The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 3, 2012, 08:57 PM   #1
orionengnr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 9, 2004
Posts: 5,172
First experience with Powder Valley

I have been handloading for going on four years now, but have always bought powder and primers locally.

A friend (whom I got into reloading a bit over a year ago) decided to give it a try. Each of us got 5k Winchester LP primers, he bought a 4-lb jug of 231, and I bought a one-pound bottle of three different powders.

Order was placed the 29th, and it showed up today. Everything was there, good packaging, but it had so many ominous-looking stickers on it that I'm pretty sure the UPS guy felt like he was driving around with a hydrogen bomb in his truck. Powder Valley said that it would require a signature for delivery, but it did not. More likely, he tiptoed up to the porch, set it down gently and ran like Hell. Dogs alerted me to the fact that someone was here, but by the time I got to the door, the truck was out of sight.

Including HazMat fee, shipping and insurance, I was still ahead compared to buying at the Gun Show or the local gun shops.

More importantly, they had everything we wanted, one-stop shopping. I think I will be doing this again.

If this is in the wrong place, I apologize. Feel free to move.
orionengnr is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 09:11 PM   #2
5R milspec
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 11, 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 360
they are a great group to work with.When its their its at your place in a few days.But it needs to be their first,buying today can get hard in todays world.
__________________
life is great but its better when you can own as many guns you wish to own.for me I haven't bought enough yet.
5R milspec is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 09:27 PM   #3
Misssissippi Dave
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 2009
Posts: 1,411
I think I always come out ahead with Powder Valley when I order at least 5k in primers and 4 lb of powder per order. Normally I will get 10 k or more primers and 12 lb of powder to last for a while. I know I can't beat those prices even with HAZ-MAT and shipping added locally or at the gun shows. When ever I am interested in trying a different brand of primer or powder I just add what I want to try to my next order. I have been able to pick up those things at a much lower price than I can locally. Also locally it is hit or miss to find what I might want to get.

Buying bulk amounts of bullets on line is also providing me some savings.
Misssissippi Dave is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 09:30 PM   #4
jepp2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 1,476
They are my go to place for powder, primers and bullets. Why?

- they will ship primers and powder together
- they will hold in stock items until backorders come in to make it one shipment
- inventory
- and my #1, price, price, price

It doesn't take a very big order to save you $ over buying locally.
jepp2 is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 09:32 PM   #5
Jerry45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2000
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
Posts: 890
I've dealt with Powder Valley and had no complaints. I tried to order powder Saturday and they were out of what I needed so I started searching. Seems almost everyone is out of 8 # cans of Varget except Midsouth Shooters Supply. They had it in stock and at a better price. There primers are also cheaper. I checked this afternoon and my order has shipped.
__________________
Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!

Last edited by Jerry45; December 3, 2012 at 09:39 PM.
Jerry45 is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 10:07 PM   #6
Crashbox
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 3, 2009
Location: Lynden, Washington
Posts: 199
I've purchased from PV in the past and I've also had very good experiences with them, and will likely shop there again when my supply runs low.
__________________
Four Rugers, three SIG Sauers, assorted rifles. NRA, GOA and SAF Life Member.
Crashbox is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 10:26 PM   #7
browninghunter86
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2011
Posts: 524
PV is my first place to look for something when I am out. Usually have everything in stock and prices are about the best I have been able to find. Heck my local prices are so high if I order 2# powder and a box of primers I come out ahead!!!
browninghunter86 is offline  
Old December 3, 2012, 10:50 PM   #8
hounddawg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2009
Posts: 4,232
store down by house selling primers at 5.50 a sleeve and they wonder why I never buy anything there
__________________
“How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek
hounddawg is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 12:32 AM   #9
oldpapps
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 22, 2011
Location: Middle America
Posts: 518
Placed an order, I drove down and picked the order up. Nice people in person and on the phone.
Pleasurably drive there, nice lunch, pleasurably drive back. Was it cost effective, no. But it was a nice day out of the shop and no one could complain.

