I am guessing this problem exists in all the US states, however what I find strange is there is no shortage in Canada, or Europe only problem is you need an import lic or something to order them. I suspect this is a manufactured shortage due to the election, any thoughts? I am just about to the point I may have to reload primers, would have to use the old fulminate recipe, I actually did that a number of years back, successfully, however, 10-20 is one thing but a few thousand would be a real drag.....
Primer Shortage
- Thread starter hrpenley
- Start date
Creeker
Well-Known Member
I'm in the "panic buying" boat. I would like to hear your thoughts on "manufactured shortage" though.
fiver
Well-Known Member
it takes longer for things to funnel through their supply chain, so it takes longer to empty it.
it was the same way last go round too.
if you look closer you'll see many of those places have a super strict limit on how much you can have at one time.
airc in some places something like 3Kg. of powder is the limit, and they do keep track.
plus in some places you can't even buy certain types of primers [just primed Hulls]
so nobody is going in and buying 5 sleeves of primers or 4 jugs of powder every couple of months.
it was the same way last go round too.
if you look closer you'll see many of those places have a super strict limit on how much you can have at one time.
airc in some places something like 3Kg. of powder is the limit, and they do keep track.
plus in some places you can't even buy certain types of primers [just primed Hulls]
so nobody is going in and buying 5 sleeves of primers or 4 jugs of powder every couple of months.
I actually hit a few of those sites, didn't see any limit, loaded up the cart got all the way through and found out I had to have some kind of three letter permit number, was the end of that transaction. Didn't even realize was a Canadian site till I looked a little closer, Store pick-up was available but its a long drive from Indiana to Canada, can't remember if Ontario or Quebec. Any Northern folk on this board, would like to hear if having the same problems? I actually really liked Canada last time I was there, sad to say, they were much nicer people than here in the states. I did a robotic install just over the boarder a few years back, actually quite a few years back lol (time fly's) I had people from the factory inviting me to their house for dinner and everything. Not something I ever encountered in the US. Not sure if they are so fond of us Americans these days but I have to say I was impressed.
I don't know Fiver may be right about the supply chain thing but I am a little less convinced, during the Obammer years when the panic buying started guns and ammo were in short supply but I never ran into a primer shortage, at least here, I also did not see or at least don't remember any used brass issues, price and supply remained pretty stable. The political and economic climate now is quite bad, I think i heard over 6 million new gun owners just this year - If I were in a position to "control" the environment, I would control the distribution of ammunition - the guns are already out there but they are not very useful without ammunition. Slow the supply chain of finished rounds first then slow the supply chain of the components. Sounds like a desperate attempt to limit the damage if everything goes to hell I guess. I don't think it has anything to do with the left or right I see it as damage control if things get out of hand. The number of re loaders is small compared to the general population but probably large enough to keep a working supply of ammunition flowing, not to mention the number of people that would migrate to making their own ammunition. I suspect it is simple preservation of law and order, if this country does descend into chaos (which I don't think it will) I am pretty sure there is a department that our taxes probably pay for, buried deep in the government to think about this crap and plan for the worse. I am going to bet not long after the election no matter who wins the supply chain will miraculously start working again, much sooner that if this were an actual supply issue. Unless sleepy Joe wins, then as soon as Kamala puts him to bed we will all be screwed. Just my little pet theory......
Thing that stands out is the shortage of black powder/muzzle loading primers - why would there be a run on those? Unless they can be converted to use in a standard round? don't know never been that route but maybe. - Maybe the mfg shut down that side to make standard primers? Don't know just a little fishy around the edges. Could be to much tv.......
I would think capitalism would dictate kicking production into high gear raise prices and flood the market making as much as you possible can during this time, of course maybe that is what they are doing and demand is that high but last time I went to the range it was pretty thin. Lake city plant in MO alone makes *4mil rounds a day without working overtime, multiply that by the number of mfg in the US alone, thats a lot of ammo not being shot.
