Shortage continues by me

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Last Post 03 December 2021

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sluggo posted this 29 November 2021

I was at a large sporting goods outfit this weekend. One brand of powder (IMR 4227) one bullet mold (a Lee 2 cavity). What suprised me was the price of jacketed bullets. I can only assume they are using silver instead of copper to sheath the lead. No primers in sight, same for brass. Some loaded ammo on the shelf. Mostly .308 and 270 win. For some reason. What a difference a couple years make. As far as prices go, until ammo and components start gathering dust on the shelves they will stay high. Corporations are in business to make money.

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John Carlson posted this 30 November 2021

Local Scheels has Fiocci 9mm FMJ for $14 per 50, was $22 a couple of weeks ago, was $12 a year ago. Shotgun shells at $12 per 25 but mostly 7 1/2 shot, likely because pheasant season in full swing. 4227 seems to be available for some reason, not much else for powders though I did pick up Titegroup and 4198 a while back reasonable. Bullets and brass I've looked at have not been horrendous. 22s at $5 per 50. When primers do show up they're around $100/brick, the only thing I've seen go up 300%. I can't believe that is due to the price of putting the product on the shelf.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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Eddie Southgate posted this 01 December 2021

I keep a notebook in my shirt pocket with a list in it of the sellers that have marked components up 50% and more . This is the list of people I will no longer be doing business with . I always keep a large stock of everything I use so not being able to buy powder, primers or jacketed bullets will work no hardship on me , but , I still don't like crooks . Yup , I think over charging is crooked regardless of the supply . There is crooked dealings behind the shortage but I can't say for sure where .

I don't think that it currently is new buyers like it was in the beginning . Saw a post elsewhere on the amount of ammo and AK magazines being purchased by the US government. Much of the purchase has been by non LEO or military organizations such as the US Post office . Tons of ammo they have bought . When was the last time you saw anyone connected to the Postal Service carrying a gun ? Glocks and shotguns is what the article said they were buying to go with the ammo . Have you ever seen or heard of a mail man being robbed or assaulted on the job ?

There are a very few sources within driving distance of me that are still selling what they are able to get at not much higher than normal prices . They are on a much shorter list of people who will be the only ones that I will be buying from in the future. Rant over, Out .

Eddie

Grumpy Old Man With A Gun......Do Not Touch .

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Bud Hyett posted this 03 December 2021

I was trying to agree and offer an alternate scenario. I realize we in the Pacific Northwest have different supply problems than others. I know one deer hunter here who last year bought a 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle off the shelf because that was the ammo the store had on the shelf.

Right Now, Powder Valley has several powders available in good quantities. They have these at old prices. I am trying to decide what to order as my cast bullet powders are in good supply.

Transportation: I have worked supply (transportation) problems on the 787 program development stage and know the frustration that can occur. I have a friend supplying lead and copper to the ammunition makers. His biggest problem is transportation. The raw material is available, getting it to the manufacturers is the hangup.

Today: The present situation is slowly getting better, Reloaders are getting whacked for price when they can find primers by some suppliers. Reloaders can buy enough to get by where the price is digestible now and stock up later. In the future, we must be ready to buy in quantity on sales and sales will again occur.

Current production: All large companies are run by the accounting department in a negative manner. The manufacturing group can have the greatest plans, but the accounting department holds veto power on spending if they are not separately convinced this is a good idea. I can visualize some accountant in a review standing up and saying, "This Is what is selling best, this is what we will produce."

We can weather the storm, but be ready to purchase several years supply when the sales come again. The supply chain is not a straight even line, but a wobbly, oscillating, expanding and contracting line that eventually will again oversupply the retailer.

I have a good supply, not because I am prescient, but I was seeking a large supply of the same lot number.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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RicinYakima posted this 30 November 2021

Cabela's had Blazer 9MM for $19.99 a box of 50, the only non shotgun ammo available. LGS had many Montana packaged Accurate powders from prior to Hodgdon buying them out. No primers anywhere. Down to my last 2000 SP and 5000 LP primers.

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RicinYakima posted this 01 December 2021

When was the last time you saw anyone connected to the Postal Service carrying a gun ?

This morning at the main Post Office. We have a problem here with the gangbangers robbing the blue drop boxes. The Postal Inspectors were heading out this morning working on a case.

