Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

How is primer shortage affecting your shooting or your matches?


Roger Rapid

Recommended Posts

Curious to know how the primer shortage is affecting either your shooting or the matches you attend (or run)? For example: Is your club shooting less stages? Are you or your club shooting less often? Has your club tried some stages with 5p 5r and 2s?

 

Any other adjustments to your shooting habits because of primer problem?

 

RR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 74
  • Created
  • Last Reply

I am personally okay on ammo, but definitely less "live fire" practice, and I am shooting fewer annuals until I see how this will play out. Our local club is still shooting six stage matches, though we did add some "fewer than 4 gun" and ".22" monthly categories for those that don't want to burn as much ammo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I probably make as many or more matches as average in past few years, however I live round practice perhaps 40-50% less than before shortage.  I live very rural and have the facility but just afraid of how long shortage will last.  And, as much as I love to shoot, I do not plan to pay exuberant prices  to do so as I have for past 40+ years.   I try to dry fire practice (DFP) almost daily either at shop/home or on actual range.  I know down deep it is not equal to live fire, but as close as one is going to get considering.  And, while not the real deal, DFP does enhance and keep one tuned to transitions (especially if DFP is to the tone of actual scenarios).  At around 20K, with the additional matches and what live round practice Sassy and I do, I consider we are good for. hopefully, two more years.  At that time, who knows what will be before us.  God willing our health will be sufficient for the game and the country is at a better "state". 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cut down the amount of stages or round count and no one will shoot...kind of the Socialist effect. Take from those that have and everyone has less.

 

I too covered my butt by having inventory. If you lived through the previous shortages and didn't learn your lesson...then take up fishing or something till the components come back on the markets. Don't make others pay for your poor planning.

 

Phantom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not at all. Still shooting three to four matches each month and six, multi-day, matches each year.

the 2008 shortage opened my eyes. Have sold some primers to pards but have kept a five year supply of powder, primers, brass, hulls, wads, and shot.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife and I switched to practice with .22s, saving our center-fire ammo for matches.  I maintain e-mail communication for one club.  We had a few members plea for primers.  We forwarded their requests to the membership and their needs were met.  It helped that they were all hard workers who efforts support the club.

 

I also shoot a modern action pistol sport at another club.  The lack of ammo was profound there.  Normally we get ~80 shooters.  The last match we got 16.  They were mostly retirees who have been reloading for many years.  The younger shooters who shot bulk 9 mm ammo and left spent cases on the ground were mostly absent.  The few shooting now picked up their brass and were inquiring about reloading.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am personally alright for another year or two.  However, I may be attending the matches by myself if this shortage lasts that long.  Some of the people who stop shooting due to component shortages may never start back up when things settle down.  They find other hobbies and move on.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I practice it is with 22s unless before an annual.  Not interested in sounding time and gas money to go to a match that has been dumbed down because some do not have ammo.  I have offered my 22 gear and ammo to those in need and so far none are going that route.  I suspect I will shoot my 22s at matches this summer so my primers can last me another year or more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been shooting our same we have for the past 15 years.

We are at our limit on 209 for shotty, but believe we have enough for EOT.

Not too concerned...I see trickle here and there.

I have faith the suppliers will soon catch up!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sawmill Mary has suspended shooting for the time being although we have enough primers and loaded ammo for several seasons.   When I showed her how much primers are going for, she stuffed a bunch in the safe. I'm not sure how much the primer cost/availability weighed on her decision. 

 

I'm trying to use cartridges that take small primers as we have more of them.  I've been able to score caps before they went unobtainable. So playing with cap guns.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still shooting 4 matches a month for the foreseeable future.  Our matches haven't changed yet, except some are keeping it down to 24 shotgun per match.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still traveling and shooting matches. Totally eliminated live fire practice at home. Mixing in some Frontiersman here and there to save a few primers, as that is the only component I worry about running out of. Shooting a warmup match if offered at larger matches, but not shooting side matches or other novelties at matches. (I really miss that). 

 

Like Phantom mentioned. I’m not going pay scalper prices and help keep the prices up.  When we run out, we’ll spend more time on the boat. 

 

If things don’t turn around by next year, then we will probably just sell out and move on to another hobby. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I, personally, have enough primers for about another year and a half, we are shooting reduced (less 20-25%) round count matches at Orange County Regulators.  We're doing a few things differently and it's been a lot of fun with ZERO complaints from our shooters.  It just takes a little more creativity is all.  And shooters who aren't stuck on "everything HAS to be 10-10-4" or I'm walking.  Mix things up for Pete's sake!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i have what i need to keep up my shooting in my lifelong calibers 45colt/12ga , but , last year i decided to add a new to my experience 38spcl - i have what i need EXCEPT primers , so i might get to shoot one match with what ive accumulated but this will get set aside till the primer supply returns to normal ,  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stocked up after the last primer shortage. I shoot 2-3 matches a month. Have enough loaded ammo and loading components to last a few years not to mention all the bricks of 22's I stocked up on when that 22 shortage ended a couple of years back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've allowed 22's but have only had one attempt at shooting them for a monthly by 2 shooters. I wrote some stages with 10, pistol, 5 rifle, 2 shotgun. It wasn't complained about but it wasn't a jubilant celebration either.

