Black Powder is hard to find.

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Diggers

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So I'm just getting into BP shooting. I've got a flintlock Kentucky rifle on the way, so today I decided to locate some black powder locally.

Well it wasn't so easy. I had already gone to my local gun stores and only one of those had any powder at all and it wasn't black powder. :uhoh:

There is a range nearby that I know has lanes set aside for black powder and has a proshop in it. I thought for sure they would carry Goex, but NO only the substitute black powder. (I've already been warned away from using that in a flintlock).

So finally I did a search online and found an old thread here that had a link to Graff & Sons. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/vendor/vendorId/39

They had the 3F Goex that I wanted in stock but of course there is a 25 buck hazmat fee. So I bought 3 pounds from them because the hazmat fee was the same.

That should last me a while. :D

Pretty good site. It has a lot of things someone who is just getting into BP shooting needs and their prices seem pretty good. The Goex 3F was $15 a can, which seemed pretty good. However, with the hazmat and shipping fee it ended up being about 25 buck a can. Not cheap, but better than not having any powder.
 
a lot of Black Powder Culbs order it in by bulk for their members - If you have a friend in a club you might ask - he can't sell it to you but he can give the powder to you - go figure - thats how i finally ended up with mine - a friend "gave " me the 3F - He paid 13 bucks a pound for it thru his club. tom
 
TomACD, well NOW you tell me we can't find black powder in SD county. :D Yeah I live here too. Prices are better at powder Inc. one does have to buy a fair amount, but thats OK. Thanks for the link.

I thought for sure project 2000 range would have real black powder because the have lanes for BP shooters. Kinda odd they don't carry it.

So where do you shoot in SD?

Tom H, that would be nice but I don't know anyone in the local BP club, yet anyhow.
 
It isn't that it's hard to find.
Some internet searching will locate many companies all over the US that ship.
Problem is the HazMat fee, so it only makes sense to order in quantity.
It is getting hard to find stores where you can just walk in and buy a can though.
There's not a single gun shop within decent driving distance to me anymore that carries it because of the onerous regulations.
If I don't run across someone with some at a gun show or rondy or find some guys to put in a big order with, this spring or summer I'm just going to make a trip across the state and buy a years supply. Gets the price down pretty good if I go pick it up.
 
Yep, since the hazmat fee is the same the trick is to find several folks and make one large order. Helps ease the pain a lot.
 
There's not a single gun shop within decent driving distance to me anymore that carries it because of the onerous regulations.
Click to expand...
"I don't carry it because of the onerous regulations" = "I really don't want your business"

Which is fine, anybody running a business has the right to choose what he wants to sell and not sell. Yes, there's extra cost and effort involved in stocking and selling real black powder, but in the end it's a business decision pure and simple. He's saying, "Your business isn't worth my having to pay the extra cost and go to the extra effort involved." Playing the victim with the 'onerous regulations' excuse is just a way of not having to face the consequences of telling your potential customer to buzz off.
 
Pretty hard core.
If a gun shop has a half dozen people a year looking for real BP and knowing what BS they have to put up with to carry it, I don't blame them a bit for not stocking it anymore.
 
If there is a Cabelas within driving distance they carry Goex. But be forewarned MOST of their employees do not know they carry it. They will try to convince you that Pyrodex IS Black powder. I have actually had to tell them, "in the back somewhere there is a steel chest that is painted red and has the word EXPLOSIVES on it. You will need the key to get into the chest".......then they will not let you carry, touch or hold the BLack powder. They will actually escort you through the check out line and to the door. :cuss:
 
BP is no where in sight in East Texas. The nearest shop that has it in stock is in Texarkana some 250 miles from me. All the shops here say the same thing. "Regulations are too costly" crap. So I suppose I'll save up my pennies and go to the PowderInc folks when I can afford it. Till then, I'm using Pyrodex and Tripple Seven. Beats not shooting at all I suppose!

Wade
 
Sometimes it has nothing to due with "wanting your business" around here the fire marshals won't let stores carry it. Our local Gander Mountain is not allowed to sell any type of powder, not just black powder. Our small local shops carry powder but are not allowed to stock black powder at all. It is not an excuse it is reality.
 
