Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
Size Matters
Useful Trivia — even though Small Rifle and Small Pistol primer pockets share the same depth specification, Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers do not. The standard pocket for a Large Pistol primer is somewhat shallower than its Large Rifle counterpart, specifically, 0.008 to 0.009 inch less.
Magnum Primers
There are two ways to make a Magnum primer — either use more of the standard chemical mix to provide a longer-burning flame or change the mix to one with more aggressive burn characteristics. Prior to 1989, CCI used the first option in Magnum Rifle primers. After that, we switched to a mix optimized for spherical propellants that produced a 24% increase in flame temperature and a 16% boost in gas volume.
Foiled Again
Most component primers have a little disk of paper between the anvil and the priming mix. It is called “foil paper” not because it’s made of foil but because it replaces the true metal foil used to seal early percussion caps. The reason this little disk exists is strictly a manufacturing convenience. Wet primer pellets are smaller than the inside diameter of the cup when inserted and must be compacted to achieve their proper diameter and height. Without the foil paper, the wet mix would stick to the compaction pins and jam up the assembly process.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Graf’s — Alpha Brass IN STOCK, Many Popular Types
⏺ Great brass for popular chamberings incl. 6mmBR, 6GT, 6mm Creedmoor
Alpha Brass makes excellent-quality cartridge brass for many popular categories, including popular wildcats such as the 6 BRA and 6mm Dasher. The price is competitive with other top-tier brass, ranging from $118-$130. In stock now at Grafs.com are Alpha brass for: 22 GT, 22 Creedmoor, 6mmBR, 6 BRA, 6mm Dasher, 6mmGT (6GT), 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7mm-08. Both benchrest shooters and PRS/NRL competitors have been impressed with current production Alpha brass which ships in excellent slotted plastic cases with perforated bi-layer foam for protection.
2. Midsouth — Lee Challenger Press with BONUS Die Set, $79.99
⏺ Good LEE Press on Sale with FREE DIES
The LEE Challenger is the world’s best-selling single station press. The lastest Gen III Challenger features an ergonomic lever plus a convenient drop-tube for spent primers. Right now, to mark its 40th Anniversary, LEE is offering a FREE die set with the purchase of the LEE Gen III Challenger Press. Chose one of five cartridge types: .223 Rem, 9mm Luger, .38 SPL/.357 Mag, .44 SPL/.44 Mag, and .45 ACP. Another good feature of the LEE Press is the Breech Lock Quick Change Die System — change dies instantly with a twist of the wrist.
3. MidwayUSA — CCI Small Rifle Primers on Sale
⏺ Top Tier CCI Small Rifle primers at good prices
MidwayUSA has top-quality CCI Small Rifle Primers in stock now at very competitive prices. Choose from CCI BR4, CCI 450 SR Magnum, CCI 400, or CCI No. 41 primer types. You can order sets of 1000 primers or 5000 primers, starting at $75.89 for the CCI 450s.
⏺ Great spotting scope for the price with rock-solid warranty
A quality spotting scope is very valuable in the field, at matches, or just having fun at the range. We found a great deal on the Vortex Diamondback 20-60x60mm spotting scope, now just $259.99 at MidwayUSA with FREE Shipping. This spotting scope has good light transmission throughout the magnification range. Sharpness is good, and this spotter is protected by Vortex’s VIP Unlimited Lifetime Warranty.
⏺ Recommended tool that adapts to multiple case rim sizes
The RCBS Universal Hand Primer tool (#ad) can handle both large rim and small rim cases without any parts change. Leverage is good and the primer feeding tray is very reliable. This is a recommended tool for both beginning handloaders and expert-level reloaders. Another good feature of this tool is a patented safety gate that isolates the primer seating operation from the primer supply, lowering risk of tray detonation.
⏺ High-quality soft case big enough for Palma and F-Class rifles
Typical soft rifle cases will not fit long-barreled match rifles. But this 52″-long quality case from Champion’s Choice is big enough for most F-Class and Palma rifles. Forum members highly recommend this $85.00 Deluxe Rifle Case which has a water-resistant heavy duty 600 denier PVC outer shell. It has large outside pockets for ammo and accessories, and is well-padded with over 1″ of thick high-density foam. This case boasts a carry handle, adjustable shoulder strap, and backpack straps. The case even has an interior tube for holding a cleaning rod.
8. Palmetto SA, Norma TAC-22 Ammo, $2.99/50ct Box
⏺ Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE
If you want quality .22 LR ammo at an ultra-low price, grab some Norma TAC-22. Palmetto SA has kicked off its Labor Day sale, and Tac-22 is now just $2.99 for 50 rounds, this is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at anywhere near this price. Don’t delay ordering — at this price, we expect this TAC-22 ammo will sell out soon. The $2.99 for 50 rds price which works out to just SIX cents per round.
8. Amazon — Scope Turret Magnifying Glass with Level, $12.95
Making rapid, yet precise scope turret adjustments can be challenging, especially during fast, timed stages. Most scope turrets have small, thin markings that can be tough to see (particularly with older eyes). To see your elevation turret markings better, try the Monstrum Scope Turret Magnifying Glass with Level (#ad). This simple but effective tool places a magnifier on the shooter’s side of the turret allowing easy viewing. In addition, this handy unit includes a built-in bubble level to help the shooter avoid canting his rifle.
