Can't find primers in Calgary

DiMP said:
Just bought another 1000 today... granted they were SP Magnum primers, but them there internets say they should work fine for 9mm so long as I work up the load accordingly. I went with a buddy today to the big city and stopped along the way, something to be said for small town gun stores without a website for finding stock. Also bought powder while there
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There must be something about the SP magnum primers because the last supplies I have seen at my LGS have all been SPM variant.

I scored 1200 SPM before the supply ran out.
 
trebor2880 said:
Small rifle primers work the same as small pistol primers. I've been using Dominion SRP in my 9 mm.
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I loaded a few test rounds with Dominion Small rife primers. One in ten failed to fire. Most likely the thickness of the cup.

Maybe some day things will be back to normal but for now you may have to put up with folks charging $20 per hundred.
 
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I am anxiously counting down the days until my local supplier returns from vacation. I am sure I'm not the only one. He probably doesn't even have any stock but I am sure anything he has will sell out on his first day back.
 
Reloading saves a pile of $$$$. Not so much for pistols but most decent rifle ammo is $50 for 308 and 30 06. Move up to less common stuff and you pay over $5 every time you pull the trigger. I like to use all my toys so yup 10X more shooting works for me lol...


Even for magnum loads with good bullets it comes out to under $2 per round
 
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powdergun said:
Reloading saves a pile of $$$$. Not so much for pistols but most decent rifle ammo is $50 for 308 and 30 06. Move up to less common stuff and you pay over $5 every time you pull the trigger. I like to use all my toys so yup 10X more shooting works for me lol...


Even for magnum loads with good bullets it comes out to under $2 per round
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Agree, it’s much easier to buy bulk supplies from people getting out of reloading/gun room/safe clean outs. The amount of shooting I can do for $500 is WAY more than buying ammo. Plus I feel like I learn more about my guns and relodong every time I crack open the books or watch some you tube videos. I feel like it’s a pretty necessary skill if you want any level of independence in this clown world..
 
I Dont Care About You said:
The important difference between pistol primers and rifle primers is the strength of the cup. While rifle primers could be used in pistol cases, it would not be a good idea to use pistol primers in a rifle case.
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Depends on the rifle case.

I've used small pistol primers for my 30M1 carbine for decades. Same for the Martini chambered for 357Maxi and Large Pisto Magnum primers in 303 British, 30-30Win etc.

I agree, it's not a good thing for high pressure cartridges.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
The important difference between pistol primers and rifle primers is the strength of the cup. While rifle primers could be used in pistol cases, it would not be a good idea to use pistol primers in a rifle case.
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That and the depth/thickness. Small pistol work better in the .22 Hornet in many cases but that is the exception. Large pistol is thicker than large rifle and will sit proud when seated.
 
mbogo3 said:
That and the depth/thickness. Small pistol work better in the .22 Hornet in many cases but that is the exception. Large pistol is thicker than large rifle and will sit proud when seated.
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Sorry, its the other way around, large rifle primers are thicker( I just measured 3.42 mm ) than large pistol primers (3.08 mm)
 
*EDIT*
I did just some 'research' on this. Seems it's been asked b4, lots of Opinions & Forum threads on it. & Examples of many doing it,& many saying Don't do it etc. The Usual banter. Seems to vary with the person & their experience/knowledge. From people using cheap Target loads to shoot Dimes/Quarters, Steel bars you name it lol - to making viable Slug & Buck rounds out of them. Interesting Topic to read up/research on.
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Dumb -'Theoretical' Question time. Obvi. I'm very Novice in the 'Reloading' game, & Apologies Up Front if this is just stupid :) Just started looking into reloading 12 Gauge. After looking at each shogun component needed to buy, for reloading, then buying them all separately, Including hard to find Primers, powder etc. & then seeing this Box of 250 Target loads I got for around $100 sitting here, is it possible, to use those already loaded factory rounds, & just replace the #7.5/8 bird shot, with '00' or 000 Buck or Slugs?

It would be a lighter load, {like those Mini Shells, which are still $1+ per round} but would it work?
Could the velocity be increased, by adding a little of the same powder from some of the same shells, after figuring out the proper weight/ratio etc. of what's in there, to accommodate a Slug or buck load?

Theoretically 'could' work, but, probably dumb, esp if inexperienced...? Ive seen Dumber things loaded in shells on Demolition Ranch lol
.40cents per target load + cost of shot, or slug vs. over $1 for factory slug or buck.

With Components sky high prices & hard to find these days. Is it still just a Dumb thought? IF it will work lol ? Anyone Done this ?
 
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Johnyy said:
*EDIT*
I did just some 'research' on this. Seems it's been asked b4, lots of Opinions & Forum threads on it. & Examples of many doing it,& many saying Don't do it etc. The Usual banter. Seems to vary with the person & their experience/knowledge. From people using cheap Target loads to shoot Dimes/Quarters, Steel bars you name it lol - to making viable Slug & Buck rounds out of them. Interesting Topic to read up/research on.
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Dumb -'Theoretical' Question time. Obvi. I'm very Novice in the 'Reloading' game, & Apologies Up Front if this is just stupid :) Just started looking into reloading 12 Gauge. After looking at each shogun component needed to buy, for reloading, then buying them all separately, Including hard to find Primers, powder etc. & then seeing this Box of 250 Target loads I got for around $100 sitting here, is it possible, to use those already loaded factory rounds, & just replace the #7.5/8 bird shot, with '00' or 000 Buck or Slugs?

It would be a lighter load, {like those Mini Shells, which are still $1+ per round} but would it work?
Could the velocity be increased, by adding a little of the same powder from some of the same shells, after figuring out the proper weight/ratio etc. of what's in there, to accommodate a Slug or buck load?

Theoretically 'could' work, but, probably dumb, esp if inexperienced...? Ive seen Dumber things loaded in shells on Demolition Ranch lol
.40cents per target load + cost of shot, or slug vs. over $1 for factory slug or buck.

With Components sky high prices & hard to find these days. Is it still just a Dumb thought? IF it will work lol ? Anyone Done this ?
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You give it a try and you will figure out why nobody does that kind of thing.
 
At least with pistol and rifle loading you can substitute one brand of primer for another brand of the same designation (usually). Not so with shotgun. You need to stick with the recipe in the manual or you are looking for trouble!
 
I hate to ask this question and dredge up the conspiracy theorists... but...

What is the reasoning behind a continent-wide shortage of primers?

There have been small-scale wars going on all over the world since the start of the 20th century, probably longer. So the war in Ukraine cannot be the sole reason for such a shortage. COVID and worker shortages? Truck drivers and supply chain shortages? Ok that would slow things down probably but an outright drought? Is this another one of those Trade Minister decisions that chokes the firearms sport/hobby and designed to weed out new hobbyists?

I have my own small batch so Im not outright dry, but like other reloaders I always look out for the next time I will need them. I have even reached out to some of the manufacturers and posed the question of when things will approach a regular supply situation. I know, good luck with that.

I wouldn't mind understanding partially why this has happened. Due to my job I was probably out of touch with the news for a short while but cannot believe I totally missed a news story such as this.
 
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