To ad to what I said in the video: I think of "us" as a community, not just a "market segment". You can have capitalism with a conscience. I will challenge companies (and individuals) to care as much about the sport and the community as they do about the dollar and bottom line. I couldn't accept $300. for a brick of primers, and I hope that you couldn't either. I do believe in the "Golden Rule". Everyone here is entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine.
100% agree with you man. For example: Palmetto State Armory (pre-COVID) constantly had mark downs on all of their in-house made inventory, now that the supply cannot meet demand, they have marked things back to their retail prices. I agree with that and am okay with paying full retail. However, like you and many others, I’m not comfortable paying 10X of what retail is and will refuse to buy from those retailers now and in the future. Btw, when is the Lee Pro 4000 review coming? I can’t wait to hear/see your thoughts on it. I blindly preordered a kit from Brownells and am still awaiting shipment.
love ya, bro, and your channel, but you're just missing the mark on this one. you are just not considering the impact of a crunch on ALL players in the market - the producers/excavators of the raw goods, the shipping costs, the mfg, more shipping costs, and the point of sale. your choosing to do business with somebody who didn't raise their prices, or didn't raise them as much, is also a market signal. a free market will always marry cash to product/service in the most efficient way possible. any interference with those relationships will cause more scarcity, which drives prices up. let this soak into your bones: all voluntary exchanges are ALWAYS to mutual benefit. the seller gets money, and the buyer gets something more valuable to himself than the money he exchanged for it. if the exchange is not to the mutual benefit of both parties, it simply doesn't happen. if i give you $10 for a widget, clearly, i value the widget more than I value $10. If you take the $10, clearly, you value that $10 more than you value holding on to your widget. in this case, if nobody is willing to buy small pistol primers at 30 cents, they won't sell.
I agree but even paying retail is ridiculous. Reason there is a demand and not enough goods is that manufacturers are NOT ramping up production so there is work for their employees when the "Pandemic" and the "grabbing" is over.
This situation is the most classic, perfect instance of supply and demand price discovery...not price gouging in the least. This is THE foundation of capitalism. Any outside force dictating or forcing price is essentially communism/marxism. Literally. Even if perceived as only a tiny infringement on free market capitalism, it is the first step onto a slippery slope. It exactly like agreeing to "reasonable gun controls" with progressives. They "progress" to something worse. The right thing to do is respond to the market as a free participant in the market...find alternatives...buy ahead next time...etc, etc.
Where have all the primers gone? They're sitting on shelves above reloading benches waiting to be auctioned off at estate sales in another 30-40 years.
That's not completely true, if you like practicing consistently having lots of components on the shelf allows you to continue to shoot even in lean times for ammo. You need to shoot a couple times a month to keep your skills sharp.
@@BOSS_DOG Hmm, I have 10K CCI SRP's on my bench. I load a lot of 300 BO. Was cleaning out my office today and found another 1300 from when I was hand priming while watching videos. My kids will get any that might be left.
I've looked at their site rarely. Never have bought from their that I can think of. They are the first to start gouging alot of times and even when not in a bad situation they don't live up to their name.
It a shame, they used to be the one to go to, ive done plenty of business with them back in the day. No longer will I, being from a hurricane prone area of the US, I know price gouging up close and personal. I sure wont seek it out on the internet.
I've been through this 3 times 09, 13, and now every time I learned space your purchasing out at the slow times get a supply then replenish what you use (I shoot 200 I load 200) so you don't get caught flat footed
I disagree about the “bad behavior.” If primers literally can’t be found anywhere and someone has some they are willing to sell, supply is low and demand is high. Price goes up. That’s just how capitalism works. HOWEVER, I don’t want that opinion to come off as criticism. It’s just my opinion and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. Really appreciate the vids.
If distributors were hoarding them and increasing price so thatcitizens couldn’t exercise their rights I could understand it. But individual listings on gunbroker should not be “penalized” for selling their box for however the fuck much they want That being said I couldn’t personally live with myself doing that. So far I’ve sold a few hundred at normal price to friends and given away a few hundred and mags to people in need. We’ve got to help each other out in hard times.
And you wonder why we have communists in this country? That kind of thinking. It is bad behavior and you must be one who is doing it. Don't give us that crap of supply and demand when you charge ten times the price.
It's a shame how many people are ignorant of basic economics. Anyone who uses the term "price gouging" is ignorant of basic economics. How is pricing something you want to sell at any particular price "bad behavior"? It's an absurd claim.
@@dangerranger4323 "I couldn’t personally live with myself doing that" You're not forcing anyone do to anything. Anyone who buys something that you're selling for whatever price you're asking does so voluntarily. I agree with your first paragraph, though. You're a good guy.
I'm old enough, and been reloading for long enough, to have been through many of these cycles and "ammogeddons". Sorry if I sound a bit crass, but knowing this was an especially contentious election year, and other than the 'Rona effect, if you didn't see this unrest coming from orbit you're a little on the dense side. I've been doing nothing but stocking up for the past few years, even forgoing a few firearm purchases to do so. I can understand the new buyers being in a pinch, and I do feel for them, but if you've been around for any length of time, everyone and their brother has been preaching to "stack it high, stack it deep" during the good times... I have a hard time feeling sorry if you didn't take heed.
@Gray Au I do understand where you're coming from on that point, however, if you look at the second auction he presented @ 3:20 for the 2 boxes for $500, take a look at the number of bids it had received and the bid price it was up to. People were bidding against each other to that point, not as a demand by the seller... THAT, to me, makes it a whole different issue. If you don't like the "buy it" price, don't buy it, but look at what people are willing to do against each other... you cannot rag on the seller for that.
@Gray Au And the AUTHORITARIAN MARXIST has spoken. Remove the PLANK from your eye before you call others stupid. Where's YOUR "integrity" for selling your home for that "evil profit"? HYPOCRITE. Assuming of course, that you actually OWN a home.
"If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready". That pretty much sums it up. I'm 29 and I've seen a multiple ammo and firearm "shortages" that are unjustifiably driven by a bunch of greedy jerks that only think of themselves. Election years, civil unrest, mass shootings etc are going to trigger these shortages over and over again. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple hundred bucks on components once in a while and think a good 5 to 10 years into the future while doing so. Hell, I invested in scrap lead, tin/antimony, a lead furnace and bullet molds and I haven't used it all. But for ~$200, I'll have enough materials and equipment to make bullets for many, many years. Same with bullets, powders, primers and everything else. In the meanwhile, I stay sharp at the range and I don't mind not having to wait for an available lane on the weekend these days.
Midsouth Shooters Supply has more than doubled in what they charge for primers now. This is one of two things... they're either gouging (likely not) or the primer companies are. So I'm tired of hearing that the primer shortage is because they're replenishing ammo due to surges in gun orders. They're taking advantage of the situation, and making profit from our misfortune. You also pay $35 in hazard fees and can only buy one box at a time. So instead of paying $35 to ship 3 or 4 boxes... you've significantly increased your cost of reloading because you're paying an additional $35/box to reload 1000 rounds. This greases the hands of everyone involved, except the customer.
You are missing a critical point here. Look at what people are bidding on auctions for those same primers. If you sell primers for normal prices, people will just buy them to resale. The people paying stupid prices are the problem, not the sellers.
Since no one *needs* primers, anyone paying that much is an idiot. And I cant' fault anyone for taking advantage of idiots spending outrageous amounts on things that aren't necessities.
@@jdrollason How are you going to hold an anonymous seller on Gunbroker accountable? Or Gunbroker itself? Artificially holding sellers accountable for what someone thinks are too-high prices sounds like a really bad idea. Just don't buy. That will moderate prices.
Never blame someone else for your lack of preparedness. I’m not saying you’re doing that here, Gavin. It just popped into my head. When you said we will weather this storm, I hope you are correct, but someday there will be a storm where we will have to fight with everything we have. It’s happened to other nations and it can very easily happen to ours as well.
Midway USA has been great on ammo pricing. When they have it, they sell it for a reasonable price. Just bought some ammo from them yesterday, so this is fresh information.
Unfortunately they limit you to 2 or 3 boxes of ammo. That's 60 to 100 rounds depending on the cartridge and charge both sales tax and shipping. it ends up being >$1 per round.
I checked my primer supply early this year and made sure to stock up since I planned on retiring in May, which I did. In retrospect, it was a good thing. Glad you mentioned Midsouth Shooters Supply; they are truly a stand-up outfit.
You’ve explained it well, I always stocked up on reloading supplies of every caliber since I’m an avid shooter and could actually say I love reloading more that the act of pulling the trigger...I am more than happy to help out a buddy when in need of certain rounds and this makes it all worth it
While I completely agree it's disgusting to see prices that high on primers, it comes down to simple supply and demand. I completely disagree with pushing for any penalties for the sellers however. Just don't buy from them. If you're selling right now, selling at a normal price is throwing money out the window. If people weren't smart enough to put a supply away prior to these events, then maybe they just won't get to shoot at their matches when they run out of ammo. Personally I can't help feeling that anyone who is out shooting matches right now is being very irresponsible unless they have a deep stockpile to draw from. Shooting just got more expensive until things settle back down. Pay up or don't shoot is the reality whether people like it or not. The best advice is to be honest with people. You're out of luck if you waited too long. Tell them if they get another chance to see "normal" prices to remember these times and act according at that point.
I have cut way back on shooting matches this year. Actually I've only shot one pistol match this season. Once the covid lockdowns kicked off and the wave of first time buyers started right then I decided matches aren't my top concern. Any of us that have been in this lifestyle for any amount of time could see the writing on the wall. We've been through it before and we adjust accordingly. That said there is one style of matches I am shooting but it's because the round count is low, PRS. It's once a month and generally around 100 rounds per match. I can live with that. Powder is a bit hard to come by but I have plenty on hand. Primers, I stop at a shop on my way to the matches and if they have them on hand I buy a brick. (they aren't marking prices up but they do limit to one brick per customer which is fair.) I use midsouth for bullets. That's how I'll handle it until things settle back down. And like you said, once they do and prices/availability are back to normal, act accordingly.
@@oif3vetk9 Absolutely agree. Nothing wrong with that approach at all. When I have been out for target practise, it's been more 45 Colt than anything because I can reload that with components on hand for a long time. Plus going through 100 rounds of that in a rifle makes for a satisfying trip with a lot less ammo expended than smaller calibers.
