Where is the best place to get gun powder?

davebell18 · April 18, 2010, 06:40 PM

Hi, i just started reloading and I'm looking at finding the best place to get bulk powder. I am currently using Alliant power pistol. I live in WI, by the Richfield Cabelas store. The only problem i have with Cabelas is that there prices are normally higher. Thanks for you help guys.

attila787 · April 18, 2010, 06:57 PM

You'll probably stuck buying from there because if you buy online be ready to pay hazardous shipping.

davebell18 · April 18, 2010, 07:05 PM

Yea I was just hoping there was another store close to sell it cheaper. Online its 5.00 cheaper per pound. But like you said, theres like 30.00 extra for the shipping and hazardous charge. There has to be somewhere else

okiefarmer · April 18, 2010, 07:13 PM

Not one to turn down a cheaper price on powder, but the difference in savings loading pistol loads isn't worth spending much time on to save the little that can be saved on powder. At an average of 1400 loads for 9mm per pound of powder, $20 powder is $.014/round, $25 is $.017/round, and $30 powder is $.021.round. Unless you are blasting more than a thousand rounds a weekend, it will take a long time to even make up the cost of a pound of powder for any trip longer than 25 miles.

my two pesos

davebell18 · April 18, 2010, 07:28 PM

I am only getting about 833 rounds per pound. Im putting in 8.4 grains with 135 grain bullets. My bullets are costing me .18 a round but if i get the powder cheaper i will get .16 a round. Thats a 1.00 i save per 50 i make. I am also going to be reloading for friends so ill be reloading roughly 500 a week. If i buy in bulk i only drive out of my way 1 time a month. Thanks

bobelk99 · April 18, 2010, 08:57 PM

Folks in these parts are just grateful if they can find the powder they wish to use. Period.

okiefarmer · April 18, 2010, 09:09 PM

Just a reminder. Be very careful when reloading for "friends". If they have a kaboom with your reloads, they will be litigants overnight, friend or not.

2 cents a round savings is the equivalent of $16 less per pound of powder. You must really be getting ripped, powder in these parts is just a shade over $18 for most common powders, up to about $24 for others. How much is Cabela's ripping you a new one for? Just curious.

jepp2 · April 18, 2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

I'm looking at finding the best place to get bulk powder

What quantity are you looking to buy?
Do you know anyone else willing to go in on an order with you?

Since you said you were looking to buy in bulk, I take that to mean you want to buy more than just a pound or two.

Powder Valley has good prices and availability has improved significantly. You can order 48 pounds of powder on a single order. That spreads the Haz Mat charge pretty thin per pound. And by buying outside your state, you avoid sales tax.

But maybe you aren't looking for that quantity? You also might want to investigate the legal requirements for loading for others.

zippy13 · April 19, 2010, 02:20 AM

Look inside the front cover of your Alliant Reloader's Guide. There's a wholesaler listed, Continental Supply, in Onalaska. Isn't that within 100 miles of you? They may sell to the public. Get some powder orders from your buddies and combine a powder run with a road trip.

Not ready for the highway, check the local member operated shooting ranges. (Range pro shops maybe more or less expensive than your LGC) Many clubs have a components guy (CG) and the regular shooters can point him out. He buys reloading components in bulk and sells it to shooters at a small mark-up that's well below LGS prices. Because of storage restrictions, some CG's don't stock powder; but, they'll get what you want when they make their next run.

No local CG?... Perhaps an opportunity for an enthusiastic shooter/reloader.

davebell18 · April 20, 2010, 11:44 AM

Thanks guys for all your help. Cabelas sells a pound of power pistol for 20.00. Midwest Shooters Supply only charges 13.99. That's 6.00 cheaper per pound which will add up. So now I'm making .40 S&W for only .15 cents a round. Bullets are .10 cents, powder is .02 cents, and my primer is .03 cents. If anyone knows of a better price for either let me know otherwise i think I'm shooting decent good priced bullets! Thanks a lot guys for your help.

Brian Pfleuger · April 20, 2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Thanks guys for all your help. Cabelas sells a pound of power pistol for 20.00. Midwest Shooters Supply only charges 13.99. That's 6.00 cheaper per pound which will add up. So now I'm making .40 S&W for only .15 cents a round. Bullets are .10 cents, powder is .02 cents, and my primer is .03 cents. If anyone knows of a better price for either let me know otherwise i think I'm shooting decent good priced bullets! Thanks a lot guys for your help.

You're also going to pay a $25 hazmat fee on that pound of powder from Midsouth. Even if you buy 8lb containers, you're still paying $3.13 per pound hazmat, which puts you at $17.12 a pound.

davebell18 · April 20, 2010, 12:00 PM

I live right by midwest so no haz charge there!

Brian Pfleuger · April 20, 2010, 12:20 PM

Wait a minute...

You live right next to MidWest and Cabela's?

I hate you.

