Shotshell components are available in my area with the exception of primers. They are scarce or non existent when they are available the price is ridiculous. I am fortunate in that I have a supply that will see me thru the league I shoot and allow a little practice. I normally make a component run twice a year and stock up. Given the situation I guess I will leave the powder shot and wads on the shelf. I have heard all sorts of explanations and predictions on why and when primers will be back can't say I put much stock in any of them. What say you on the situation in your area seems pretty wide spread.
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Western SD primers are occasionally here or there $ 55-70/k , the right powders are a toughy here and there. No alliant but occaisional imr and hodgdon's with some WW handicap powder. Wads and $50 a bag hunting size shot availible. Mb

Last order club took in a couple tons Eagle #8 and #7.5. Just over $40/bag. Fair amount of loaded target promotional 12 and 20. Not as much as people wanted but.......

Very little powder but "winners" were the flexible types. So got 700X. Others took Universal.

Primers were toughest, we received total 4 sleeves of Cheddites.

Wads were no issue unless you were picky. Took 2 cases purple dusters, substituting for the gray CB.

I buy what components I think I'll need when I find them as it is very possible they won't be around when I actually need them. As such, I am sitting fairly pretty on components for a while.

That’s where I am. We had our meeting last night at the gun club. We have an order pending for components. No Winchester primers at all, at least a year of unavailability. Rio and Cheddite are available. No powder for shot shells. 40 something a bag for shot. They won’t confirm prices until ready to ship. Going to hurt.

Ditto last winter the club didn't even offer a component order because the supplier said he couldn't fill it. They were lucky to get a few pallets of target loads. Like w81 it is important to me to keep supplied I buy when I got bargains so I have components to keep me going. I'm not short anything. Mb

People are still hoarding

this is going to hurt trap shooting and sporting clays next summer 2022 for many people including us.

I have most everything I need but a little short on powder. I can find the 1 lb cans of some that would work but can't make myself pay the crazy prices vs buying in in the 8 lb jugs like I usually do.

Not going to stop this time! Too close to civil war with the way things have gone and are going! IMO…

This is where I am. It's better to have an extra 5k primers or keg of powder than to run out.

I got so excited yesterday....I found a pound of Alliant 20/28. I need more than a pound but the LGS limited 1 lb per customer,

I have a bag of 8’s & 9’s That I would like to trade for 5’s or 6’s prefer 5’s

I’m a firm believer that I’d rather look at it than look for it. I was ready for 4 years of Kilery. When Donnie got in I never dipped into my stash but just topped it off and added more shot. I warned my tight a$$ shooting partners that it won’t hurt you to stock up while things are available. The ones that could of couldn’t part with the money and are scrambling now asking me to bail them out. I didn’t invest to sell it. I did to use it. I’ve done the replacement policy but getting cold feet on that plan. Availability is horrible. Prices will reflect the shortage.

in these times, I believe you get what you can when you can, within reason.

BPI just had Cheddite 209’s for $37 per thousand with a limit of 5k

Swung by a small gunshot this morning and picked up a brick of CCI 109 primers, a bag of Rem SP20 wads and a bag+ of Federal 12S0 wads. Paid $50 for the lot. These were taken in as part of a consignment deal. This shop puts various accessories on a clearance table that came in with guns. I've picked up a lot of components and oddball ammo off this table over the years.

I haven't bought much in the last few years. In fact sold some to a friend. He was out. I am not reloading much any more, but the last primers I bought was between the panic years. A store was moving and I got 4000 shotgun primers for 9/thousand. Still have 2000 and 5000 before hand. Age is slowing me down.. I need to get with it.

They got more in stock


https://www.ballisticproducts.com/m...-5-boxes-5000-primers/productinfo/CH209/

welcome to the communism zoo.
the market has turned us all into seals barking for fish.
it should be the market in the cage barking for us to toss them our fish.

