Component hazmat fee vs. loaded ammo

[2ifbyC]

As you know, shipping companies charge a hazmat fee for primers, powder, or primed cases but do not charge the fee for fully loaded ammo. Does anyone know the reason for this hazmat rule?

 

[k4swb]

So they can rip us off! Absolutely no other reason.
One day you could ship the stuff safely without the fee and the next you could not.

 

[Iron Sight]

Sssssssssssssssssssshush

 

[newfalguy101]

A case of crushed primers will explode if dropped or subjected to a hard enough thumpin'

Gunpowder is highly flammable

No idea why a hazmat on primed cases

Loaded ammo is an incredibly stable configuration as shocks, drops or bumps will NOT cause it to explode or burn.



my best guess anyway..............

 

[cfullgraf]

A case of crushed primers will explode if dropped or subjected to a hard enough
....

Yes, the customer gets to pay the insurance for the shipping employee's incompetence.

 

[2ifbyC]

Yes, the customer gets to pay the insurance for the shipping employee's incompetence.

I believe there is a lot of truth in your statement. There was a recent video that made national news where a FedX employee is caught throwing a package (computer monitor I believe) over a residence's fence. So even with labels like "Fragile" or "Explosive", packages are handled the same. By paying the Hazmat fee, you are at least indemnified from liability if one of them happens to blow their arm off.:banghead:

 

[ReloaderFred]

The HazMat fee was started by UPS and Fedex back in the early 1980's. If I remember correctly is was $2.50 at the time. I had my FFL during that period and you could get a rifle shipped for about $5.00 to your door, and the same for a pistol.

The HazMat fees apply to other commodities as well, but the ones we notice are the fees for primers and powder. There is no HazMat fee for primed cases or loaded ammunition.

The fees have gradually gone up over the years, and I've yet to see a documented case of either primers or powder causing a problem during transit. The fees have probably been for the most part to pay for the HazMat training required by DOT for the carriers, since it's mandated, and expensive.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[res45]

No idea why a hazmat on primed cases

I know what you mean but just for clarification there is no hazmat fee if you order pre-primed brass. I bought pre-primed brass for Graf and others and didn't have to pay hazmat fees. It's just charged on primers and powder only as far as us reloader's are concerned,to make a long story short government rules,regulations,paperwork and means of packaging and transporting certain hazardous materials placed on businesses are why you pay the fees.

I guess it's one of those things that is nether good or bad depending on how you look at things. You want hazardous material to be moved for point A to point B safely in a manner that doesn't endanger lives but you don't want it to cost you and arm and a leg to do it either.

I get out of paying hazmat fees by buying local when I can but often times I find I can buy powder and primers at a lower cost for places like Powder Valley pay the hazmat and shipping fees and still save money especially on big orders or when I do group buys with some of the locals. My last order on 5K primers and 5 lbs. of powder only cost me $12 for hazmat and shipping after splitting it four ways.

 

[RustyFN]

There is only a hazmat fee for primers and powder and only if it's shipped Fed-Ex and UPS. If you can get a large enough order together with friends and have it shipped LTL to a business then there is no hazmat fee.

 

[CMV]

LTL? You're buying powder & primers pallets at a time?