Primer prices

[Cory porter]

You have too face facts. Benchrest shooting is largely played by old retired FKS like me. This isn't a young mans sport. I don't know many 20 and 30 year olds playing this sport on a regular basis. They have the house with the white picket fence that is financed thru the roof. They have the wife and kiddies, her with her Land Rover and him with his 95K pickemup truck. Guys like that don't have time to travel up and down the road playing an old man's game nor do most of them want too. I've seen teens start playing this sport because their grandfather wanted them to try it but once they get their first taste of gash, it's all over. The other old FK's that I shoot against are retired or close to it. The ones that are can afford any of this stuff. I don't shoot against any disabled people other than me being touched in the head, I guess you can count that as being disabled. Yes I know there are those who just dig guns that are retired with not so great a pension. I mean what are you gonna do. That's just life. I wanted to be a rockstar with a crank like John Holmes but that didn't happen. If you want to play then pay or take up needlepoint with Rosie Grier.

I’m 31 and have been shooting in matches for probably 5-6 years. I can promise you the cost of components and availability has 100% been a deterrent in shooting I’ve essentially stopped. I understand you say this isn’t really affecting you, but if you want the next generation to continue to shoot and enjoy target shooting this is becoming a big problem.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I guess you are oblivious to the fact that a large number of shooters are disabled or retired and don't have the option to just work harder to pay for our hobbies like we used to. People that thought they had retirement figured out based on average inflation and now all time record inflation is leaving a large group of people behind.

NOT,.. IF, you "really Planned" for, Retirement,.. beforehand.
I could have Retired at, 62 but, "thing's" ( Stock Dividend's, Soc Sec. and incoming, Bank Interest ) looked, a Bit,.. SKIMPY,.. SO, I worked, 3 More Years and,.. Saved / Invested, some more.
I was then, able to, get MORE in, Monthly, Soc Sec. $$$'s and those, CEF /ETF Dividends, "Compounded" beautifully !
Ever since Obama and Clinton showed Up on the scene,.. I buy the "Dips", WHEN,.. Bullets, Primers, Powder and, other "Necessities" of life, show Me, a "Deal" in, the GOOD Years when, available.
Guess that, I'd be called,.. a HOARDER,.. LOL
I can get REAL "Antsy" when my shooting "stuff",.. gets down to, less than, a 3 or, 4 year, Supply and, I'm only, a Recreational Target shooter & Hunter !
SADLY, the Newbie's entering, the Sport, will NEED to, Learn THIS, kind of, Patience and,.. the Hoarding, thingy.

 

[butchlambert]

I’m 31 and have been shooting in matches for probably 5-6 years. I can promise you the cost of components and availability has 100% been a deterrent in shooting I’ve essentially stopped. I understand you say this isn’t really affecting you, but if you want the next generation to continue to shoot and enjoy target shooting this is becoming a big problem.

Cory, what is your answer to this problem?

 

[Cory porter]

Cory, what is your answer to this problem?

Good question, I have to figure out how to beat you old fellas at there matches. I’m tired of losing all the time.

In all seriousness I don’t think right now there is an answer, with everything becoming more expensive and the wage gap not increasing with it it’s causing the hobby fund to get tighter and people to choose less expensive things to do. For me personally since I started shooting just a few years ago the prices of bullets, powder, primes ect has went though the roof. Even worse it’s hard for me to find the stuff I need. It’s a bigger problem than just the price of primers.

 

[jimcasey01]

My father raced in the 50's, we were at 2-3 tracks a week during the season. He wrenched behind the house. All cars were towed on open trailers or behind a tow vehicle.. I went to Indy for many, many years, cars on flat trailers towed behind a pickup or station wagon. I decided to try my hand in the '60s. Things had changed and so did the cost of admission. I couldn't afford to race. Same is happening in the shooting sports. I still use a Teddy built in the '90s as well as some new BATS. Time goes on, inflation makes a dollar worth less. Those who want to play will continue to find a way to pay for it. God has been kind to me. The harder I have worked in life, the luckier I have gotten. I now have a lathe, mill, and assorted other goodies in a barn workshop on my property. I now have excess dollars. No, I don't want to pay higher prices, but I have busted my ass so that I can play in the sunset years. I will pay what ever I need to. I have many pounds of powder, umpteen thousand primers, etc, etc. I am prepared.