9. Locked & Loaded — CCI Blazer 9mm Ammo, $214.99 1000 rds
⏺ Quality 9mm brass-cased ammo at a super-low price — $22 cents/round
CCI makes very reliable pistol ammo with reloadable brass cases. Right now you can get 1000 rounds of CCI Blazer 9mm FMJ ammo for just $219.99 at LockedLoaded.com. That price works out to just $10.75 per 50-round box — a fantastic price. This very affordable 115gr Blazer 9mm ammo is excellent for practice/training, and it is more reliable than commercial reloads.
10. Amazon — KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale, $24.99
⏺ Compact scale with USB-rechargeable battery at great price
Everyone can use an inexpensive, compact scale for loading at the range or sorting bullets or maybe even primers. One very affordable option KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale (#ad). Unlike most other inexpensive digital scales, this comes with a large dust cover with a “window” for your powder pan. Notably, this scale can be conveniently recharged with a standard USB cable — no batteries to replace ever! We have heard positive reports from Forum members about this $24.99 portable scale, which offers 9 types of weight units, calibration weight, and fold-down protective lid.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Brownells — Weekly Featured Deals
⏺ Great savings on large variety of products at Brownells
⏺ Huge discounts on quality Sightron scopes — save up to $820.00
Creedmoor Sports is running a major sale on Sightron Scopes currently. Save up to $820 off MSRP. Sightron scopes are popular with varminters and competitors because they are very reliable, with clarity, sharpness, and precision that rival optics costing hundreds more. Long-range benchrest and F-Class competitors should consider the impressive Sightron SIII LR 10-50x60mm scope, now just $1479.99, a $370 savings off the regular price.
3. Precision Reloading — Major Hornady 10% Off Sale
⏺ Save 10% on ammo, brass, bullets, dies, reloading tools
Though June 7, 2024, Precision Reloading is running a big Hornady 10% Off Sale. Pretty much all Hornady brand products will be discounted 10%. CLICK HERE to see all the Hornady items currently on sale. Among the many Hornady products we like are: pistol dies, varmint bullets, hunting ammo, One-Shot Case Lube, Bullet Comparator Set, and L-N-L Iron Press.
4. Natchez — CCI, Federal, Remington Primer Sale
⏺ Good prices on primers at Natchez this week
Quality American-made primers continue to be in high demand with prices still much higher than before the pandemic. However, Natchez is now running a major primers sale. You’ll find a wide selection of rifle, pistol, and shotshell primers at good prices. Primers on sale include CCI, Federal, and Remington. Save up to $45 per 1000ct primer package.
5. Amazon — Real Avid Workstation, $159.99
⏺ Versatile gun vise/workstation, with good user reviews
Cleaning or working on rifles requires a good rest, ideally one that has strong mounts plus ample adjustment range. The Real Avid Workbench has those qualities. It will hold your rifle securely AND can do multiple tasks via Real Avid’s optional Smart-Assist accessories. These include a work light, magnifying glass, and cell phone holder, all mounted on flexible goosenecks. The basic Real Avid Gun vise/Workbench is $159.99 on Amazon (#ad), 20% off this week.
6. Al’s — Frankford Arsenal Case Trim & Prep Center, $164.99
⏺ Excellent multi-drive case prep machine with very complete tool set
Good case prep is critical to making precision loads. One of the best case prep machines on the market is the Frankford Arsenal Case Trim and Prep Center. This machine boasts a strong center motor and three accessory tool drives. This FA Case Prep unit ships with a full set of tools: inside chamfer tool, deburr tool, primer pocket cleaning tools, and a trimmer with 3 collets + 6 shoulder bushings.
7. Brownells — Sinclair and RCBS Hand Priming Tools
⏺ Two very good choices for hand priming — single and tray-feed
The Sinclair Priming Tool offers very precise primer seating with an ultra-consistent “feel”. The tool head utilizes Sinclair shellholders and locks the case head square to the priming punch. This tool has excellent leverage, yet it is extremely sensitive so you can feel the primer entering the primer pocket and bottoming out. If you want to prime larger quantities of brass more quickly, consider the RCBS Universal Hand Priming Tool. This can hold 100 primers in the attached tray. The spring-loaded gripper lets you switch quickly between small and large case rim sizes. SEE RCBS Priming Tool Video.
8. Amazon — LEE Hand Press Kit, $76.94
⏺ Versatile hand press can be used at range or at home
No matter how much reloading equipment a reloader has, it makes sense to have a portable hand press. This can help you load at the range when doing load development. And back home you can use the hand press for tasks such as decapping primers and bullet seating. Now priced at just $76.94 on Amazon the LEE Hand Press Kit (#ad) includes powder funnel, priming insert, case lube and other accessories. This versatile Hand Press Kit is well worth the money.