I have a 5 year supply of primers. I have offered them up to shooters who have run out. The price is give me back what I gave you when they become available. Most of us who reload stocked up after the 2008 insanity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We allow 22s. Very few have shot them. 
 

personally, I’m in pretty good shape primer/powder wise. I have enough for roughly 4 years of 3 matches/month plus 5  multi-day annuals.   I won’t buy or sell at scalper prices. I have passed on some primers to Pards as a loan until they are available, or reasonable replacement cost, $50/K, which is where I suspect primer price will settle at once this mess is over. 
 

when available I’ll build my stash back up to 30K or so. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, Possum Skinner, SASS#60697 said:

While I, personally, have enough primers for about another year and a half, we are shooting reduced (less 20-25%) round count matches at Orange County Regulators.  We're doing a few things differently and it's been a lot of fun with ZERO complaints from our shooters.  It just takes a little more creativity is all.  And shooters who aren't stuck on "everything HAS to be 10-10-4" or I'm walking.  Mix things up for Pete's sake!

Don't think anyone is saying "10-10-4 or I'm walking"... Hello strawman! But reducing stages to 5-5-2 is a waste of time for most and has nothing to do with mixing things up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The primer shortage hasn't affected me, as I went through the 2008 shortage and have a good supply on hand.  The number of shooters at our local club (where I'm assistant match director) has increased very slightly over last year.  We have not changed how our stages are written (still 10-10-4 for the most part), but for this year we are allowing a Men's .22 category and a Ladies .22 category.  We have two shooters that have been shooting that category.

 

I have noticed that very few people are participating in our side matches prior to the main match (we do this just to give folks something to do between registration and the safety meeting).   This month was speed pistol, and last month was speed rifle.  Only two shooters participated in each, and I suspect the primer shortage is the reason.  I think we will change it to pocket pistol or long range next month and see if the numbers go up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The two local clubs that I shoot at haven’t changed the stages, they do allow .22’s but I can’t remember anyone shooting with them. I’ve got enough of everything to last another year or two at my current pace, but I’ve stopped live fire practice.   I got into USPSA and steel challenge just before the shortage so I didn’t build up enough reserve to continue, guess I’ll wait till after this is over and start again. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The matches around here have not changed, although most allow 22's now.  Only a few shooting 22 so far.  One club (the largest) is 5 stages per month year-round, the others usually go to 5 in the hot months.  I might expect some of those to stay at 5 after the summer.  I shoot a variety of guns but a lot more .38''s lately, so the last few years I've been shooting approximately 75% small primer ammo and 25% large primer.  But my primer supply is about 50-50 small/large.  So I am starting to shoot the 44/45 guns more.  Since I always bought my smokeless shotshells, that is my main lack right now, down to 20 boxes.   I have a Lee Load-all II but will need more 209 primers for that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where I’ve noticed it is with folks who didn’t reload shotgun ammo. For years, supply was adequate enough even through shortages and cost savings weren’t enough to entice them to reload. Now they’re scrambling for presses and components, with primers being the most unobtainable. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My home club has gone to a single match each month. We used to shoot the 3rd Sunday and the preceding Saturday (2 per month) now just the third Sunday..Next 2 nearest clubs (about 50 miles) were always 1 per month and still are, next closest (60 miles) same, next at about 90 miles same. All seem to be holding at 6 stages 10-10-4 or more SG. So can shoot every weekend if you choose to. Work/personal responsibilities have risen for me but I still get to 2-3 per matches per month though I haven't live fire practiced in over 2 years.

 

Regards

:FlagAm:  :FlagAm:  :FlagAm:

Gateway Kid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We checked with our shooters and they all wanted to keep shooting six stages. Everyone seemed to be ok with shortening the round count to 40 to 50 rifle, 50 pistol and a few less that a box of shot shells. Leaving one pistol out for a couple of stages and the rifle for a stage or two and  the shotgun for a stage or two  has been well received. You would be surprised how much faster a match can go with a stage you don't have to search for rifle brass. Most of the places around here have allowed 22, but have not seen much interest in shooting 22 while others shoot centerfire.

 

In the past we had some 22 wild bunch shoots and found the 22 rifles were very quiet, but lots of people had problems with the 22 pistols. Pistols that for years workled perfect had problems with today's 22 ammo.

 

Nothing to do with primer shortage,   I have been part of some group shoots for non-cowboy shooters  and everyone had a good time with 22 revolvers and rifles. Some people did not like shooting the shotgun at all, but the supplied ammo was heavy trap loads and that could explain  the dislike of the shotgun.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have skipped a few matches. 

Still have enough for next year.

But will be cutting back some after this years EOT. 

Our club has a .22 category so will be shooting some of that this summer. 

Pretty much cut out live fire practice. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have a good supply for the next 2-3 years shooting around 35+ matches a year. Any practice sessions are out. I will also continue to write 6 stage 10-10-4 type matches for our club. The people that were prepared for this still want to shoot a full match after driving sometimes hours to that match.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm good for this year and most of next year but I am cutting down on matches. I'll go to 3 a month and I will go to 3 local 2 day matches but no side matches. 

At Firelands, my home club, we're allowing .22's and we have two out of 6 stages that are 5-5-2 to save some ammo. About half the shooters like it and half don't. We figure for 7-8 months you'll be saving enough for one shoot. That matters to some folks who got caught short handed! Not everyone is well stocked!

I also have cut out live fire practice which I didn't do too much anyway!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our monthly matches are our live fire practice. The only change I made was a switch to large primer guns in order to save the small primers for the wife. It's been a fun change as I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Learned my lesson last time around so it hasn’t put a crimp on my match participation and I really haven’t seen much of an impact at the matches that I attend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't wait just before supper to run into town and buy the ingredients to bring home to make supper.

 

I don't wait until the morning of the beginning of a long trip to have my mechanic check the car over.

 

I don't wait until the evening of April 15th to look for my tax receipts, calculator and a sharp pencil.

 

So I ask, "What primer shortage?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.