My email to Starline...
Hello,
I wish Starline would get into the primer business.
I guess it'd take a year or two to begin production, but it would seem like producing primers would really be in your best interest.
To your advantage, your company already produces many cartridge cases. A core part of your business are reloaders, people who do need primers to. Don't you think we reloaders would be excited to buy primers direct from Starline who has a reputation for both quality, and affordable prices?
We know Starline already has extensive experience both forming and shaping brass. Your company can even nickel plate brass. So, I would expect the physical components of the primer would be no issue whatsoever from a technical standpoint for your company.
I expect the hurdle would be mixing the priming compounds, and engineering the primers. But, this is not a new technology here. There are several companies domestically, and globally producing primers. Perhaps no domestic company would want to share, or license their technology. But, I bet there is a foreign company who'd be willing to sell their technology, perhaps even produce some machines that could be used to get a production line in the US started.
If Starline were to take the steps to begin production of primers, I imagine they would compete with other ammunition manufacturers. Starline has to, though, consider that their business could always be at risk from larger ammunition manufacturers seeking to expand into the components business. So in other words, doesn't Starline face risk from inaction as well? Another benefit of being a source for primers is that Starline could also contract out their capacity to produce their primers making their partners, and consumers, happy. Win - win!
I hope you'll take the leap. The shortage of primers is absurd. Not being able to get components, and even ammo, is not healthy for the shooting sports. For too long too many of the legacy ammunition manufacturers have been poorly run, or too risk adverse. I hope Starline will explore production of primers and continue to expand their offerings to reloaders.
Sincerely,
Chris