I recently contacted Widener's a large reloading merchant and asked why they are not importing primers from other countries. It has been impossible to buy primers in the US now for almost 1 year. To my amazement Wideners wrote that it is illegal to import primers and powder into the USA. .... "With regards to overseas manufacturers, the US has been disallowed to import those types of things for several years from many countries. Ammo seems to be ok to import, but raw components not so much." After hearing this, I can't tell you how dissapointed I am in our current crop of politicians.
@@z50com Okay... I don't support them prosecuting people for "price gouging" masks either. That's like saying, "well, since Hitler massacred the Jews... we might as well massacre this other group I don't like". Okay... harsh example. Let's just say "two wrongs don't make a right".
@@Strelnikov10 Primer manufactures should just raise the price to $100 per 1000 and sell direct that might cure the current problem. Federal is selling ammo direct online now at double the old prices. I'm sure all the others will follow suit. . . .We'll never see cheap ammo again. . . .
My shooting/reloading routine has not changed since I started in 2003. Buy supplies "in season" if you don't waste and don't open till you use them, it lasts a long time
I’m the only one who started to reload. No one else in my family or friends reload. They all bought ammo and are sitting on it. They don’t even want to shoot because they don’t want to waste there ammo because of the crap that’s going on. Cheers from California!
Was at Sportsmans Warehouse in Las Vegas yesterday, They are out of primers but are not price gouging, their powder supplies are limited but the prices are same as before the shortages. Kudos to them for their integrity! Crossroads and SAR show in Phoenix at beginning of December was a nightmare when you look at primer and powder prices. Primers were average $130 / K. BOO-HISS!
I would, but my shooting partner doesn't reload. He should, though, considering he bought a .450 Marlin. I bought the .45-70 version myself, and even though I reload for it, it's much less essential for me than for him at this point. You can hardly find .450 Marlin now, and if you can, only Hornady loads for it and it's $60 a box of 20. Ouch. It would almost be cheaper to shoot .450 Nitro.
If I charged "the normal going rate", as per your suggestion,, a small handful of people would buy my entire inventory well before closing today (maybe 80,000) and resell them for 5 or 10 times what they paid. To prevent this, I can either shut down my primer sales, limit sales to 100 per customer (one sleeve), or inflate the price.
Just an FIY, as a LGS; I just want everyone to know that in general, the wholesale prices of firearms has not risen beyond inflation since before COVID. For example, common Glock wholesale costs from the large national distributors are between zero and $20 higher price than they were pre-COVID. A G17/19 still sits at $409-419usd. Blue states are commonly asking $700-1100usd currently. That lets you know just how much people are price-gouging... A good store will still have your favorites within reason. (Low-mid $500 usd).
@@supertruckertom No, distributor "Blue Label" pricing simply means no taxes are paid on the transactions (OEM->Distributor->LGS->Purchaser); which is why they are cheaper. The actual wholesale cost is the same. Great question tho!
@@Toysrme I recently joined GSSF and used my coupon to get a 17L for $502+$27+ local sales tax for $564 OTD. Got a G44 for $399 plus tax at a non LEO LGS in July also.
Gavin I was at midsouth today.. we talked about the primer shortage.. then I wanted to do a video about it . I felt like I really didn't have all that facts in place ... I watched your video !!!! Spot on I'm sending them to this video!!!! Thanks god bless
Gavin, great video, I checked gunbroker when this first started and there was a $.01 auction with no reserve on 5,000 Winchester SRP. The bid was up to $1500! Not the seller’s fault in this case but absolutely absurd nonetheless.
Ya I got an email from cheaper than dirt that the “ammo trucks have arrived.” Highest prices I’ve ever seen on ammo and that’s because they don’t have reloading components to gouge is on. Obviously it’s their choice to set the price, but most of us will remember.
I went to the SAR Gunshow in Phoenix Az on Friday 04 December 2020 and the private seller's were trying to sell a sleeve of Small Primers for $1000 and another guy was Sitting in his Vehicle selling Primers out of his Van for $200 a Thousand Primers what joke and my Buddy ended up buying CCI #41 Small Rifle Primers from MIWALL for $85 plus Tax and it came out to about $89 for One Thousand Primers. And MIWALL would only sell 100 count Small Pistol Primers for $7.00 per person. There was a lot of price gouging going on at the SAR /Guns of the West Gunshow and most of the Vendor's didn't show up because of the Covid19 Restrictions. Plus $22 to enter and $8 to Parking fee.
To each his own. I WOULD NOT ask $300 for a brick of primers. I could not to that with a clear conscience. I'd rather GIVE them to someone in need. Remember, we're not just a market segment, we're a community.
@@Ultimatereloader I wouldn't do that either, but ones property is just that: their own property, and they are entitled to ask whatever they choose if someone else wants to purchase them. It's entirely up to the purchaser if the transaction will happen. One person was prepared, the other was not prepared. this can be seen as the market forces associated with preparation. Remember: nobody is forcing the purchaser to hand over his money if he thinks the price is too high.
@Libertarian 4 Life exactly. If people don't like the price one guy is asking, then they are free to take their money and spend it with his competitors. If the first guy can't sell his stuff then he misses out on the transaction.
Completely agree! One big issue is if it's not a free market and the manufacturing is limited to just sources that are not competitive, or in collusion...
I just bought a 1,000 Tulammo LP primers for $10.90/100. Everything else is as you quoted $300-500, it’s nuts. I was buying 9mm a year ago, FMJ Target for $15. It’s $30/50 rounds, defense rounds are $50/20 rounds. If I can get a box of 9mm, it will be to reload my magazines. The LP is for my .45 Colt, 1858 Remington Revolving carbine with the conversion cylinder, later I will get a cylinder for the revolver version and one for my Roger&Spencer revolver. Fortunately I bought 100 new .45 Colt cartridge cases and the bullet molds. Powder can still be bought from Hodgen Powder Co. I just check on reliability of Tulammo, maybe 2% misfire. Beggars cannot be choosers. Great video.
My uncle has been a hand loader for decades. He's been after me for several years to get into it. Last week he bought me a Lee starter set. Ok, very nice. I'll give it a try! So I ordered bullets and powder and even casings. A caliper and shellholders. Then die sets for one of my pistols and one of my rifles. Very exciting! And now I can't get my hands on small rifle primers to save my life. I've spent over $300, not including the Lee kit, and still can't make a cartridge yet.
And they’ve continued to keep their sale prices, which is very commendable. Around $23-$24 per 1,000 for the basic small and large pistol CCI, Winchester, and Federal.
Primers are in stock, 6 hours away from me, in Canada! There are only 2 sizes of primers, small and large, the rifle ones use a sightly thicker cup than the pistol but can be used in pistol rounds. Almost everyone has the 209's though.
Gavin, I love your channel. I've learned a lot from you. Thank you for that. But I must ask...What price would you be willing to sell those primers on your bench? Would you be willing to sell them at standard retail prices? No? Well then what price can I offer you that will make it worth it to you? I hope you get my point.
@@icanspelle6050 The esteemed Dr. Walter Williams professor of economics had an article on supply and demand, as well as "price gouging". He as well as John Stossel say there is no such thing.
The short answer is "into ammo". The primers for reloaders have been bought up, but they are not being replenished because every available primer being produced is going to commercial and military ammo manufacturers to meet the demand in that market. Multiple manufacturers have said that they are expecting it to be somewhere between April and June before they will have any primers to spare for the reloading market.
"Price gouging" isn't actually a thing in a free market economy. Prices are determined by what the market will bear. Basic supply and demand. This is one of the ways capitalism works. It's kind of funny (or sad, really) to hear someone in the firearms industry saying something to the effect 'someone should reprimand these businesses because they don't subscribe to my values.'
I'm glad to see that so many here actually study the roots of the capitalist economic system. So many people sing the praises of capitalism simply because they are conservative, but when pressed, they cannot really explain it to you. Or, in the worst case, you get people who put forth extremely socialistic ideas when they are down on their luck (like this video does).
@Log Splitta Yes it is a free market. The "abnormal market upheavals effecting supply" is a signal to manufactures and producers to INCREASE production of these items as they are now selling at a higher price and they can make more money by meeting the demand for these items
@@Strelnikov10 I think you go way too far to label the idea as "extremely socialistic." Some gunbroker sellers are fraudulent and have their own people going in and driving the prices up. That's unethical and not part of a free market capitalism society. It's fraud and there is nothing wrong with giving people like that negative publicity.
@@thelz7909 He wasn't talking about auctions. He was talking about a buy it now price. Please, enlighten me on how one might artificially drive up a "Buy It Now" price.... Also... if I place my highest bid at $100 for an item, that means I am willing to pay $100 dollars. Now let's say that a seller "sends his own people in" and drives the final price up to $99.99. Well, that's still within the range of the price I was willing to pay. While that practice is shady for sure, I still haven't been ripped off. Easy way to counteract this.... don't place your highest bid at a level that's higher than you're comfortable paying. Easy enough! Now, if he put a gun to my head and forced me to pay $110, now I've been ripped off.
Very well said, I just bought a reloader just starting out no primers. I like your integrity thank you sir. These people are insane should be ashamed of themselves and prices.
A buddy of mine sold me 2k small pistol primers from one of his contacts at regular price. I almost had to fight him to take an extra $20 for making the drive to get them. THAT'S what I'm talking about!! Community!
You've covered some great points. One that's often overlooked is that in most states it is illegal to price gouge during a crisis. I know that here in Arkansas act 376 of 1997 gives up to a $10,000 fine per violation in addition to any restitution, attorney's fees and other expenses of prosecution. Gouging is defined as marking the price up by more than 10% in a declared emergency. This applies to businesses and individuals alike.
Solid advise. I can share my recent experience. I was down to my last 3 sleeves of small rifle primers, so I started waiting on Saturday and Wednesday mornings at my local Bass Pro Shops. They haven’t run up their prices much if at all granted they were already a little high in general. I think it was the third Saturday I looked for primers and low and behold there were 3 bricks of CCI 400s I grabbed all three bricks but just a couple seconds later, a guy came looking for the same stuff and noticed I had them. I know I’m patting myself on the back a little bit, but without hesitation I gave him one of “my” boxes. For the most part, gun people are really great people and reloaders might be even more so. It just feels better to be good to each other.
Heard it a thousand time for the old timers... "when the shock/hold is over buy weekly" don't need to buy a ton... just buy one here and and another there.. when you buy and in your way back buy some more! before you know it you'll have more than any one could possibly desire! This I honestly was an advice from a retired gunner.. they guy have so much ammo that he have to cycle it by dates "never keep ammo for more than 15 years...
