Well, they're online and in the supply line. Made in Arkansas Large Rifle Primers. Can't remember when I first heard about them building their new facility, but they've at last made it to Powder Valley. "Introductory pricing"...
https://www.powdervalley.com/product/white-river-energetics-large-rifle-primers-box-of-...
Glad to see folks entering the supply chain.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, June 05, 2024, 13:06 (94 days ago) @ Paul
Also happy they are domestic. I'm anchored in the past perhaps but I don't like the $110/1000. Maybe that will change with increased supply? Dunno.
I hear you. Here's some perspective...
by Paul , Wednesday, June 05, 2024, 13:52 (94 days ago) @ Hoot
A few months (year? more?) ago I ran Townsend Whelen's price on primers through the inflation calculator. Back in 195X (don't recall the exact year) he reported a cost of $1 per hundred for large rifle primers. I just did it again, this time taking 1955 as the year he wrote, but realize that may not be the correct date. Anyway, from 1955 $1 the price on those at $105/1,000 is actually slightly cheaper than Whelen's equivalent. Where he has us beat, though, is he didn't have to pay hazmat on mail order purchases.
And no, I don't care for the price either - but at least there's some on the market. LR has been all but unobtainium for years now. We can hope things work out better this year and that we can get back to "normal" pricing - but I won't hold my breath. Not with all the current idiocy floating around.
Oh, I sure get it.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, June 05, 2024, 19:40 (94 days ago) @ Paul
I know $0.10/cartridge really won't matter too danged much but, damn! A lot of bullets I use are 10x that cost and some obscure brass I've bought, I don't want to admit. I'll pay it when I need more but I'll grumble.
Grumblers R Us!
by Paul , Thursday, June 06, 2024, 07:43 (93 days ago) @ Hoot
The last I checked the cache we've still a stock of pre-panic primers. But that doesn't keep me from eying what comes on the market with an eye to expanding the safety margin! But I set my personal upper limit at Whelen's mid-50's cost adjusted for inflation and am glad to see some primers now falling below that level again. I picked up a brick of LP a couple years ago from a fellow selling off his brother's stock for the widow. LP's are a bit iffier as I load a lot more of them than the LR size. It's a blessing in disguise to be this far from the loading bench and firing line though.