TomADC, well NOW you tell me we can't find black powder in SD county. Yeah I live here too. Prices are better at powder Inc. one does have to buy a fair amount, but thats OK. Thanks for the link.

I thought for sure project 2000 range would have real black powder because the have lanes for BP shooters. Kinda odd they don't carry it.

So where do you shoot in SD?

Tom H, that would be nice but I don't know anyone in the local BP club, yet anyhow.
Click to expand...

I like powder inc they do have a 5 lb min. but allow mix and match plus their prices already have the hazmat fee in them.

Digger I shoot mainly at South Bay Rod & Gun out in Dulzura. Used to shoot at Project 2000 when it was SD Fish & Game range.
Tom
 
Guess I'm lucky to live where I do for all the shops I buy at keep it on hand. Always have since the early 60's when i first started using it. Two stores have their cabinet right out in the store where you can easily see it. Painted red, plywood cabinet, not steel, that is printed -- BLACK POWDER -- EXPLOSIVE --
on the door in white letters. Locked with 3 or 4 padlocks. All you do is say, "I need some black powder" and a clerk opens the door and hands you what you want. He writes down the info from each can you get and how many. Then you can continue to shop if you want then when done go to the checkout, pay and leave. They all carry geox, graff and sons and swiss.
 
Sometimes it has nothing to due with "wanting your business" around here the fire marshals won't let stores carry it. Our local Gander Mountain is not allowed to sell any type of powder, not just black powder. Our small local shops carry powder but are not allowed to stock black powder at all. It is not an excuse it is reality.
Click to expand...
Where is 'around here'? It's pretty strange that one shop is allowed to sell 'powder' (I presume smokeless or perhaps substitute black powder) but a bigger chain store cannot.
If a gun shop has a half dozen people a year looking for real BP and knowing what BS they have to put up with to carry it, I don't blame them a bit for not stocking it anymore.
Click to expand...
Which was my point exactly. A pure and simple business decision: "You half dozen people's business is not worth my time and effort." QED.
 
Just got off the phone this morning with Clarksville Rod & Gun in AR. Just
ordered 2 cases of Swiss powder. Delivered to my door 20.00 a lb. 50 lbs.
should last me a little. I get 450 shots from a lb. in my pistols. Prices are
going up next month.
 
Black Powder shooting for one reason or another seems more popular in some parts. And more places still carrying it.
Mostly in the eastern US it seems.
Out here we have probably as high a firearm per capita ratio as you'll find, but black powder just isn't all that popular any more.
 
WOW articap, is that 25 buck a pound in the store? If so thats what I just paid online with hazmat and shipping for a 3 pound order.

Powder inc is cheaper. I think 17 bucks if you order 10 pounds.
 
Out here we have probably as high a firearm per capita ratio as you'll find, but black powder just isn't all that popular any more.
Click to expand...

I'd wager to say that BP is still just as popular, if not more so. If you want your local store to sell it, keep letting them know you will stop buying it on-line if they will stock it, and the key word is to keep letting them know you are interested. If all we do is walk out and go buy it on-line, of course they won't see the need to carry it! Everyone buying on-line is a big reason the stores don't have it, or don't have it at a reasonable price. We have shot ourselves in the foot.
 
Eh? I've lived and shot around here for 40 years, I know what folks shoot.
And I don't buy stuff on line.
I buy from and support the local gun shops where I know the people.
 
Supporting the local gunstore is good if you have one.

My closest city is Lawton, OK. Lawton is the 3rd largest city in OK and it does not have one shop that sells new guns, ammo, powder and reloading stuff. We do have a few dozen pawn shops whose purpose in life is to rip off the GIs at Ft. Sill.

Lawton used to have two Gibson's stores that were well stocked with reloading supplies, ammo, BP stuff and guns. They were run out of business by China Outlets, aka Wal-Mart.
 
Articap - Who's got it out your way? I know Hoffman's doesn't...or at least that's what they told me when I was there last.
 
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