How is the primer and powder situation in your area?

[david s]

There's a fair amount of rimfire but no 22 Magnum. Just 17 HM2/HMR, 22 LR and 17WSM. A thin selection of 1 pound powder containers. No primers and a semi fair selection of brass. There's a bunch of 9mm/40/45 around. One retailer that has a 2 box limit had a sign up stating that the limit didn't apply to Norma 9mm, buy as much as you want. Oh and CCI 9mm shot loads. The 223 and 7.62X 51 was around with Winchester white box 5.56 at $13 dollars. We are five weeks from Montana's general rifle season and with the exception of some Remington 7X64 ammo there is no hunting ammo around. Last season people went to the ammo shelves grabbed what was available and then went to the rifle counter to get a rifle in that caliber. It doesn't look like that's an option this season. As mentioned were still 5 weeks out and things can change but something says it's going to be pretty thin pickings ammo wise.

[MissouriCZShooter]

There's a fair amount of rimfire but no 22 Magnum. Just 17 HM2/HMR, 22 LR and 17WSM. A thin selection of 1 pound powder containers. No primers and a semi fair selection of brass. There's a bunch of 9mm/40/45 around. One retailer that has a 2 box limit had a sign up stating that the limit didn't apply to Norma 9mm, buy as much as you want. Oh and CCI 9mm shot loads. The 223 and 7.62X 51 was around with Winchester white box 5.56 at $13 dollars. We are five weeks from Montana's general rifle season and with the exception of some Remington 7X64 ammo there is no hunting ammo around. Last season people went to the ammo shelves grabbed what was available and then went to the rifle counter to get a rifle in that caliber. It doesn't look like that's an option this season. As mentioned were still 5 weeks out and things can change but something says it's going to be pretty thin pickings ammo wise.

That's rough. I noticed yesterday that even the .22LR is starting to disappear again. They have a 2 box limit on everything at my shop. So I picked up 2 boxes of Norma .22 because I was starting to get a little low. My buddy that I used to waterfowl hunt with told me he's pretty well down to half a case of 3 inch 2 shot and looking like thats gonna have to last all season. This sucks. I really hope things start turning around fast.

[david s]

I'm not much of a shotgunner. There was steel hunting ammo around in most gauges. Defense ammo in 12 gauge was pretty picked over but a boxes here and there. Twenty gauge defense ammo seemed more available and 410 of all things. 22 LR was available in bulk (I don't think they were the 500/525 round boxes more like the 300 round count) for Aguila, Norma and Armscore (?). Most others were the 50/100 round boxes. One place had Winchester white box 223/5.56 bulk/range packs of 200 for $140 which didn't seem horrible.

[armoredman]

I stopped by Sportsman's Warehouse in Mesa the other day, and as always, (as I told my best friend, " going to check the forlorn hope"), I swung by the gun counter and asked, "powder or primers?" I expected the usual, "Nope", but the kid said they had one sleeve of 100 large pistol primers left, (don't use them), and some powder. H335? X-Terminator? Win 748? Nope. But he did bring me a 1 pound bottle of Ramshot TAC...which is useful in .223. AND, it was well under $40, just $33 and change. SOLD!
Locally the situation is back down to the bare minimum, but spurts here and there of hope spring up.

[MissouriCZShooter]

I'm not much of a shotgunner. There was steel hunting ammo around in most gauges. Defense ammo in 12 gauge was pretty picked over but a boxes here and there. Twenty gauge defense ammo seemed more available and 410 of all things. 22 LR was available in bulk (I don't think they were the 500/525 round boxes more like the 300 round count) for Aguila, Norma and Armscore (?). Most others were the 50/100 round boxes. One place had Winchester white box 223/5.56 bulk/range packs of 200 for $140 which didn't seem horrible.

I used to buy the federal blue box steel 3" 2's by the case when I was into waterfowling. about $100 a case now I think the price has gone up $30 minimum. This just sucks all around

[MissouriCZShooter]

I stopped by Sportsman's Warehouse in Mesa the other day, and as always, (as I told my best friend, " going to check the forlorn hope"), I swung by the gun counter and asked, "powder or primers?" I expected the usual, "Nope", but the kid said they had one sleeve of 100 large pistol primers left, (don't use them), and some powder. H335? X-Terminator? Win 748? Nope. But he did bring me a 1 pound bottle of Ramshot TAC...which is useful in .223. AND, it was well under $40, just $33 and change. SOLD!
Locally the situation is back down to the bare minimum, but spurts here and there of hope spring up.

Sounds about like one of the last times I bought pistol powder when it first started getting tough. Got 3 pounds of HP38 because that's what I use in my 9 and 45. Haven't seen it since. I know my uncle uses TAC and got the last jug when I was in there. I've said it before but once things start getting back to normal I'm going to be more prepared for this next time. This is ridiculous.


It's just wild how some areas have a lot more supplies and some have absolutely nothing. I haven't seen a box of 6mm bullets anywhere. I don't think Sierra has anything in stock either. Fingers crossed we start getting better soon.