I got my reloading equipment out of moth balls two years ago, and spent the winter reloading. Then I bought second progressive press and kept on reloading... My interest in reloading again is all due to Gavin's shenanigans! lol
So reading a lot of comments, I've come to discover that price gougers don't like to be called out for price gouging. A lot of people calling Gavin a communist for taking a public stand against price gouging. Thanks for being you Gavin and giving a voice to something that's a real problem in the industry.
The other problem is . The shops are allowing Customer to buy out the primers. So limited to buying . I just started to reload . And got a lot of good tips from you. Lucky a friend gave me 400 primers to work with . Thanks for the info
Picked up 4,000 primers last week. Local store got a shipment. 2,000 small rifle and 2,000 small pistol. The line was out the door and through the parking lot. Their supply lasted one day. I'm damn lucky. No, they're not for sale. Also, the shop was not gouging. $140 for all 4,000 primers. The shop was Gunnies in Orem Utah. Big shout out to them. If you're ever in Utah stop in and give 'em some business.
Excellent set of points. Appreciate hearing it. When I lived in Texas back in the mid-90s I used to drive for 3 hours to go to Cheaper Than Dirt. Loved their store. Never had an issue with them. I am disappointed to see numerous video's indicating they are now charging a lot more than they used to. It's to bad. Thanks for the video, people do need to hear how we need to work with each other instead of against each other (I imagine a person not wanting to share their primers but needs cases...while a person with cases who needs primers won't budge either...yup)
Some basic economics lessons are needed here. His examples were open auctions, where prospective buyers were bidding up the price of their own volition. If people are willing to pay $300 for a brick of primers, who is he, or anyone else for that matter, to say they can't? I've been slowly building up an inventory over the past twenty-five years and have about 30,000 primers. I remember the shortages of '94, '09, and '13. I also have enough powder, bullets, and cases for every caliber I want for the rest of my life. Once I find a bullet/powder combo that I'm happy with for a given caliber/application, I stockpile the components when availability is good and prices are low. I still have a couple bricks of primers I bought for $16.50 twenty years ago. If stored properly, they essentially last forever. I haven't bought any components in eight years, because I haven't had too. And I never will again, unless a new, interesting bullet comes out that I want to tinker with.
It's simple supply and demand. People have some primers they're willing to part with, and that's how much it will cost to get them to let them go on Gunbroker. Since they don't know when more will hit the shelves any more than the rest of us, that's perfectly fair. You'd have to pay me at least $200/1000 for me to part with any of the primers I have. The only difference is that I'm not even trying to sell mine, since Lord only knows what's happening in the next 3-6 months. There's a reason people who are asking crazy prices still have primers available, and people that haven't raised their prices do not. No one *needs* primers. No one is getting stranded because they can't buy primers at normal prices. No one will be unable to eat or wipe their butt because they can't buy primers at normal prices. If we reach a point in 3-6 months where people *need* primers, powder, and bullets, $300/1000 will feel like it was a bargain.
In 2008 a friend advised me that we should buy a stock of primers for what we normally reloaded. Over the next 6 months we bought cases of 20K primers per case and stored them in a barn. We have had as many as 1 million primers in all the needed sizes. Then we were paying $.002 per primer on average. Now those same 10+ year old primers are worth $.20 per primer if we were to sell them, we do keep our close reloading friends in primers. Powder is the next issue that is going to become extinct, we bought about 2 tons of kegged powder, it is stored a mile from the primers. All I can say is when stuff is available, stock up with as much as you can afford. Bullets are hard to come across now as well, buy lead and bullet molds. It isn't as dangerous as people want you to believe, melt the lead and make your own. May not be as great as copper coated, but they go down the barrel, are deadly at range and cheap to make.
Sorry, I think I bought most of the stock. I've found many deals in the last while from other shooters. Good luck to all looking for supplies. Be patient.
Private sellers may sell THEIR private property for what ever price they want to ask and/or any buyer is willing to pay. Retailers and wholesalers are different. People who panic buy are the issue more than anything. Supply/Demand always works until someone fucks with it. Like price floors/ceilings.
Met a private gentleman who has the inside scoop on primers in the industry. They are running at capacity because, with millions of new firearms buyers, and millions of new ammo buyers, production is behind retailer orders, which go out more than six months. However, due to his success in another business, he is able to pay cash to/through manufacturer REPS, who notify him of any "over runs". On an ongoing basis, he buys when available, primers in the millions and bullets by the pallet. He's an expert pistol marksman and master reloader. It happens that after WWII, ammunition production dropped back to support the sporting goods & shooting industry. Gearing up primer production is very expensive to establish. The major producers are hesitant to do this, as they do anticipate consumption to drop within the year and do not want to have spent the extra funds on increased production that will not be needed and sit unused This is perfectly understandable, if you understand the major expense of scaling up the production process. So many citizens and first gun buyers have now come to realize the following: in this time of increasing civil unrest, you cannot rely on local law enforcement to timely come to your rescue should your life be threatened. You are individually responsible to preserve and defend your life and your loved ones.
Nothing cures high prices like high prices. If someone is willing to sell, let them name a price. Maybe I am willing to pay it, maybe not. Who gets to say a price is too high anyway? The instant that any quantity of product is available at anywhere near the normal price, it will promptly sell and the guy asking more will still have zero sales. The free market works. Attempts to impose “fair prices” always involve coercion or sanction.
Thanks for the up date on primers . I'am thinking this summer , well maybe . So gone to the range has stopped for now..................................
Reloaders: "Hah, idiots. Can't find ammo during a shortage? Sucks to be you, I just load my own." Everyone else: "Fine, we will reload too." Reloaders: "WHeRE aRe aLL tHe ReLoAdiNg CoMpOnEnTs? I ThOuGhT tHeY WErE iMMuNe tO ScArCiTy!!1111!!"
I’m just so grateful my gun club had massive amounts of loading components stockpiled. You are limited in what you can buy weekly/ monthly , but prices are normal. By cutting back on shooting I’ll have enough for two years. We even have a mountain of bullets so I’m set. Grateful for this channel .
"Price gouging" is just supply and demand. It's capitalism, I'm a capitalist, what about you? A seller setting a price, that's freedom; a buyer buying at a price, that's freedom. If the price is too high, no one will buy it; no one is forcing you to buy anything. If someone is buying at 2x the normal price or higher, that's their decision. If you didn't prepare before 2020, that's on you; failure to prepare on your part does not mean sellers are charities. Same for people who did prepare early, they have no obligation to give anyone anything, it's their choice to be charitable or not. Demanding or shaming them into giving is lame entitlement, sounds like the demands of the Marxists in the streets. Sad. I thought I had enough coming into 2020, and under normal circumstances I would; with 2020 I decided to increase my supplies of ammo and mags. I had to pay more than usual for ammo, the mags were at or close to normal prices. The fact I had to pay more is because I decided to buy more when the demand was higher than the supply; I don't like paying more, but I also don't whine, snivel, complain or blame sellers because I want more and they're charging more. If I think it's too expensive, I don't buy it, if I need it and it's expensive I'll buy it. Life isn't fair, get over it. Some of the comments are sad, especially coming from the 2A community. How about freedom and responsibility? Drop the sense of entitlement. You're responsible for having your supplies, if you don't, that's your fault. If you waited to buy when supply is lower than demand, that's your fault. smh
Zoom Zoom... You are absolutely correct. If someone can get ($1,000,000) one million dollars for a box of primers why not? This is called freedom of capitalism. If you don't want to purchase them, then don't.... And this video is coming from someone who gives us the impression that he pays/buys his equipment. Most if not all his equipment/presses are given to him for free. He is constantly whining. Shoot lots and stay safe.
I have a suggestion for those that like to shoot but can’t get primers... try a flintlock. They work just fine for a day of shooting on the range or hunting. They worked with no industrial supply backing 200 years ago, they still do today, and will be 200 years from now.
@@Ultimatereloader companies exist to make money, if you have a product people want and will pay a lot for... You charge them what they'll pay. If someone else has it for less, you won't make a sale and have to lower your price.
@@lunaticrider209 it's pricing the product appropriately for what people are willing to pay... If I'm a tow truck driver in a blizzard I'm going to charge a lot and make my money while there is a demand... If it's a bright summer day I'll charge less. If you think it's unfair go make a company that produces cheap primers and powder and sell away.
@@Ultimatereloader , so you would prefer them to be underpriced and sell out instantly, or still able to get one at a price you deem "unfair"? You can't have it both ways.
Good point. I am learning to reload my own ammunition but I got everything except primer. I have not started yet. Thank you for your reviews. Thank you. TC
New to reloading just purchased a lineman 8 press ,everything I need to start with 38 special, everything but the primers, I check every day. When they’re available I will buy but not at any marked up price, always wanted to get into reloading just got in at the wrong time at least now I’m in.
I have had shooters that shoot my match ask about primers and ammo. I am selling factory loaded ammo to them for the match they shoot at what I paid for it. I have offered primers to a couple of people in need and instead of selling them to that person I just asked that they replace them when they can. I have "enough" components to carry me through a competition season or two with slightly less live fire practice, and the occasional supplementing with factory loaded ammo. Back in the last ammo/components shortage I never ran short or had to pay high prices, but as a result I have a "when I see it I buy it" philosophy with some smmo, and I keep a pretty set level of components- cases, primers, powder and projectiles- on hand.
I am a die hard customer of yours after the way you guys treated me on an order for my reloading stand. It is nice to see integrity still exists out here.
I bought 6 500 round cases of 165grain 308 and 3 500 round cases of 140 grain 6.5 Creedmoor Saturday morning after I couldn't buy TP Friday evening. Not sure if I was hoarding but I target shoot quite often and didn't want to run out. I just bought what I could afford, S&B and magtech nothing special but I haven't opened any of the cases I still shoot every Wednesday or Saturday or both I just buy a couple boxes of each on the way or at the range. In doing so I've been forced to buy Hornady American Gunner , Federal GMM in 165 168 175, Win superX even Green and yellow box Remington, Federal m80 149 basically whatever I could find. All of this to stay out of my reserve of ammo for right now in addition to a new 18" criterion barrel I installed on my ar10/LR 308. In all this I was searching 1st for ammo to shoot and 2nd a viable projectile weight-load weight and for my new .308 barrel. Honestly needing nothing for my 6.5 as it shoots S&B 140 with so close a result to the GMM 130 Bergers or 143 Hornady ELD that I won't continue to deviate. I have the 140 s&b in cases and I buy my range boxes identically. I KNOW I KNOW "MAKE A POINT ALREADY" I finally gave In this week and bought a RCBS Rock smasher or Rock crusher or whatever it's not a Muncie 4 speed I know that much. Well I asked "THE GUY" at the local.shooting supply store for primers He handed me 215 magnum large primers for my 308. Are these viable?????? 2nd question I started sorting my brass yesterday and I remembered some of the brass is 762×51 and the federal in particular shot so bad 1st time around that I used it as an excuse to buy that criterion barrel and that new Strike Eagle. I told my wife " baby in not sure if I shit out the barrel or the scope finally failed but to be safe let's get one of each" after 1000 dollars in barrel and scope I'm not sure I want to scare myself to death with trying to reload that federal 762x51. Or is that a pretty straight forward endeavor???????? Sorry for the book. BTW I paid 45$ per 1000 primers. I know everything is higher than a cats back right now but it that unreasonable. Thanks for your time.
