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

Originally Posted by zimmer

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.

Why would they ship from Mexico when there a huge supply of US 155 arty and GLMRS rounds kept in storage in Israel they have already dipped into, which is much closer?

Originally Posted by dogmatix

Why would they ship from Mexico when there a huge supply of US 155 arty and GLMRS rounds kept in storage in Israel they have already dipped into, which is much closer?

Don't know but seeing it mentioned on the Yank forums but I guess forums being forums it's not unreasonable to doubt anything being posted on any forum this one included.

Oh, the powder issue wasn't a forum opinion. The article I read did the simple maths, approximately how many rounds fired a day, powder charge per round, versus manufacturers' powder capacity. Cannot remember the exact numbers but at the height of artillery use it worked out to tonnes of powder/day consumed.

You do need to remember, the US is a long way from dipping into its existing stocks to the point it can't easily replace it. Yet.
To ramp up new or mothballed US production lines is still going to take another 12-18 months.
European NATO nations have certainly dipped past the point of production not meeting demand, as they had less to begin with. Which is why South Korea has stepped in, as it has both has huge stocks (not as big as US though) and the existing manufacturing production lines.
Also components to make one 155mm round (shell body, explosive, GPS guidance and powder charges) come from different countries, so worldwide shipping issues (ie lack of water in Panama Canal currently) is a killer.

So if you had the forsight now to see what prices are like and the low level of stock on shelves.
What would you buy and how many?
If you were say a hunter that only goes through less than 50 rounds a year would you "stock up and get 200 primers or would you "stash" a 1000?
If you were a competition shooter that goes through 2000 / 5000 a year would you buy 10,000 or 50,000?

If you had a stock of 250,000 because you plan well ahead would you

A sell some on here for what you paid to "help out" fellow forum members?
B Sell some on trademe with a nice friendly low buy now?
C Scalp the bejesus out of everyone and reap the rewards of your careful planning
D Just hold onto them and burn them up?

I've done some A and the rest will be D.

I certainly don't have 250,000, maybe 10,000.

Originally Posted by dogmatix

You do need to remember, the US is a long way from dipping into its existing stocks to the point it can't easily replace it. Yet.
To ramp up new or mothballed US production lines is still going to take another 12-18 months.
European NATO nations have certainly dipped past the point of production not meeting demand, as they had less to begin with. Which is why South Korea has stepped in, as it has both has huge stocks (not as big as US though) and the existing manufacturing production lines.
Also components to make one 155mm round (shell body, explosive, GPS guidance and powder charges) come from different countries, so worldwide shipping issues (ie lack of water in Panama Canal currently) is a killer.

Yes the major issue for all commerce in USA at the Panama Canal right now just doesn't seem to be getting much media coverage here.

Before long we'll be making gunpowder out of our own urine like the poor sod on YouTube.

"Red bull gives you wings..."

Originally Posted by dannyb

F%@k me

Sorry per 1000


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A few folk on here were bitching when primers went to $20 per hundred, I bought 500 to make sure I had enough for my hunting needs. Now they are $50 for 100, just buy them or soon they will be $100 for 100 and so on.

I looked at importing primers together with my projectile importing venture, i have a source for primers (not sure how reliable) but ill have to ask nearly $400 per 1000 once they are in NZ. and i don't like that so ill park that for now

Originally Posted by johnd

If you had a stock of 250,000 because you plan well ahead would you

A sell some on here for what you paid to "help out" fellow forum members?
B Sell some on trademe with a nice friendly low buy now?
C Scalp the bejesus out of everyone and reap the rewards of your careful planning
D Just hold onto them and burn them up?

A, D, & "E sell some to friends and club members at your cost price."

The amount of primers backordered is astronomical, I reckon we will get primers again but will then face a power shortage as thats only getting more difficult to get here

US Election next year, so stock up when you can. Depends who you talk to in US $75 per 1000 is what I was quoted.

They are still out there, keep your ear to the ground and be decisive as they go fast.

I have always kept plenty on hand as I normally shoot 200 rounds a week (mixture pistol and rifle). Bit more picky what I shoot now, shooting a lot more rimfire but even that is pricy now.

Keep a open mind, sometimes loaded ammo is cheaper than the components.


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