Tips for buying supplies - Page 2

locknloader · September 14, 2017, 09:15 AM

I bought a lot of stuff from someone as a package deal, so using up what was included just to get me started. I have about 750rnds of 9mm, 40cal, 45cal in Berrys bullets and then a few boxes of some hornday XTP 45.

reddog81 · September 14, 2017, 10:10 AM

Congrats on a successful trip to the range. The learning curve is fairly steep when starting out, and once you get the basics figured out it gets a lot easier.

ShootistPRS · September 15, 2017, 02:31 PM

When you buy primers or powder at a local store you are still paying a hazmat fee. It is the same fee if you bought a full case of powder or primers. At the store you only pay the portion of the fee for what you buy. I buy 48 pounds of powder at a time. I pay the $15 dollar hazmat fee for the box of powder that one would pay for a pound of powder bought individually. The stores buy in boxes and the divide the fee equally for each part in the box. In my case each 8 pound keg in the box of six costs me $2.50 in fees. The difference is the store marks the price up to make a profit.

Every time hazardous material is shipped it gets another fee tacked on to the price. Wholesaler, distributor, and retailer means that you are paying three hazmat fees when you buy at the local store. You should also note that the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer each mark the price up for a profit. They all have bills to pay.

Tsquared · September 15, 2017, 06:40 PM

I had 3 reloading buddies and we would do group buys to up the price breaks. It fell apart over the years with changes in life. I have changed my methods since then but in the past 5 years:

I have bought my primers on sale at Cabella's for $19 to $24 per brick. I usually get 20 bricks and I also get the military discount which almost takes care of the taxes. I have a 5 year supply.

Powder I buy from my LGS in 4 or 8 pound bottles. I have a 3 year supply.

Bullets I buy on-line and usually on sale. I buy a years supply of bullets on the black Friday sale as it is typically the best. I have almost a 2 year supply.

condor bravo · September 18, 2017, 01:18 AM

When considering cast handgun bullets, those indicated as BB (bevel base), opposed to FB (flat base), facilitate bullet seating and would require only a minimum of flare, if any, to eliminate any bullet shearing. The BB bullets also seem to aide straight seating.

Bucksnort1 · September 18, 2017, 03:16 PM

My philosophy, which I adopted while tying flies for fly fishing and later applied to loading components is. If I come across a component with a smokin' price, it's a component I use a lot (and which one isn't) and I have the money, I buy as much as I can afford.

This is the reason I have more fly tying components and loading components I could ever use. Does this make me a hoarder?

I'll tell you a great example of how this works. About fifteen years ago or so, Wal Mart was selling Remington and Federal bulk 22 LR ammo for under $9 per box. There was not a shortage at the time so I wasn't hoarding because of that. I purchased one dozen bulk boxes.

MotorCycleDave · September 18, 2017, 06:21 PM

My friends and I have been trying to get into reloaded ammo as it seems to be the most cost efficient going into the future maintaining the same kind of quality. If you're going to be or are in the LA area a store called LAX Ammo is going to be having a parking lot sale but they usually have competitive sales on their online store too.

September 18, 2017, 03:16 PM	#31
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,130	My philosophy, which I adopted while tying flies for fly fishing and later applied to loading components is. If I come across a component with a smokin' price, it's a component I use a lot (and which one isn't) and I have the money, I buy as much as I can afford. This is the reason I have more fly tying components and loading components I could ever use. Does this make me a hoarder? I'll tell you a great example of how this works. About fifteen years ago or so, Wal Mart was selling Remington and Federal bulk 22 LR ammo for under $9 per box. There was not a shortage at the time so I wasn't hoarding because of that. I purchased one dozen bulk boxes. Last edited by Bucksnort1; September 18, 2017 at 03:24 PM.

September 14, 2017, 09:15 AM	#26
locknloader Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2017 Posts: 164	I bought a lot of stuff from someone as a package deal, so using up what was included just to get me started. I have about 750rnds of 9mm, 40cal, 45cal in Berrys bullets and then a few boxes of some hornday XTP 45.

September 14, 2017, 10:10 AM	#27
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,659	Congrats on a successful trip to the range. The learning curve is fairly steep when starting out, and once you get the basics figured out it gets a lot easier.

September 15, 2017, 02:31 PM	#28
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	When you buy primers or powder at a local store you are still paying a hazmat fee. It is the same fee if you bought a full case of powder or primers. At the store you only pay the portion of the fee for what you buy. I buy 48 pounds of powder at a time. I pay the $15 dollar hazmat fee for the box of powder that one would pay for a pound of powder bought individually. The stores buy in boxes and the divide the fee equally for each part in the box. In my case each 8 pound keg in the box of six costs me $2.50 in fees. The difference is the store marks the price up to make a profit. Every time hazardous material is shipped it gets another fee tacked on to the price. Wholesaler, distributor, and retailer means that you are paying three hazmat fees when you buy at the local store. You should also note that the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer each mark the price up for a profit. They all have bills to pay.

September 15, 2017, 06:40 PM	#29
Tsquared Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2016 Location: NE Atlanta Posts: 337	I had 3 reloading buddies and we would do group buys to up the price breaks. It fell apart over the years with changes in life. I have changed my methods since then but in the past 5 years: I have bought my primers on sale at Cabella's for $19 to $24 per brick. I usually get 20 bricks and I also get the military discount which almost takes care of the taxes. I have a 5 year supply. Powder I buy from my LGS in 4 or 8 pound bottles. I have a 3 year supply. Bullets I buy on-line and usually on sale. I buy a years supply of bullets on the black Friday sale as it is typically the best. I have almost a 2 year supply.

September 18, 2017, 01:18 AM	#30
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	When considering cast handgun bullets, those indicated as BB (bevel base), opposed to FB (flat base), facilitate bullet seating and would require only a minimum of flare, if any, to eliminate any bullet shearing. The BB bullets also seem to aide straight seating.

September 18, 2017, 06:21 PM	#32
MotorCycleDave Junior Member Join Date: October 25, 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 13	My friends and I have been trying to get into reloaded ammo as it seems to be the most cost efficient going into the future maintaining the same kind of quality. If you're going to be or are in the LA area a store called LAX Ammo is going to be having a parking lot sale but they usually have competitive sales on their online store too.