I'm thanking God that I stocked up years ago during the Obummer flop. That's about the time I taught myself how to reload. I'm good for a very long time.
Great video! LOL I got into reloading due to watching your channel. Yup no primers. But I got lucky and found a few Winchester small rifle in the early fall to at least get familiar with my Hornady LNL.. I was shocked to see the prices on Gun Broker and that people are paying that price! More then factory ammo.. Hey thanks for all you do. I have learned tons from your channel. Oh and spent lots
Theres no such thing as price gauging. Theres just a price youre willing to pay or not. Its not like primers are a life necessity. Now having said that Ide love to find sm rifle primers.
@@ak6143 Yeah, if you get rid of gouging there is no incentive to alleviate the shortage. The Hillary gun grab scare caused a shortage but led to an unprecedented supply.
What exactly is "gouging"? Price is only relative when there are competitors in the market. It's amazing that NO ONE is accusing Tesla of "gouging" when their cars SHOULD be selling at HALF the price.
You and me both! Didn't know there was such a shortage when I decided to.get started. I just thought it would be cool to do while stuck at home and would let me shoot more for less
Sportsmans Warehouse. I've found primers there twice recently. Along with .22, 9mm, and 5.56 ammo. They've had Varget to. I have no idea why, but they have all the stuff.
The same thing happened during the great primer shortage of 94 - anytime theres a scare, the first thing to disappear, and the last to go back to normal are reloading components, particularly primers, beacuse the manufacturers shift focus primarily to ammunition. This is why you should have enough components to last you through several years. After the 94 shortage, i know several people who went out and bought tens of thousands, in at least one case, 100k+, and several of them are still using them up nearly 3 decades later..
They obviously don't shoot much if it lasted them decades. My problem is that I can shoot through any amount of ammo very fast. I put 25k rounds through a single pistol last year. Hoarding ammo is basically practice sitting on a shelf. Why hold onto it for later, when I can use it to get better right now?
@@atypical_moto Who said they were pistol shooters? Most of them were silloette shooters, who probably went through less than 3000 RDS a year of 308 sized ammo - high volume is sure recipe for a permanent flinch. And I do know some amateur competitive pistol shooters that shoot in volume(they were part of a bulk order from Meister for half a million bullets), but even they don't shoot that much - time(both shooting and loading) and money preclude it.
@@sneakytails1724 they break it up and don't store it all in one place. I don't know what Batfe has to say about it, but the NFPA( the people who write guidelines for ins co regarding fire hazards) recommends no more 10k per residence. Storing more may get a claim denied, regardless of legality. I will say that at least one guy I know built a mini "igloo" complete with berms just like the army uses for ammo storage to store his primers and powder. No electrical, or combustible mark outside the primers and powder.
I have my guns for three reasons , hunting, target shooting and home defense ! When I purchase a new weapon identifying the proper ammo for accuracy and effect and initially requires some large purchases to determine the proper ammo for my gun , once I have done this I stick to the same ammo. Everybody has their own reasons for large purchases, for me it doesn’t require an Arsenal to get what I need . Panic buying causes much of the problems we have today ! Would be nice to have a data base for ammo swap when you are left with ammo not compatible with your gun , a board at a shooting range identifying what you have and what you are willing to trade with would be helpful !
CTD can charge what they want in my book, but when they *cancelled existing orders* in order to relist items at a higher price, they crossed the line forever.
Thanks Gavin. Midsouth shooters are not price gouging on primers. But you have to be quick when they announce that they’re in stock. I missed out on the last orders, but will try again.
I was explaining to friend the other day that primers are like toilet paper for stupid people. Their are people with no reloading equipment a 300$ handgun with 5000 large rifle primers in their closet.
I replenished factory ammo first . When prices went more than 20% above normal I started buying components. Building my bench now. Hoping to be ok until primers come back to the market.
Actually, they're worse than toilet paper than stupid people. Stupid people can at least use the toilet paper. But nobody without reloading equipment can use primers. And nobody but someone with reloading equipment _and_ a man-sized rifle can use large rifle primers. (Hint hint: that rules out the .223/5.56 and every AR-15 variant in existence).
Unfortunately, up here in Alaska we can't buy reloading supplies from anywhere would have to ship up here. Shipping primers, powder, and loaded rounds are deemed too dangerous according to the shipping companies.
Hi Gavin, I am completely out of primers and it sounds like you have a lot of them. Would you consider sharing some of your stock pile with a dedicated follower? LOL Thanks for all the great videos, keep up the good work.
Me too, Gavin. I'd be willing to pay you 5% more than you paid for them. I know you wouldn't want to gouge me. Oh, 10% you say? Well, that still sounds fair. The line must be drawn somewhere. At a low price, you will say, "Naw. I think I'll just keep mine." But with enough people banging on your door, BEGGING to pay you 20% more, 30% more, 50% more than you paid, you are actually doing them the favor. The guy willing to pay 50% more, wants them VERY badly, and would be angry at you if you sold them to somebody else for only a 5% markup, and left him with no primers. You think you're "taking the high road" by saying to him, "No. You don't get any." Very interesting!
Yep. Nice theory. I wish he'd prove it by putting it into practice. So, where is the line where those "with" says they cannot give/supply/help?? Careful. Gavin, that pulpit you're pounding is a high, little dry rotted & will fall apart on ya. Will you please practice what you preach? (Asking for a friend 🥴😉) Lots of new reloaders out there. How many has Gavin helped out with primers in the past few months?? (waiting)
I'm law enforcement and am taking a firearms instructor course in April. I need to practice but can't find ammo. I have everything I need to reload 9mm EXCEPT primers. I can't afford to pay the prices on gunbroker. I hope some places have them soon! Great video and advice!
Primers are actually really easy to manufacture, it's about a 20 minute process to make a thousand and federal at least, has an entire sections of their factories dedicated to making primers. They (federal gold medal match) came back in stock on brownells last monday and were literally out of stock within about an hour.
I shoot a good bit. 250~400 rounds a week. I always have 5000 (small pistol) primers on hand. When I get below that I start hunting online for 5000 more, the last shipment took me 4 days to find. That is hitting my favorite retailers twice a day till I see them and then ordering them. They are out there you just have to be diligent to get them
To ad to what I said in the video: I think of "us" as a community, not just a "market segment". You can have capitalism with a conscience. I will challenge companies (and individuals) to care as much about the sport and the community as they do about the dollar and bottom line. I couldn't accept $300. for a brick of primers, and I hope that you couldn't either. I do believe in the "Golden Rule". Everyone here is entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine.
100% agree with you man. For example: Palmetto State Armory (pre-COVID) constantly had mark downs on all of their in-house made inventory, now that the supply cannot meet demand, they have marked things back to their retail prices. I agree with that and am okay with paying full retail.
However, like you and many others, I’m not comfortable paying 10X of what retail is and will refuse to buy from those retailers now and in the future.
Btw, when is the Lee Pro 4000 review coming? I can’t wait to hear/see your thoughts on it. I blindly preordered a kit from Brownells and am still awaiting shipment.
love ya, bro, and your channel, but you're just missing the mark on this one.
you are just not considering the impact of a crunch on ALL players in the market - the producers/excavators of the raw goods, the shipping costs, the mfg, more shipping costs, and the point of sale.
your choosing to do business with somebody who didn't raise their prices, or didn't raise them as much, is also a market signal.
a free market will always marry cash to product/service in the most efficient way possible. any interference with those relationships will cause more scarcity, which drives prices up.
let this soak into your bones: all voluntary exchanges are ALWAYS to mutual benefit. the seller gets money, and the buyer gets something more valuable to himself than the money he exchanged for it. if the exchange is not to the mutual benefit of both parties, it simply doesn't happen.
if i give you $10 for a widget, clearly, i value the widget more than I value $10. If you take the $10, clearly, you value that $10 more than you value holding on to your widget.
in this case, if nobody is willing to buy small pistol primers at 30 cents, they won't sell.
I agree but even paying retail is ridiculous. Reason there is a demand and not enough goods is that manufacturers are NOT ramping up production so there is work for their employees when the "Pandemic" and the "grabbing" is over.
Very well stated.
This situation is the most classic, perfect instance of supply and demand price discovery...not price gouging in the least. This is THE foundation of capitalism. Any outside force dictating or forcing price is essentially communism/marxism. Literally. Even if perceived as only a tiny infringement on free market capitalism, it is the first step onto a slippery slope. It exactly like agreeing to "reasonable gun controls" with progressives. They "progress" to something worse. The right thing to do is respond to the market as a free participant in the market...find alternatives...buy ahead next time...etc, etc.
Cheaper Than Dirt has always been one of the 1st to gouge. I will never do business with them.
I'm willing to bet its written policy for them. I wont even click a link to them in a search engine.
Sportsman’s is also...!
CTD showed their true colors back after Sandy Hook in 2012, and haven't changed a bit since.
@@vtmegrad98 same here
My dad (long sigh) just paid those ass hats $1100 for 1000 rounds of LC 55gr 556. I struggled not to loose my mind on him.
Where have all the primers gone? They're sitting on shelves above reloading benches waiting to be auctioned off at estate sales in another 30-40 years.
That's not completely true, if you like practicing consistently having lots of components on the shelf allows you to continue to shoot even in lean times for ammo. You need to shoot a couple times a month to keep your skills sharp.
@@BOSS_DOG I wait on people like you mention.
less than 30 years for sure.
True
@@BOSS_DOG Hmm, I have 10K CCI SRP's on my bench. I load a lot of 300 BO. Was cleaning out my office today and found another 1300 from when I was hand priming while watching videos. My kids will get any that might be left.
Midsouth has over the years become my first look when trying to find something. Cheater than dirt has been dead to me for a long time.