I could be wrong but I think the shell companies figured it out. In the past, shotgun shells were always on the shelf in times of shortages. I think they are keeping the prices high by not producing products like they did in the past. I will bet if you look, the ammo companies are recording record high profits.
Just my opinion.

I've been buying ammo for my 12s and 20s, that I use for skeet and trap, and so far have been lucky to find what I need. I recently purchased a Browning 725 in .410 and for that I'll have to get into reloading again. I've purchased wads ($26 for 1000 delivered), powder (3 lbs Alliant 410 - $31 a lb) & #9 shot ($50 a bag). I have a 600 Jr 410 reloader ordered from Brownells. The hard part has been finding primers and hulls. So yes, I have been buying components in hope that I will eventually find primers and hulls. I may be getting some primers. I have an old MEC 600 Jr 28 ga loader that was my Dad's and a friend who has been looking for one. (I don't have a 28 ga). He has plenty of primers. So, a deal may be worked out. I have only 50 AA HS hulls, but obviously need more. I have a few feelers out.

I think BPI has Chedite primers off and on for about $37 (give or take) per 1000.

Thanks, that's one of the sites that I am regularly checking. I'm not big fan of Cheddite primers as I shoot Brownings/Mirokus and they tend to pierce those primers. The hot gasses erodes the tip of the firing pins, eventually resulting in unreliable ignition, requiring replacement of the firing pins. I much prefer US made primers (Win, CCI, Federal) as they use a softer and more malleable metal (copper) for the primer cover then Cheddite's steel, which is harder and more brittle. I think the primers that my friend has, and is willing to trade for my 28 ga reloader, are CCI. I also have a few Win primers. I also know that these days you're more likely to find a virginal stripper than US made primers for sale.

BTW, has anyone noticed the prices on-line for .410 target ammo? I've been routinely seeing those that have it want $25 to $60 per box of 25 and people are paying it. Crazy times indeed.

Yes 410's are crazy high right now. Buddy just got a tube set for his Beretta and was buying Monarch 410's (when he could find them) at Academy Sports. They were around $10-12 per box.

I empathize with your pain regarding 28 ga hulls. Winchester AA hulls have been very few and far between but those I have seen on shelves were a little cheaper than you've seen. The last were in the $17.99 range which still seems expensive.

I have regularly seen Federal loads in the $15-$17 range in many stores and that is what I would buy in current times. I use different hulls to differentiate between shot sizes and I load them with 7 1/2 shot. I typically get several reloads out of them before the crimp gets too brittle and begins to break or split. Some don't care for the Reifenhauser style hulls but in times of scarcity one makes do with what they can get.

Sorry, had a brain fart and thought we were talking 28 ga rather than 410! I'm definitely getting old!

Much the same can be said for the 410 except they are even less common than 28 ga. What little I have seen was Fiocchi and it's been awhile. I think Scheels a month ago was the last place I've seen them.

With regards to Cheddite primers and Browning firing pins, my experience is the bottom barrels have much greater piercing issues than the upper. I've taken to using Cheddites in the upper barrel for single shots like trap or skeet and load the bottom barrel with a different brand primer when I may need to shoot twice. It is a little hassle but I've been able to get at least 3-4 years out of my firing pins rather than yearly (or more) replacement shooting Cheddites in the lower barrel.

I just texted a shooting buddy for "Ya" if he has any W-W .410 hulls. He doesn't shoot .410 but he is a pack rat on shotgun hulls. STAY TUNED. I do have a box Winchester .410 skeet you can have for the cost of shipping a USPS small rate box.

Awful nice of you doctor Encore

Thanks Dr. Encore. Every little bit helps. I'll take you up on that and pay for the shipping. Send me a PM with the shipping cost and your address etc and I'll get you what you want/need. If you would like to get paid a little somethin for them that would be good with me too. Same goes for your buddy.

ps PM sent.

Cooper57,

I getting some .410 hulls for ya so one I have the hulls I'll put the whole package together.