9. Amazon — MEIJIA 53.5″ Hard Rifle Case, $119.99
⏺ Good case for long-barreled rifle, half the cost of similar cases
In a vehicle or on a plane, hard cases are the safest way to transport your firearms, but the most rugged and protective cases usually come with a hefty price tag. Here’s an affordable hard case that still offers great protection for big, long-barreled match rifles. The 53.5″-long MEIJIA All Weather Hard Rifle Case (#ad) measures 52.2″ inside — big enough to handle 31″+ barrels. This rugged, waterproof case has nice, thick foam (pluckable to customize), and has good locking points.
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CCI is now producing Catalyst lead-free primers and Catalyst-primed CCI and Speer ammunition at the CCI factory in Lewiston, Idaho. The proprietary Catalyst lead-free primer was first developed in 2016 by Federal Ammunition, a CCI/Speer partner company. The advanced lead-free Catalyst primers have been used in CCI- and Speer-brand pistol ammo, and are featured in Federal’s Syntech Range ammo and American Eagle lead-free ammo. Eventually, CCI may eventually offer lead-free primers for the reloading market.
Writing for the MagLife Blog, Kat Ainsworth described Catalyst lead-free primers: “Many manufacturers use lead styphnate mixtures in the production of primers, but Federal Ammunition states the proprietary design utilized in the Catalyst is not only lead-free but outperforms those other methods. The company also says the Catalyst primers are safer to manufacture and provide a host of benefits over lead designs. For example, the Catalyst primers deliver greater compatibility with modern powders, produce less pressure from the gases generated during live fire, and don’t cause degradation in the powder they touch.
The company says these primers are extremely clean-burning which helps them perform more uniform and complete propellant combustion. Even better, the Catalyst has minimal velocity variation[.] These primers are also non-hydrophilic, meaning they don’t attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes that are found in other brands[.]”
Catalyst Primers Promise Best-in-Class Performance
“We are extremely proud of this new production capability which continues the rollout of an incredible primer technology” said Federal/CCI/Speer President Jason Vanderbrink. “This product has proven to be the best in its class after nearly seven years of continuous production. Its consistent performance has been tested over hundreds of millions of rounds. Most notably, the product is featured in Federal’s innovative Syntech Range ammo and American Eagle Lead-Free.”
The extremely clean-burning Catalyst primer creates more uniform and complete propellant combustion, yielding minimal velocity variation and consistent bullet launch for improved accuracy. It is also non-hydrophilic, so it does not attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes found in most lead-free primers, resulting in better reliability.
“Catalyst lead-free priming technology provides the cleanest, most consistent ignition possible. We are excited that our Lewiston plant is now set up to run Catalyst priming in our target pistol products”, said Speer and CCI’s Director of Factory Operations Mike Overberg. “The Anoka facility has proven this to be the best lead-free priming technology available. Our staff here has done a fantastic job of working across factories to extend this product into Speer and CCI Blazer ammunition products made in Lewiston, Idaho.”
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Do primer types make a significant difference in accuracy or vertical dispersion at long range? The answer is “maybe”. Here’s one anecdotal study that tracked vertical variance among six different primer types. The tester is a good shooter with a very accurate rifle — four of the six 4-shot groups were under 2″ at 500 yards. This test doesn’t settle the question, but does suggest that it may be worth trying a few different primer types with your match ammo.
Here is a very interesting test for the 6 BRA (6mmBR Ackley) cartridge. Forum member James Phillips, a talented long-range benchrest shooter, tested SIX different primer types from three different manufacturers. To help determine vertical dispersion, James set his target out at 500 yards. He then proceeded to shoot 4-shot groups, in order, with each primer type. Velocities were recorded with a chrono. The photo above shows the results. James says: “I’ll retest the best two for accuracy and consistency with 10 shots each”. CLICK HERE for full-screen target photo.
As you can see, ALL the groups are pretty impressive. The smallest groups, 1.253″, was shot with CCI 400 primers. Next best (and very close) was CCI BR4, at 1.275″ for four shots. The “flat line” winner was the Remington 7.5, at upper left. There was almost no vertical. If you are intrigued by this interesting primer test, you can join the discussion in this Primer Test FORUM THREAD.
Primer Brand
Group Size
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std Deviation
Remington 7.5
1.985″ 4 shot
2955 FPS
8 FPS
4.0 FPS
Federal 205M
2.200″ 4 shot
2951 FPS
11 FPS
4.8 FPS
Sellier Bellot SR
1.673″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
14 FPS
5.9 FPS
CCI 450M
2.341″ 4 shot
2947 FPS
14 FPS
6.6 FPS
CCI 400
1.253″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
3 FPS
1.3 FPS
CCI BR4
1.275″ 4 shot
2949 FPS
15 FPS
6.9 FPS
CARTRIDGE: 6mmBR Ackley, aka 6 BRA. Parent case is 6mmBR Norma. The 6 BRA is fire-formed to create a 40-degree shoulder and less body taper. Capacity is increased, but the neck is longer than a 6mm Dasher. The capacity is enough to get to the 2950+ FPS accuracy node. Some shooters say the 6 BRA is more forgiving than the 6mm Dasher. The 6 BRA is certainly easier to fire-form.
