Cabela's has become a joke

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kmw1954

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I have been buying most of my reloading supplies from our local Cabela's store because the prices were good and they had what I wanted and needed. Until recently or at least since the end of February.

Today I get the email that they are having their Shooting Sports Classic promotion so I went online to see what I could find. Same ole, ole. Checked with two different stores and they do not have a single primer in stock at either store, still. Again been out of pistol primers since March. A couple of the powders I use are out or very limited.

I hate trying to buy primers and powders online because the small amounts that I need/use the shipping and Hazmat fees eat up any savings I would get. Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

So anyone know what the deal is with Cabela's? I'd love to keep shopping there but everything is always out of stock.
 
Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!
Don't say that!
Cabela's has never been a good source for reloading components. Occasionally they do have good deals on primers but the everyday prices and inventory isn't great.
If you are talking about the PDC WI store PM me and I can refer you to a supplier not far from there with good prices and selection.
 
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The two stores I normally visit are the Hoffman Estates Illinois and the Richfield Wis. stores. Have found a store , Recob's Targets just north of Madison. Otherwise Midwestern Shooters in Lomira Wis. which also is a couple hours away.
 
I have been buying most of my reloading supplies from our local Cabela's store because the prices were good and they had what I wanted and needed. Until recently or at least since the end of February.

Today I get the email that they are having their Shooting Sports Classic promotion so I went online to see what I could find. Same ole, ole. Checked with two different stores and they do not have a single primer in stock at either store, still. Again been out of pistol primers since March. A couple of the powders I use are out or very limited.

I hate trying to buy primers and powders online because the small amounts that I need/use the shipping and Hazmat fees eat up any savings I would get. Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

So anyone know what the deal is with Cabela's? I'd love to keep shopping there but everything is always out of stock.
I use the S&B primers when on sale and you must take a number at an empty gun counter to purchase a box of primers. :(
I have shown up to purchase them to have them not in stock! I have called to confirm they had them before going there and when i get there they don't have any!
Powder is more $ than a mom and pop store with actual reloaders but its an hour round trip! I try and support them the most!
 
Hmmmm. My localish Cabelas is usually well stocked with primers, probably 30 or more different powders, brass of all kinds, and bullets of all kinds. Prices suck without a sale, but they usually have what I need. I wait for a sale, then I buy.
 
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Last Nov. I got 2 boxes of S&B small pistol primers while they were on sale. Then they were Out of stock. Feb I then bought the last 2 boxes of S&B Large pistol they had in stock. Now since then they have not had any primers of any brand in stock
Yes powders are normally a dollar or two per pound higher than online but again when only ordering a few pounds and a few thousand primers I have found by doing the math that the hazmat fees and shipping has added a minimum of 25% to 35% to the overall order total cost. So much for savings. It actually works out cheaper to buy locally with sales tax.
 
My local Cabelas (Kansas City) is well-stocked with primers and reloading supplies in general, particularly powder. That wasn't necessarily the case 5 years ago, but it is pretty good now.
 
Hmmmm. My localish Cabelas is usually well stocked with primers, probably 30 or more different primers, brass of all kinds, and bullets of all kinds. Prices suck without a sale, but they usually have what I need. I wait for a sale, then I buy.

This is my experience as well. My Cabela's is usually a very busy store as it is virtually the only brick and mortar store within 50 mile around that actually sell reloading supplies.

It must be a state limited experience that you must take a number to buy primers. I can walk to a shelf pick what I want and walk to the front registers. My only gripe is that they never seem to have S&B SPP in stock. There is always @ 30 boxes each of all sizes in CCI, Federal, Winchester, Remington. Occasionally, I will not find the powder I want on the shelf, but currently there us usually @ 250 lbs worth of various brands and types sitting waiting to be sold. I would rather pay $1-2 more per pound of powder occasionally than pay online hazmat charges.

I have noticed that Cabela's has changed in the last year or so with the merger with Bass Pro... and not in a good way either. Prices now seem to be higher and I no longer get coupons or as good of sale prices.
 
Do you have any friends that you shoot with? If so, go in together on a large group buy of powder and primers and split up the costs. Does your local gun club offer the ability to buy components through them? Where I used to live (recently moved) they did, so I ordered a large enough amount to hold me for a while. Since this club also orders clay targets by the truckload, component orders go on the truck with no additional freight or hazmat. Might be worth checking into at least.

I have noticed that Cabela's has changed in the last year or so with the merger with Bass Pro... and not in a good way either. Prices now seem to be higher and I no longer get coupons or as good of sale prices.

Of course the prices will be higher. BASS has always been the highest of all the big box stores. And they just inherited a HUGE amount of Cabela's debt load:
Cabela's Inc's long-term debt for the quarter that ended in Jun. 2017 was $3,122 Mil.
Three billion is a lot of money........
 
In all honesty 2k small pistol and 1k large pistol primers is about a one year supply for me. Also unfortunately for me my circle is small. Haven't joined a club as I haven't found a pistol club near by and I do not shoot rifle or shotgun. Also there is only one other person right now that I shoot with that reloads and I have already suggested splitting an order. He wasn't very receptive of the idea.

As to the local market, Illinois has 1 Cabala's store, Wisconsin has 4, as does Minnesota where my son lives and I have checked all 9 last week. Same story Out of Stock. That's 3 states.
 
Hey, you have to plan to be here, that's what the life insurances companies bet on. At 61 I have more than 5 years worth. Kids can always use them.

Been done working for 3.5 years already because of a disability with 8 hospital stays in the past 5 years there are no guarantees. One son with no interest in guns and one other that can't own one.
 
