Is the PrimePocalypse over?

Sasquatch

Sasquatch

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Since ammo is down to reasonable prices (9mm at 27cpr), I figure primers had to follow.

It's not pre-pandemic pricing, but I got 1000 Winchester small rifle primers and about as many SPP off the shelf at Academy in Apex for 9cpr and 8cpr respectively on Friday. Since this is cheaper than many on-line, and even in the forums, I expect the prices to tumble soon.
 
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Sasquatch said:
Since ammo is down to reasonable prices (9mm at 27cpr), I figure primers had to follow.

It's not pre-pandemic pricing, but I got 1000 Winchester small rifle primers and about as many SPP off the shelf at Academy in Apex for 9cpr and 8cpr respectively on Friday. Since this is cheaper than many on-line, and even in the forums, I expect the prices to tumble soon.
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Only place I’ve seen them is sportsman’s warehouse. They’re selling them by the hundred for $10/100 and limit 200. I’m glad someone is seeing some price dropping. Hopefully others will get on that bandwagon
 
Academy has been pretty good about having small selections of at least one kind of primer most times I've gone to my local one recently. Pretty nice to see! They're always cheaper than I can nab them for online so I usually grab some if they've got the #41 5.56 primers in.
 
It ain't over yet. Anti-gun bills are still being pushed, and until that goes nowhere, there will still be some panic buying to keep the prices up.

I will say that this "big scare" has lasted longer than the last one. The one big difference this time is that gun purchases by first time buyers are way up (due to the riots, mainly). That has been driving the demand for ammo, and until that market is fully saturated, prices and availability of components are not going to improve much.
 
The republicans are working hard to blow the next election, I expect D’s across the board, so I don’t expect it to end any time soon. Ammo will be going back up as soon as we all figure out that Trump can’t win hut he can damn sure guarantee that R’s will lose.
 
JimB said:
The republicans are working hard to blow the next election, I expect D’s across the board, so I don’t expect it to end any time soon. Ammo will be going back up as soon as we all figure out that Trump can’t win hut he can damn sure guarantee that R’s will lose.
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Fact.
 
At $0.10 per or more shelves will stop being empty. Folks won’t buy 50000 to hoard at that price and nobody can double or triple their money by scalping.

In 12-18 months hopefully we can have readily available bulk buys for 40% less than today’s prices. But don’t expect to see $0.04 per ever again.

I found Federal SPP (match) for $129 recently and grabbed 1K just since I have many revolvers that only use those for DA function.

Was not buying 6k at that price tho even tho they had them.
 
Jmoser said:
At $0.10 per or more shelves will stop being empty. Folks won’t buy 50000 to hoard at that price and nobody can double or triple their money by scalping.

In 12-18 months hopefully we can have readily available bulk buys for 40% less than today’s prices. But don’t expect to see $0.04 per ever again.

I found Federal SPP (match) for $129 recently and grabbed 1K just since I have many revolvers that only use those for DA function.

Was not buying 6k at that price tho even tho they had them.
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Sportsmans has a limit per buyer near me, CCI BR4s are $9/100 before tax and CCI #500s are about $5.50 before tax

Still vastly cheaper than buying 1000ct online even factory in the gas driving back four more times to get the rest.

I found primers AND and single pound of Varget in stock there for the first time recently in nearly 3 years. Primers may be becoming more available but I don’t see current shelf prices decreasing demand as I can get a thousand BR4s locally for $100 versus $150-160 online with another $30+ for hazmat and freight. I’ll definitely keep picking them up for that price on the shelf to keep from having to buy online
 
11B CIB said:
Sportsmans has a limit per buyer near me, CCI BR4s are $9/100 before tax and CCI #500s are about $5.50 before tax

Still vastly cheaper than buying 1000ct online even factory in the gas driving back four more times to get the rest.

