Buying Powder Online

[ColtPythonElite]

I buy everything in bulk when the price is right and but at least twice what I need.....Currently, I am using powder that cost me about 12 bucks a pound when I bought it.

 

[tcoz]

I can't remember if it was Midway or Cabelas but one or the other get the primers one place and the powder another so you could end up with two hazmat fees.

I'm not absolutely sure but I think it's Midway. Just watch closely when you place an order for primers and powder from them. Other than that, Midway is great. I order a ton of stuff from them.

 

[GT1]

No one in their right mind buys a pound or two of powder online, or 1k of primers.

There is no doubt about it, buying a couple 8lb jugs of powder is far cheaper than 99% of lgs prices even with the fee.

The fee is the last thing to worry about. Finding what you need is first.

 

[Dudedog]

Thanks tcoz couldn't remember on that. Got a suprise on one order, my fault.

Midway is great, I buy lots of stuff there.

Grafs, Brownells are also good.

Numerich has gun parts that sometime you can't find other places.

Sorry off topic.

Both Grafs and Brownells have powder (sometimes)

 

[dickttx]

I normally buy from PV in multiples of 8# of powder and 10K of primers. They pretty much come out even.
However, right now I would say you have a better chance of buying powder locally rather than on line. My last order from PV arrived in January, 2013, and I have not seen my powder in stock there since then. I am also on notify me lists at a couple of suppliers for the past year and a half.
Using a special coupon and sale at Midway in July I bought 15K of primers at the cheapest price I have paid since I got back into reloading about five years ago.

 

[Airgead]

I think the LGS supplies are coming back finally. I stopped in my preferred LGS last week for the first time in a month or two to check on powder. I've been looking for 2400 and Universal Clays for over a year and a half now and don't need/want it bad enough to buy online. Their cases of powder which had been pretty much empty except for the more esoteric IMR rifle powders for the better part of two years were packed full. They carry primarily Hodgdon and Alliant products and had just about everything I normally look for, most of which I have a decent supply. They finally had 2400 (six 1lb canisters actually) and I bought one. The only thing they didn't have much of was the 8lb kegs for shotshell - i.e. Universal Clays. LGS took down the primer quantity restrictions awhile ago too.

Now I'm waiting for them to get in some of the new IMR4451 too.

 

[sgtwest]

I use Mid South out of ten for my primers ,power and other components in general their pricing not too bad ,also you can be notified if there is a power you want if out of stock. Another place is Bruno's shooting supply he high but has a good deal of stock but a min purchase.

 

[Artofgolf]

When that recent release of powder was available from Recob's awhile back, I noticed that they priced it very fairly & a lot of folks here snapped it up. We should keep them in mind for the future

 

[Dudedog]

Yep, I like Recobs.
3rd Gen, Recobs, Natchez, Wideners-none of these sites seemed to Jack up thier price due to the "shortage" I sure others did not as well, but I noticed some did and I will not support any business that gets greedy. (Chea..Tha. Di..) for example.

 

[thelaststand]

My LGS has powders but price is too high. I'm still shooting with powders I bought in 2012 before the shortage started. If it weren't for that hazmat fee I would have made a smaller purchase and I'd have been out a long time ago. I've learned that one should always buy too much powder.

 

[FROGO207]

^^^ If you buy multiple pounds of propellant/cartons (5K) of primers in the same order your Haz-Mat fee is not that much per item. It takes more cash to do it but in the long run it beats LGS prices by between 1/3 to 1/2 for me depending on how much I buy at a time.

 

[vaalpens]

I am not ready to buy bulk yet, but has been looking around to see which of the online stores will work out best. I know I have to deal with the hazmat fee, but the shipping price also needs to be considered. From everybody's experience, which of the online stores have the better shipping cost, and what is a ballpark shipping charge for 4lb or 8lb of powder.

 

[dickttx]

In normal times Powder Valley is the place to buy powder and primers.
I think an online purchase of only 4# of powder would be very marginal as to any savings.

 

[mstreddy]

Vaalpens,
Shipping charges outside of the hazmat may range from $8.95 (Grafs) to ~$16 (PV). Maybe some more, but that is the normal range. So you have to figure on adding ~40 to the order for shipping and hazmat. Hence, you have to order bulk. Think more powder (maybe split with friends) and include 5, 10, 15, 20K primers.

My typical PV, or Grafs, or xyz order is 20+ #s of powder and at least 10K primers. At that point the shipping/hazmat would only add $1-2 per pound or 1K primers. At that point I am way ahead from any LGS.

I do happen to have several friends who reload, so getting large orders split is easy.