Grafs is another good source.. I still miss Lock Stock and Barrel though.
Mid South has never let me down. I like that they are not price gouging. I just bought 16 lbs of powder from them. I'm waiting on them now.
just bought a lock n load from them $439.. best price and family owned.
@@TrimJazz they gave my 70 stickers to pass out. I still have like 20 or so. Drop me a pm and I will send anyone a few each.
Bigger behind the trigger can I get a few of those stickers?
"Cheaper than Dirt" should be renamed "More Expensive than Gold." Those guys should be shunned by the shooting industry. Join the boycott.
yeah, always the most expensive when I am looking for ANYTHING.
I stopped even looking at their site after the last time they price gouged.
I've looked at their site rarely. Never have bought from their that I can think of. They are the first to start gouging alot of times and even when not in a bad situation they don't live up to their name.
It a shame, they used to be the one to go to, ive done plenty of business with them back in the day. No longer will I, being from a hurricane prone area of the US, I know price gouging up close and personal. I sure wont seek it out on the internet.
I heard yrs ago that company was ran by the Government ... Not shocked if that's true..
I learned this back when Bush was still prez... don't EVER wait till an election year...
I've been through this 3 times 09, 13, and now every time I learned space your purchasing out at the slow times get a supply then replenish what you use (I shoot 200 I load 200) so you don't get caught flat footed
Exactly! This.
Yeah, the first Bush. I lived through '94.
@@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts I load 300 then shoot 150.
About midway in appears to be the ideal time.
I disagree about the “bad behavior.” If primers literally can’t be found anywhere and someone has some they are willing to sell, supply is low and demand is high. Price goes up. That’s just how capitalism works.
HOWEVER, I don’t want that opinion to come off as criticism. It’s just my opinion and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. Really appreciate the vids.
If distributors were hoarding them and increasing price so thatcitizens couldn’t exercise their rights I could understand it. But individual listings on gunbroker should not be “penalized” for selling their box for however the fuck much they want
That being said I couldn’t personally live with myself doing that. So far I’ve sold a few hundred at normal price to friends and given away a few hundred and mags to people in need. We’ve got to help each other out in hard times.
And you wonder why we have communists in this country? That kind of thinking. It is bad behavior and you must be one who is doing it. Don't give us that crap of supply and demand when you charge ten times the price.
It's a shame how many people are ignorant of basic economics. Anyone who uses the term "price gouging" is ignorant of basic economics. How is pricing something you want to sell at any particular price "bad behavior"? It's an absurd claim.
@@dangerranger4323 "I couldn’t personally live with myself doing that"
You're not forcing anyone do to anything. Anyone who buys something that you're selling for whatever price you're asking does so voluntarily. I agree with your first paragraph, though. You're a good guy.
Jay Philip Williams I know I’m not forcing anyone, it’s just not something I’m ok with doing. I never said other people couldn’t.
I'm old enough, and been reloading for long enough, to have been through many of these cycles and "ammogeddons". Sorry if I sound a bit crass, but knowing this was an especially contentious election year, and other than the 'Rona effect, if you didn't see this unrest coming from orbit you're a little on the dense side. I've been doing nothing but stocking up for the past few years, even forgoing a few firearm purchases to do so. I can understand the new buyers being in a pinch, and I do feel for them, but if you've been around for any length of time, everyone and their brother has been preaching to "stack it high, stack it deep" during the good times... I have a hard time feeling sorry if you didn't take heed.
Exactly.
@Gray Au
I do understand where you're coming from on that point, however, if you look at the second auction he presented @ 3:20 for the 2 boxes for $500, take a look at the number of bids it had received and the bid price it was up to. People were bidding against each other to that point, not as a demand by the seller... THAT, to me, makes it a whole different issue. If you don't like the "buy it" price, don't buy it, but look at what people are willing to do against each other... you cannot rag on the seller for that.
it's a hard lesson to learn and usually only needs teaching once.
@Gray Au And the AUTHORITARIAN MARXIST has spoken. Remove the PLANK from your eye before you call others stupid. Where's YOUR "integrity" for selling your home for that "evil profit"? HYPOCRITE. Assuming of course, that you actually OWN a home.
"If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready". That pretty much sums it up. I'm 29 and I've seen a multiple ammo and firearm "shortages" that are unjustifiably driven by a bunch of greedy jerks that only think of themselves. Election years, civil unrest, mass shootings etc are going to trigger these shortages over and over again. Do yourself a favor and spend a couple hundred bucks on components once in a while and think a good 5 to 10 years into the future while doing so. Hell, I invested in scrap lead, tin/antimony, a lead furnace and bullet molds and I haven't used it all. But for ~$200, I'll have enough materials and equipment to make bullets for many, many years. Same with bullets, powders, primers and everything else. In the meanwhile, I stay sharp at the range and I don't mind not having to wait for an available lane on the weekend these days.
Midsouth Shooters Supply has more than doubled in what they charge for primers now. This is one of two things... they're either gouging (likely not) or the primer companies are. So I'm tired of hearing that the primer shortage is because they're replenishing ammo due to surges in gun orders. They're taking advantage of the situation, and making profit from our misfortune. You also pay $35 in hazard fees and can only buy one box at a time. So instead of paying $35 to ship 3 or 4 boxes... you've significantly increased your cost of reloading because you're paying an additional $35/box to reload 1000 rounds. This greases the hands of everyone involved, except the customer.
You are missing a critical point here. Look at what people are bidding on auctions for those same primers. If you sell primers for normal prices, people will just buy them to resale. The people paying stupid prices are the problem, not the sellers.
BINGO!
Since no one *needs* primers, anyone paying that much is an idiot. And I cant' fault anyone for taking advantage of idiots spending outrageous amounts on things that aren't necessities.
Good point
Preach. Help the community don't take advantage of it. And hold others accountable.
@@jdrollason How are you going to hold an anonymous seller on Gunbroker accountable? Or Gunbroker itself?
Artificially holding sellers accountable for what someone thinks are too-high prices sounds like a really bad idea. Just don't buy. That will moderate prices.
Haven't done business with Cheaper than Dirt since Sandy Hook, they lost my business a long time ago
People who look to buy on price alone often get burned.
Never blame someone else for your lack of preparedness. I’m not saying you’re doing that here, Gavin. It just popped into my head. When you said we will weather this storm, I hope you are correct, but someday there will be a storm where we will have to fight with everything we have. It’s happened to other nations and it can very easily happen to ours as well.
Midway USA has been great on ammo pricing. When they have it, they sell it for a reasonable price. Just bought some ammo from them yesterday, so this is fresh information.
Unfortunately they limit you to 2 or 3 boxes of ammo. That's 60 to 100 rounds depending on the cartridge and charge both sales tax and shipping. it ends up being >$1 per round.
@@Porschedoctor1 limiting sales is the only way they can guarantee 1-2 panicked people don’t buy the whole stock.
$30 for a box Winchester white box 50ct.
I checked my primer supply early this year and made sure to stock up since I planned on retiring in May, which I did. In retrospect, it was a good thing.
Glad you mentioned Midsouth Shooters Supply; they are truly a stand-up outfit.
You’ve explained it well, I always stocked up on reloading supplies of every caliber since I’m an avid shooter and could actually say I love reloading more that the act of pulling the trigger...I am more than happy to help out a buddy when in need of certain rounds and this makes it all worth it
While I completely agree it's disgusting to see prices that high on primers, it comes down to simple supply and demand. I completely disagree with pushing for any penalties for the sellers however. Just don't buy from them. If you're selling right now, selling at a normal price is throwing money out the window. If people weren't smart enough to put a supply away prior to these events, then maybe they just won't get to shoot at their matches when they run out of ammo. Personally I can't help feeling that anyone who is out shooting matches right now is being very irresponsible unless they have a deep stockpile to draw from. Shooting just got more expensive until things settle back down. Pay up or don't shoot is the reality whether people like it or not. The best advice is to be honest with people. You're out of luck if you waited too long. Tell them if they get another chance to see "normal" prices to remember these times and act according at that point.
I have cut way back on shooting matches this year. Actually I've only shot one pistol match this season. Once the covid lockdowns kicked off and the wave of first time buyers started right then I decided matches aren't my top concern. Any of us that have been in this lifestyle for any amount of time could see the writing on the wall. We've been through it before and we adjust accordingly. That said there is one style of matches I am shooting but it's because the round count is low, PRS. It's once a month and generally around 100 rounds per match. I can live with that. Powder is a bit hard to come by but I have plenty on hand. Primers, I stop at a shop on my way to the matches and if they have them on hand I buy a brick. (they aren't marking prices up but they do limit to one brick per customer which is fair.) I use midsouth for bullets. That's how I'll handle it until things settle back down. And like you said, once they do and prices/availability are back to normal, act accordingly.
@@oif3vetk9 Absolutely agree. Nothing wrong with that approach at all. When I have been out for target practise, it's been more 45 Colt than anything because I can reload that with components on hand for a long time. Plus going through 100 rounds of that in a rifle makes for a satisfying trip with a lot less ammo expended than smaller calibers.
I recently contacted Widener's a large reloading merchant and asked why they are not importing primers from other countries. It has been impossible to buy primers in the US now for almost 1 year. To my amazement Wideners wrote that it is illegal to import primers and powder into the USA. .... "With regards to overseas manufacturers, the US has been disallowed to import those types of things for several years from many countries. Ammo seems to be ok to import, but raw components not so much." After hearing this, I can't tell you how dissapointed I am in our current crop of politicians.
I can assure you that Gunbroker is not going to tell their sellers how to price their items.
Gunbroker might not, but states like California take price gouging seriously. I think the Feds do also. 10x list price "IS" price gouging!
Nor should they. This isn't the Soviet Union.
@@Strelnikov10 If they prosecuted people for price gouging masks they might as well do the same for other items of interest.
@@z50com Okay... I don't support them prosecuting people for "price gouging" masks either. That's like saying, "well, since Hitler massacred the Jews... we might as well massacre this other group I don't like".
Okay... harsh example. Let's just say "two wrongs don't make a right".
@@Strelnikov10 Primer manufactures should just raise the price to $100 per 1000 and sell direct that might cure the current problem. Federal is selling ammo direct online now at double the old prices. I'm sure all the others will follow suit. . . .We'll never see cheap ammo again. . . .
My shooting/reloading routine has not changed since I started in 2003. Buy supplies "in season" if you don't waste and don't open till you use them, it lasts a long time
I’m the only one who started to reload. No one else in my family or friends reload. They all bought ammo and are sitting on it. They don’t even want to shoot because they don’t want to waste there ammo because of the crap that’s going on.
