Pistol Primers - What's Happening ?

[Wobbly]

Just checking around for small pistol primers and don't like what I see...
? Federal #100 still aren't back in stock at a great many places
? Primer prices in general are hovering at $30, I though they'd be down in the mid-$20's by now

What's happening ?   

[dragon813gt]

Primer prices have been steadily increasing for a long time now.  I?m assuming part of it is because they?ve seen what the market will bear.  If you?re not aware there is a new primer formulation on the horizon.  And just like smokeless powders it?s because of environmental regulations.  The cost of primers is still low.  The increase is powder prices concerns me a lot more.  I haven?t needed any in a long time and the current prices shocked me.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/cartridge-primer-technology-developments?CMPID=ene070218

[M1A4ME]

Don't wait till you need them to buy them, buy them when you see a good price.

I just got two 8 lb. jugs of TAC shipped to my door for About $270.  I don't need it - now, but I will some day (next year??)

Of course, that means I'll have to be looking for more small and large rifle primers when I see a good deal (next time Cabela's puts them on sale or a see some guy at the gun show with a few boxes for a good price.)

I was buying Tula primers every time I saw them ($22 to $25 a thousand) but it's been three or four months since I've seen any for sale at the gun shows.

[1SOW]

Just checking around for small pistol primers and don't like what I see...
? Federal #100 still aren't back in stock at a great many places
? Primer prices in general are hovering at $30, I though they'd be down in the mid-$20's by now

What's happening ?   

I've seen/NOT seen the same,  except there have been some Fed SP "Match" primers available at a much higher price than the 100s.  That may indicate the manufacturer's greed/knowing many will pay the price for the high dollar Fed Match Primers.....even though there is virtually zero differences between the two primers.

[lewmed]

 If you think primer prices are high now just wait until we are forced to use lead free primers.  Check out online dealers I just bought 25,000 Fed.100 small pistol primers @ $27 per 1,000 hazmat and shipping included CCI and Winchester were a few $ less.

[viking499]

Some local election ads are starting to show up on the TV around here.  I believe that will start to affect prices too as this start to grow.

[ReloaderFred]

Wholesale prices of primers are up, and delivery is still spotty.  My good friend still has over 500,000 Federal SP primers on backorder...

Hope this helps.

Fred

[ReloaderFred]

Primer prices have been steadily increasing for a long time now.  I?m assuming part of it is because they?ve seen what the market will bear.  If you?re not aware there is a new primer formulation on the horizon.  And just like smokeless powders it?s because of environmental regulations.  The cost of primers is still low.  The increase is powder prices concerns me a lot more.  I haven?t needed any in a long time and the current prices shocked me.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/cartridge-primer-technology-developments?CMPID=ene070218

We had a thread on the Catalyst primer back in March:  https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96013.msg738402#msg738402

[Wobbly]

Interesting stuff. Thanks.

 

[dragon813gt]

Primer prices have been steadily increasing for a long time now.  I?m assuming part of it is because they?ve seen what the market will bear.  If you?re not aware there is a new primer formulation on the horizon.  And just like smokeless powders it?s because of environmental regulations.  The cost of primers is still low.  The increase is powder prices concerns me a lot more.  I haven?t needed any in a long time and the current prices shocked me.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/cartridge-primer-technology-developments?CMPID=ene070218

We had a thread on the Catalyst primer back in March:  https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96013.msg738402#msg738402

There is little info in that thread.  On another forum there is a lengthy discussion of the chemistry behind them from an actual chemist.  This is the same person who?s developed priming compounds that a reloader, albeit an advanced one, can make themselves.  People may want to start looking into this.  I?ve done it to prove I can if I have to.  But primers are still relatively inexpensive.  There are guys in other countries that have gone as far as making their own dies to stamp out the cups and anvils.  When you can?t get them you have no other choice.

[ReloaderFred]

There was very little information in the earlier thread because it was brand new, and there wasn't much information available at the time.  The Catalyst primer had just been announced and the government contract was the first big sale of ammunition containing it, which would make for a good test platform.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[M1A4ME]

If you took fired primers, removed the anvil, used a flat bottom punch to remove the firing pin mark/indentation, cleaned them up some way (vibratory cleaner, wet cleaning solution, what ever worked) and then made your own priming compound, dripped it into the cup, reinserted the anvil and reused that primer - would the primer blow out because it was weakened by the working of the area struck by the firing pin then flattened out by the punch?

I remember seeing a video of villages in Afghanistan where kids were sitting around with punches/hammers and pounding that firing pin mark out of (berdan??) primers while old guys were sitting around putting them back in (resized) brass, loading them with powder and bullets with hand held reloading tools.

It didn't show anyone adding a priming compound back into the primer cup though.  I figured they were reusing them since the kids took the time to flatten the bottom of the cups.

[1SOW]

I wonder isF an old fashioned "Cap Gun Cap" would work remounted in a reshaped spent primer? 
😀🔫

[IDescribe]

I would point out that smokeless powder has been in popular use for a hundred years because it's superior to black powder in virtually every way.  And I would point out that there's nothing in that article citing environmental regulations as the cause for the new tech.  The cause for the new tech is government bodies wanting employees who shoot a lot of pistol ammo to not be over-exposed to lead styphnate.  Personally, I think this is a fantastic development.  Pistol shooters who shoot a lot get their fair share of lead.

If it works as advertised, it will catch on, and if it catches on, this is going to change reloading data for some cartridges.  What it describes with the heavier metals penetrating deeper into the powder column is exactly what magnum primers do.  I don't imagine it will make much difference with 9mm because of its short powder column, but with longer cartridges, it will change things.

[jwc007]

The view from Communist Occupied Territory, aka Rockford, Illinois.

The only Local Gun Shop left here that stocks any Reloading Supplies currently has both Winchester and Magtech Primers at $45 per thousand, before taxes.
Same prices as during the "Obama Primer & Powder Shortage".

Also, .22 LR ammunition continues to be a bit on the scarce side with only the local "Dicks Sporting Goods" having any at a reasonable price.
An establishment I am loathe to do any business with, whatsoever.

Seems that some places are trying to keep prices on some things artificially high and got spoiled during the "Obama Years".