PS. I drive a 22 year old truck and a 9 year old car. I can afford newer, but both vehicles do what they were designed for.

 

[Evan]

Good question, I have to figure out how to beat you old fellas at there matches. I’m tired of losing all the time.

In all seriousness I don’t think right now there is an answer, with everything becoming more expensive and the wage gap not increasing with it it’s causing the hobby fund to get tighter and people to choose less expensive things to do. For me personally since I started shooting just a few years ago the prices of bullets, powder, primes ect has went though the roof. Even worse it’s hard for me to find the stuff I need. It’s a bigger problem than just the price of primers.

I think working age guys will work more, earn less, pay for what their family needs, and shoot less or not at all in their limited free time until the economic conditions improve. Not much will change until people calm down or run out of cash to buy things with.

I am blessed to have had many opportunities given to me in my life. I’m not ignorant enough to think that my 10 year old truck and my work ethic is why I can afford to shoot and someone with a fancy looking truck can’t.

My poor grandpa in his later years was convinced the country was going to fall into revolution and civil war when Clinton was elected the first time. He hoarded enough away that some 30 years later his grandson is still trying to figure out what to do with half of it.

 

[butchlambert]

My father raced in the 50's, we were at 2-3 tracks a week during the season. He wrenched behind the house. All cars were towed on open trailers or behind a tow vehicle.. I went to Indy for many, many years, cars on flat trailers towed behind a pickup or station wagon. I decided to try my hand in the '60s. Things had changed and so did the cost of admission. I couldn't afford to race. Same is happening in the shooting sports. I still use a Teddy built in the '90s as well as some new BATS. Time goes on, inflation makes a dollar worth less. Those who want to play will continue to find a way to pay for it. God has been kind to me. The harder I have worked in life, the luckier I have gotten. I now have a lathe, mill, and assorted other goodies in a barn workshop on my property. I now have excess dollars. No, I don't want to pay higher prices, but I have busted my ass so that I can play in the sunset years. I will pay what ever I need to. I have many pounds of powder, umpteen thousand primers, etc, etc. I am prepared.

PS. I drive a 22 year old truck and a 9 year old car. I can afford newer, but both vehicles do what they were designed for.

Jim, my Duramax has 317,000 miles and my Toyota Corolla has 301,000 on it. It took several years to realize that the pumpkin on my shoulders was not just a hat rack. I used to buy a new truck every 2 years.

 

[jimcasey01]

Jim, my Duramax has 317,000 miles and my Toyota Corolla has 301,000 on it. It took several years to realize that the pumpkin on my shoulders was not just a hat rack. I used to buy a new truck every 2 years.

Butch, as to mileage, you have me beat overwhelmingly. In 1980 I bought a new Fiat Brava. As I left the dealership I realized that my new automobile was now worth approximately $2,000 less than it was an hour prior. My brother-in-law calls me cheap (light heartedly), I prefer the the term "frugal". I am comfortable financially, but not well off enough to throw money away. A few years ago I worked in a shop making stairways. One day at break time we were all sitting around shooting the sh*t. One of my co-workers mentioned that my money seemed to go further than theirs, I responded that I did not have the $2500 per month rent payment, nor the $700 per month truck payment. He quickly informed me that rents were $3000 or more per month and that a new truck payment was $1000 or more per month, with insurance.

 

[butchlambert]

Butch, as to mileage, you have me beat overwhelmingly. In 1980 I bought a new Fiat Brava. As I left the dealership I realized that my new automobile was now worth approximately $2,000 less than it was an hour prior. My brother-in-law calls me cheap (light heartedly), I prefer the the term "frugal". I am comfortable financially, but not well off enough to throw money away. A few years ago I worked in a shop making stairways. One day at break time we were all sitting around shooting the sh*t. One of my co-workers mentioned that my money seemed to go further than theirs, I responded that I did not have the $2500 per month rent payment, nor the $700 per month truck payment. He quickly informed me that rents were $3000 or more per month and that a new truck payment was $1000 or more per month, with insurance.

