How many primers do you buy to make the Hazmat worth it?

[KegCommando]

I've always picked up primers locally, but lately it has been a real chore.
Worse, when they finally have them, I clean them out because they just have just a few more than I need.

Traditionally I've never shot enough where I feel I need to order enough primers to warrant the Hazmat fee.

I think I'm going to have to rethink that and was curious about how many you guys buy to justify the fee.

BTW, I am using small pistol, and historically only a few thousand per year, but that pace has increased recently since my kids have started coming too.

 

[45ACPUSER]

Well, it is all relative. What can you spend on powder and primers. PV will combine in one pkg. So, you have to also factor in local cost and availability and such. But, 25K is the point where it makes sense to me.

 

[PecosRiverM]

I usually try to add 20+ pounds of powder with 5k of primers (I only load long guns).

I feel as I'm saving $$

Gas/Sales Tax vs Shipping/Hazmat

 

[ReloaderFred]

I try to order primers in lots of 20,000, minimum. If you can't do that by yourself, then try to find some reloading friends who will go in with you on an order. I've done that and been able to order 100,000 primers at one time, which makes it really worth while.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[KegCommando]

I was afraid the numbers were going to look like that. That would be like 5 years of shooting for me.

 

[zxcvbob]

Depends on the price. When PV had CCI-34 primers on sale for $75 / 5k last year, it was well worth it for just 5000 primers -- then you throw in some powder (any powder) and save a few bucks more.

They also sell Wolf primers for $19 per thousand. That's about the only brand I use anymore for handgun cartridges; they are that good. I save about $1 per box of 100 over buying primers locally, so the break-even point there is about 2000.

 

[mavracer]

I don't know I live 30min from Powder Valley

 

[rbernie]

That would be like 5 years of shooting for me.

You say that the primers won't keep, which of course they will.

 

[rockhound758]

Hey Mavracer, is the Bullet Stop still around? There was that range and then another on the far west side...can't remember the name of that one but in my 11 years there I spent a fair amount of time there!

As for the hazmat cost, don't forget you don't have to pay sales tax...in some states that can be significant (I think Ohio is 7.5%). It all adds up.

 

[Bush Pilot]

This might be the time to stock up, who knows if primers will even be available in a couple of years at any price.

 

[Seafarer12]

I usually try to buy atleast 5k primers plus my powder. Considering what primers are going for around here buying anything over 5k will pay for the hazmat.

 

[evan price]

I look at it not as buying consumables (like milk and bread) but rather as a long term investment. Instead of asking, "What is the minimum number I need to order to make it worth it?" one should instead ask, "What is the absolute maximum I can cram into this order and still have to pay only one Haz-Mat & shipping fee?"
Look into some other gunnies in your area and see if they need powder & primers, too. This is called a "Group Buy" and you split the fees in some equitable manner.

Speaking from experience, group buys are well worth the effort. My last two were up towards 5-figure territory.

 

[KegCommando]

Unfortunately I don't know anyone to do a group purchase with.
I just have you guys, my virtual friends. Can I make a virtual purchase? It would surely be easier on the pocket book

And as to a long term investment instead of like consumables, yeah, I got to do that now I guess. It just hasn't been an issue until the last few months.
Man, I hope I don't have to buy 5 years of milk though, that is going to be tough on storage

 

[rfwobbly]

Where are you ?

Unfortunately I don't know anyone to do a group purchase with.

Well, if you placed your city and state in your profile, then it would show up in the side bar of your posts. In that way we'd all know where you were from and we could then help you out. I'm looking for the same in the Atlanta area.

How many primers do you buy to make the Hazmat worth it?

Well, do the math. If your local dealer charges $36/1000, internet sources want $22/1000, and the HazMat is $20, then....

on 2000 you save $8*
on 3000 you save $22*
on 4000 you save $36*

* Minus shipping fees

Also remember that most sources let you mix various primers and powder within a shipment, so for instance you could get 3000 small pistol and 1000 small rifle at the same time in order to get the savings of purchasing 4000 primers. Follow?

Then, these savings can be further increased, because when you reach certain sales levels sellers usually start paying the shipping and/or HazMat fees.

 

[edSky]

Are there any primer manufacturers in TX? Looks like most of you are there. I need to locate somewhere between Austin, DFW, and Plain Old. When TX secedes from the dis-union I will move, you can count on that.

The Mrs. already loves Austin, has friends in Grapevine, etc. But if the Independent Nation of Texas has to pay free market prices for primers, that could put a damper on things.

 

[mavracer]

Well, do the math. If your local dealer charges $36/1000, internet sources want $22/1000, and the HazMat is $20, then....

on 2000 you save $8*
on 3000 you save $22*
on 4000 you save $36*

* Minus shipping fees

**plus sales tax

 

[RustyFN]

I buy primers 50,000 at a time. That's a max order for a single hazmat fee.
Rusty

 

[woodsoup]

Primers and the powder to go with them. Check the local total cost (price +taxes+ gas/time etc.). Check online total cost (price + shipping+ haz-mat+etc) but compare apples t0 apples. Online group buys with a few friends is the way to go.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

I bought 10,000 Wolf Small Pistol primers from Wideners, they were $17.40/brick, if you buy at least 6 bricks. With the shipping and hazmat, total cost came out to $210 or $21/brick. I can't match that price locally, cheapest price is about $25/brick.

 

[bullseye308]

How many primers do you buy to make the Hazmat worth it?

Simple answer is as many as you can afford. The prices don't appear to be going down, and they store very well with a little forethought. Figure out how much you can afford and then squeeze a little more and order that many. Next month do it again with powder.

 

[evan price]

KegCommando, I would be happy to virtually sell you some virtual primers. I'm running a special on Price Primers, they are a "universal" design to fit all virtual ammunition, v$1/v100 primers. Can I sign you up for v100,000 or so?

 

[KegCommando]

My virtual stimulus check came in, as well as my virtual pay increase, so I'll take virtually 600,000

Sounds like mixing it in with some powder purchase is prob my best option although I already have a bunch, but maybe I'll try something that isn't available to me locally.

 

[jmorris]

We have a member of our club that organizes group buys (48# at a time) so you only have to pay your part of the hazmat. So, if you ordered 10,000 primers that weigh 10#’s then $9.05 is the total of your part of the hazmat and S&H.

 

[Clark]

I go to Lynwood guns and buy primers and powder.
I get ~$100 worth of information from the proprietor, so I don't begrudge $2 profit on the retail supplies I buy while talking to him.

That guy never went to college, but knows or can figure out everything.

 

[robsc]

CHAMPION SHOOTERS SUPPLY will pay the hazmat fee for you if you order over 20 lbs. of powder.