coach!

I agree with BrassMagnet. Finding a good mentor is a good way to get started.

[VariableRecall]

I agree with BrassMagnet. Finding a good mentor is a good way to get started.

All of you fine people are doing a pretty good job!

[VariableRecall]

its too bad your so far away I would be more than happy to help and maybe do some coaching.
have you checked, arms list dot com, local to you for primers?

Looks like even Armslist is cursed with the extreme price hikes going on in Gunbroker. Things are looking not so swell out here.

https://www.armslist.com/posts/12441572/phoenix-arizona-reloading-for-sale--primers-