 

[vaalpens]

Vaalpens,
Shipping charges outside of the hazmat may range from $8.95 (Grafs) to ~$16 (PV). Maybe some more, but that is the normal range. So you have to figure on adding ~40 to the order for shipping and hazmat. Hence, you have to order bulk. Think more powder (maybe split with friends) and include 5, 10, 15, 20K primers.

My typical PV, or Grafs, or xyz order is 20+ #s of powder and at least 10K primers. At that point the shipping/hazmat would only add $1-2 per pound or 1K primers. At that point I am way ahead from any LGS.

I do happen to have several friends who reload, so getting large orders split is easy.

mstreddy, thanks for the information. As long as the shipping basically replaces the sales tax, then I just need to make sure the hazmat is spread over enough powder to make it worth the purchase. I am still trying out new powders and have not decided on which powders I want to buy bulk yet. So for now I am just doing my due diligence and hopefully within a month or so I'll be able to pull the trigger on the purchase of some bulk powder.

 

[mstreddy]

Shipping vs Sales tax is a fair comparison - the Big difference is that with the bigger/better online retailers -- it will be MUCH cheaper (in bulk) over LGS or gun show prices.
Another option that comes up from time to time is Bass Pro with their ship to store (FREE & NO hazmat) and only add sales tax. My buddies and I split up around over 20 pounds of Bullseye and Unique at around $27 per pound after tax. Of course if you have one local to you.

 

[vaalpens]

Shipping vs Sales tax is a fair comparison - the Big difference is that with the bigger/better online retailers -- it will be MUCH cheaper (in bulk) over LGS or gun show prices.
Another option that comes up from time to time is Bass Pro with their ship to store (FREE & NO hazmat) and only add sales tax. My buddies and I split up around over 20 pounds of Bullseye and Unique at around $27 per pound after tax. Of course if you have one local to you.

I actually used my last purchase from BassPro as a comparison. Bullseye and Unique per pound worked out to $27 including taxes. Looking at Graf & Sons, their 4lb Bullseye price is $63.99. Add $28.50 Hazmat and a flat fee of $7.95 per order (shipping free), gives you a total of $100.44 with $25.11 per pound. So it seems you can break even or even save a bit at 4lb.

 

[mstreddy]

Vaalpens, now, compare 8 pounds --- Let's assume 2 4Lb jugs -- 127.98 +28.50+7.95 = 164.43 now divide by 8 = $20.55 --- saving over $6 per pound compared to Bass Pro.
Throw in 5K primers and you are way ahead of the curve.
That's why I always make it a point to "go big" on my online orders of powder/primers.

I know that you mentioned you are just starting out and figuring out which powders you like, but right now - with the general unavailability of powders - for me it's about the powder I can get. In most cases -- it WILL work.

 

[danlnga]

Powder On-Line

The problem is the "out of stock" almost everywhere. I have been looking for H110 since last spring. Found some at "Lohmans" in Houston, TX. Paid thru the nose, but I got it coming now.

 

[tcj]

I have found that if I buy at least 8lb of powder online then my net cost per pound (factoring in hazmat & shipping) will run close to what buying locally in 1lb containers would run...if I could find any.

 

[vaalpens]

Vaalpens, now, compare 8 pounds --- Let's assume 2 4Lb jugs -- 127.98 +28.50+7.95 = 164.43 now divide by 8 = $20.55 --- saving over $6 per pound compared to Bass Pro.
Throw in 5K primers and you are way ahead of the curve.
That's why I always make it a point to "go big" on my online orders of powder/primers.

I know that you mentioned you are just starting out and figuring out which powders you like, but right now - with the general unavailability of powders - for me it's about the powder I can get. In most cases -- it WILL work.

mstreddy, it would be nice to get to the point where I know exactly what I want and buy 8lb or more. I am still working up some loads on the powder I have, and hopefully early next year I will have a preferred powder for both 9mm and 40S&W. I am evaluating AutoComp, 700-X, Bullseye and Unique at the moment. It would be nice if I can get my hands on some of some other popular powders like W231/HP-38, WST, AA-5, AA-7 before I go bulk.

 

[rfwobbly]

There's really no way "around" hazmat fees.

The only way I know is to join a club that gets significant shipments of clay targets. Sometimes the seller will also let members pack on other items (e.g primers & powder) without the HazMat since it's company or club trucking being used. You might check into joining local gun clubs just for that reason.

 

[lightman]

I get a few friends together and do a group buy. Powder Valley will mix powder and primers in the same box for 1 fee. Probably others will, too! On my last order, I think the fee added 50 cents to each pound of powder. About a cheap as you are going to get it for.