TEST REPORT — Conditions, Shooting Method, Loading Method
Tester James Phillips posted this report in ourShooters’ Forum:
Conditions: The testing was done in the morning over flags. The flags never moved or even twitched. I had as perfect conditions as I could have asked for. It was overcast so no mirage and no wind. There were no other shooters, just me.
Test Procedure: Each shot was precisely shot at my pace and centered the best possible using my Nightforce 15-55X scope. I did not use the round-robin method. Each four-shot group with the same was shot at one time. Then I moved onto the next primer. Everything felt right for each and every shot fired today. Of course I could repeat the test tomorrow and it could be exact opposite of today’s test. We can chase this forever. But [soon] I’m going to test the BR4 and 400 primer… for best accuracy and consistency for 10 shots each.
How Rounds Were Loaded: Each load was weighed to one (1) kernel of powder. So I know that’s as good as I can weigh them. Each bullet seating force was within 1# on my 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.
Previous Initial Load Testing: All groups were shot with 31.1 grains of H4895. During initial load testing I settled in on the Sellier & Bellot primer to finalize everything as it showed more promise over the CCI 450 Magnum I also tried. I was actually surprised to have seen the higher ES and SD from that primer today along with the vertical shown. [Editor: Look carefully — one shot from the CCI 450 is right in the center black diamond, stretching the vertical. By contrast the Rem 7.5 had almost no vertical.]
Velocity and NODE Considerations: I was about 5-6 FPS above what appeared to been my optimum velocity of 2943-2945 FPS, so I’ll test 5 shots of 31.0 and 5 of 31.1 and see what happens from there. I can only assume my velocities where higher due to the higher humidity and of course temps were 5 degrees warmer this morning as well. It wasn’t far off but I noticed it.
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Powder Valley, a leading distributor of reloading supplies, is pleased to announce the launch of a major update and enhancement to its PowderValley.com website. The enhanced website now has a completely updated look, improved search and browse features, along with a streamlined checkout experience. The updated website is also mobile-friendly so it works great with smartphones and mobile devices. And right now the Powder Valley website features special discounts, with some items up to 50% Off. For big savings, click the Weekly Deals tag on the home page.
There are convenient, one-click product category links for:
“We’re excited to provide our customers with a new website that is fast, easy to navigate, and helps them make an informed buying decision” said Bill Clinton, CEO of Powder Valley. “The new website is the first step in a series of strategic changes at Powder Valley which will improve our ability to implement significant improvement in how we serve customers, from enhanced product information to increased breadth and depth of our product offering.”
To learn more about Powder Valley and its full lineup of reloading supplies, visit PowderValley.com. On the updated website, as you scroll down the home page, you’ll see convenient major feature categories for:
1. Sales and Clearance | 2. New Arrivals | 3. Popular Products
About Powder Valley
Powder Valley began in 1984 as Dexter Automotive, the first master distributor of Accurate brand powder. In 2000, Bryan and Noel Richardson purchased the company and moved operations to Winfield, Kansas. Since then Powder Valley has become the single largest distributor of canister powder in the USA, stocking nearly every brand of Smokeless and Black Powder offered in the nation. Powder brands include Hodgdon, IMR, Vihtavuori, Alliant, Ramshot, Winchester, Hornady, Shooters World, Goex, Schuetzen, Swiss and more, along with an ever-expanding offering of bullets, brass, wads, shot, gun care items, and reloading equipment. Powder Valley also carries a wide selection of rifle, pistol, and shotgun primers.
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Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
Size Matters
Useful Trivia — even though Small Rifle and Small Pistol primer pockets share the same depth specification, Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers do not. The standard pocket for a Large Pistol primer is somewhat shallower than its Large Rifle counterpart, specifically, 0.008 to 0.009 inch less.
Magnum Primers
There are two ways to make a Magnum primer — either use more of the standard chemical mix to provide a longer-burning flame or change the mix to one with more aggressive burn characteristics. Prior to 1989, CCI used the first option in Magnum Rifle primers. After that, we switched to a mix optimized for spherical propellants that produced a 24% increase in flame temperature and a 16% boost in gas volume.
Foiled Again
Most component primers have a little disk of paper between the anvil and the priming mix. It is called “foil paper” not because it’s made of foil but because it replaces the true metal foil used to seal early percussion caps. The reason this little disk exists is strictly a manufacturing convenience. Wet primer pellets are smaller than the inside diameter of the cup when inserted and must be compacted to achieve their proper diameter and height. Without the foil paper, the wet mix would stick to the compaction pins and jam up the assembly process.
In a recent Federal Season Podcast, Federal Ammunition’s President Jason Vanderbrink discusses the shortages of loaded ammunition we have experienced for many months now. And it’s not just loaded ammo — powder and primers are very hard to find and prices are crazy, with 1000 primers selling for $300 or more in recent Gunbroker auctions.
This Federal Podcast episode attempts to answer key questions about the unprecedented demand for ammunition. Ammo buyers want to know what caused the shortage, when supplies will become normal again, and what Federal and its sister brands are doing to meet consumer needs.