[tdogg]

Yeah this shortage was across the board and much worse than the Obummer years.   I've been search for hunting bullets (among the long list of components needed) for a year.   I really need 7mm Barnes 145 LRX and Nosler 168 ABLR.

I'm on a number of notification lists for these.  Midway had the Barnes LRX come in stock and I was able to order 2 boxes, to help with shipping I added a bottle of bore cleaner and guess what happened?  Yep,  bottle failed in shipping soaking the all copper bullets in bore cleaner.  I lost about half of them (pitted).  Midway made it right by sending out a second bottle of bore cleaner (which also came broken but not leaking!) and refunding money on the bullets (and letting me keep them!).

My local sportsman's hasn't had much but it had been getting shipments of primers more frequently up until recently.   I never get there in time to pick up any but they were coming in.  It seems to be slowing down again.   Hope this lifts soon!

Cheers,
Toby


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[MissouriCZShooter]

Yeah this shortage was across the board and much worse than the Obummer years.   I've been search for hunting bullets (among the long list of components needed) for a year.   I really need 7mm Barnes 145 LRX and Nosler 168 ABLR.

I'm on a number of notification lists for these.  Midway had the Barnes LRX come in stock and I was able to order 2 boxes, to help with shipping I added a bottle of bore cleaner and guess what happened?  Yep,  bottle failed in shipping soaking the all copper bullets in bore cleaner.  I lost about half of them (pitted).  Midway made it right by sending out a second bottle of bore cleaner (which also came broken but not leaking!) and refunding money on the bullets (and letting me keep them!).

My local sportsman's hasn't had much but it had been getting shipments of primers more frequently up until recently.   I never get there in time to pick up any but they were coming in.  It seems to be slowing down again.   Hope this lifts soon!

Cheers,
Toby


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

mannnnnnnnnnnn that's tough. That's how one of the stores I go to is they had been getting some slowly and last I talked to em on the phone they said it's pretty well dry. They had a bunch of the CCI #41 (I think that's what they are, they are the "military" primers for the 5.56) in but I don't think they've gotten any more in for awhile plus they haven't really sold many of them at the price of $85 a brick. Fingers crossed.


Picked a good time to try to work up a new load for my .243. I haven't seen 6mm bullets anywhere

[Duke Nukem]

I went in the local Academy Sports to see what primers they had- the answer was none.  I asked if they had been getting some in, the reply was "we haven't seen any primers in months".   

[MissouriCZShooter]

I went in the local Academy Sports to see what primers they had- the answer was none.  I asked if they had been getting some in, the reply was "we haven't seen any primers in months".   

oooooof. I've heard that at one of my shops too but I have a suspicion they're holding em back but maybe that's not right of me to assume. I've said it a million times and sound like a broken record but man I'm hoping this stuff starts getting better SOON

[JBruns]

I went in the local Academy Sports to see what primers they had- the answer was none.  I asked if they had been getting some in, the reply was "we haven't seen any primers in months".   

My local Academy told me 6 months ago that they were getting out of the reloading components business. So I never check there anymore. The local Bass Pro was getting primers in pretty regular, but that has tightened up lately. Not sure why.

[MissouriCZShooter]

I went in the local Academy Sports to see what primers they had- the answer was none.  I asked if they had been getting some in, the reply was "we haven't seen any primers in months".   

My local Academy told me 6 months ago that they were getting out of the reloading components business. So I never check there anymore. The local Bass Pro was getting primers in pretty regular, but that has tightened up lately. Not sure why.

I wonder if the market just wasn't there or something? A store close to me did the same. However, they're a farm store with a sporting goods section not like it's a straight sporting goods store.

[MissouriCZShooter]

Not primers or powder but ended up upgrading my powder drop to a Lyman Brass Smith.

[JBruns]

Yeah, it's a good time to upgrade if you shoot a lot and are looking at the math. Even with what I'm paying for reloading supplies in todays market, it's less than half the cost per round of even the low end brass range ammo. I upgraded from a Dillon 650XL to a Dillon 1100 with bullet feeder recently. I'll have it "paid off" (I paid cash for it, but you know what I mean) in no time. Got good money selling the 650 too.

[MissouriCZShooter]

Yeah, it's a good time to upgrade if you shoot a lot and are looking at the math. Even with what I'm paying for reloading supplies in todays market, it's less than half the cost per round of even the low end brass range ammo. I upgraded from a Dillon 650XL to a Dillon 1100 with bullet feeder recently. I'll have it "paid off" (I paid cash for it, but you know what I mean) in no time. Got good money selling the 650 too.

I'm just trying to upgrade what I can now since I'm not spending all of my spending cash on supplies and such. I run a Lee turret and use my auto-disk on my 9's and 45's and it does great. But the Lee perfect powder drop is awful, IMO. Next on my list is a new scale. I just don't know which one I want.