Greg

Collecting 8.5 shot because that's not the normal around here. About a new Mac 9000 have a gun show a while back because it was worth the price. Primers seem to be the biggest hold up. But I'm in no hurry to get started back loading shock shells haven't done it for 30 years but it's things that work out it's worth doing again.

Fellow shooters, I just want you all to know what a great guy is Doctor Encore (Greg). He doesn't know me from Adam, but he stepped up to help me out by contacting his buddy and getting me some hard to find .410 hulls for me to reload. All he wanted was reimbursement for shipping cost. I'm touched and it's now my turn to pay it forward. Thanks Greg and thanks to your buddy, tell him how much I appreciate his contribution.

Very much a class act, way to go Dr Encore

Picked up the last bag of 7.5 and a bag of 8.5 from a local farm store. I was hoping for another bag of 7.5 or even 8 but no luck. The 8.5 will work well enough in the 410 for skeet and sporting clays. I had some rewards coupons which lowered the $43/bag price to something not as painful. The last time I paid full price for shot out of my pocket shot was a little over $1/pound. Today's price was in that ballpark.

You did well. I paid $50 a bag last week for #9s and heard that it went up again by a couple bucks. Wondering how high it can go before we all re-evaluate our choices. I'd already cut back from 9 rounds/ week to 6. Then when my trap club shut down for the winter, due to a mask mandate, my initial thought was "at least I'll be saving some ammo." So now, I'm down to 4 rounds/wk, shooting two days a week instead of 3. Many shooters have just stopped or have also cut way back. Club revenues are way down from 2 years ago. The only talk one hears now at my club is where to get primers or ammo and how much they cost. It's become almost a part-time job. Small businesses that used to supply components have gone out of business. In 50 years of shooting, I've not seen it this bad.

Cooper57,

Very much appreciate the kind words. In our present climate of severe shell and component shortages we have to help each other out.

Greg

Greg, the thing is we don't HAVE to help each other out. Too many would have (and have been) taken the opportunity to make a killing in such a situation/position. Instead, you and your buddy chose to be kind and helpful, not exploitative. That is character! - Bill

The local Scheels has had shot all fall and winter west coast magnum 4,5, & 6. $50/25lb. I note today they now also have Lawrence Magnum shot at only $65/bag...mb

Cooper57,

My gun club sponsors a boy scout troop of which I am the shooting merit badge counselor. I also have a 5 man squad of scouts of clay shooters I'm teaching to shoot skeet and trap, ages range from 11 to 15.

The 15 year old "Just loves" everything shooting and hunting. My gun club held a dinner and auction this past
Saturday where members donate unused shooting stuff to be auctioned off to benefit the clubs youth shooting programs.

The dad of the 15 year old asked to review the auction items for anything his son could use. I found 3 items for the dad/son to bid on and a TC .50 for the dad to buy for himself.

Trying to keep a long story short the 15 year old son "won" a almost new 12 gauge MEC 9000.....FOR.. $30.00.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? Now I have to tech the young lad how to use it.....after finding powder and primers.....UGG!!

$30 bucks for a 9000 is not a "win" but a "steal" good for him.

Dr.Encore (Greg), we have a lot in common. I too help teach the local Boy Scouts to help them get the shotgun and rifle merit badges. I have also taken a few, new, young shooters under my wing and taught them how to shoot skeet. My own son never showed much interest in the shooting sports and I feel a need to pass along my knowledge and passion for the sport, just like my Dad and Uncle did for me 50 years ago. My skeet scores usually go down in the winter with all the bulky clothes and shivering but for whatever reason, I've been shooting well this winter. I spoke to my 90 yo mother today and she said that Dad is smiling down on me. I guess that's as a good a reason as any.

cooper57m,

You and I are cut from the same cloth, If you don't get a gun in the hand of our youth from middle school thru high school...chances they will never shoot to enjoy sport shooting or hunting.

Greg