Buying primers

[DW58]

Although I've been reloading for 28 years, I've never until now had to buy components by mail order.

What is the situation with buying primers online, can they be shipped by normal mail/courier, or do the same restrictions apply as with powder.

Thanks in advance.

[dromia]

No they have to go hazmat so expensive, especially to be sent up your way. You pay the price for living in gods country.

I'll be heading up by Inverness to Brora on the 17th of this month if that is any good to you?

[DW58]

I'm going up to McLeods tomorrow - if Gregor doesn't have any I might take you up on that - thanks for your kind offer.

[Laurie]

I don't think you can buy primers except through face to face transfer as an FAC holder. You can buy mail order if an RFD. The annual criminal law act of six / seven years ago made it much more difficult to buy primers, a fall-out from the Leeds police officer shooting by a psychopathic American illegal immigrant who owned several illegal pistols and handloaded for them. The copper's widow and her MP wanted handloading banned and HMG proposed putting restrictions on the sale and ownership of dies and some other tools. A BASC / GTA presentation to the HO / and its Select Committee showed how simple dies can be fabricated in a home workshop and that there would be no public safety benefits in making life hard for handloaders, but pointed out that the most difficult thing to acquire as a criminal handloader is primers. So, one has to show one's SGC / FAC to the vendor and the weapons / calibres authorised to be held on the FAC must match the primers being purchased.

[DW58]

Thanks.

[Andy632]

Rob, I've plenty of Federal 205 & 210 and a few Remington & CCI Pistol ones.

[DW58]

Thanks Andy - may take you up on that, they're as rare as Hen's Teeth and Rocking Horse jobbies at the moment.

[DW58]

Thanks for the kind offers of help chaps, but all is well - managed to secure 400 Federal LR Magnum primers this morning in Tain along with a kilo of N550. That'll keep me going for now.

Mission very successful ... ...

• .22LR Browning t-bolt 16.5" sporter, screwcut for can
• Minox 4-16x50P scope
• Butler Creek scope caps
• Nigoloh sling/swvels
• Harris Model S bipod
• 1kg Vihtavuori N550 Powder
• 200 .224/50gr Sierra bullets
• 200rds .22LR RWS Subsonic
• 400 Federal Lg rifle magnum primers.