Primer Gougers

I've been keeping an eye on the market for primers on GB. Seems that small or large pistol primers are currently selling for at least $500 for a 5,000 case. Often much more. About four or more times the "normal" market price.

No idea whether the current general situation will lead to an extended shortage of ammo and components, but some folks are paying dearly at present.

I just hope my stash gets me through the craziness, got about a years worth of everything to shoot matches. The Obama years taught me something but I have only so much I want to spend each year on components and 22 ammo. The combo of COVID and the election really got this crazy and quick.

(John quietly starts thinking about funding his daughter's college education and his own retirement...)

If you look you can still find components for "normal retail", not easy but possible. One of the bigger retail stores in my area puts primers out on occasion (large pistol) and limits one. Economics are not as good as buying a case, but it could keep you in the game.

As a person who is just preparing to start reloading, I bought 2000 primers on Gunbroker (the only source that I could find) for $85 per 1000. I understand that this is overly expensive but I don't seem to have any other options. I keep checking with the local stores but they are empty of primers with no predictions as to availability. Once we return to normal, I will definitely stock up...

My 2 cents.....

This is 2013-2014 amplified.  But one major factor is all the new gun owners created by the situation(s).  Which is a good thing for us, a fraction of them will become regular shooters and hopefully maintain if not grow the sport aspect.

With that said, in my honest opinion we won't see relief from shortages and gougers until manufacturing catches up with the long term demand.  And it's in the companies best interests to decipher how much of this demand is a constant and how much is short term.  Never mind being behind from government mandated shutdowns, social distancing and that sort.

My guess is we need to wait a year or so for some sort of sanity to be seen on the horizon.  Just like in 2013-2014, be a little more critical in your shooting.  I for one am using bulk Remington .22 that honestly has been collecting dust for anything that doesn't count for score, just to work on my fundamentals.

Good time to do more dry firing and more sparingly do the live practice. Careful use of ones supplies will stretch them out. i figure it's a year to get back close to normal but who knows these days.

Are Wolf LP primers any good?

I have 3 bricks I can make available cheep.

PM sent

Nope! Send them to me and I’ll.....

Jack H wrote:Are Wolf LP primers any good?

I have 3 bricks I can make available cheep.

Sorry JKR - Jack H and I talked - I am a member of the club where he is on the Board - and we are intending to try to keep them on hand to share with newbie/needy OR/WA Bullseye shooters during the coming year. Shipping primers is problematic anyhow (as confirmed by FC60 on a parallel thread).

Here is a snapshot of prices from GB for SPP's today. Note that there are many bids for each item.

People keep paying it so they keep going higher

And they complain while they write the check or punch in the credit card. But they agreed to pay it.

They are paying the penalty for not stocking up when prices were much lower.
Phil

I might have to pay the penalty for not having any primers for large rifle, and very few for small pistol.  I am ok with LP and SR primers.

I use my small rifle primers for pistol loads. 
JKR

I think that John Bickar will be revising his retirement planning when he sees this:-

I'm not gonna lie for $1100 I would consider selling my stash and just replenish next year which could end up screwing up your season some but $1100 for a case of primers is beyond crazy.

Jack H wrote:I might have to pay the penalty for not having any primers for large rifle, and very few for small pistol.  I am ok with LP and SR primers.

Never mind.  I just found more primers deep stashed in the bowels of my shelves. 
Got plenty now.  Like real plenty LP, SP, LR, SR, LRM...
With LRM, plenty is relative.  I don't think I will ever shoot the 375HH again

One Federal SR brick is marked $9.00/1000

zanemoseley wrote:I'm not gonna lie for $1100 I would consider selling my stash and just replenish next year which could end up screwing up your season some but $1100 for a case of primers is beyond crazy.

Right!  I could sell a case and still be ok for a few years.  Not sure I’d like to take that chance however

radjag wrote:I think that John Bickar will be revising his retirement planning when he sees this:-

I might even be able to upgrade my retirement meal planning from Meow Mix to Fancy Feast.

Shipping them illegally?

Ohh.... boy!  Where do we start....  Let me tell you a joke from my previous life:

So here is the gathering of people in one community with representative of government, who cheerfully speaks of the achievements in prior three month.  A man named Ivan gets up, and asks: "I know how much steel we produced, but I want to know where is Norwegian Herring and why it disappeared from the stores?" Party man mumbles something in the response, and meeting quickly adjourned.

Three months later, - same environment, same orator, once again speaking about achievements in the past quarter.  And same man gets up, and once again poses question.  This time he wants to know where is Black Caviar?

In another three months, - same thing, but there is a variation this time.  After all in attendance learned of the achievements, a man gets up and asks the question: "I don't want to know where is Norwegian Herring, and I don't want to know where is Black Caviar.  I want to know where is my friend Ivan?"

AP

They are out there at normal price if you are patient. Just picked up 30k large pistol for $30 a thousand.

shoot308 wrote:They are out there at normal price if you are patient. Just picked up 30k large pistol for $30 a thousand.

Where?

Bill