Thread: Primer Shortage...to be continued???

I spoke with a dealer today regarding the primer shortage, in particular Large Rifle and Large Magnum Rifle primers.

It was interesting to hear the views of small retail gunshop, as apart from the small trickle of primers arriving periodically, their view was, primer shortages were going to get worse, not better for at least the next 18 months (or more). Along with this, retail prices are likely to creep 20-30% higher, which is disappointing to hear.

I've been lucky (relatively speaking), having found a Christchurch source selling Winchester and CCI large rifle primers for $50 a packet of 100. Yep, it's absolute daylight robbery, but when you see people asking $100 plus per 100 on ShitsMe, I feel like I'm getting a bargain.

It's far cry from a couple of years ago, when the same primers would cost about $120 per carton of a 1000.

I heard a dozen reasons for the shortages, ranging from the war in the Ukraine, to US consumers stockpiling, through to a chronic shortage of base materials for the manufacture of primers, but who really knows?

I mean it's not only primers, when you can get them projectiles, powder, cases and even reloading equipment is skyrocketing in price (that if and when it's available)

Just curious, Has anybody heard anything different.

No

Flintlock is the future.

100 primers is about 5 years worth at the rate I'm pulling the trigger at the moment. However I am off to the range tomorrow to use up some left over factory federals so I have some cases to reload for the .308

I am getting the feeling that the primer shortage is sort of easing a bit over in the US, that tells me that we only are another year or so away from it easing here as well. Nevertheless 30-50 bucks for 100 primers will be the new norm going forward.

if alot of American shops dont have Large primers we wont get them for along time

Just hunting is affordable at $50/tray. Thousands per year in comp shooting becomes rather painful.

When I look at me boxes of primers and the tag on the outer box (1000) says $79.95 - I look at 100 for $50 and it's choke-inducing...

The issues we are having are a large part in the Ukraine way of blame, but not entirely due to ammo consumption as the ammo that a lot of the Ukrainian small arms require is of Russian design and the eastern bloc stuff tends to not use the same sizes that we require for our mostly US-sourced stuff. The raw materials (primer cup metal as a roll of sheet) is one of the products that were sourced in large amounts from the Ukraine area, and obviously the fact that those plants are mostly either completely flattened or still on the receiving end isn't helping with shortages.

Same overhere but a few Rem primers coming through occasionally. $200-250/100 is the going rate.

If i get low it’s Reach for the .308 and use 165 gn Speer spent Outback ammo at $240/120 bulk. A bit cheaper if you buy the 480 round tins.

Originally Posted by Dicko

Same overhere but a few Rem primers coming through occasionally. $200-250/100 is the going rate.

F%@k me

Narh he f**ked up there plenty large rem 91/2 standard and mag as well for around $220 a brick especially up Queensland way .

Why I'm mainly shooting factory 223 for the majority of my hunting atm.
Ration out the primer stash for as long as I can.

I was told that the shortage was due to ukraine and that western made arms that have been supplied are causing a great deal of US made ammo to be redirected there which obviously uses a great deal of primers.

Originally Posted by Old_School

I was told that the shortage was due to ukraine and that western made arms that have been supplied are causing a great deal of US made ammo to be redirected there which obviously uses a great deal of primers.

Nah. That's a FOX News line.
US supplied ammo and equipment comes from old existing US stock. The US literally has 100s of billions of 5.56 and 7.62mm small arms ammo.
Yes the US arms manufacturers are gearing to step up production, as they have contracts for new (not replacement) more modern equipment, but its not for small arms ammo. Its for bigger stuff. Think 155mm arty rounds and GMLRS and ATACMS rockets.
Creating a new factory, staffing and production line takes up to 2-3 years to get going these days. So no impact from the war in the US.
Plus the US won't be manufacturing 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 ammo for Ukraine. It comes from existing worldwide stock.

The biggest issue is the Western supporters cannot keep up the demand for powder for the artillery pieces.
Another bit of useless info - a lot of the Yank munitions support goes out via Mexico.