Click Green Arrow to Start Podcast Audio:
Fast forward to 00:45 to skip intro.
We applaud Federal for addressing the issue. Many shooters think there is some kind of conspiracy — suggesting that the Federal Government is buying all the ammunition, or that companies such as Federal or Hornady have halted production. That’s nonsense. In fact Federal, Hornady, and Olin (Winchester) are all running at full capacity.
However, consumer demand has increased dramatically. This is because of political developments, with tens of millions of gun owners fearful that the new Democratic administration will impose new taxes or restrictions on ammo. In addition, demand has been driven by new gun owners. The NSSF tells us that over 7,000,000 Americans purchased their first firearm in 2020. If each new gun buyer purchased just two, 50-round boxes of ammo, that equates to 700,000,000 rounds of ammo. Think about that… the gun industry would have to produce an additional 1.91 million rounds of ammo EVERY DAY just to fill the demands from new gun owners.
In the podcast Federal’s President Vanderbrink emphasized that Federal is running at full capacity. Vanderbrink also discusses the shortages of components, particularly primers, which are produced by both Federal and sister company CCI.
Vanderbrink pointed out that Federal had been at less than full capacity in 2017-2019, but Federal had also invested in new capacity over the last five years and that investment is now paying off: “We are investing where we need to invest… we have hired hundreds of new workers.”
Primers Are in Short Supply Because They Are Being Used in Loaded Ammunition
Vanderbrink explains why primers are not getting to retail outlets. The answer is that Federal is using a larger percentage of its own primer production for loaded ammunition. “We are making a lot more ammunition today. Our internal primer needs have gone up exponentially as we are shipping more ammunition. [Previously] we’d sell excess [primer] capacity to the reloading market. As the ammunition business picked up in March 2020, it came at the expense of the reloading primers. We are taking a bigger share just to make our ammunition” (Podcast 08:30 – 09:50)
Remington Bankruptcy DID Affect Ammo and Primer Supplies
Remington’s business problems HAVE reduced ammo supply said Vanderbrink: “When we acquired Remington, that factory wasn’t making hardly any ammunition, so that just starved that market already that was constrained. As we’re getting Remington up and going right now, we’re going to make more ammunition, so the market WILL have more ammunition[.] Along with the social unrest, along with the Pandemic fears that people had… you had Remington not making much ammunition, so that just added to the backlog.” Vanderbrink noted that Federal acquired the Remington factory in October and it plans to increase Remington ammo production significantly over previous levels.
(Podcast 10:20 -11:20)
Ammunition Shortage is NOT Caused by Federal Government Buying Everything
Vanderbrink also said flat out that the shortage has NOT been caused by huge new government ammo buys or Federal redirecting production to the government. The allocation to the commercial sector is actually higher than in recent years.
Vanderbrink asked for patience. While conceding that the pandemic has created challenges, Vanderbrink declares that the ammo plants are running at full capacity: “We know, ammo seems hard to come by right now. But rest assured, we are building and shipping more and more every day[.]”
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Editor: This article is from the Powder Valley Website. The original release date was in October, 2020, BEFORE the election, so some factors have changed. But we are still seeing extreme shortages of primers.
If you’ve tried to purchase ammo or reloading supplies lately, you’ve probably noticed a lot of products are out of stock. Of all the components needed to reload ammo, it seems primers are the toughest to find, prompting many reloaders to refer to the current crisis as “The Great Primer Shortage of 2020″. The primer supply shortage doesn’t just affect reloaders, though. It’s also limiting the production of many popular types of ammunition. This can be frustrating for shooters and hunters looking to keep their edge on the range, and can be concerning for preppers, survivalists, and others who are concerned about their safety.
We are in the midst of the greatest primer shortage of all time, and we don’t see things getting better anytime soon. Read on as the experts from Powder Valley delve deeper into the primer shortage of 2020.
A Massive Increase in Demand
Like any other product in a market economy, primers are subject to the whims of supply and demand. As far as demand is concerned, a perfect storm of factors has caused a run on the ammo market like we’ve never quite seen before. A mix of the Covid-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and the possibility of an anti-2nd amendment President and Senate has caused demand to skyrocket. The pandemic specifically has incentivized shooters to learn how to reload their own ammo.
We have an extremely large number of new reloaders who have entered the market. The NSSF estimates that first time gun owners has increased to 6.2 million people over the past few months. [Editor: Vista Outdoor says the number may be 7 million by the end of 2020.] Unfortunately, many of those reloaders entered the market anticipating that it would be easier to make their own ammo since readily available ammunition was so difficult to find. With shortages of bullets, powder, brass and primers, that has simply not been the case
Since so many people have lost a chunk, or all of their income, it makes sense that reloading, which saves on the cost of ammo at the expense of time, would become more popular than ever. Even if you’re financially stable, reloading and shooting are great socially distant activities you can do while the movie theaters, bowling alleys, and bars are shut down. With little answers on the virus, it’s hard to see when these closures and limitations will end. This is why we believe this could end up being the greatest primer shortage of all time.