I found primers AND and single pound of Varget in stock there for the first time recently in nearly 3 years. Primers may be becoming more available but I don’t see current shelf prices decreasing demand as I can get a thousand BR4s locally for $100 versus $150-160 online with another $30+ for hazmat and freight. I’ll definitely keep picking them up for that price on the shelf to keep from having to buy online
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That's my point- when 'retail' is less than online- you and I won't be the only ones stopping the online guys from their windfall. The online prices will have to be lower than what I can get them for at Sportsman's or Academy- and way lower considering hazmat.

Big picture- primer capacity is going up- it was blown out by the pandemic with several manufacturers online, but since then others have broken ground and restarted, so I do expect some serious reductions to come in the next year. Back to 3 or 4c, not likely, because of inflation of core components, not the supply chain issues that caused it.
 
Sasquatch said:
That's my point- when 'retail' is less than online- you and I won't be the only ones stopping the online guys from their windfall. The online prices will have to be lower than what I can get them for at Sportsman's or Academy- and way lower considering hazmat.

Big picture- primer capacity is going up- it was blown out by the pandemic with several manufacturers online, but since then others have broken ground and restarted, so I do expect some serious reductions to come in the next year. Back to 3 or 4c, not likely, because of inflation of core components, not the supply chain issues that caused it.
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Local supply is still next to nothing. It’s been three years and this is the first time any have been available and it was VERY little and ultimately sold out, whereas online its a different story.

I hope things are changing but it’s gonna be slow if it happens
 
Let me know when they are back to $50 per k otd.... I know we will never get back to $25-30 per so I've accepted that as the price I would buy at unless I'm down to my last 100.

It makes me sad just typing that. But with 9mm factory back down to around $0.25 per, I shall remain hopeful.
 
Last time, the primers evaporated first. Once they became available, then pistol powders were hard to find. Lets hope the powders don't disappear when the primer prices come down.
 
Trevillian said:
Let me know when they are back to $50 per k otd.... I know we will never get back to $25-30 per so I've accepted that as the price I would buy at unless I'm down to my last 100.

It makes me sad just typing that. But with 9mm factory back down to around $0.25 per, I shall remain hopeful.
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This is my feeling as well, and I will still feel like I'm getting corn holed at 50.00 per K.
 
scmoose said:
This is my feeling as well, and I will still feel like I'm getting corn holed at 50.00 per K.
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When the primers disappeared gas was less than $2/gal and your grocery bill was about 1/2 to 1/3 less than today. $50/k is about what $35/k was 3 years ago.
 
Considering we were buying primers for $25/k or less pre-pandemic, I think $40/k is the target price for a normal state. That would include over 35% inflation PLUS a 20% premium for reduced supply of primers going to the components market.

This doesn’t account for new primer manufacturing such as PSA/AAC’s plans which, even if not sold as components, will help overall supply condition improve.
 
Anyone seen 209 shotshell primers? These are still mighty sparse in my neck of the woods!
 
Trevillian said:
Let me know when they are back to $50 per k otd.... I know we will never get back to $25-30 per so I've accepted that as the price I would buy at unless I'm down to my last 100.

It makes me sad just typing that. But with 9mm factory back down to around $0.25 per, I shall remain hopeful.
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zzzzz.....zzzzzzz... wake me up when they do....

-Snoopz
 
The Primepocalypse is here to stay unfortunately. The absolute best price we have been able to find is OEM primers (not for resale) and the new pricing for them is around $62 per 1k and that's in quantities of 100,000 at a time which unfortunately no one can fill. This means retail will always be north of that. So the new normal once all of the dust settles and primers are readily available again will be around $79 per thousand as a retail price. This is assuming that the market relaxes sufficiently to allow the price to settle to that. Current dealer pricing for primers from most wholesalers is around $80-85 per thousand not including shipping. If you are trying to get to the best price, you can buy Fiocchi primers (very good performers) in small pistol and small rifle for around $88 dollars per thousand including shipping if you bought 24-36 thousand at a time to help break up the hazmat cost.
 