Stick_man · April 20, 2010, 01:52 PM

Sounds to me like if you live close to a MidWest and you can get powder for ~$14/lb plus tax, you would be very hard pressed to find it any cheaper than that anywhere.

For a savings on your shooting dollar, have you considered shooting cast bullets and casting your own? That could knock your costs down by a few pennies per round as well, even after considering the cost of equipment. The savings would cover the costs of equipment after only a few thousand rounds. Just be careful, casting your own can be VERY addictive.

April 18, 2010, 06:40 PM	#1
davebell18 Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 50	Where is the best place to get gun powder? Hi, i just started reloading and I'm looking at finding the best place to get bulk powder. I am currently using Alliant power pistol. I live in WI, by the Richfield Cabelas store. The only problem i have with Cabelas is that there prices are normally higher. Thanks for you help guys.

April 18, 2010, 09:09 PM	#7
okiefarmer Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 381	Just a reminder. Be very careful when reloading for "friends". If they have a kaboom with your reloads, they will be litigants overnight, friend or not. 2 cents a round savings is the equivalent of $16 less per pound of powder. You must really be getting ripped, powder in these parts is just a shade over $18 for most common powders, up to about $24 for others. How much is Cabela's ripping you a new one for? Just curious. Last edited by okiefarmer; April 18, 2010 at 09:15 PM.

April 20, 2010, 12:20 PM	#13
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	Wait a minute... You live right next to MidWest and Cabela's? I hate you. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! No sales tax outside CO!

April 18, 2010, 06:57 PM	#2
attila787 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2007 Posts: 259	You'll probably stuck buying from there because if you buy online be ready to pay hazardous shipping.

April 18, 2010, 07:05 PM	#3
davebell18 Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 50	Yea I was just hoping there was another store close to sell it cheaper. Online its 5.00 cheaper per pound. But like you said, theres like 30.00 extra for the shipping and hazardous charge. There has to be somewhere else

April 18, 2010, 07:13 PM	#4
okiefarmer Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 381	Not one to turn down a cheaper price on powder, but the difference in savings loading pistol loads isn't worth spending much time on to save the little that can be saved on powder. At an average of 1400 loads for 9mm per pound of powder, $20 powder is $.014/round, $25 is $.017/round, and $30 powder is $.021.round. Unless you are blasting more than a thousand rounds a weekend, it will take a long time to even make up the cost of a pound of powder for any trip longer than 25 miles. my two pesos

April 18, 2010, 07:28 PM	#5
davebell18 Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 50	I am only getting about 833 rounds per pound. Im putting in 8.4 grains with 135 grain bullets. My bullets are costing me .18 a round but if i get the powder cheaper i will get .16 a round. Thats a 1.00 i save per 50 i make. I am also going to be reloading for friends so ill be reloading roughly 500 a week. If i buy in bulk i only drive out of my way 1 time a month. Thanks

April 18, 2010, 08:57 PM	#6
bobelk99 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Central KY Posts: 220	Folks in these parts are just grateful if they can find the powder they wish to use. Period.

April 19, 2010, 02:20 AM	#9
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Look inside the front cover of your Alliant Reloader's Guide. There's a wholesaler listed, Continental Supply, in Onalaska. Isn't that within 100 miles of you? They may sell to the public. Get some powder orders from your buddies and combine a powder run with a road trip. Not ready for the highway, check the local member operated shooting ranges. (Range pro shops maybe more or less expensive than your LGC) Many clubs have a components guy (CG) and the regular shooters can point him out. He buys reloading components in bulk and sells it to shooters at a small mark-up that's well below LGS prices. Because of storage restrictions, some CG's don't stock powder; but, they'll get what you want when they make their next run. No local CG?... Perhaps an opportunity for an enthusiastic shooter/reloader.

April 20, 2010, 11:44 AM	#10
davebell18 Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 50	Thanks guys for all your help. Cabelas sells a pound of power pistol for 20.00. Midwest Shooters Supply only charges 13.99. That's 6.00 cheaper per pound which will add up. So now I'm making .40 S&W for only .15 cents a round. Bullets are .10 cents, powder is .02 cents, and my primer is .03 cents. If anyone knows of a better price for either let me know otherwise i think I'm shooting decent good priced bullets! Thanks a lot guys for your help.

April 20, 2010, 12:00 PM	#12
davebell18 Member Join Date: April 14, 2010 Posts: 50	I live right by midwest so no haz charge there!

April 20, 2010, 01:52 PM	#14
Stick_man Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 241	Sounds to me like if you live close to a MidWest and you can get powder for ~$14/lb plus tax, you would be very hard pressed to find it any cheaper than that anywhere. For a savings on your shooting dollar, have you considered shooting cast bullets and casting your own? That could knock your costs down by a few pennies per round as well, even after considering the cost of equipment. The savings would cover the costs of equipment after only a few thousand rounds. Just be careful, casting your own can be VERY addictive.