Buying power online - suggestions needed

[straightShot]

Buying powder online - suggestions needed

I've been poking around in the quest to purchase powder online. I choke when I see the shipping and hazmat fees. Can anyone suggest where it would make the most sense to purchase some powder online?

Thanks,

straightShot

 

[Ray P]

Try this thread

 

[SASS#23149]

what amounts are you looking at?

most times if you buy a 5 lb jug or larger the price break covers the hazmat fee,or nearly so.If it's still not cheaper than local,then of course just buy local.

 

[1911user]

There is no cheap way to mail order 1 or 2 pounds of powder or a few hundred primers. The $20 haz mat fee is a fact of life. Shipping will probably be at least $10 on any size order (they ship UPS or fedex ground).

Gunshows and local stores are the only reasonable options IMO for small powder and primer purchases and they usually are not the lowest prices. When you can place larger orders, then mail order becomes a good option.

 

[RecoilRob]

I only buy online when I am getting surplus in large quantity. 5010 is under $5 lb and when you spread the hazmat and shipping over 4- 8pounders it still works out around $5.50 per lb.

WCC 844 (same as H-335) is $75 per 8lb...x4 + hazmat & shipping= about $10.50 lb. Around here, H-335 is close to $20lb so buying surplus in bulk is great.

For a pound of this or that, local purchase is the only way that makes financial sense.

 

[straightShot]

I was thinking of getting 8lbs of powder.

 

[1911user]

Check powder valley for powder (and primer) pricing. They are one of the better online powder dealers and do a good job. Order some primers at the same time; they can ship in the same box as powder under 1 hazmat fee. Primers and other reloading components will be more expensive next year, buy now (before 1-1-2007) if you can.

 

[benedict1]

Buy from Graf and Son. They will combine primers and powder under one Haz Mat fee and their shipping is never more than $3.95 per order. They have not inflated their prices relative to other stores--they are the best deal for gun supplies I have found on the web.

http://www.grafs.com/

They also have good prices on Berry's bullets; again, the shipping is only $3.95

 

[1911user]

Benedict, you should look around more often for pricing.

Grafs is higher by at least $2 per K of primers and $10-$15 per 8#jug of powder. I calculated what my last components order would have cost through them; an extra $60 minimum.

I've ran the numbers for several reloading/shooting type orders over the last few years and they've never been close to the best deal plus you have no control over how or who they'll ship with.

If you like their service, great, but don't assume that "shipping included" makes them (or any company) the best deal.

 

[Kruzr]

Another vote for www.powdervalleyinc.com. One hazmat fee and actual shipping costs. I ordered 8lb of powder and 5000 primers. Shipping was $9.78 for the 20lb. box it came in. One hazmat fee for both.

 

[benedict1]

1911user--Great. Where are these websites? I haven't found them lately. I could sure use some recommendations.

Edited: I sure stand corrected. My bad--I like what I see at Powder Valley.

 

[Rico567]

I have always had good luck with Powder Valley- and, taking shipping, etc. into consideration, they're the best deal I've found.

 

[benedict1]

Let's look at this again

I gave up too soon--I just ran this check on Graf and Sons and Powder Valley--

For this order, here is what I got--

4# Unique
4# Win 231
1# Herco
5K WLP primers
5K WSP primers
2K W #209 shotshell primers

Graf, with all shipping included and Haz mat=$376.89 delivered
Powder Valley, with NO shipping included yet=366.10($1.50 for insurance incld.)

Powder Valley calculates the shipping after the fact and if it is the standard rates it's going to be at least $8-10.

So what's the difference? I like Graf's service and the price is virtually identical.

I think it all depends on what you buy--each website has it's loss leaders. If you buy an assortment of stuff you'll probably average it out and none will have any big advantage.

And, as I said above, Berry's bullets from Graf and Sons are a good deal--