I think I'll worm another order pickup soon

Enjoy,

OSOK
oldpapps is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 12:39 AM   #10
2ndtimer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 2004
Location: Kennewick, WA
Posts: 292
Powder Valley is awesome! I have ordered big on some of their old specials (like Ramshot TAC for $79.99 per 8 lb. keg a couple of years ago. Wish I had ordered 4 instead of just 2) Their prices are very good, service is excellent. Back when .224 bullets were hard to come by, I ordered 1000 of the Hornady 50 gr SX bullets, they called me to aologize, having run out after my order was placed, and offered to ship me the standard 50 gr SP instead as they were almost gone, too. I jumped at the chance and am glad I did since I can use those in the AR's my son and I shoot while the SX bullets I had planned on might not have worked. (We picked up our AR's after I ordered the bullets). They are super nice people and do a great job!
2ndtimer is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 01:16 AM   #11
serf 'rett
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2009
Location: Stuttgart, AR
Posts: 1,569
Powder Valley ...

The name that stands proud on the Discover Card statement!

"I see you ordered more reloading stuff...again," the wife says while giving me "the look!"
__________________
A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.
serf 'rett is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 10:25 AM   #12
schmellba99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2008
Posts: 803
Glad to hear such good feedback. I've been able to avoid ordering components for the most part, but will finally have to break down and start ordering online as my local shop apparently wants to recover hazmat shipping on each and every item sold. I about fell over when I walked in and saw their pricing - 40% more on 8lb kegs of powder and near double on 1k primers than what I can order through the various websites - and that is including shipping and hazmat.

I figure I'll start saving up and making what amounts to an annual order for powder and primers to maximize savings and spread as much of the shipping and hazmat costs around as possible.

I generally expect a slightly higher price at a local shop, but when that price exceeds the convenience factor by an order of magnitude, time to start looking elsewhere. Sucks, because eventually I know I'm going to lose that local resource. At least my projos are local and very well priced (Friendswood Bullet Company).
schmellba99 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 11:27 AM   #13
browninghunter86
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2011
Posts: 524
Sounds like my local place. Guy told me prices are high because of Hazmat fee and all. But they order boxes and boxes at a time so like your shop no way am I covering their hazmat on each and every item
browninghunter86 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 12:17 PM   #14
Jerry45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2000
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
Posts: 890
I bought primers at the local Cabala's for the first time. They were a few dollars more than the "base" online price but pretty much = to what I've been paying after shipping and HASMAT on a powder and primer order. Had I realized I was going to order powder and find a better deal on both powder and primers at Midsouth I would have waited on the primers. I would have saves some $$.
__________________
Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!
Jerry45 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 02:44 PM   #15
schmellba99
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2008
Posts: 803
Yep browninghunter - it sucks.

For example, I can buy 8 lb kegs of H335 from Powder Valley for $135, plus the $27.50 hazmat and about $10 shipping. Comes out to $172.50 or so. My local shop wants $170. They were asking $42/k for Winchester primers - I just picked up 10k wolf small rifle primers for $23/1k and that is including hazmat (free shipping).

Sorry bud, that isn't happening. I'll save up and wait and put in a larger order and spread that hazmat and shipping out (or wait until they have solid sales or good offers going) over several items and save myself some money, not to mention the time it takes to go to the shop and back.

If they dropped their price to even $150 a keg, odds are I'd just buy there. But not at the prices they want. I really would much rather support local small business, but there comes a breaking point where I cannot justify it anymore and have to go elsewhere.
schmellba99 is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 06:40 PM   #16
tkglazie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2011
Posts: 558
I spend about 1/2 of my component dollars online, primarily PV. About 1/4 I spend on various LGS to do my part to ensure that these supplies continue to be offered locally. The remaining 1/4 I spend at reloadsnmore, a bullet maker that is local to me. Ralph makes good hardcast bullets.
tkglazie is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 07:44 PM   #17
dickttx
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2011
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 500
A couple of months ago I ordered only 10K of primers (I usually order 10K of primers and 8# of HP38). I could have added the HP38 and still paid less than anywhere in Fort Worth for the primers alone.
__________________
Education teaches you the rules, experience teaches you the exceptions (Plagiarized from Claude Clay)
dickttx is offline  
Old December 4, 2012, 10:03 PM   #18
tul9033
Junior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2012
Posts: 7
I've found on the large orders it's cheaper to pay shipping than pay sales tax for us border states.
tul9033 is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 07:18 AM   #19
4runnerman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 16, 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,577
Question--- I have looked at them also. I am at a loss here. When you say you save even with haz mat fee?. My question is how much are you paying locally for your powder?
If i add haz mat fee and powder cost for-say one powder i use H4895. I would have to buy at least 10 lbs plus just to break even with my local store cost.

