Primer availability
 

I just read this post on primer availability over on a gun site that I frequent; the info comes from someone who knows what is going on. Thought you guys might like to know---

Here is some info on primers I just received from Sinclair International via their monthly email of The Reloading Press - May 2009:

Primer Availability

We have had a lot of concerned customers calling to ask about primer availability. Actually, our lines have been flooded with calls regarding the availability of primers as well as the availability of other components. The easiest and quickest way to check on availability is through our new website, whether you plan on phoning an order in, ordering off the web, or using some other means. The following is our view on the current primer situation. Basically, there has been a two-pronged drain on primer supplies for the reloading market.

The first driving force has been the huge demand for loaded ammunition through 2008 and continuing into 2009. The large primer manufacturers like ATK (which would include Federal and CCI), Winchester, and Remington are directing the majority of their primers into loaded ammunition. Ammunition sales are going through the roof as individuals stock up because of political concerns. The huge consumer demand for ammo is in addition to the demand from law enforcement agencies and our military to re-supply their own inventories. I know that smaller ammunition manufacturers have been impacted drastically by the primer shortage since their demands are higher than normal for primers that they have to obtain through Federal, CCI, Winchester, Remington, etc. Many of these smaller manufacturers have had to go to other sources to get quality primers. Because of this situation, some of them cannot keep up with their own ammunition production. Unfortunately, these smaller ammo makers can�t control their own destiny since they don�t have the capacity or tooling to make primers.

I mentioned that there were two factors impacting primer availability; the first factor is creating the second one. Since ammo demand has consumed more of the primer supply than normal, the quantity of primers on the shelf has declined at the box stores, the reloading companies (like Sinclair), and the smaller gun shops. With the fast communication via the internet, the word spreads quickly and the result has been consumers stockpiling and hoarding primers. Individuals are buying and keeping more primers in their own personal inventories and this has prevented some reloaders from having any primers at all. We normally see people buying 1,000 or maybe 5,000 primers at a time, now we are seeing customers buying 25,000 at a time.

The manufacturers are trying to react as best as they can, but their primary driving force is to keep a steady supply of primers going to the ammunition plants because they generate more revenue through this output than they do through the reloading market. A guy from CCI called the other day to order some items from us for his own reloading, and he reported that CCI has been running 24/7 and is still falling behind. They are adding two machines to their line to increase production (I don�t know what percentage gain this will give them). Federal told us a couple of weeks ago to not be surprised if we don�t see many primers from them until the end of 2009.

This is what we know as of today. Our current situation at Sinclair is that we are out of primers but are expecting some Wolf primers of all types sometime in June. We get a few Winchester primers every once and awhile but it might only be 30K to 50K at a time.

Eventually everyone will have enough stockpiled, manufacturers should catch up with ammo runs, and the supply on the shelves will hopefully return. This happened in throughout 1994, just not to this scale.

Best Regards,
Bill

Note: Bill is Bill Gravatt, President of Sinclair International

Re: Primer availability
 

Well, there's gotta be a conspiracy in there somewhere. I'm sure someone will find it.

Re: Primer availability
 

Conspiracy? Did you say "Conspiracy"???

"I don't need no stinking conspiracy!"... as the Mexican bandido said to Humphrey Bogart!

:emotions16:

Re: Primer availability
 

and to Heddy Lamar.


that's HEDLEY.

Re: Primer availability
 

sportsmans supply co. has primers in stock...advertised in the paper today. $35 bucks per 1k. cci brand....they are in pa but ship...no clue what shipping rates would be....

http://www.sportsmanssupplyco.com/

Re: Primer availability
 

About six weeks ago, I placed an order on Cabelas web site for 10K each of the top four brands of small rifle primers (got enough of the others) on the theory that if they delivered, I could sell half and get the first half for free.

If they didn't deliver, I'd lose nothing.

Well, they delivered the first 10K about three weeks ago and while they keep sending me updates on the delivery of the rest (latest date is in June), they are showing no signs of backing out of the deal even though the price was $29/1K.

