The last panic and component availability

T

turtlehead

New member
For those of us new to reloading could you give some details of the availability or lack thereof of components during the last panic?

Any advice would be welcome as well.

Thanks.
 
For those of us new to reloading could you give some details of the availability or lack thereof of components during the last panic?

Any advice would be welcome as well.
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I upset a bunch of reloaders on different forums. I have never experienced a shortage with the exception of 284 cases. I purchased the reamer, dies and barrel but no cases. (I know, there are cases I can neck up and or down). I got over it and never built another rifle without getting the cases first. There is a small group of us that have all the components we will ever need. We did not get ahead by worrying. We found primers when others claimed there were none. There were times components were available to me I did not need; I would make a phone call to get three reloaders together and spread the expense.

F Guffey
 
ehh... for guys who didn't have a reliable store nearby or couldn't buy in bulk and spend $1,000.00 at a time to amortize Hazmat fees it did get a little rough. Don't feed into hype of an impending shortage, BUT I would suggest that you, as a new reloader, should focus on obtaining enough powder and primers to last a year or so. No need to hoard or stockpile, but securing a supply of powder and primers would be smart.

I had some issues after Sandy Hook because there was no store to purchase reloading components except a LGS that believed the yellow flakes in 700x were actual gold flakes. $30.00 for a 14 ounce can of 700x:eek:. And that was when he actually had anything. Small primers (both pistol and rifle) dried up in my area. Large ones weren't too difficult to find, though. If you want to load 223, 9mm, or 45, I would accumulate brass now while it's easy to do so.

I now have a Cabelas not far from me so I have it a little easier. I still try to keep a couple of years worth of powder/primers on hand though. Don't feed into hype, but there is nothing wrong with getting a decent supply to carry you for a year or so on hand. It could save you from having to scrounge IF there is a components shortage later.
 
I survived the 90s shortages and held on to lessons learned. Whenever I am out and about if I happen to see a good deal on loaded ammunition or reloading components I buy what I can. Matters not if I "need", I simply buy as stock for later. Things like powder, primers, bullets and brass have very long shelf lives. You buy what you can afford as you can afford to buy it. Even a brick of 22 LR here and there adds up along with a pound or 8 pounds of powder.

Keep in mind just how fragile the supply line is. Look how quickly following Sandy Hook with threats of more gun and ammunition control the shelves were bare. It is not a matter of if it happens again but when. The way to be prepared is to maintain a good stock of components and supplies.

Ron
 
I survived the '90's shortages and held on to lessons learned.
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I didn't even know there were shortages in the '90's because at the time, I was shooting in such low volume, I was just using components I bought in the '80's (which was when I was shooting a lot).

In September '12, I decided to get back into shooting heavily - just 3 months before the big shortage hit. I had no idea it was coming and was caught flat footed. I had only bought a few components before everything dried up fast. It sucked.

My LGS got their shipments on Thu nights, to be ready for sale at open of business Fri mornings. This left me and a couple hundred of my new friends standing in line before the store opened. Friday morning after Friday morning, I did a lot of line standing. And managed to - slowly - gather up a decent stock of components. This by the way, is NOT how to do it :p. Stock up on components before the next shortage - which would be now. Do it now.

Fast forward three years. I'm in California. The shortage here still seems to be lingering on; or it's the "new normal" (more likely). I mean, if I decided to start handloading for the first time ever right now, I could gather up the components needed to get started; but it wouldn't be as easy as it used to be - which used to be nothing more than a one-stop shop. Like going grocery shopping. Not any more.

I am now prepared. I easily have enough components to shoot freely for at least two years - probably three. And if I cut down on my shooting a little (which could still be more than most folks), I could go five or more.
 
I started reloading in the last "banic". I was always able to find some kind of powder, but it was rarely something that I could find published loads for in the bullet range I bought....I learned on IMR 7625 and 700X, and later CFE Pistol, and never saw a can of Win231 or HP38 for a solid 3 years. Consequently, I did a lot of careful experimentation and extrapolation and I had to watch for squib loads because I stayed low on the power scale to prevent over powerful loads.

So, in summary, specific powders became hard to find for me. Bullets and primers were fine. Admittedly, I just looked locally, and didn't order online and that might have made some difference. It's still sporadic. I bought Trail Boss early on, got used to it for cowboy loads, and now I can't replace it, haven't run across it for 6 months.
 
Jes a couple thoughts. I've always purchases a bit more than I need at the time. If I happened by the gun shop, I'd pick up an extra pound of powder or a brick of primers. When I went to the big box store for home stuff, I'd get a brick of 22LRs. Over time the "extra" would off set any usage and give me a surplus. Not each and every trip, but often enough t build up my component inventory. I now have approx. 12,000-15,000 rounds of 22 LR, 30+ lbs. of powder, and mebbe 10,000+ primers. I'm not a high volume reloader, any more, so I have a good stash to last quite a while. For my "fun guns", a Garand, an AK 74, and an SKS, I have a few thousand rounds each of calibers I don't reload (I reload for the Garand but I keep about 500 rounds of HXP mil. spec. ammo handy.)...

Plus I can cast for all my guns...
 
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I'm with Nick, up until a month ago, I was still using up primers I bought in the 80's. I'm still working on a keg of W231 from 1988. I always collected several powders, and like others, just picked up primers here and there. One thing I did start to do was date the packages with years, so I knew to use them up first. I wouldn't consider myself a hoarder, but maybe a bit of a closet prepper. LOL
I have enough of some calibers components to go a few years, and if I start to run out I just switch to other calibers which use different components as they are available. So be prepared, but don't panic. Luckily I have choices to what I shoot, and also a brother who I share supplies with.

I never went into debt about buying supplies though..
 