Yes, just ask my Grandson about his payments on his 2022 4dr 4wd Toyota PU and his G70 twin turbo Hyundai. Fortunately his company handles his rent and utilities. I firmly believe that the young folks all need to serve at least 2 years of military service or some type of public service with a little discipline!

 

[Frost1235]

You have too face facts. Benchrest shooting is largely played by old retired FKS like me. This isn't a young mans sport. I don't know many 20 and 30 year olds playing this sport on a regular basis. They have the house with the white picket fence that is financed thru the roof. They have the wife and kiddies, her with her Land Rover and him with his 95K pickemup truck. Guys like that don't have time to travel up and down the road playing an old man's game nor do most of them want too. I've seen teens start playing this sport because their grandfather wanted them to try it but once they get their first taste of gash, it's all over. The other old FK's that I shoot against are retired or close to it. The ones that are can afford any of this stuff. I don't shoot against any disabled people other than me being touched in the head, I guess you can count that as being disabled. Yes I know there are those who just dig guns that are retired with not so great a pension. I mean what are you gonna do. That's just life. I wanted to be a rockstar with a crank like John Holmes but that didn't happen. If you want to play then pay or take up needlepoint with Rosie Grier.

An old man's sport...?
Basically saying "I got mines, too bad for you" which isn't going to help anyone in the long run. Remember the first time you shot? 100% changed your perspective on shooting overall. It might be an old man's sport, but you guys are going to die and there is going to be less and less people joining in on any shooting sport if things keep going they way they do. And when that happens, who is going to push back against the goons in office? I mean, if barely anyone shoots, why even bother worrying about regulation?

But for bench rest in general, it's fed through by people doing PRS, or F-Class or some other precision marksmanship. Once the knowledge of gunsmithing and reloading has been firmed, then people will step up to compete in the ultimate competition for precision/accuracy.

For myself, I've pushed into a new career level pretty much every other year; I have doubled my salary starting at age 28 to my current age of 30. It still comes down to if I want a home and a family or the ability to compete at a high level.

 

[butchlambert]

An old man's sport...?
Basically saying "I got mines, too bad for you" which isn't going to help anyone in the long run. Remember the first time you shot? 100% changed your perspective on shooting overall. It might be an old man's sport, but you guys are going to die and there is going to be less and less people joining in on any shooting sport if things keep going they way they do. And when that happens, who is going to push back against the goons in office? I mean, if barely anyone shoots, why even bother worrying about regulation?

But for bench rest in general, it's fed through by people doing PRS, or F-Class or some other precision marksmanship. Once the knowledge of gunsmithing and reloading has been firmed, then people will step up to compete in the ultimate competition for precision/accuracy.

For myself, I've pushed into a new career level pretty much every other year; I have doubled my salary starting at age 28 to my current age of 30. It still comes down to if I want a home and a family or the ability to compete at a high level.

Good for you for bettering yourself, but I guess I'm too old and feeble to figure out what you are trying to say.

 

[JimPag]

Good for you for bettering yourself, but I guess I'm too old and feeble to figure out what you are trying to say.

You and me both Butch.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Hypothetically, a reader/member has 5000, heck, lets say 10,000 large rifle primers put back. He reads this and says to self, shoot, I can spare 2-300 primers to sell to this poor guy in Texas.
Scouts Honor, I will take it to my grave if someone contacts me. Mark W. DFW

 

[Frost1235]

Good for you for bettering yourself, but I guess I'm too old and feeble to figure out what you are trying to say.

You don't care you mean.

Short and simple, it's either spend money on shooting competitively or choose a house and a family.

I chose shooting competitively, and that still means sleeping in my car for matches, skipping meals for a few days a week, engagements broken off. And this was before the whole prices rocketing up. Not many people would do this and you need more people to keep the manufacturers in business.

 

[butchlambert]

You don't care you mean.

Short and simple, it's either spend money on shooting competitively or choose a house and a family.

I chose shooting competitively, and that still means sleeping in my car for matches, skipping meals for a few days a week, engagements broken off. And this was before the whole prices rocketing up. Not many people would do this and you need more people to keep the manufacturers in business.