Cheers from California!
I bought 2k of ammo four years ago and still have half of it. Even so I decided to start reloading as a winter hobby.
Cheers from Wisconsin
Just in time to fill those new-fangled “high-capacity” magazines too...
Cheers from Michigan!
Was at Sportsmans Warehouse in Las Vegas yesterday, They are out of primers but are not price gouging, their powder supplies are limited but the prices are same as before the shortages. Kudos to them for their integrity! Crossroads and SAR show in Phoenix at beginning of December was a nightmare when you look at primer and powder prices. Primers were average $130 / K. BOO-HISS!
If you find some primers call your reloading friends and let them know where to get them .
Let's help out our fellow reloaders
I would, but my shooting partner doesn't reload. He should, though, considering he bought a .450 Marlin. I bought the .45-70 version myself, and even though I reload for it, it's much less essential for me than for him at this point.
You can hardly find .450 Marlin now, and if you can, only Hornady loads for it and it's $60 a box of 20. Ouch. It would almost be cheaper to shoot .450 Nitro.
Just stop buying them.
If I charged "the normal going rate", as per your suggestion,, a small handful of people would buy my entire inventory well before closing today (maybe 80,000) and resell them for 5 or 10 times what they paid. To prevent this, I can either shut down my primer sales, limit sales to 100 per customer (one sleeve), or inflate the price.
Just an FIY, as a LGS; I just want everyone to know that in general, the wholesale prices of firearms has not risen beyond inflation since before COVID. For example, common Glock wholesale costs from the large national distributors are between zero and $20 higher price than they were pre-COVID. A G17/19 still sits at $409-419usd. Blue states are commonly asking $700-1100usd currently. That lets you know just how much people are price-gouging... A good store will still have your favorites within reason. (Low-mid $500 usd).
Thanks. So Blue Label , GSSF prices are similar to wholesale.
@@supertruckertom No, distributor "Blue Label" pricing simply means no taxes are paid on the transactions (OEM->Distributor->LGS->Purchaser); which is why they are cheaper. The actual wholesale cost is the same. Great question tho!
@@Toysrme I recently joined GSSF and used my coupon to get a 17L for $502+$27+ local sales tax for $564 OTD. Got a G44 for $399 plus tax at a non LEO LGS in July also.
Gavin I was at midsouth today.. we talked about the primer shortage.. then I wanted to do a video about it . I felt like I really didn't have all that facts in place ... I watched your video !!!! Spot on I'm sending them to this video!!!! Thanks god bless
Gavin, great video, I checked gunbroker when this first started and there was a $.01 auction with no reserve on 5,000 Winchester SRP. The bid was up to $1500! Not the seller’s fault in this case but absolutely absurd nonetheless.
I am so glad I didn't wait to stock up on ammo and other supplies... I took care of this 10 years ago.
Cheaper than Dirt, sure, if it gold infused dirt! Never been a fan of ctd...
IF they actually ever do have decent pricing they make up their "loss" on the shipping.
we need a lot more people with your mind set in our community, ty.
Upstate South Carolina here.
Ya I got an email from cheaper than dirt that the “ammo trucks have arrived.” Highest prices I’ve ever seen on ammo and that’s because they don’t have reloading components to gouge is on. Obviously it’s their choice to set the price, but most of us will remember.
I saw that too on CTD. Outrageous prices. I did a double take.
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
I went to the SAR Gunshow in Phoenix Az on Friday 04 December 2020 and the private seller's were trying to sell a sleeve of Small Primers for $1000 and another guy was Sitting in his Vehicle selling Primers out of his Van for $200 a Thousand Primers what joke and my Buddy ended up buying CCI #41 Small Rifle Primers from MIWALL for $85 plus Tax and it came out to about $89 for One Thousand Primers. And MIWALL would only sell 100 count Small Pistol Primers for $7.00 per person. There was a lot of price gouging going on at the SAR /Guns of the West Gunshow and most of the Vendor's didn't show up because of the Covid19 Restrictions. Plus $22 to enter and $8 to Parking fee.
Market forces are market forces. Price gouging is a myth.
if the prices are too high, the buyers will go elsewhere and the issue is self correcting.
To each his own. I WOULD NOT ask $300 for a brick of primers. I could not to that with a clear conscience. I'd rather GIVE them to someone in need. Remember, we're not just a market segment, we're a community.
@@Ultimatereloader I wouldn't do that either, but ones property is just that: their own property, and they are entitled to ask whatever they choose if someone else wants to purchase them.
It's entirely up to the purchaser if the transaction will happen.
One person was prepared, the other was not prepared. this can be seen as the market forces associated with preparation.
Remember: nobody is forcing the purchaser to hand over his money if he thinks the price is too high.
@@Ultimatereloader Will you sell me your primers, then? Probably not. Because you want to keep them. But I bet there's a price you would let them go.
@Libertarian 4 Life exactly. If people don't like the price one guy is asking, then they are free to take their money and spend it with his competitors. If the first guy can't sell his stuff then he misses out on the transaction.
Completely agree! One big issue is if it's not a free market and the manufacturing is limited to just sources that are not competitive, or in collusion...
I just bought a 1,000 Tulammo LP primers for $10.90/100. Everything else is as you quoted $300-500, it’s nuts. I was buying 9mm a year ago, FMJ Target for $15. It’s $30/50 rounds, defense rounds are $50/20 rounds. If I can get a box of 9mm, it will be to reload my magazines. The LP is for my .45 Colt, 1858 Remington Revolving carbine with the conversion cylinder, later I will get a cylinder for the revolver version and one for my Roger&Spencer revolver. Fortunately I bought 100 new .45 Colt cartridge cases and the bullet molds. Powder can still be bought from Hodgen Powder Co. I just check on reliability of Tulammo, maybe 2% misfire. Beggars cannot be choosers. Great video.
Gotta prep, reminds me of a story that was read to me as a young child. Something about an ant and a grasshopper?? 🤣
Time for a 2022 edition.
I remember The Great Primer Famine of '94. Lessons learned.
Here's a hoarder here^^^^
B Berthold what about the 94 "assault weapon" ban? History repeats itself
i still have primers leftover from that time peroid
My uncle has been a hand loader for decades. He's been after me for several years to get into it.
Last week he bought me a Lee starter set. Ok, very nice. I'll give it a try!
So I ordered bullets and powder and even casings. A caliper and shellholders. Then die sets for one of my pistols and one of my rifles. Very exciting!
And now I can't get my hands on small rifle primers to save my life. I've spent over $300, not including the Lee kit, and still can't make a cartridge yet.
I SHOULD NOT say this but, Sportsmans Warehouse has them in stock with limits.
And they’ve continued to keep their sale prices, which is very commendable. Around $23-$24 per 1,000 for the basic small and large pistol CCI, Winchester, and Federal.
Excellent editorial. All shooters need to see it.
After the last shortage I started buying all my reloading components and sealed the primers
in vacuumed sealed packages.
Mylar...
Primers are in stock, 6 hours away from me, in Canada!
There are only 2 sizes of primers, small and large, the rifle ones use a sightly thicker cup than the pistol but can be used in pistol rounds.
Almost everyone has the 209's though.
Gavin, I love your channel. I've learned a lot from you. Thank you for that. But I must ask...What price would you be willing to sell those primers on your bench? Would you be willing to sell them at standard retail prices? No? Well then what price can I offer you that will make it worth it to you? I hope you get my point.
I honestly lost alot of respect for what he said in this video it must hurt to not understand why suppliers raise prices.
@@icanspelle6050
The esteemed Dr. Walter Williams professor of economics had an article on supply and demand, as well as "price gouging". He as well as John Stossel say there is no such thing.
The short answer is "into ammo". The primers for reloaders have been bought up, but they are not being replenished because every available primer being produced is going to commercial and military ammo manufacturers to meet the demand in that market. Multiple manufacturers have said that they are expecting it to be somewhere between April and June before they will have any primers to spare for the reloading market.
"Price gouging" isn't actually a thing in a free market economy.
Prices are determined by what the market will bear. Basic supply and demand. This is one of the ways capitalism works.
It's kind of funny (or sad, really) to hear someone in the firearms industry saying something to the effect 'someone should reprimand these businesses because they don't subscribe to my values.'
Exactly! The moment we start placing heavy regulation on private sellers is the moment we disband a free market society.
I'm glad to see that so many here actually study the roots of the capitalist economic system. So many people sing the praises of capitalism simply because they are conservative, but when pressed, they cannot really explain it to you. Or, in the worst case, you get people who put forth extremely socialistic ideas when they are down on their luck (like this video does).
@Log Splitta Yes it is a free market. The "abnormal market upheavals effecting supply" is a signal to manufactures and producers to INCREASE production of these items as they are now selling at a higher price and they can make more money by meeting the demand for these items
@@Strelnikov10 I think you go way too far to label the idea as "extremely socialistic." Some gunbroker sellers are fraudulent and have their own people going in and driving the prices up. That's unethical and not part of a free market capitalism society. It's fraud and there is nothing wrong with giving people like that negative publicity.
@@thelz7909 He wasn't talking about auctions. He was talking about a buy it now price. Please, enlighten me on how one might artificially drive up a "Buy It Now" price....
Also... if I place my highest bid at $100 for an item, that means I am willing to pay $100 dollars. Now let's say that a seller "sends his own people in" and drives the final price up to $99.99. Well, that's still within the range of the price I was willing to pay. While that practice is shady for sure, I still haven't been ripped off. Easy way to counteract this.... don't place your highest bid at a level that's higher than you're comfortable paying. Easy enough! Now, if he put a gun to my head and forced me to pay $110, now I've been ripped off.
Very well said, I just bought a reloader just starting out no primers. I like your integrity thank you sir. These people are insane should be ashamed of themselves and prices.
A buddy of mine sold me 2k small pistol primers from one of his contacts at regular price. I almost had to fight him to take an extra $20 for making the drive to get them. THAT'S what I'm talking about!! Community!
You've covered some great points. One that's often overlooked is that in most states it is illegal to price gouge during a crisis. I know that here in Arkansas act 376 of 1997 gives up to a $10,000 fine per violation in addition to any restitution, attorney's fees and other expenses of prosecution. Gouging is defined as marking the price up by more than 10% in a declared emergency. This applies to businesses and individuals alike.
