[RYT 2BER]

Wow.... Primers aren't the easiest thing to come by..

I've wondered if it would ever be worth it for me to load 9mm... Based on the cost of factory 9 I don't think it would be worth wasting primers on it, since small pistol seem impossible to get!!

Powder and bullets are easy to find... But primers?? My God you'd think you we're buying gold!

[michael e]

I can find them easy. Are you looking local or online?

[KB2MBC]

Just a quick look at Powder Vally, Inc., they have primers in stock.
You just have to buy enough to justify the hazmat fee.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Must be a local issue.
Surprisingly there's no election shortage at all here in eastern MN or western WI.

[F106 Fan]

Powder Valley has Remington and Winchester small pistol primers in stock. They are out of stock on CCI and Federal. I am not totally convinced about Tula primers but PV has them in small pistol for $19.50/1000.

Cabela's has stock on primers but the prices are outrageous. However, their HazMat fee is only $20 versus $27.50 at Powder Valley.

Richard

[michael e]

I bought 4k of the TULA primers, 2k spp and 2k lpp. Used about half of each and no issues, 9mm 40sw on spp. 10mm 45acp and 44mag on lpp.
I was iffy about them but for half the price when I bought them and adding them onto a already large order it was worht the shot.

[RYT 2BER]

I'll look at powder valley..

Midway, Natchez and a couple other online vendors were out from what I could tell..

I have a semi local place that has cci primers in stock (small pistol) but the prices are insane. $42/1000 .. And that's without a hazmat fee

[njl]

Grafs has lots of them. If you're not mail ordering your primers in bulk, you're probably doing it wrong.

[F106 Fan]

The problem with buying powder and primers over the Internet is the HazMat fee. Each order needs to be large enough that the fee becomes a minor irritant.

I imagine that most of the long time reloaders are buying in quantities of 5k to 10k for primers and 8# or more of powder. You really have to like the load to buy that much powder. In my case, I load about 11,666 .45 ACP from each can. That's why an order with 10k of primers isn't all that unusual.

It is also worth adding a pound of some other powder for experiments. I added Vihtavouri N540 to an order with 8# of IMR4064 just to see if I liked it. Turns out that my Remington 700 in .308 likes it a lot with a 175 gr Sierra HPBT.

Eight pounds of 4064 will only load a little over 1300 rounds of .308 and that's a lot for a pair of bolt action rifles. Eight pounds of Varget will load about 2240 rounds of .223 and that isn't a lot for an AR-15.

Richard

[Blaster]

Originally Posted by F106 Fan

The problem with buying powder and primers over the Internet is the HazMat fee. Each order needs to be large enough that the fee becomes a minor irritant.

I imagine that most of the long time reloaders are buying in quantities of 5k to 10k for primers and 8# or more of powder.

My last order was 30K primers & 32# of powder.

[njl]

I don't order less than 5k or some small multiple of that number of primers. The powders I use most (Universal, WST, H-335, H-110) , I'm comfortable ordering 8lb at a time.

[shotgunred]

I have years of primers on hand. After the last election I vowed to never get caught low again.

The best bet is to buy at least 5K at a time on line. I like to order 20 to 30K at a time. but most people have to save up (at least I do) for that large of an order. But after the first time it is a lot easier.

[cajun_chooter]

just went to a gun show in NOLA... bought 5M Win small pistol primers for $18.00 per M.. no hazmat fees.. but did have to pay tax... i would have bought more .. but thats all this vendor had..

[DoctaGlockta]

Order online so no shortage here.

[ron59]

Buy minimum of 10k at a time from online, WITH 8 pounds of powder... no shortages here.

[unclebob]

Right now the normal online sights for primes do not have any SP Federal primers. When I order I get most of the time 30,000 or 50,000 at a time. A lot depends on what brand of primers you use.

[fredj338]

SP primers are probably the most commonly used so go first when there is a run. Expect a run on primers until after Dec; the election & Myan calendar are having an affect on guns. ammo & reloadign supplies. If you are not picky about primers, lots fo them available. Graf's as S&B cheap, they have proven reilable for me.

[ron59]

I won't say it's just "plug and play" interchangeable.... but during the last primer shortage of 2009, I shot thousands of MAGNUM small pistol primers in my 9mm loads.

It is wise to:

• work the load up again by starting close to the minimum and work up
• Not do this if you're looking for MAX loads of any kind

But my buddies and I all did this.

I won't speak for other calibers, but certainly with 9mm it's doable.

Powder Valley does have the Federal Magnum SPP in stock for the same price ($26.00), I'd be all over those before using CCI or Winchester just because I prefer Federals.

[judgecrater]

Originally Posted by ron59

I won't say it's just "plug and play" interchangeable.... but during the last primer shortage of 2009, I shot thousands of MAGNUM small pistol primers in my 9mm loads.

It is wise to:

• work the load up again by starting close to the minimum and work up
• Not do this if you're looking for MAX loads of any kind

But my buddies and I all did this.

I won't speak for other calibers, but certainly with 9mm it's doable.

Powder Valley does have the Federal Magnum SPP in stock for the same price ($26.00), I'd be all over those before using CCI or Winchester just because I prefer Federals.

I had an excess of large pistol mag primers and contacted Federal about using them in place of regular primers. They said it would not generate more pressure and loading data remains the same. They did say that the cups were harder and some pistols my not strike them hard enough. If you don't get light strikes you are good to go.

[The-Fly]

Just find a buddy, and go in on a large order. I often do that if I don't need a ton of something, but don't want to wait until my next batch order.

I generally do 2 large hazmat orders. A primer order in summer, and a powder order after xmas.

[RustyFN]

The problem with buying powder and primers over the Internet is the HazMat fee. Each order needs to be large enough that the fee becomes a minor irritant.

Richard, if you keep the order at 48 pounds or less they will ship the powder and primers together for one hazmat fee. Well at least everybody but Midway will.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by judgecrater

I had an excess of large pistol mag primers and contacted Federal about using them in place of regular primers. They said it would not generate more pressure and loading data remains the same. They did say that the cups were harder and some pistols my not strike them hard enough. If you don't get light strikes you are good to go.

That just isn't a true statement. The hotter primer can increase pressures, but it's always powder & load specific. That was a poor anwer on Federa'ls part, they should have told you it depends on the load involved. Primers are NOT plug & paly @ the upper end of any load, rifle or pistol.

[F106 Fan]

Originally Posted by RustyFN

Richard, if you keep the order at 48 pounds or less they will ship the powder and primers together for one hazmat fee. Well at least everybody but Midway will.

Yes, but for cash flow reasons, my orders are always less than 48#. Combining primers and powder is the only way I can save money.

I buy a lot of stuff from Midway and I really like their prompt delivery, etc. But powder and primers I get from Powder Valley.

Richard

[RustyFN]

Originally Posted by F106 Fan

Yes, but for cash flow reasons, my orders are always less than 48#. Combining primers and powder is the only way I can save money.

I buy a lot of stuff from Midway and I really like their prompt delivery, etc. But powder and primers I get from Powder Valley.

Richard

Sorry I must have read your post wrong. It sounded like you placed two separate small orders.