Who to Order Reloading Supplies From?

[Malone LaVeigh]

I ordered a lot of stuff from Gamaliels, and the service was pretty good, but after that, I started getting spammed more than I ever had before.

 

[SodaPop]

Israeli Military Industries.

 

[Rico567]

I would buy locally in a minute if I could for only a 5% premium- hell, I'd pay 10%. But here in the great desert of Central Illinois, it's difficult to even find a dealer in reloading supplies, and when you do, or drive 50 miles to a gun show the powder is $22-25 a pound, etc. I buy mail order because I have to.

Buying locally is a great principle, but if people stuck by it, there'd be a lot more local hardware, appliance, and sporting goods stores. Instead, we have Wal-Mart, with its horrible business model, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. If we're going to talk about patronizing local dealers as a rule, let's at least be uniform about it.

Think about it, and NOT just from the standpoint of shooting/reloading supplies: where do YOU shop?

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Rico567, sounds like you agree with me.

Lowes? Nope, local hardware store.
Walmart? Nope, a local store.

The only stuff I buy at a big chain store is office supplies.

Out here in Utah buying gun related stuff local is really easy, even if slighty more expensive then over the net.

I can sympathize with some of you. But the question is this:

How do you think you lost all your local guys in the first place?

 

[Jaywalker]

Rico and Ben,

Local buying is a good idea, but Northern Virginia is as gun barren as Illinois seems to be. (That surprises me.) I always go to small stores first, but too often I have to go larger when what I need isn't stocked. (My favorite from my local small hardware store: "Yeah, those are good. Our supplier doesn't carry them, so we don't stock them. Have you tried Home Depot?")

For powder and primers, I buy local, even at the high prices. Bullets, I'm 50-50. Equipment and gauges, I'm internet. Sure, I have principles, but one of them is not to pay $40 for a $20 Midway caliper. Two rifles from him in the past six months, though.

Jaywalker