For anyone buying from Cabela's, look on ebay for svmgiftcards. Right now a $100 gift card is $85. Sometimes they are $80. It says limit of three but I have bought three and the a couple days later got three more. I bought S&B primers with them the last time they were $20 per K.
Also bought an E collar for the puppy in the picture, 20% off plus $100 rebate.
 
really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

i'm 79. My Dad lived to 90: i probably have a couple years left. There are at least 75,000 to 100, 00 primers on hand, some dating back to the "Clinton will take our reloading components away" crisis. What with the primers, powder and ammo my kids may make the Strange Inheritance show.
 
The two stores I normally visit are the Hoffman Estates Illinois and the Richfield Wis. stores. Have found a store , Recob's Targets just north of Madison. Otherwise Midwestern Shooters in Lomira Wis. which also is a couple hours away.

Think of it as prices online can be 10 to 20 percent lower and if paying yourself for the 2 hour drive, not counting gas, that would be around 5 dollars an hour.
I'm in my 60s so my time is worth more than that to me. The haz mat vs drive plus prices is break even at worst.
Now I do buy at "local" gun stores some just to help keep them open, but 2 hours away ain't local to me
 
I have been buying most of my reloading supplies from our local Cabela's store because the prices were good and they had what I wanted and needed. Until recently or at least since the end of February.

Today I get the email that they are having their Shooting Sports Classic promotion so I went online to see what I could find. Same ole, ole. Checked with two different stores and they do not have a single primer in stock at either store, still. Again been out of pistol primers since March. A couple of the powders I use are out or very limited.

I hate trying to buy primers and powders online because the small amounts that I need/use the shipping and Hazmat fees eat up any savings I would get. Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

So anyone know what the deal is with Cabela's? I'd love to keep shopping there but everything is always out of stock.

Try MJ Gun Shop in Hubertus, WI. About 10 minutes from Cabelas. Great bunch of guys, lots of reloading stuff. I get all my supplies there.
 
weird, I was in the Rogers, MN store at lunch and everything seemed well stocked to me. I almost never get bullets there (too expensive) but frequently buy powder and primers there, especially when I am able to buy gift cards at reduced values.

In all honesty 2k small pistol and 1k large pistol primers is about a one year supply for me. Also unfortunately for me my circle is small. Haven't joined a club as I haven't found a pistol club near by and I do not shoot rifle or shotgun. Also there is only one other person right now that I shoot with that reloads and I have already suggested splitting an order. He wasn't very receptive of the idea.

As to the local market, Illinois has 1 Cabala's store, Wisconsin has 4, as does Minnesota where my son lives and I have checked all 9 last week. Same story Out of Stock. That's 3 states.
 
For everyone mentioning S&B primers I have doubts tat we will be seeing them any time soon. I have been using them exclusively and run them thru my Lee Pro1000 because I don't get feed problems with them only I've just used up the last of what I have and cannot find them anywhere. Everywhere I look they are Out of Stock with no expected dates and Cabela's just in the past couple days has removed all but the Large Rifle S&B from their website.

I believe there is an import problem with them.
 
Typically only buy at Cabellas when on sale and I have some $100 gift cards (Routinely available for $80 each.)

Where and how much powder/primers are displayed (in reach or behind counter) will vary by individual location.

Location (translates into volume of sales) can also make a difference regarding what's in stock.

Fortunate to have several places to choose from here in Houston. Been noticing, for whatever reason, a few of the powder/primer shelves are starting to go ~bare~ and seem to stay that way a bit longer,,,

Placed my first online order for a couple of 8lb'ers recently. I already have a pretty fair amount, and it seems like 16 more lbs is a heck of a lot for no more shooting than I do, but I doubt it will go to waste.

(Kinda feelin' like prices won't be staying this low forever either,, but who knows)
 
I've decided to keep a rotating inventory of 5000 primers of each type I use. Should be enough to keep me going in a crisis for awhile.
 
So I have a brother that is only 15/20min away from one of the stores. He was going there one day recently and asked if I needed anything so I checked online for some Ramshot powder. Website stated limited stock. He was there about 45min later and there was none to be had. Same with Winchester WSP primers, none.

So is it just this store and the one's here in Wisconsin or has anyone heard anything regarding their stocking.

Now as ponchh has mentioned a 4 hr drive is not close but unlike his thinking I do not mind taking a Road Trip. It also gets me out of the house. To do that once or twice per year isn't a big deal for me.
 
I didn't read all the replies.

But... Cabela's has always had great customer service for me.

Pretty sure they offer free store pickup on anything you prefer online.
 
I wouldn't think of buying reloading supplies at Cabela's. Besides, there is not a Cabela's store in my state. Midsouth, Brownell's, and Graf's all have small hazmat or no hazmat sales throughout the year. 5000 primers last a while for me and when paired with a few pounds of smokeless and black powder, they all ship under the same low/no hazmat sale.
 
Since the sale of Cabela's to Bass Pro Shops was final on January 15th, 2018, things have changed at Cabela's, and mostly not for the better. The employees were immediately stripped of their employee discount, and all the guns in the Gun Library (used guns) were to be sold at the price on the tag, with no discounting or dickering allowed. I'm told by some of the current employees that a lot of the old time employees have quit in disgust.

I've also noticed that sales aren't as good as they once were, and the stock isn't as good as it once was. We'll just have to see how things pan out in the long run........

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
$10 hazmat fee. Not a penny more. $7.95 for shipping. For that much, you can ship up to 50 pounds of primers, powder, even black powder, and bullets.

Heck, the drive to Cabelas costs me more than $7.95. And $10 for hazmat? For that rate, I don't need to buy more than a couple months of primers and powder and I throw in all the bullets because they ship all that weight for nothing additional.

grafs.com
I also shop midwayusa.com and midsouth.com because sometimes they have better stock, lower prices, free shipping, or a sale on what I need.
 
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