Just the haz mat fee buys me 1 more lb of powder plus

The bullets- I would have to buy at least 500 to break even.

Oops- I did not take tax in to account- But you still pay taxes at powder valley to-Right?.
__________________
NRA Certified RSO
NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

Last edited by 4runnerman; December 5, 2012 at 07:28 AM.
4runnerman is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 08:10 AM   #20
Magnum Mike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 347
No sales tax to Minnesota! I bought 2- 8 lb, 1 -1 , 2000 LP, 1000 LR,2000 SP, 1000 209 primers and saved a bunch. The shipping and Haz fees pretty much wiped the sales tax here, alone.I would make a rough guess that I saved over $100.
Great people to deal with!
Magnum Mike is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 08:24 AM   #21
dickttx
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2011
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 500
4runnerman,

Powder Valley:
10K primers 260.00
Hazmat 27.50
Shipping 13.95
Total 302.45


Local:
10K primers 500.00
Sales Tax 41.25
Total 541.25

I usually also order an 8# jug of HP38 for 113.50 and there is no additional hazmat or shipping.

I buy CCI primers and from time to time PV is out of stock, but, the next day they may have them again in the morning and out again in the evening. You just have to keep checking. I have always received them when they were in stock when I ordered. I can visualize big trucks unloading them while they are going back out the door in UPS vans!
__________________
Education teaches you the rules, experience teaches you the exceptions (Plagiarized from Claude Clay)

Last edited by dickttx; December 5, 2012 at 08:31 AM.
dickttx is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:12 AM   #22
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4runnerman View Post
Question--- I have looked at them also. I am at a loss here. When you say you save even with haz mat fee?. My question is how much are you paying locally for your powder?
If i add haz mat fee and powder cost for-say one powder i use H4895. I would have to buy at least 10 lbs plus just to break even with my local store cost.

Just the haz mat fee buys me 1 more lb of powder plus

The bullets- I would have to buy at least 500 to break even.

Oops- I did not take tax in to account- But you still pay taxes at powder valley to-Right?.
Your local prices must be extraordinarily low. I can buy 1,000 primers and 2 pounds of powder and more than cover hazmat.

My local prices average at least $10-$12/pound and about the same per 1000 primers than PV. So, 2 pounds and 1,000, I save at least $30, sometimes closer to $40, and that's not including tax.
Brian Pfleuger is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:22 AM   #23
tkglazie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 3, 2011
Posts: 558
Quote:
The bullets- I would have to buy at least 500 to break even.
There is no hazmat on bullets and cases.

I am the same as BP. My local primer prices are at least $7/1000 more, and often $9-$10/1000 more than PV. A single 5K primer order gets me to the break even point. Considering I shoot N320 primarily and would be paying well over $30/lbs locally IF I could find it, a 4# jug of that is also close to a break even for me.

For a reasonably active semi-auto pistol shooter the math adds up in a hurry.
tkglazie is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 09:23 AM   #24
hodaka
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 23, 2006
Location: South Texas
Posts: 2,010
They are backed up about a week in shipping at the moment. It makes sense to combine orders with other shooters you may know to further reduce the impact of the hazmat and shipping charge. Still, all of my powder and primers comes from PV. My usual order is $4-500.
hodaka is offline  
Old December 5, 2012, 02:14 PM   #25
Jerry45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 18, 2000
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
Posts: 890
Just received my order from Midsouth. Placed order Saturday night shipped Monday received it today. I don't know if this is normal but being my first order with them I'm impressed.
__________________
Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!
Jerry45 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.11333 seconds with 10 queries