Hoarding of Primers
When there is a primer shortage the first thing people normally point to is consumer hoarding. We believe this is having an impact on availability, but probably not to the extreme that many think. There are definitely some profiteers who buy primers and then sell them on auction sites or other multi list sites. This is why many online retailers have now chosen to limit the purchase quantities to an extreme low level in an effort to reduce this.
Disruptions in the Supply Chain
Demand, however, is just one part of the story. Disruptions in the supply chain have also made a big impact on the availability of primers. When it comes to ammunition supplies, bullets are easy to manufacture, brass can be re-used, and powder is generally stockpiled by companies (though perhaps not the kind you’re looking for). This leaves primers, which are relatively difficult to make, as the component that causes the bulk of ammo shortages.
In the USA, only four companies (Winchester, Remington, Federal, and CCI) manufacture primers for civilian use, law enforcement, and the military. Even under perfect circumstances, there’s only so much they can produce at once, and needless to say, circumstances have not been perfect during the pandemic. People getting sick, missing work to take care of their kids, and self-quarantining – from factory workers to delivery drivers, and all throughout the supply chain – caused a lull in manufacturing this spring.
The Remington bankruptcy has had a large impact on the shortage of ammo and primers. With Remington in a state of financial insolvency for the past two years, suppliers were demanding payment upon delivery for products. Remington simply did not have the financial capabilities to have an abundance of raw materials on hand and had to shutter some of their production capacity. Barnes bullets and primers were hit particularly hard in the reloading market. With the recent purchase of Remington by Vista Outdoor, there is a good chance that Vista will be diverting CCI and Federal primers that would typically go to reloaders to Remington ammunition production. Remington primer production capacity has never been great. The hope would be that Vista will place more emphasis on getting the Remington primer production capacity increased substantially and quickly. The best news coming out of this is for Barnes fans. With Sierra’s purchase of Barnes we anticipate the availability of Barnes bullets to increase substantially in a very short period of time.
Reduced Supplies of Foreign-Made Primers
In 2008 we saw a huge influx of Russian primers. We are not seeing that this time as the Murom Apparatus Producing plant is only producing at partial capacity due to the COVID-19 restrictions. On top of that, there have been changes in upper management at Murom which have caused further disruptions. But, we are very hopeful that these changes will have a positive effect on production and distribution in the long run.
The situation has been worsened by dramatically reduced imports of Russian primers.
With import restrictions out of Russia, we do not anticipate seeing the help we had from them in 2008-2012. We had also seen S&B, Unis Ginex and other foreign brands of primers enter the market during the shortages to relieve some of the pressure, but aren’t seeing that influx of primers this time around. The lack of foreign primers on the market is a major reason we believe this shortage is going to last for quite some time. We may see some help from foreign primers, but we don’t anticipate the large volumes we’ve seen previously.
What Should You Do? As an individual, as of right now, there’s little you can do in the face of the reloading equipment supplies shortage. Keep checking your trusted online distributor Powder Valley for new arrivals of primers from all four manufacturers.
We have created some very stringent limitations on the purchase of primers in an effort to help as many people as possible work through this extremely tough time. Normally, we would say “stock up”. But that time has passed, and I would encourage everyone to learn from this. Stock up in times of plentiful supply so that you are not affected as greatly during these times of extreme shortage. In the meantime I would encourage everyone to pray for our country and our leaders[.]
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Do primer types make a significant difference in accuracy or vertical dispersion at long range? The answer is “maybe”. Here’s one anecdotal study that tracked vertical variance among six different primer types. The tester is a good shooter with a very accurate rifle — four of the six 4-shot groups were under 2″ at 500 yards. This test doesn’t settle the question, but does suggest that it may be worth trying a few different primer types with your match ammo.
Here is a very interesting test for the 6 BRA (6mmBR Ackley) cartridge. Forum member James Phillips, a talented long-range benchrest shooter, tested SIX different primer types from three different manufacturers. To help determine vertical dispersion, James set his target out at 500 yards. He then proceeded to shoot 4-shot groups, in order, with each primer type. Velocities were recorded with a chrono. The photo above shows the results. James says: “I’ll retest the best two for accuracy and consistency with 10 shots each”. CLICK HERE for full-screen target photo.
As you can see, ALL the groups are pretty impressive. The smallest groups, 1.253″, was shot with CCI 400 primers. Next best (and very close) was CCI BR4, at 1.275″ for four shots. The “flat line” winner was the Remington 7.5, at upper left. There was almost no vertical. If you are intrigued by this interesting primer test, you can join the discussion in this Primer Test FORUM THREAD.
Primer Brand
Group Size
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std Deviation
Remington 7.5
1.985″ 4 shot
2955 FPS
8 FPS
4.0 FPS
Federal 205M
2.200″ 4 shot
2951 FPS
11 FPS
4.8 FPS
Sellier Bellot SR
1.673″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
14 FPS
5.9 FPS
CCI 450M
2.341″ 4 shot
2947 FPS
14 FPS
6.6 FPS
CCI 400
1.253″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
3 FPS
1.3 FPS
CCI BR4
1.275″ 4 shot
2949 FPS
15 FPS
6.9 FPS
CARTRIDGE: 6mmBR Ackley, aka 6 BRA. Parent case is 6mmBR Norma. The 6 BRA is fire-formed to create a 40-degree shoulder and less body taper. Capacity is increased, but the neck is longer than a 6mm Dasher. The capacity is enough to get to the 2950+ FPS accuracy node. Some shooters say the 6 BRA is more forgiving than the 6mm Dasher. The 6 BRA is certainly easier to fire-form.