Norma has spp at $65.00/1000 boxes

normashooting.com

Small Pistol Primers – Made in Argentina - QTY 1000

Introducing our Small Pistol Primers, proudly made in Argentina to meet the highest standards of quality and performance. Designed to provide reliable ignition for your ammunition, these primers are a must-have for any shooting enthusiast or seasoned marksman.
normashooting.com normashooting.com

Servicios y Aventuras which I purchased last from PV at $80/1000. I have read that some people have problems with these, particularly with light striking guns. I’ve had no issues either reloading or function with any of my revolvers or semis
 
How long did it take 9mm to get from $500 a case to $275? I think SPP will take the same once they are sitting on shelves. I would imagine within 12 months. We will not go back to $25-$30 but $40-$50 sitting on the shelf is realistic.
 
wvsig said:
How long did it take 9mm to get from $500 a case to $275? I think SPP will take the same once they are sitting on shelves. I would imagine within 12 months. We will not go back to $25-$30 but $40-$50 sitting on the shelf is realistic.
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So just in time for the pre-election pre-panic price spike of 2024?
 
11B CIB said:
Sportsmans has a limit per buyer near me, CCI BR4s are $9/100 before tax and CCI #500s are about $5.50 before tax

Still vastly cheaper than buying 1000ct online even factory in the gas driving back four more times to get the rest.

I found primers AND and single pound of Varget in stock there for the first time recently in nearly 3 years. Primers may be becoming more available but I don’t see current shelf prices decreasing demand as I can get a thousand BR4s locally for $100 versus $150-160 online with another $30+ for hazmat and freight. I’ll definitely keep picking them up for that price on the shelf to keep from having to buy online
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If you see primers at Sportsman's Warehouse, be sure to check their website for a price before you buy. If the website price is lower (it was almost a dollar less for me) they will match it. At least the one I went to did. That was almost $2 less for the 200 limit.
 
Went to the Greenville Gun Show yesterday (Saturday, April 22) and several vendors had primers. Most were asking 120 per k, a few $130 per k, and one was asking $200 per k. Saw small & large pistol & rifle, as well as 209 Shotshell. Most were $120 per k.

One interesting note; at the last Asheville Gun show, my wife bought me 2 one-pound jars of HP-38 powder for $35.00 each. Pre pandemic, we were paying $23 - $25 per pound, so all things considered, $35 isn't all that bad. Yesterday, at Greenville, The SAME COMPANY that she bought from in Asheville, six weeks ago, had the exact same jars of HP-38 priced at $45.00 per pound. Are powder prices going back up again, or does the Greenville area bear higher prices?
 
Saw large pistol primers (I think the federal match?) at Academy in Winston a few weeks back, not terrible price either, just picked up one box (they're going into some brass shotshells). I have traveled a bit recently and noticed that primers are still the most difficult thing to find. Dies are there, plenty of powder is back in stock now, bullets and cases are there. But still very hard to find primers.

I have noticed in my area I can semi-reliably find small rifle primers. Anything besides that or 209s... is a roll of the dice.


The only thing harder to find than primers for me has been percussion caps. BUT I do have that little punch tool to make my own from soda cans... I have that little kit from the 22reloaderguy's website... maybe that will be a fun project this week once I reassemble a few other things.
 
Powder has gone up but it's post plandemic, not in just the past year. Certain powders are still rare to find, but some are a lot more available. For primers, "small" are available most everywhere, but it's not American brands like CCI or Federal. "Large" are still uncommon.
 
Amp Mangum said:
10,000 SPPs for $620.

www.defenderammunition.com

Buy Rifle & Pistol Primers for Reloading

Get the best reloading experience with Defender Ammunition's Rifle & Pistol Primers! Choose from a wide selection of options to suit your needs. Buy now
www.defenderammunition.com www.defenderammunition.com
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That ZSR packaging reminds me a lot of S&B packaging that Cabelas used to have. If they’re S&B, that would be pretty nice. Regardless, best deal I’ve seen in years!
 
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