December 24, 2021Strategies for Finding Primers in Times of Shortages
Photo by Laurie Holland, TargetShooter UK Magazine. Reloading components are scarce these days, especially powder and primers. Primers are the most difficult component of reloading. It may seem like a quest for the Holy Grail. This is a problem for handloaders. Although you may be able find substitutes for your favorite powder or bullets, you won’t be able to start shooting unless you have primers. You can also look at auction sites like GunBroker. This is the worst-case scenario. Talk to your shooting buddies and check for estate sales. These guys are finding primers by using old-fashioned methods such as visiting local gunstores, checking estate sales, or “networking” with members of local shooting clubs. First, it is a good idea to join a local shooting club if you don’t already. We recently purchased powder at a local shooting club meeting and exchanged it for Hodgdon Varget. Forum member just recently won both primers and powders from a member of the shooting club. He then exchanged the H4198 for Hodgdon Varget. Combining forces with your shooting buddies is a great way to accomplish this. You can get together 3-4 guys to go out and search for all the local outdoor and gun shops that sell shooting supplies. You CAN get lucky. We regularly visit a small gunstore at a nearby mall. We were able to find CCI pistol primes last week! Deliveries are indeed happening. You just need to be vigilant. Check often. How to Find Primers — SEVEN STATEGIES. A list of all local gunshops and outdoor supplies stores within a radius of 70 miles. You should call them on a regular basis.
2. Join a local shooting club. Participate in meetings where you can exchange/sell products. (We recently swapped pistol primers for rifle primes that we needed.
3. Join local/regional gun forums. You might find listings for “face to face” transactions where you could buy/exchange primers. Our AccurateShooter Forum has a thread on “Where to Find Primers.”
4. Keep track of multiple vendor websites and make sure to check them daily (we have a list below).
5. You can combine your resources with some shooting buddies. Gather 3-4 guys and go on a joint hunt for all the local gunshops and outdoor stores that sell shooting supplies. Each man should be assigned a “territory” that is close to his work location.
6. Look in your garage and other storage areas. The Editor found 5000 Winchester Small Pistol Primers in an open box. These were left over from his IDPA days and 3-gun days many years ago.
7. Consider APS Primers. CCI sells APS Primer pre-loaded in plastic strips. They can still be found in some shops. Primer Strips can be removed from the strip or purchased with an APS primer tool. These online retailers sell primers quickly. You should check your inventory regularly. Persistence pays off eventually. Primer shipments DO arrive. They just sell out quickly.
Graf & Sons
Midsouth Shooters Supply
Powder Valley Inc.
Precision Reloading
Bruno Shooters Supply
MidwayUSA
Natchez Shooters Supplies
Sportsman’s Warehouse (check online and in stores)
Academy Sports
Cabela’s Best Strategy for Online Primer Purchasing (Not auctions)
These (and other) online sellers require that you check your email “early” and “often”. Primers can arrive quickly and sell out in minutes. It is a good idea to bookmark multiple sources and check them frequently each week.
WARNING — SCAM websites want to steal your money
Be wary of websites that sell unlimited quantities of difficult-to-find primers. Five criminal websites have been selling reloading products, including powder and primers, in recent weeks. Here a quick tip — if the website does not take regular credit cards (MC/Visa/Amex/Discover) it is likely a scam site. It is also possible to order Varget 8-lb jugs. Bottom line: Avoid any seller without a track record and avoid sites that only accept Zelle, Venmo and Bitcoin. Last Word — Online Auctions for Primers
We are seeing people selling primers for insanely high prices ($200/1000!) Online auctions at Gunbroker or elsewhere. Be very careful. Primers are a HAZMAT item. They can only be shipped legally by Hazmat certified businesses. HAZMAT-certified sellers may not be available to you. You won’t get your money back if your primer shipment is seized by the seller or not delivered due to non-compliance. Similar Posts