I never went into debt about buying supplies though..
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That's my golden rule. Shooting/reloading is important to me. It is my main hobby, and one day I would like to open my own shop and BE the LGS so I get to live my hobby (and live with the headaches of running a business). That being said, though, it is still a hobby and I will not go into debt for it. I have purchased components on a credit card and paid it off when the statement came, but that was more about cash flow to take advantage of a sale. We all know sales on reloading supplies only come along when mortgage, car registration, a tax bill, and about 3 other unforseen expenses come due at once. Its like a golden rule :p
 
Slight topic drift

One thing I did start to do was date the packages with years.
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I not only started to put the year, but also the month and date ;). Powder; primers; and even bullets. Furthermore, I weigh my powders before I open them (so I can re-weigh and calculate how much is remaining). And I even started a powder usage log: When the powder was bought; when it was opened; when it was exhausted. It gives me a good idea of my usage patterns.
 
My Dillon 550 and a pound or two of 231 came out of retirement during the shortage. I have very hard time with powder and bullets but had a good supply from the day. I still had the primers from the 80s. I made due and have kept reloading. I tell people to do it if you like it. Don't if you do not. My wife calls it male knitting.
 
Powder was our biggest issue. I limped along and cursed myself for not buying the 8 lb 4831 when it came by, I thought well its over and the $230 was a bit steep.

Alaska is tough market as no haz shipment (that's remotely affordable).

I keep enough on hand for probably two years now.

Hardest part of that is finding the right powder for your reloading, if not experienced I would review the good old standbys and get 8 lbs, pick up 1 lb lots of others and test.

Keep a list in your pocket of the known good powders so you can snag. Hornady and Sierra both have extensive lists.

Primers and bullets were both about equally erratic. Bullets not so much as none, but I had specific type I was working with. Mail order only.

Primers same as powder, standardize on CCI and keep a years worth in stock and pick up as needed to maintain.

I just put in for a bulk box of 1000 of my current favorite.
 
Thanks for the replies.

There's no panic with me. Components just weren't on my radar during the last panic. Just ammo, and I saw how that went.

Have built up a two plus year supply of projectiles, just need more powder, primers and brass. Should be in good shape in a few months.
 
For some components the "shortage" is not over. In the last Obama induced shortage I had to resort to trying different powders, different bullets, and was behind the curve on primers for a year or so. Working up a load from scratch after you can't find the stuff that has worked is a giant pain in the rear axle. How do you find a powder, for instance, and work up the load and then stock up fast enough to get a decent stock of the stuff? By the time a shooter has gone through the process of determining if a given powder works, he might not be able to find it for a year or so.

My advice is the same as most here---if you have a need for components, and are satisfied with the performance of your loads using those components, buy a year's supply now. Then keep ahead of the curve. Those who hesitate may be the poor guys searching the internet every single evening----like I did for a few years--- trying to find a few hundred bullets or the powder you use and COULD have stockpiled. All we need is for the panic to set in---again---that is self induced but evidently lots of fun for some folks. :mad:
 
Colorado Redneck:
For some components the "shortage" is not over. In the last Obama induced shortage I had to resort to trying different powders, different bullets, and was behind the curve on primers for a year or so. Working up a load from scratch after you can't find the stuff that has worked is a giant pain in the rear axle. How do you find a powder, for instance, and work up the load and then stock up fast enough to get a decent stock of the stuff? By the time a shooter has gone through the process of determining if a given powder works, he might not be able to find it for a year or so.
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While it has been awhile since I gave it much thought on a few occasions there was some good that came out of the last shortage. When people were unable to obtain that certain powder (when you can't find the powder you love, then love the one you're with)they began exploring the use of other powders and components. While initially a PITA there was some good to be found as people discovered new loads using new to them components. They used what they could get.

Ron
 
For those of us new to reloading could you give some details of the availability or lack thereof of components during the last panic?

Any advice would be welcome as well.
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primers and powder were hard to come by. Prices never totally came back down. Bullets -- I was casting some then, and didn't worry about it.

I hope to stock up at the next gun show, hereabouts, in September.
 
could you give some details of the availability or lack thereof of components during the last panic?
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My apologies. I never directly answered your question and went off on my own tangent.

From my Northern California point of view, when the shortage first hit, everything dried up quickly - powders, primers, bullets, & ammo. It became a matter of what rebounded and when.

The first to come back was bullets. First lead; then plated, then jacketed. Many jacketed bullets are still hard to find. I suspect that the bullets being produced are earmarked for loaded ammo first (think Speer Gold Dot bullets). I was at my LGS just a few hours ago and the Speer shelves are still mostly empty. Hornady (XTP) is better. Sierra is still unimpressive.
(I don't know what the heck is going on with Sierra. They don't seem too interested in their customer base - but that's for another post.)

Next, the primers started making a comeback. And none too soon - primers were my "choke point" with components at the time. A couple times, I had to use magnum primers for non-mag required loadings. (Which is no big deal - but that too is for another post.)

Powder seemed to be the most stubborn to make a comeback. It still hasn't come back here actually (the "new normal?" - that's right . . . for another post ;)). On line seems to show more stock than my LGS's (three in this area). But even at that, "good" powders (the ones I like) do show up with some frequency.

One thing I have noticed going back the last few months is primers . . . Primers seem to be going through a mini-shortage - especially standard small pistol primers.

All said, I don't think it matters much which components are harder to find than the others. You need them all to make ammunition; so get what you need of everything before the next shortage. <--- recurring theme there ;)
 
Historical missing list:

223 brass
Small primers, both rifle and pistol
Pistol powders... Didn't see aa#5 for five years


I recommend working up loads with multiple powders, and don't get too picky
 
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