Solid advise. I can share my recent experience. I was down to my last 3 sleeves of small rifle primers, so I started waiting on Saturday and Wednesday mornings at my local Bass Pro Shops. They haven’t run up their prices much if at all granted they were already a little high in general. I think it was the third Saturday I looked for primers and low and behold there were 3 bricks of CCI 400s I grabbed all three bricks but just a couple seconds later, a guy came looking for the same stuff and noticed I had them. I know I’m patting myself on the back a little bit, but without hesitation I gave him one of “my” boxes.
For the most part, gun people are really great people and reloaders might be even more so. It just feels better to be good to each other.
Heard it a thousand time for the old timers... "when the shock/hold is over buy weekly" don't need to buy a ton... just buy one here and and another there.. when you buy and in your way back buy some more! before you know it you'll have more than any one could possibly desire! This I honestly was an advice from a retired gunner.. they guy have so much ammo that he have to cycle it by dates "never keep ammo for more than 15 years...
I got my reloading equipment out of moth balls two years ago, and spent the winter reloading. Then I bought second progressive press and kept on reloading... My interest in reloading again is all due to Gavin's shenanigans! lol
Hey Gavin, You are 100% correct sir. Integrity and accountability. Don't leave bread crumbs, some people will never forget.
So reading a lot of comments, I've come to discover that price gougers don't like to be called out for price gouging. A lot of people calling Gavin a communist for taking a public stand against price gouging.
Thanks for being you Gavin and giving a voice to something that's a real problem in the industry.
The other problem is . The shops are allowing
Customer to buy out the primers. So limited to buying . I just started to reload . And got a lot of good tips from you. Lucky a friend gave me 400 primers to work with . Thanks for the info
I started stocking up 2 years ago , there all in my reloading bench YA!
Picked up 4,000 primers last week. Local store got a shipment. 2,000 small rifle and 2,000 small pistol. The line was out the door and through the parking lot. Their supply lasted one day. I'm damn lucky. No, they're not for sale. Also, the shop was not gouging. $140 for all 4,000 primers. The shop was Gunnies in Orem Utah. Big shout out to them. If you're ever in Utah stop in and give 'em some business.
Cheaper that dirt is also will screw u on freight charges as well.
I don’t buy anything from cheaper than dirt
Excellent set of points. Appreciate hearing it. When I lived in Texas back in the mid-90s I used to drive for 3 hours to go to Cheaper Than Dirt. Loved their store. Never had an issue with them. I am disappointed to see numerous video's indicating they are now charging a lot more than they used to. It's to bad. Thanks for the video, people do need to hear how we need to work with each other instead of against each other (I imagine a person not wanting to share their primers but needs cases...while a person with cases who needs primers won't budge either...yup)
There are people out buying anything Ammo, Powder, Primers and Brass just to resale it!
Eeeeeeeeeevil citizens utilizing their capital in a manner they see fit, in the pursuit of happiness and generation of income! #Reeeeeeee
@@bocephussmith7858 just remember what goes around comes around! Karma is a bitch!
Some basic economics lessons are needed here. His examples were open auctions, where prospective buyers were bidding up the price of their own volition. If people are willing to pay $300 for a brick of primers, who is he, or anyone else for that matter, to say they can't?
I've been slowly building up an inventory over the past twenty-five years and have about 30,000 primers. I remember the shortages of '94, '09, and '13. I also have enough powder, bullets, and cases for every caliber I want for the rest of my life. Once I find a bullet/powder combo that I'm happy with for a given caliber/application, I stockpile the components when availability is good and prices are low. I still have a couple bricks of primers I bought for $16.50 twenty years ago. If stored properly, they essentially last forever.
I haven't bought any components in eight years, because I haven't had too. And I never will again, unless a new, interesting bullet comes out that I want to tinker with.
It's simple supply and demand. People have some primers they're willing to part with, and that's how much it will cost to get them to let them go on Gunbroker. Since they don't know when more will hit the shelves any more than the rest of us, that's perfectly fair. You'd have to pay me at least $200/1000 for me to part with any of the primers I have. The only difference is that I'm not even trying to sell mine, since Lord only knows what's happening in the next 3-6 months.
There's a reason people who are asking crazy prices still have primers available, and people that haven't raised their prices do not.
No one *needs* primers. No one is getting stranded because they can't buy primers at normal prices. No one will be unable to eat or wipe their butt because they can't buy primers at normal prices. If we reach a point in 3-6 months where people *need* primers, powder, and bullets, $300/1000 will feel like it was a bargain.
In 2008 a friend advised me that we should buy a stock of primers for what we normally reloaded. Over the next 6 months we bought cases of 20K primers per case and stored them in a barn. We have had as many as 1 million primers in all the needed sizes. Then we were paying $.002 per primer on average. Now those same 10+ year old primers are worth $.20 per primer if we were to sell them, we do keep our close reloading friends in primers. Powder is the next issue that is going to become extinct, we bought about 2 tons of kegged powder, it is stored a mile from the primers. All I can say is when stuff is available, stock up with as much as you can afford. Bullets are hard to come across now as well, buy lead and bullet molds. It isn't as dangerous as people want you to believe, melt the lead and make your own. May not be as great as copper coated, but they go down the barrel, are deadly at range and cheap to make.
Sorry, I think I bought most of the stock. I've found many deals in the last while from other shooters. Good luck to all looking for supplies. Be patient.
By this time every merchant has jacked up their prices.
Private sellers may sell THEIR private property for what ever price they want to ask and/or any buyer is willing to pay.
Retailers and wholesalers are different.
People who panic buy are the issue more than anything.
Supply/Demand always works until someone fucks with it. Like price floors/ceilings.
This Shortage isn't going away anytime soon and with the Chance of Biden winning it might be a very long time..
Met a private gentleman who has the inside scoop on primers in the industry. They are running at capacity because, with millions of new firearms buyers, and millions of new ammo buyers, production is behind retailer orders, which go out more than six months. However, due to his success in another business, he is able to pay cash to/through manufacturer REPS, who notify him of any "over runs". On an ongoing basis, he buys when available, primers in the millions and bullets by the pallet. He's an expert pistol marksman and master reloader.
It happens that after WWII, ammunition production dropped back to support the sporting goods & shooting industry. Gearing up primer production is very expensive to establish. The major producers are hesitant to do this, as they do anticipate consumption to drop within the year and do not want to have spent the extra funds on increased production that will not be needed and sit unused This is perfectly understandable, if you understand the major expense of scaling up the production process.
So many citizens and first gun buyers have now come to realize the following: in this time of increasing civil unrest, you cannot rely on local law enforcement to timely come to your rescue should your life be threatened. You are individually responsible to preserve and defend your life and your loved ones.
Nothing cures high prices like high prices. If someone is willing to sell, let them name a price. Maybe I am willing to pay it, maybe not. Who gets to say a price is too high anyway? The instant that any quantity of product is available at anywhere near the normal price, it will promptly sell and the guy asking more will still have zero sales. The free market works. Attempts to impose “fair prices” always involve coercion or sanction.
Thanks for the up date on primers . I'am thinking this summer , well maybe . So gone to the range has stopped for now..................................
Reloaders: "Hah, idiots. Can't find ammo during a shortage? Sucks to be you, I just load my own."
Everyone else: "Fine, we will reload too."
Reloaders: "WHeRE aRe aLL tHe ReLoAdiNg CoMpOnEnTs? I ThOuGhT tHeY WErE iMMuNe tO ScArCiTy!!1111!!"
I’m just so grateful my gun club had massive amounts of loading components stockpiled. You are limited in what you can buy weekly/ monthly , but prices are normal. By cutting back on shooting I’ll have enough for two years. We even have a mountain of bullets so I’m set. Grateful for this channel .
How is your clubs stock 1 year later? Just curious
@@halfdollar86 we ran dry of SPP and LPP 2 months ago. Natchez and Midway have been pretty regular .
"Price gouging" is just supply and demand. It's capitalism, I'm a capitalist, what about you? A seller setting a price, that's freedom; a buyer buying at a price, that's freedom.
If the price is too high, no one will buy it; no one is forcing you to buy anything. If someone is buying at 2x the normal price or higher, that's their decision.
If you didn't prepare before 2020, that's on you; failure to prepare on your part does not mean sellers are charities. Same for people who did prepare early, they have no obligation to give anyone anything, it's their choice to be charitable or not. Demanding or shaming them into giving is lame entitlement, sounds like the demands of the Marxists in the streets. Sad.
I thought I had enough coming into 2020, and under normal circumstances I would; with 2020 I decided to increase my supplies of ammo and mags. I had to pay more than usual for ammo, the mags were at or close to normal prices.
The fact I had to pay more is because I decided to buy more when the demand was higher than the supply; I don't like paying more, but I also don't whine, snivel, complain or blame sellers because I want more and they're charging more. If I think it's too expensive, I don't buy it, if I need it and it's expensive I'll buy it. Life isn't fair, get over it.
Some of the comments are sad, especially coming from the 2A community. How about freedom and responsibility? Drop the sense of entitlement. You're responsible for having your supplies, if you don't, that's your fault. If you waited to buy when supply is lower than demand, that's your fault.
smh
Right? It's pretty basic economics... mises.org/wire/3-good-things-about-price-gouging
Zoom Zoom... You are absolutely correct. If someone can get ($1,000,000) one million dollars for a box of primers why not? This is called freedom of capitalism. If you don't want to purchase them, then don't.... And this video is coming from someone who gives us the impression that he pays/buys his equipment. Most if not all his equipment/presses are given to him for free. He is constantly whining. Shoot lots and stay safe.
@Gray Au Or in a way worse situation than you, where you can't always be proactive or access other options.
100% agree
Thats the key... preparation. If you wait until there is a problem then it is too late. I've got enough ammo to wait out the crisis.
I have a suggestion for those that like to shoot but can’t get primers... try a flintlock. They work just fine for a day of shooting on the range or hunting. They worked with no industrial supply backing 200 years ago, they still do today, and will be 200 years from now.
Its not price gouging, it's what the market will pay...
To each his own. I'd rather do business with companies/individuals that don't take advantage of the situation.
It’s price gouging my friend. And taking advantage of people in need.
@@Ultimatereloader companies exist to make money, if you have a product people want and will pay a lot for... You charge them what they'll pay. If someone else has it for less, you won't make a sale and have to lower your price.
@@lunaticrider209 it's pricing the product appropriately for what people are willing to pay... If I'm a tow truck driver in a blizzard I'm going to charge a lot and make my money while there is a demand... If it's a bright summer day I'll charge less.
If you think it's unfair go make a company that produces cheap primers and powder and sell away.
@@Ultimatereloader , so you would prefer them to be underpriced and sell out instantly, or still able to get one at a price you deem "unfair"? You can't have it both ways.