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John Carlson posted this 03 December 2021

I suspect you are correct in saying that the retailers are not the ones gouging but I can't believe the cost of getting the primers to the retailers has tripled and more. I've recently bought cases and bullets at prices only slightly higher than two years ago. Powder price increases are fairly modest considering the supply/demand gap. Possibly no coincidence that Federal, CCI, and Remington are all under common ownership.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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sluggo posted this 03 December 2021

During the 1990's there was a primer shortage. When they became available again i tried to buy extras when i had the money. After several years i figured i had enough extras to carry me over about 5 years of shooting. I do not shoot near as much now so i am probably good for awhile. I guess i would be called a hoarder now, but i did this over a many years span to get the extra components. I am guessing that the unhearalded demand for loaded ammo has put reloading supplies on the back burner for major suppliers. I think it will be awhile before new brass, powder and primers are back on the shelf. As far as the cost goes, until ammo and components start gathering dust on the shelves prices will stay high. Corporations are in business to make money not friends.

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Eddie Southgate posted this 03 December 2021

Rick , y'all need better gang bangers . The ones around here are a poor example of a gang but even they stay too busy making and selling meth and guns to be bothered with robbing Post Office drop boxes .

I saw 1 armed postal employee when I was a kid 50 some odd years ago , maybe he was an inspector . I know they did issue some employees revolvers years ago because I have seen a few Colts with Post Office markings but most dated to around WWII or before, 2 of them were .22 LR Bankers Specials. Things are getting pretty rough when the Post Office needs Glocks and shotguns to stay in business .

Grumpy Old Man With A Gun......Do Not Touch .

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John Carlson posted this 02 December 2021

At Cabellas today, box of 250 Aguilla 22s for $14.99. Yeah, I now, but they do go bang most of the time. Winchester 9mm 115FMJ, box of 200 for $75.

Online auction just sold Win Large Pistol Primers, average $25 per tray ($250 per brick) PMC Small pistol primers $10-$11 per tray.

15 more pages of results, kinda scared to look.

John Carlson. CBA Director of Military Competition.

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David Reiss posted this 02 December 2021

Things are not much better here in Texas. The local store I do gunsmithing for can get 9mm, .223, .40, .45 .308 and some .22 lr. So the owner obtained a manufactures license so we could load for the calibers we can't get through the distributors. We can get powder, brass and bullets, but the selection is no where it should be. We had to pay $1300.00 for 5000 LP & LR primers or .13 a primer / $13.00 a brick. While it is still crazy high, it still allows us to provide ammo for those who can't get it.

We recently bought 16,000 small rifle and pistol primers in addition to about 40 lbs of powder from an estate sale. We sold some in the store for 7.50 a tray and no one balked at the price. Sure we would have loved to sell the primers for less. The powder was sold at normal prices.

From what I know, no dealers here or any I have seen online are gouging and that includes Midway, Brownells, Midsouth, Grafs and others. Gunbroker and the like is a different story. The retailers are trying to buy large lots from any source they can, but it does not come from the normal channels. So I don't agree with Eddie, I don't see them gouging. We all know Remington and Winchester have already announced price increases across the board. I don't know about CCI. But the primers that are occasionally for sale through retailers, local and online, are not coming from those sources.

Lastly I spoke to a source I have with Hodgdon this week and he told me that the talk around there is that we are still a year a way from getting back to normal, longer than what I anticipated. He also said that the best hope is for the dealers to get supplies of primers from overseas sources, however that is also bogged down still from covid-19.

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Bud Hyett posted this 02 December 2021

I disagree with the statement that Midway is not price-gouging. Their listed price is from $74.99 to $99.99 per brick without any stock on hand. They are on a campaign to build their bank account rather than serve the customer. I understand Larry Potterfield has retired and his two daughters are now running the business. Often happens the next generation gets greedy.

Primers were creeping up in price before the crisis, but not doubling or tripling. I had bought several cases on sale to stock up, one time I was prescient (lucky) enough to win.

I agree with the statement the earliest we will see primers readily available again will be next Fall.

There has always been a sale here and there when the stocks get high. And this will happen as many retailers have multiple orders in many places which they will cancel most when they again start getting primers.

I am in good shape for the coming 2022 competition season, possibly the 2023 season with strict rationing. But match attendance was down at the end of this season here in the Pacific Northwest due to some competitors not having primers.

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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David Reiss posted this 02 December 2021

Bud, I seldom disagree with you or not at all, but when you have to pay a lot, you charge a lot. The rare primers they've had over the past year did not come through the chain. And if that was the case, why has their powder prices not risen as such. There are still plenty people on this forum reporting powder shortages in their area. The same applies to loaded ammo, most is still real high, but we know that nothing is coming out of the plants but 9mm and .223. Have you seen any .30-30, .243, .30-06, etc. So we may agree to disagree.

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Shortage continues by me

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