Primer Shortage

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Switching to CCI 550 in my long range revolver cut groups in half also. Had been using Fed 205, too many years ago now to remember why, probably because that's what I had on hand but I was not unhappy with it. Switching to the 550's was a real eye opener.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
I did not realize this. My FIL cast and loaded for the .30 Carbine and he had a few bricks of the 6-1/2s left in his estate. Now I know why. I figured they'd work for .38 Special full-wadcutter loads, am I right?
I have Remington 6-1/2s too. I keep them with my small magnum pistol primers. But I really don't use much for small pistol magnums. I just went to bigger calibers. I just checked GunBroker, primer prices seem to have leveled out a bit at approx. $200.00/1K. They were $50.00 higher earlier this week. Large rifle primers are less, there are still some in the supply pipeline, CCI primers are nearly double anybody elses price.
 

Intel6

Active Member
Added factoid--in the smaller rifle calibers I listed above, changing out to the Rem #6-1/2 from CCI #400 and WSR in those smaller calibers shrunk group sizes (sometimes in half), SDs and ESs in these calibers. This was across-the-board in all of the calibers. Our member "Urny" (Ernie Beller) mentioned their use in the 22 Hornet, and the immediate success it enabled in that caliber prompted me to make the change in the other chamberings. I have yet to try the experiment with the SPM/CCI-550 primers in these smaller cases.

Been common knowledge for many years that using small pistol primers in small cases like .22 Hornet can lead to improved accuracy. It has to do with the initial pressure bump given by the primer. In the small volume cases the initial pressure bump by the primer bumps the bullet forward out of the crimp into the leade and then it stops until the pressure from the burning powder hits it and propels it out the barrel. This causes accuracy issues so using a primer with less brisance helps in the small cased stuff.

Lot of people don't know about the Remington 6.5 primers not being good for .223, I have had to point out the verbiage on the box more than a few times. I have been using the Rem 6.5 for quite a few years now and have found them to be an improvement in almost all of my .22 hornets and the .17 Ackley Hornet & .218 Mashburn Bee. The one .22 Hornet I found liked the Rem 7.5's better was my Ruger #1B.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
so I got to digging around and discovered I have a sleeve of federal small pistol match primers, and a sleeve of federal small rifle match primers.
I don't remember buying either one of them and probably don't need either of them.

so the big question is, if I decide to sell them what do you guy's think I should ask for them?
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
so I got to digging around and discovered I have a sleeve of federal small pistol match primers, and a sleeve of federal small rifle match primers.
I don't remember buying either one of them and probably don't need either of them.

so the big question is, if I decide to sell them what do you guy's think I should ask for them?
Check this out!

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884796020
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884688015
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884570541
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884601082
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I sold 16K primers this summer to friends, all at $30/K.

Don’t worry guys, I have enough to last me many years.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I was a little more worried about you surviving your bout of Wuhan flu with your capacities intact than running out of primers. You got friends and a few frontstuffers if supplies got low.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
I sold 16K primers this summer to friends, all at $30/K.

Don’t worry guys, I have enough to last me many years.
All true. I bought some of them, and happily drove about an hour each way to get them.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
That is unbridled insanity. GTFO!
I thought some of you would like that. Notice that they all had bids on them at those prices. That is what some guys are dealing with while us ants sit back and quaff mint juleps. This won't blow over soon.

Here are some 9mm ammo prices:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884705522
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884698244
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884413159

and 45 ACP- not as bad but still almost double "normal" retail.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884883991
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884495921
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/884697476
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Why would you pay that much?
A buck a round for 9mm?
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
These prices surpass the ridiculous.

Keep in mind, though--prior to this most recent shortage, the ammomakers were getting over a dollar per round for their premium lines of self-defense pistol ammo. That was ridiculous in and of itself.
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
Keep in mind, though--prior to this most recent shortage, the ammomakers were getting over a dollar per round for their premium lines of self-defense pistol ammo. That was ridiculous in and of itself.

Especially since the Super Self Defense WW whopper stopper is the exact same bullet and loading in a nickel plated case as the White Box Ranger. Yep, same bullet, same velocity, same performance.....pre panic, $25 per box of 20 v.
$17 per box of 50 Rangers (those were the 38 special +P)

The funny part is the range commandoes will argue with you all day about how superior the $1 plus per round ammo is to the bulk stuff. I seem to remember something about a fool and his money?
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
Why would you pay that much?
A buck a round for 9mm?
And that's generally the cheap stuff, so-called "range" or "promo" ammo. 115 gr 9mm ball is generally the lowest of quality. The cool kid stuff is over $2.00/round for the really good stuff, that seemed offensive at $1.00/round.

We can make that sort of stuff, but it leads us back to the primer situation. I suppose I'd rather spend $1.00/round for ammo than spend the same amount for a single primer. I'd have to ponder that a bit more. 9mm is the only caliber I don't own a HP mould in. A couple of different HP mould designs are only a phone call away for medium to longer term loan, but I have a number of moulds in handgun calibers that were designed for hunting, including 9mm, like Michaels "Ranch Dog" 135 gr design. FWIW, 358156HP without a gascheck installed very closely matches the profile and weight of Hornadys 147 gr JHP. I have tons of those ready to load. The empty gascheck shank can act as boat tail of sorts, allowing seating to magazine length, but requiring load development of course.
 

462

California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
When a first-time gun owner -- and their number has increased by the millions, since March -- does not know the pre-panic price of ammunition, it's easy to justify the $1-plus per round pricing.
Same goes for the post-panic reloader not knowing the prices of pre-panic components.

Shameless thread drift: Toilet paper panic buying is back, at least locally.
 

358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
When a first-time gun owner -- and their number has increased by the millions, since March -- does not know the pre-panic price of ammunition, it's easy to justify the $1-plus per round pricing.
Same goes for the post-panic reloader not knowing the prices of pre-panic components.

Shameless thread drift: Toilet paper panic buying is back, at least locally.
And the power of the credit card. Just pay once a month, like you do your rent!
 
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