Has anyone seen the ridiculous prices on gunbroker.com?

Re: Primer availability
 

The gunbroker prices are so NUTS that I think the "sellers"' are wishful thinkers looking for panic-stricken suckers.

:thumb.aspx:

Re: Primer availability
 

Not too many auctions ending without a buyer.

Re: Primer availability
 

Haven't tracked the auctions, SLV_GLD... but take your word on the outcome... not a total surprise.

BUT, if so... it's like P.T. Barnum said: "there's a sucker born every minute."

:s1:

Re: Primer availability
 

Hey Skyvike, did they charge you at the time you placed the order or when they shipped?

Re: Primer availability
 

Cabela's charges at order time. I'd assume if they weren't going to honor that price they'd cancel the order.

Put an order in with cabelas and forget about it. By the time July~August rolls around you'll have what you ordered.

Re: Primer availability
 

No disrespect intended brother Dave but my experience has been different.

After the order, they immediately sent me an e-mail informing me about the backorder and assuring me they will NOT charge my credit card until the product ships.

(indeed I got advance notice that the first batch was coming because I just happened to check my credit card statement online and saw the $340 charge from Cabelas about two days before I got the e-mail advising me of shipment. This was several weeks after the original order.

So far, this has turned out to be true as they only charged me for 10K before they shipped the first batch.

Also far as I can tell, they are only charging me for shipping and HAZMAT charges once, even though they will likely make four separate shipments. I inferred this from the updated invoice they keep sending me which only shows the one shipping charge once, which they did charge in full for the first shipment.

:36_1_32v:

Re: Primer availability
 

And some are finding them. I've seen 1K LR primers opening for $75, with bids!!

I can wait.

Re: Primer availability
 

Any ide how the gun broker people are shipping the primers to the auctiion winners? I think the hazmat rules for shipping primers would be tough to follow. Anyone have any experience?

Skyvike is correct, Cabelas will not charg you for an item on backorder until it is actually shipped.

BP

Re: Primer availability
 

In the past I've gone in with several people on a big powder buy so we could distribute the UPS $25 hazmat fee. It's been a couple of years, mostly I've bought local to avoid the fee.

Re: Primer availability
 

Just called.
They have them in stock but will not ship.

Re: Primer availability
 

That would be my question, too. Unless the shipper took the primers to a HazMat reshipper, you'd be opening yourself up to all sorts of federal problems. I took an IATA hazmat shipping course one time, years ago, and wouldn't think about shipping primers or even powder myself. this isn't like shipping ammo (a simple ORM-D material). Your paperwork, labeling, and even the type of box you use MUST be as per the regs, or you're subject to huge fines.

Not something for the casual shipper to do.

Re: Primer availability
 

Keep checking every email they send you. They will send a bunch saying the order is delayed if you want to cancel let them know. Then then after a couple months they send you an email saying that if you don't email them in 10 days they will cancel your order.


Just keep checking them.

Re: Primer availability
 

Nice to know.

Thanks.
__________________

Re: Primer availability
 

To translate, they don't have 'em, but it should be any day now.

Re: Primer availability
 

Actaully going back to my order I found that they did bill me later. You were right they did not charge at order time, however two days later they charged the card. Then told me of the shipping date, one of which was the original ETA they estimated at order time. Then they send me an update again telling me the order would be filled on different dates. At no time however did they upcharge me or change the order to reflect a higher price. They just took the money a few days from the order.

I have a feeling that they check their stock, then pump the order into the queue when they can fulfill their obligations a customer at a time.

I also have a feeling that if the price surged, they would cancel the order or call first. Cabelas is a big enough buyer to get some "float" on their purchases, at least one would think.

Re: Primer availability
 

my bad then....ad stated shipping but i guess it only applies to certain items....nice store if anyones ever in the area

Re: Primer availability
 

Could be, but they don't want make people mad either.

I just got another e-mail thanking me for my order and updating me on the expected shipping dates. All three of my remaining have slipped to late June...

No worries. I got the first one.

:wink: