Opinions on primers needed

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

As many of you know I sell primers at several SASS matches-most notably at Landrun and EOT. I’m debating whether or not to continue, and supply issues factor heavily.

I prefer to deal in Federal primers, but the supply of small pistol has pretty much dried up! Plus prices are going up. No question of that now! 
I’ve been selling Federal SP for $80 per 1000, but it’s looking like my present inventory will be the last at that price!

What I want to know is will people still want Federals at $85 or even $90? Or would they prefer a cheaper brand?

Some places I buy have less known brands for $45, $50, or $55. 
I have some experience with foreign primers, and found that they weren’t 100% reliable with guns with LIGHTENED SPRINGS. That doesn’t make them bad primers.

So: what’s your thoughts? More expensive federals, or cheaper brands? Or both?

If there is any chance of me continuing to do this I need to know! It’s a lot of work and expense, but I’ll continue if the DEMAND is there. Is it?

 

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

In my experience, most better shooters, with tuned rifles and revolvers, prefer Federals.  You may want to check your local stores to keep up with their prices. If you are a little below, or equal, to their prices, shooters will continue to buy from you.  You offer a real convenience to shooters by having reloading supplies available. It beats having to make a separate trip.

 

A few years ago I took a chance on a cheaper and available brand of 209 shotgun primers. Cheddite primers work very well for me and have been easy to find. For cowboy revolvers and rifles, however, I plan to stick with Federals, whatever the cost.

[Jackalope]

35 minutes ago, TN Mongo, SASS #61450 said:

Cheddite primers work very well for me and have been easy to find. For cowboy revolvers and rifles, however, I plan to stick with Federals, whatever the cost.

 

Also my intention.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

If your primary market is Cowboy Action Shooters I would say you need to focus on Federal primers.

 

My experience is that dealer cost has been relatively stable with a dealer cost per 1000 of SP Federal in the mid $60's. We still have them available...

 

Phantom

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

Federals for pistol and rifle unless somebody finds something cheaper that is as reliable.  I’ll pay the price I have to.  Appreciate you having them available.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

1 hour ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

If your primary market is Cowboy Action Shooters I would say you need to focus on Federal primers.

 

My experience is that dealer cost has been relatively stable with a dealer cost per 1000 of SP Federal in the mid $60's. We still have them available...

 

Phantom

The people I buy from  don’t have them available! And their posted prices are up!

What are YOU selling them for? Want to sell me a few hundred thousand?

[Captain Bill Burt]

A quick ammoseek search shows Federal Small Pistol starting at about .075 each from a half dozen vendors.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

24 minutes ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

The people I buy from  don’t have them available! And their posted prices are up!

What are YOU selling them for? Want to sell me a few hundred thousand?

I sell them for $75/thousand...plus tax if applicable.

 

Phantom

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

22 minutes ago, Captain Bill Burt said:

A quick ammoseek search shows Federal Small Pistol starting at about .075 each from a half dozen vendors.

Exactly! Plus s&h= $85. A price increase for me. Which I don’t really want to do!

[Preacherman]

Federal only for me with cowboy. I don't need any now, but I would pay more if necessary.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

2 minutes ago, Preacherman said:

Federal only for me with cowboy. I don't need any now, but I would pay more if necessary.

Hmm…

However I think there are those who disagree! 
I recently got a few thousand off Gunbroker that I’m gonna sell for $40 per k.

CCIs, Remington, & Winchester. I was taking reservations for a match next weekend, and you’d be amazed how quickly they snapped up the SP!

 

[Captain Bill Burt]

Federal only for me as well.

[Three Gun Cole]

I always use Gold Match Federal’s   GM200 or GM large pistol

 

I have tested Fiocchi small pistol 

worked well in pistols with lightened hammers.  Will test in a Carty 73 next time I get out to shoot.

 

 

[Fretless]

I would love it if you could get Murom kvb9 small pistol primers.  My source for those dried up.  CCI small pistol primers work fine in all of our guns, but I like the Murom ones better. 

 

The Federals I need are 209a shot shell primers.

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

My opinion is ...I always need more !                                         [  Specially down -under where there like hens teeth !! ]

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631]

From my experience, Federals always go bang and at $85 in person, I would buy them. Yes, you can get them online at $75/1000 then you have to pay shipping and haz, unless someone has a deal. FWIW, I found some Remington LPP, when sources were scarce and probably 3-5 of each 100 are duds and my springs aren't even that light. Buy Federal

[X Mark]

Tell ,

  Thank you for this service that you provide !

       I ,for one , would like to see you continue to provide Federals but I understand the supply issues that may require you to offer other brands.

 Regards,

  X   Mark

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

9 hours ago, Fretless said:

I would love it if you could get Murom kvb9 small pistol primers.  My source for those dried up.  CCI small pistol primers work fine in all of our guns, but I like the Murom ones better. 

 

The Federals I need are 209a shot shell primers.

Check Gunbroker or Ammoseek. If you can’t find them there they probably aren’t around.

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

I may use something else for practice if I have to but I'll use Federals for matches as long as I can get them, regardless of price.

 

Randy

[Max Payne]

Federal. I'll likely buy 20K the next time I see you if you have them. We're gonna shoot Fla St, Ala St, SW Regional, Ga. St., Tn. St., & the SER. Which will you be attending?

 

And, I was glad when you had them when I needed them.