Good point. I am learning to reload my own ammunition but I got everything except primer. I have not started yet. Thank you for your reviews. Thank you.
TC
It's simple economics the supply is low the demand is high so they will cost more
New to reloading just purchased a lineman 8 press ,everything I need to start with 38 special, everything but the primers, I check every day. When they’re available I will buy but not at any marked up price, always wanted to get into reloading just got in at the wrong time at least now I’m in.
Wise advice in all aspects of “supply and demand.” Besides Midsouth I would add Midway USA and Brownells. Have a care, Cooper
Yes they have large primers and shotgun primers
I have had shooters that shoot my match ask about primers and ammo. I am selling factory loaded ammo to them for the match they shoot at what I paid for it. I have offered primers to a couple of people in need and instead of selling them to that person I just asked that they replace them when they can. I have "enough" components to carry me through a competition season or two with slightly less live fire practice, and the occasional supplementing with factory loaded ammo.
Back in the last ammo/components shortage I never ran short or had to pay high prices, but as a result I have a "when I see it I buy it" philosophy with some smmo, and I keep a pretty set level of components- cases, primers, powder and projectiles- on hand.
I am a die hard customer of yours after the way you guys treated me on an order for my reloading stand. It is nice to see integrity still exists out here.
It isn't just primers, it is Reloading presses that I have seen on Amazon and other sites where sellers are price gouging on presses, dies, etc.
and yes i give friends what they need with the understanding that when they are more affordable they will replace them
that's what i did also
I bought 6 500 round cases of 165grain 308 and 3 500 round cases of 140 grain 6.5 Creedmoor Saturday morning after I couldn't buy TP Friday evening. Not sure if I was hoarding but I target shoot quite often and didn't want to run out. I just bought what I could afford, S&B and magtech nothing special but I haven't opened any of the cases I still shoot every Wednesday or Saturday or both I just buy a couple boxes of each on the way or at the range. In doing so I've been forced to buy Hornady American Gunner , Federal GMM in 165 168 175, Win superX even Green and yellow box Remington, Federal m80 149 basically whatever I could find. All of this to stay out of my reserve of ammo for right now in addition to a new 18" criterion barrel I installed on my ar10/LR 308. In all this I was searching 1st for ammo to shoot and 2nd a viable projectile weight-load weight and for my new .308 barrel. Honestly needing nothing for my 6.5 as it shoots S&B 140 with so close a result to the GMM 130 Bergers or 143 Hornady ELD that I won't continue to deviate. I have the 140 s&b in cases and I buy my range boxes identically. I KNOW I KNOW "MAKE A POINT ALREADY" I finally gave In this week and bought a RCBS Rock smasher or Rock crusher or whatever it's not a Muncie 4 speed I know that much. Well I asked "THE GUY" at the local.shooting supply store for primers
He handed me 215 magnum large primers for my 308. Are these viable?????? 2nd question I started sorting my brass yesterday and I remembered some of the brass is
762×51 and the federal in particular shot so bad 1st time around that I used it as an excuse to buy that criterion barrel and that new Strike Eagle. I told my wife " baby in not sure if I shit out the barrel or the scope finally failed but to be safe let's get one of each" after 1000 dollars in barrel and scope I'm not sure I want to scare myself to death with trying to reload that federal 762x51. Or is that a pretty straight forward endeavor????????
Sorry for the book. BTW I paid 45$ per 1000 primers. I know everything is higher than a cats back right now but it that unreasonable. Thanks for your time.
If you didn't stock up when they were available...You weren't thinking.
I'm thanking God that I stocked up years ago during the Obummer flop. That's about the time I taught myself how to reload. I'm good for a very long time.
That sounds great!
Now sell me half your primers at cost...
Great video! LOL I got into reloading due to watching your channel. Yup no primers. But I got lucky and found a few Winchester small rifle in the early fall to at least get familiar with my Hornady LNL.. I was shocked to see the prices on Gun Broker and that people are paying that price! More then factory ammo.. Hey thanks for all you do. I have learned tons from your channel. Oh and spent lots
Its capitalism.. do I like the gouging, no. But no one has to pay their price either. 🤷♂️
Theres no such thing as price gauging. Theres just a price youre willing to pay or not. Its not like primers are a life necessity. Now having said that Ide love to find sm rifle primers.
@@ak6143 Yeah, if you get rid of gouging there is no incentive to alleviate the shortage. The Hillary gun grab scare caused a shortage but led to an unprecedented supply.
@@ak6143 all I can find is CCI BR for $6 a tray
What exactly is "gouging"? Price is only relative when there are competitors in the market. It's amazing that NO ONE is accusing Tesla of "gouging" when their cars SHOULD be selling at HALF the price.
@@joeashbubemma why should they be selling for half? Can't wait to hear this...
I never thought I could drool over primers but there's a puddle on my lap watching this video and looking at those
Tell me about it. I sure picked the wrong time to try to get into reloading.
You and me both! Didn't know there was such a shortage when I decided to.get started. I just thought it would be cool to do while stuck at home and would let me shoot more for less
@@DookyShoes1 You guys could try cap and ball revolvers for now...
Sportsmans Warehouse. I've found primers there twice recently. Along with .22, 9mm, and 5.56 ammo. They've had Varget to. I have no idea why, but they have all the stuff.
The same thing happened during the great primer shortage of 94 - anytime theres a scare, the first thing to disappear, and the last to go back to normal are reloading components, particularly primers, beacuse the manufacturers shift focus primarily to ammunition. This is why you should have enough components to last you through several years. After the 94 shortage, i know several people who went out and bought tens of thousands, in at least one case, 100k+, and several of them are still using them up nearly 3 decades later..
How do you safely store that much? Most of the reloading books say 5k-10k max.
They obviously don't shoot much if it lasted them decades. My problem is that I can shoot through any amount of ammo very fast. I put 25k rounds through a single pistol last year. Hoarding ammo is basically practice sitting on a shelf. Why hold onto it for later, when I can use it to get better right now?
@@atypical_moto Who said they were pistol shooters? Most of them were silloette shooters, who probably went through less than 3000 RDS a year of 308 sized ammo - high volume is sure recipe for a permanent flinch. And I do know some amateur competitive pistol shooters that shoot in volume(they were part of a bulk order from Meister for half a million bullets), but even they don't shoot that much - time(both shooting and loading) and money preclude it.
@@sneakytails1724 they break it up and don't store it all in one place. I don't know what Batfe has to say about it, but the NFPA( the people who write guidelines for ins co regarding fire hazards) recommends no more 10k per residence. Storing more may get a claim denied, regardless of legality. I will say that at least one guy I know built a mini "igloo" complete with berms just like the army uses for ammo storage to store his primers and powder. No electrical, or combustible mark outside the primers and powder.
I have my guns for three reasons , hunting, target shooting and home defense ! When I purchase a new weapon identifying the proper ammo for accuracy and effect and initially requires some large purchases to determine the proper ammo for my gun , once I have done this I stick to the same ammo.
Everybody has their own reasons for large purchases, for me it doesn’t require an Arsenal to get what I need . Panic buying causes much of the problems we have today ! Would be nice to have a data base for ammo swap when you are left with ammo not compatible with your gun , a board at a shooting range identifying what you have and what you are willing to trade with would be helpful !
CTD can charge what they want in my book, but when they *cancelled existing orders* in order to relist items at a higher price, they crossed the line forever.
Thanks Gavin. Midsouth shooters are not price gouging on primers. But you have to be quick when they announce that they’re in stock. I missed out on the last orders, but will try again.
I was explaining to friend the other day that primers are like toilet paper for stupid people. Their are people with no reloading equipment a 300$ handgun with 5000 large rifle primers in their closet.
To be fair, if you glue enough large rifle primers together you can kinda shape it into a 9mm cartridge.
I replenished factory ammo first . When prices went more than 20% above normal I started buying components. Building my bench now. Hoping to be ok until primers come back to the market.
Actually, they're worse than toilet paper than stupid people. Stupid people can at least use the toilet paper. But nobody without reloading equipment can use primers. And nobody but someone with reloading equipment _and_ a man-sized rifle can use large rifle primers. (Hint hint: that rules out the .223/5.56 and every AR-15 variant in existence).
Unfortunately, up here in Alaska we can't buy reloading supplies from anywhere would have to ship up here. Shipping primers, powder, and loaded rounds are deemed too dangerous according to the shipping companies.
Hi Gavin, I am completely out of primers and it sounds like you have a lot of them. Would you consider sharing some of your stock pile with a dedicated follower? LOL Thanks for all the great videos, keep up the good work.
Me too, Gavin. I'd be willing to pay you 5% more than you paid for them. I know you wouldn't want to gouge me. Oh, 10% you say? Well, that still sounds fair. The line must be drawn somewhere. At a low price, you will say, "Naw. I think I'll just keep mine." But with enough people banging on your door, BEGGING to pay you 20% more, 30% more, 50% more than you paid, you are actually doing them the favor. The guy willing to pay 50% more, wants them VERY badly, and would be angry at you if you sold them to somebody else for only a 5% markup, and left him with no primers. You think you're "taking the high road" by saying to him, "No. You don't get any." Very interesting!
Yep. Nice theory. I wish he'd prove it by putting it into practice.
So, where is the line where those "with" says they cannot give/supply/help??
Careful. Gavin, that pulpit you're pounding is a high, little dry rotted & will fall apart on ya. Will you please practice what you preach? (Asking for a friend 🥴😉)
Lots of new reloaders out there.
How many has Gavin helped out with primers in the past few months?? (waiting)
I'm law enforcement and am taking a firearms instructor course in April. I need to practice but can't find ammo. I have everything I need to reload 9mm EXCEPT primers. I can't afford to pay the prices on gunbroker. I hope some places have them soon! Great video and advice!
How long was it "last time" when the primers started showing up on the shelves again? Tku.
Primers are actually really easy to manufacture, it's about a 20 minute process to make a thousand and federal at least, has an entire sections of their factories dedicated to making primers. They (federal gold medal match) came back in stock on brownells last monday and were literally out of stock within about an hour.
I read on AR15.com that it was around June after your boy Barry was crowned...
I shoot a good bit. 250~400 rounds a week. I always have 5000 (small pistol) primers on hand. When I get below that I start hunting online for 5000 more, the last shipment took me 4 days to find. That is hitting my favorite retailers twice a day till I see them and then ordering them. They are out there you just have to be diligent to get them
This happens. This is also why I buy primers I don’t need when they are available.