Didn't know that you were all knowing about my thoughts and deeds. Have you ever had to park your car on a hill in order to push it down the hill and jump in to start it because baby food was more important than a new battery? Have you put cardboard in your shoes when you couldn't afford another pair? My wife of 62 years can cook potatoes 10 different ways so we had a tasty meal.
Whenever you have traveled around the turnip patch a few times you will be a more knowledgeable person.

 

[jelenko]

You don't care you mean.

Short and simple, it's either spend money on shooting competitively or choose a house and a family.

I chose shooting competitively, and that still means sleeping in my car for matches, skipping meals for a few days a week, engagements broken off. And this was before the whole prices rocketing up. Not many people would do this and you need more people to keep the manufacturers in business.

No, I think he meant he didn't understand.
I certainly could not figure out what you were trying to say in your previous post.

With your most current post, it appears clearer.

 

[bobm]

Hypothetically, a reader/member has 5000, heck, lets say 10,000 large rifle primers put back. He reads this and says to self, shoot, I can spare 2-300 primers to sell to this poor guy in Texas.
Scouts Honor, I will take it to my grave if someone contacts me. Mark W. DFW

Infrequent Shooter. I will GIVE you a brick of 210's if your willing to drive to central CO. No kidding.

update....will sell another for $50.00....YOU ONLY. Think about a road trip.

Will someone in the DFW area just step up and help this guy out?

 

[Jim Ziegler]

Infrequent Shooter. I will GIVE you a brick of 210's if your willing to drive to central CO. No kidding.

update....will sell another for $50.00....YOU ONLY. Think about a road trip.

I'm in Colorado and would pay you a good price for some 210's!!!!

 

[Will Henry]

When I started BR shooting, nearly fifty years ago, I was, quite literally, poor. I had quit sawmilling and started gunsmithing to support my family and myself (barely). I struggled to improve in my trade and BR shooting was one means to prove the pudding, as it were. At the time, everything was more affordable, and poor or not, I could afford to compete. I suspect that some of my fellow competitors might have been amused by my approach. Nonetheless, I was semi-successful. At least, at that time, components were comparatively cheap (for the price of fitting a barrel, I could buy 10,000 primers or twenty pounds of H322) and I could fill up my old car for under ten bucks. I was earning at pretty close to the minimum wage level, yet I could afford to play. That wouldn't be possible today.
In 1980, I drove my 1964 Mercury Comet (purchased from Rent-a-Wreck, for $100) down to Issaquah to shoot at the northwest Regionals. I slept in the car and waited at the gate in the morning. When Sam Wilson roared up in his VW Sirrocco, I was sitting on the trunk, eating a bowl of Cheerios. I think he was wondering if he should open the gate for this scruffy looking guy, sitting on the old car. I had a good weekend and won the LV class and got to shoot with some of the guys I had only heard about before. Today, on that budget, that couldn't happen. Now, I'm not saying that my participation meant all that much to the sport, but we are not seeing any competitors from the financially challenged demographic today!
Today, I can afford to buy primers and powder (I'm not poor anymore) but I don't like the feeling of getting screwed when I pay. I don't think we, as private individuals, have much influence on the marketplace; especially when competing with governments which spend our money against our wishes and influence the marketplace. Nonetheless, buying high and hoarding probably isn't helping much. I think the sport is diminished by the exclusion of young people of modest means, but I don't have any ideas to improve things. It is beyond our control. WH

 

[L.Sherm]

Nonetheless, buying high and hoarding probably isn't helping much. I think the sport is diminished by the exclusion of young people of modest means, but I don't have any ideas to improve things. It is beyond our control. WH

Will I agree with everthing you said except the last sentence. If we as a shooting sport would have just said HELL NO! for just a few months these prices wouldn't be were they are now, not the 35.00 dollar price but not what they are, because that's exactly what happened the last 2 times.
Problem i see now is we are our own worst enemy.
Like I said in an earlier post I see this sport going down the same path as others like I witnessed racing in the Nascar touring series in the early 2000's. Believe me alot of people said there was no way it would get to the point Nascar is today.
Comments like if you can't afford to shoot you need a different job just proves my point. Shouldnt have to come down to younger shooters having to make a choice wether to buy groceries or whatever for there family or shoot.
Another 3,000, 4,000+ dollars a year is alot of money to alot of people trying to raise a family.