TEST REPORT — Conditions, Shooting Method, Loading Method
Tester James Phillips posted this report in ourShooters’ Forum:
Conditions: The testing was done in the morning over flags. The flags never moved or even twitched. I had as perfect conditions as I could have asked for. It was overcast so no mirage and no wind. There were no other shooters, just me.
Test Procedure: Each shot was precisely shot at my pace and centered the best possible using my Nightforce 15-55X scope. I did not use the round-robin method. Each four-shot group with the same was shot at one time. Then I moved onto the next primer. Everything felt right for each and every shot fired today. Of course I could repeat the test tomorrow and it could be exact opposite of today’s test. We can chase this forever. But [soon] I’m going to test the BR4 and 400 primer… for best accuracy and consistency for 10 shots each.
How Rounds Were Loaded: Each load was weighed to one (1) kernel of powder. So I know that’s as good as I can weigh them. Each bullet seating force was within 1# on my 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.
Previous Initial Load Testing: All groups were shot with 31.1 grains of H4895. During initial load testing I settled in on the Sellier & Bellot primer to finalize everything as it showed more promise over the CCI 450 Magnum I also tried. I was actually surprised to have seen the higher ES and SD from that primer today along with the vertical shown. [Editor: Look carefully — one shot from the CCI 450 is right in the center black diamond, stretching the vertical. By contrast the Rem 7.5 had almost no vertical.]
Velocity and NODE Considerations: I was about 5-6 FPS above what appeared to been my optimum velocity of 2943-2945 FPS, so I’ll test 5 shots of 31.0 and 5 of 31.1 and see what happens from there. I can only assume my velocities where higher due to the higher humidity and of course temps were 5 degrees warmer this morning as well. It wasn’t far off but I noticed it.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Camera Land — Kestrel Sportsman Weather Meter, $249.99
All shooters need accurate wind velocity and direction info. One of the best wind tools is the Kestrel. Forum member Knotwild found an amazing deal on the excellent Kestrel Sportsman Ballistics Weather Meter. This unit features the enhanced Applied Ballistics G1/G7 solver, including Aerodynamic Jump, Spin Drift, and Coriolis corrections for accurate long-range shots. Grab the Kestrel Sportsman for just $249.99. This same Kestrel Sportsman costs up to $500 elsewhere.
2. MidwayUSA — Swarovski – Kahles Demo & Refurbished Sale
Swarovski and Kahles scopes are often considered top-of-the-line but are rarely found at a discount. Head over to MidwayUSA and check out the Swarovski & Kahles Demo and Refurbished Sale. There’s a great selection of rifle optics and spotting scopes for just about every discipline. If you’re looking to save serious $$ on top-notch glass for that new rig you’re building, here’s your chance.
3. Amazon — BOG DeathGrip Tripod, $124.99
Whether out in the field, at the range or shooting a PRS match, keeping your rifle stable in varying conditions is a must. If you’re tired of carrying a monopod and bags around, here’s your chance to replace them with something more practical and functional. Grab the BOG DeathGrip Tripod and you’ll have a stable platform to shoot from any position. It features a 3-position leg lock for use in prone, kneeling, sitting and standing positions. This stable shooting platform features an adjustment knob that controls up to 50 degrees of tilt and a clamping head that pans 360 degrees with tension adjustment.
4. Bruno Shooters Supply — Savage Action Sale
Many shooters want a custom gun but balk at the $1000+ cost of a custom action. They may settle for factory Rem 700 action but forget about Savage. Savage makes a really solid action on which you can build a very accurate varmint or match rifle. The founder of this site shot a Savage-action 6BR at 600-yard steel matches for many years. With a Pac-Nor barrel, that Poor Man’s Hammer 6BR delivered solid quarter-MOA accuracy and held a range record for many years. For a good price on a Savage Match action complete with trigger, check out Bruno’s Savage action sale.
5. Natchez and Midsouth– RCBS Reloading Kit Sale
Given pandemic concerns, many folks have decided to start loading ammo in larger quantities. For those just getting started in reloading, here are two excellent kits from RCBS. The RCBS AR Tactical Reloading Kit offers their Reloader Special 5 press and even comes with AR Series Dies: 5.56/.223, .308/7.62, .300 AAC Blackout, 7.62×39. Or you can choose the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit if you’re looking for a stronger press and more commonly sought-after accessories. Either way these are excellent starter kits, offering great value for money.
6. Midsouth Shooters — Lee APP Press, $54.88
Sorry folks — this was such a great deal, the Lee APP Press sold out on Monday. However, the Deluxe version of the APP press, which includes a case-feeder, is still available for $75.49. The Deluxe APP Press features an innovative case/bullet feeder with Jaws that automatically open and grasp the bullet or case and move then into operating position.