Last edited:
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
Factories are run at their most economic efficiency. To ramp up production -- install more machinery, add more shifts, and hire and train new employees -- for what the owners know is an irrationally generated and relatively short-lived shortage is not economically feasible.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Lake City produces ammunition strictly for the military, and has nothing to due with the civilian market. How many rounds does the military expend per day? How many are required for warehousing? Seems like it must be 4-million per day.
Since the local range re-opened, after the state-wide lockdown, the number of shooters has increased dramatically. A lot of them are younger, and are blasting through a 250 or most of a 500-round box of 5.56/.223 ammo per session. A lot of ammunition is being shot.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Lake City produces ammunition strictly for the military, and has nothing to due with the civilian market. How many rounds does the military expend per day? How many are required for warehousing? Seems like it must be 4-million per day.
Since the local range re-opened, after the state-wide lockdown, the number of shooters has increased dramatically. A lot of them are younger, and are blasting through a 250 or most of a 500-round box of 5.56/.223 ammo per session. A lot of ammunition is being shot.
RBHarter
West Central AR
Lots of complicated business involved with LC being Gov Owned Contact Ops (GOCO vs GOGO) on the 4 million a day I'd venture that that's closer to 2 mil for Uncle and 1 mil each for FC and Win . I think those are the guys under ATK anyway ...... Uncle has significant stores and does shoot a lot of training ammo .
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
358156 hp
At large, whereabouts unknown.
I'm sitting okay too. To be honest, I've been through so many reloading component famines that I tend to overstock on components. The very first one I remember was a couple of lifetimes ago when primers we unobtainable. I remember buying SR magnum primers to use for SP magnums. After that passed I set down minimum stocking levels for primers and powder. I was a little low on std SP primers when this round started, but was able to source a few more thousand to get me to a more comfortable level.
fiver
Well-Known Member
well as most here know primers are a finite supply item.
they can only make the compound so fast, then they can only stamp out the cups and anvils so fast.
the issue with just buying them when ammo is in short supply is one of simple economics.
reloaders get leftover supplies.
when the 9mm machines are running 24-7 there is no leftover supply of small pistol primers.
1 because there ain't any leftover.
2 the profit margin on finished ammo is much higher than it is on a 3 cent component.
you'll see small pistol primers on the shelf again when you see 9mm ammo stacked 3 rows deep on the shelves again.
they can only make the compound so fast, then they can only stamp out the cups and anvils so fast.
the issue with just buying them when ammo is in short supply is one of simple economics.
reloaders get leftover supplies.
when the 9mm machines are running 24-7 there is no leftover supply of small pistol primers.
1 because there ain't any leftover.
2 the profit margin on finished ammo is much higher than it is on a 3 cent component.
you'll see small pistol primers on the shelf again when you see 9mm ammo stacked 3 rows deep on the shelves again.
Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
Lake City does run other manufacturers ammo on their machinery. All the Hornady Frontier is loaded at the Lake City plant. Also Federal buys most of the 55gr 556 and 62gr that does not meet the Milspec QC standards.
Winchester just took over the LC facility and that may be putting a little strain on Winchester.
And the manufacturers can and do create shortages. Also importers. Wolf years ago were selling all the 762x39 and 223 for around $99/case of 1K. They wanted to sell it for more so they just held onto the stock they had and prices went up to $169/1K case. Then there was a surplus again of it. They slowly got it up to $200/1K and settled in there for a long while. Then Obama happened.
Winchester just took over the LC facility and that may be putting a little strain on Winchester.
And the manufacturers can and do create shortages. Also importers. Wolf years ago were selling all the 762x39 and 223 for around $99/case of 1K. They wanted to sell it for more so they just held onto the stock they had and prices went up to $169/1K case. Then there was a surplus again of it. They slowly got it up to $200/1K and settled in there for a long while. Then Obama happened.