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Tough for new people just getting into black powder shooting, rendezvous, or other reenacting. Powder and percussion caps are not to be found around here. Three years ago on Ebay there were pages and pages of all kinds of period reenacting stuff. Not much to speak of now. A lot of the specialty sutlers for reenactors have very little stock. A lot of the people that make these items can't get the materials to make them.
Folks, you are mostly correct: VERY hard to find primers and some BP supplies Here in Manitou Springs Co, a store was selling primers for a crazy amount of $$. I equate that to at a recent gun show where some guy was selling a 1980's box of 50. .22 cal rimfires for $25. You can call it supply and demand all you want, and speculate about the root causes. But that doesn't help your bottom line if you can't get what you need
But regardless of the cause, you have to start looking at alternatives if you cant personally fix the shortage:, Primers can be made with a simple tool, toy cap gun ribbons and an old beer/soda can that is simple and cheaper than buying primers before the empty shelves. BP is the same: It just takes research and the willingness to be self sufficient. Call hoarders what you will, but they are doing, AHEAD OF A FULL BLOWN SHORTAGE, what they feel is required to stay stocked. There is allot of truth to the saying "One is none, two is one" That saying was made for the event when you are in the Cranberries with no one to bail you out: Think about that scenario, and you can bet that saying is true to the core.
"Woulda, shoulda, coulda"..................... Thinking, "Gee I wish I had planned and practiced more, instead of stating there's a shortage", wont help me now (And it didn't help in the past either)
The italicized quote above isn't a ding on the man the wrote it: But to all, if you see a problem, or a potential one, why wait to approach the problem? You see it, and you know its there: Be self sufficient as most as you can There are PLENTY of websites that describe in detail how to be sufficient (just use your common sense on what to follow, as with any web site)
Get educated, research, and MOST of all, try the possible solutions BEFORE your life or family actually needs them. See what works, what doesn't before you actually need them
I spent 22 years in JSOC, and all the whiz bang stuff we had was great: But it really boils down to the person and preparation
I used to halfway joke: There five things that everyone should learn how to do and practice (In no order):
Start a fire in the rain
Know how to swim
Know how to use a gun
Change a tire
Know how to use a manual shift and clutch
Know how to parallel park
If you see an article you like on the net PRINT and place in a binder in doc protectors. If power goes out or the net goes down, you'll need them. Lifesaving advice I don't trust to flash drives or desktops
Yep, allot of folks will read the above and say what a PIA to do all that, or I live in a place where I cant do all or some of the above: I equate that line of thinking as giving up. Its a discipline, period
Ok, I got my asbestos suit on, get out the blamethrowers......... And then use it on yourself if needed when you don't have what you need