Processing brass is a necessary evil in the reloading world. Many processing chores are best done with a dedicated press, but that can get expensive. Lee saw the need for a inexpensive yet efficient processing press and brought out the Lee APP Automatic Processing Press. This can efficiently handle tasks such as decapping, case sizing, and primer pocket swagging. Here are two videos that show how this unique Lee APP press operates.
7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime, $56.19
Filling primer tubes can be time consuming and hard on the hands. If you’re looking to fill those tube faster and with less effort check out the Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime. With the ability to fill just about any brand of tube in less than one minute, this is a great time saver. This editor uses this tool all the time — and considers it a “must have” for every reloading bench.
8. Powder Valley — CCI & Federal Rifle Primers
Reloading components have been a tough to find commodity lately especially primers. If you’re on the hunt for standard or magnum rifle primers we found CCI 450 Small Rifle Magnum primers as well as the Federal GM205M Small Rifle MatchGrade primers at Powder Valley and with a limit of 5 per person that’ll still get you more than enough primers for the rest of the year. Powder Valley also has large rifle primers in stock at good prices.
Here’s a very compact, easy-to-conceal carry gun that can fit in pants pockets and small purses. All edges are smooth and rounded for ease of carry, with minimal “printing”. These Taurus Spectrum .380 ACPs are available in four color combos: Black/gray, Black/tan, Black/green, and a stylish White/blue/gray combo. We tried these pistols at SHOT Show. They are comfortable in the hand and the trigger is decent. Right now this Taurus Spectrum pistol is just $179.99 at CDNN Sports, making it one of the least expensive handguns on the market.
10. Graf and Sons — Hinged Rifle Ammo Box Sale
It can be hard to find good compact ammo boxes for rifle ammo loaded with long match bullets. We like these Frankford Arsenal 50-round and 100-round hinged rifle ammo boxes. These are slightly taller than most plastic ammo boxes, so they are better suited for longer, match-length ammo. These Frankford boxes hold match ammo securely without taking up a lot of space like the big, green ammo carriers with handles.
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by James Calhoon
(First Printed in Varmint Hunter Magazine, October, 1995)
In the course of talking to many shooters, it has become clear to me that the manufacturers of primers have done a less than adequate job of educating reloaders on the application of their primers. Everybody seems to realize that some primers are “hotter” than others and some seem to shoot better for them than others, but few reloaders know that primers have different pressure tolerances.
Primer Pressure Tolerance
When loading a .223 to the maximum, I was getting primer piercing before I reached case overloading. I don’t know what prompted me to try CCI 450s instead of the 400s which I had been using, but I did. Presto! No more piercing! Interesting!? A primer that has a hotter ignition and yet withstands more pressure! Thats when I decided that it was time to do a dissection of all primers concerned. The chart below shows my results.
NOTE: These primer dimensions were measured many years ago. There may be some differences in current production specifications.
By studying the numbers (Cup “A” thickness), one can see which primers in the small rifle sections should be more resistant to primer cratering and/or piercing. Primer cup diameters are all similar and appear to follow a specification, but check out the cup thickness in the small rifle primers (Dimension “A”). Some cups are quite a bit thicker than others: .025″ for CCI 450 vs. .0019″ for Fed 200. Large rifle primers all appear to have the same cup thickness, no matter what the type. (As a note of interest, small pistol primers are .017″ thick and large pistol primers are .020″ thick.)
If you are shooting a 22 Cooper, Hornet, or a Bee, the .020″ cup will perform admirably. But try using the .020″ cup in a 17 Remington and you will pierce primers, even with moderate loads.
Considering that cup thickness varies in the small rifle primers, it is obvious that primer “flatness” cannot solely be used as a pressure indicator.
Another factor which determines the strength of a primer cup is the work-hardened state of the metal used to make the primer cup. Most primers are made with cartridge brass (70% copper, 30% zinc), which can vary from 46,000 psi, soft, to 76,000 psi tensile strength when fully hardened. Note that manufacturers specify the hardness of metal desired, so some cups are definitely “harder” that others.
What does all this mean to the reloader? - Cases that utilize small rifle primers and operate at moderate pressures (40,000 psi) can use CCI 400, Federal 200, Rem 6 1/2, or Win SR. Such cases include 22 CCM, 22 Hornet and the 218 Bee. Other cases that use the small rifle primer can use the above primers only if moderate loads are used. Keep to the lower end of reloading recommendations.
– Cases that utilize small rifle primers and operate at higher pressures (55,000 psi) should use CCI 450, CCI BR4, Fed 205 and Rem 7 1/2.
– All the large rifle primers measured have the same thickness. Therefore choose based on other factors, such as accuracy, low ES/SD, cost, cup hardness, and uniformity.
Hope this clears up some primer confusion. If you want more information about primers, priming compounds, or even how to make primers, the NRA sells an excellent book called “Ammunition Making” by George Frost. This book tells it like it is in the ammo making industry.
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Size Matters
A quality spotting scope is very valuable in the field, at matches, or just having fun at the range. We found a great deal on the 
Hoarding of Primers
