Best use of the reloading dollar

Mark75H · May 4, 2016

With the flammable surcharge on powder and the weight of bullets it looks like its probably best to shop brick and mortar like Cabellas for those components.

Graf & Sons looks good for primers even with shipping.

Am I missing anything?

Uncle Duke · May 4, 2016

Mark75H said:
With the flammable surcharge on powder and the weight of bullets it looks like its probably best to shop brick and mortar like Cabellas for those components.

Graf & Sons looks good for primers even with shipping.

Am I missing anything?

Primers and powders are both Hazmat items. They can typically be combined though.

If you're buying bulk, buying online can still make sense.

Trekker · May 4, 2016

As previously mentioned, for smaller quantities of primers and powder I go to a brick and mortar store. I drive past Cabellas in DE while traveling the I-95 corridor, and Top Gun and Jewelry in Fallston sells reloading components and is less than 15 minutes from my place. For bulk purchases, the volume discount on primers/powder may negate hazmat shipping charges.

Occasionally an online reseller may have a free shipping promotion that includes free hazmat shipping. I picked up 5k of primers from MidSouth Shooters on such a promotion about a year ago.

Bullets certain weigh a fair deal, but a lot of online resellers provide free shipping if you purchase a sufficient quantity of bullets. Even then, between no hazmat charges on bullets and flat rate shipping, S&H charges for bullets is minimal.

usa259 · May 4, 2016

Bullet example: X-treme ship for $5.00. Last shipment I received 500 9mm, 500 40, and 500 45, $5.00; Fun to talk with mail man as he brings them to the door. Pound for size of package they are the heaviest thing he delivers, always good for a funny comment from him....

teratos · May 4, 2016

Uncle Duke said:
Primers and powders are both Hazmat items. They can typically be combined though.

If you're buying bulk, buying online can still make sense.

Will they let you buy more than 5 lbs of powder at a time. I'm new to this and need to get powder and primers.

jimbobborg · May 4, 2016

teratos said:
Will they let you buy more than 5 lbs of powder at a time. I'm new to this and need to get powder and primers.

That's a good question. I would think local MD dealers would point out that more than 5 lbs of powder would not be legal to keep in a house in MD. A trip across the border and they don't really care.

ironpony · May 4, 2016

Online group buy? well coordinated that is.

Uncle Duke · May 4, 2016

ironpony said:
Online group buy? well coordinated that is.

Sure, can make all kinds of sense to folks individually. But once you get past a handful of people you know, and ideally know well and see all the time? Whoever is on point had better have a whole lot of time, a whole lot of trust, a whole lot of patience, and/or some really deep pockets.

Traveler · May 4, 2016

teratos said:
Will they let you buy more than 5 lbs of powder at a time. I'm new to this and need to get powder and primers.

Go to PA. Shydas is your friend.

Mark75H · May 4, 2016

Traveler said:
Go to PA. Shydas is your friend.

Lebanon PA

Traveler · May 4, 2016

Mark75H said:
Lebanon PA

Yup.

http://www.shydasoutdoorcenter.com/

Seabee · May 5, 2016

If ordering online, Powder Valley has the best prices I've found for primers and powder. Their bullets are much cheaper than BPS. If buying in bulk to offset hazmat fees helps. Perhaps several shooters sharing in an order and splitting shipping. For instance, at BPS 2 days ago, they wanted over $35 for a box of Hornady 30 cal 150 gr SST. PV was $27.

Ken

Sticky · May 5, 2016

teratos said:
Will they let you buy more than 5 lbs of powder at a time. I'm new to this and need to get powder and primers.

Most online retailers will. In MD, they are not even supposed to sell more than 5lbs to an individual, so a LGS would likely be an issue if you are looking for more than 5lbs.

I agree with Powder Valley, they have great prices!

Tracker · May 8, 2016

I buy local for hazmat stuff. Bass Pro has a few different powders and primers. If you're concerned about a 5 pound limit, remember you don't have to buy it all at once.

Jmorrismetal · May 12, 2016

Best use of the dollar is online in bulk. 48 lbs ships with one hazmat fee.

Racinready300ex · May 13, 2016

I typically try to shop at powder valley for powder and primers. To keep cost down I try to buy at least 8 lbs of powder or 5-10k primers at a time so I can split up that hazmat as much as I can.

More bullet suppliers are shipping in flat rate boxes now. I shoot a lot of 9mm, and 3600 9mm ship in a flat rate box. Now I shoot for Blue Bullets, so that is all I buy. And a case of 9mm is $242 with free shipping. Using the code Ennis gets 5% off making it $230. Or just under $64/1000. No one in my area can beat that.

shovel1966 · May 14, 2016

I have ordered a lot of Hazmat from Graf and Sons in the past before I let my C&R expire. My small group of friends would all go in on one order to make the Hazmat fee almost nothing. They would often charge a small handling/insurance fee but "free" shipping.

I found this to be much more economical than driving to/from the LGS, paying state sales tax, and picking from their limited on-hand stock.

I've also ordered powder and primers from Cabelas and they ran deals on shipping and reduced Hazmat fees. When ordering online I ONLY purchase in bulk.

Pinecone · May 19, 2016

Do watch. Some online retailers want a hazmat fee PER PACKAGE. Others, it is per order.

Powder Valley, Midsouth, Grafs, and 3rd Generation are typically where I go.

GunnerGunz · Jun 10, 2016

I time going to my fathers in NJ to coincide with Cabelas primers & powder on sale

Next trip to NJ is early August so if anyone wants some product in August let me know and we can work out a deal (Frederick county here).

Best use of the reloading dollar

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