[Sidekick]

I've bought primers from you before and I will keep buying them as long as you are selling them.  I will only use Federal for the biggest matches no matter the price, but for local matches I don't mind using cheaper primers.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Opinions on primers needed

 

In my opinion primers are definitely needed.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Depending on the guns you're using and how they're set up you may find that some other primers are reliable in your guns after shooting a lot of them.  ICORE shooters shooting Smith and Wesson revolvers double action pretty much are limited to Federals because of how they set up the actions. Most of the semi autos in competition can reliably use more brands of primers.

[Anvil Al #59168]

Federal all the way.

 

I will take Winchester primers as my guns will set them off without problems.

But the wife's guns it becomes a problem. So pretty much stick to Federal.

 

Get them around here anywhere from $75-80

[Silver Creek Jack]

I only use federal for pistols and rifles both small and large, would pay more if I had to .

[Cholla]

I was blown over when Sportsman had Federal large rifle primers in the shelf. They were $8.99. They had lots of SRP, SPP, as well as Remington and CCI. Now, if they would just get RL-26 in stock before the next crisis. 

[Rance - SASS # 54090]

Tell.. after reading all the posts.. it seems most shooters want Federal primers

only for a match.. seems they  might use something else for practicing..

If I read them correctly it also seems they will pay a reasonable bump 

in pricing for availability at a match and dealing one on one with an

honest seller..

 

Just the view from my saddle..

[Griff]

I have used Winchester primers ever since I started loading on a progressive press.  Prior to that (1987) I had used CCi exclusively.  For some reason, which is still a puzzle, I had trouble seating the CCIs with my Dillon.  I have a couple K of Fed LR and never had any issues with the !3K that I've used.  (Just don't like the oversize container)!

[Lucky R. K.]

Unless you are a super-duper gamer, if you have seen one primer you have seen them all.

Lucky 

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

18 hours ago, Max Payne said:

Federal. I'll likely buy 20K the next time I see you if you have them. We're gonna shoot Fla St, Ala St, SW Regional, Ga. St., Tn. St., & the SER. Which will you be attending?

 

And, I was glad when you had them when I needed them.

Our plans include SW Regional and Tn state! That’s as far east as we’ll get!

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

42 minutes ago, Griff said:

I have used Winchester primers ever since I started loading on a progressive press.  Prior to that (1987) I had used CCi exclusively.  For some reason, which is still a puzzle, I had trouble seating the CCIs with my Dillon.  I have a couple K of Fed LR and never had any issues with the !3K that I've used.  (Just don't like the oversize container)!

You think I like the big boxes??😄

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

2 hours ago, Griff said:

I have used Winchester primers ever since I started loading on a progressive press.  Prior to that (1987) I had used CCi exclusively.  For some reason, which is still a puzzle, I had trouble seating the CCIs with my Dillon.  I have a couple K of Fed LR and never had any issues with the !3K that I've used.  (Just don't like the oversize container)!

What model Dillon? 

Bought my 550 in 1987, and have no primer seating issues at all.

[Griff]

23 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

What model Dillon? 

Bought my 550 in 1987, and have no primer seating issues at all.

550B purchased in the same year.  It just seemed as tho' with the CCIs I experienced a inordinate number of primers that flipped sideways and were crushed in the seating process,  When I changed to Winchester primers that ceased.  

["Big Boston"]

When discussing primers, or asking about different primers, it would be nice what aspect of the primer you'd like to discuss. 

 

Brisance is one aspect. This is easily checked with a chronograph. If the substitute prime produces similar velocity, extreme spread (Es) and standard deviation (Sd) in both the powder forward and powder rearward position, I believe it is safe to assume the brisance is similar. 

 

I recently was trying some loads with S&B small pistol primers. I noticed that the primer pockets were very clean and shiney, no soot, crud or tarnishing. Not usual so I did a bit more research. In North America the priming compounds vary in composition somewhat, with some primers having more brisance than others. most NA primers leave the pockets a bit dirty.

 

I contacted S&B and asked about their primers, and the reply was:

"thank you for your kind interest in our products!

Only primers NONTOX are lead free. 

In other types of primers  is used mixture NEROXIN, which is non erosive and non corrosive. 

In case of further questions please do not hesitate to contact me."

 

Another primer characteristic of concern is sensitivity. IOW, how much of a firing pin blow is required to make the primer explode. Federal SP primers have the thinnest cup of all the SP primers, and they tend to be the easiest to ignite. I suspect that the cup metal is the same as the other primers, so it takes leas of a blow from the firing pin. However, Federal primers still use a priming compound that has a good brisance. A CCI Sp primer is harder to set off, but has less brisance than a Fed 100. Two seperate things. 

 

The rest of the variations include things like size and how easy they fit, and how well they feed in auto prime devices. But even if they feed nice, seal well and are sensitive enough, you still should chronograph to check for ignition issues. 

 

BB

 

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

6 hours ago, Griff said:

550B purchased in the same year.  It just seemed as tho' with the CCIs I experienced a inordinate number of primers that flipped sideways and were crushed in the seating process,  When I changed to Winchester primers that ceased.  

You might want to confirm the shellplate indexing is correct. Dillon has a tool for that.

Make sure you have no up/down play in the shellplate and that the primer seating rod is straight. 

Does it act up with both large and small CCI primers?