My son-in-law was here for Thanksgiving and he's just getting started with reloading. We got him all set up with a bunch of duplicate stuff I had and a nice Hornady Lock-N-Load system. He calls me today and told me the sporting goods department at the Wal-Mart store in Loveland, Colorado is now filled with reloading equipment. From what he tells me, they have primers, powder, bullets, shot, shotcups, dies from RCBS and Redding or Hornady, presses and other equipment and reloadable brass. It sounds like a fairly complete set up for handgun, rifle and shotgun.

I don't know about you guys but I've got really mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I'm upset with the gun shop dealers in my area buying up all the Wal-Mart ammunition stock so they can double the price and sell it in their stores. However, we all know what Wal-Mart tends to do to small businesses and the ones in my area refuse to sell the kind of guns I want to buy. If the small gun shops were gone buying a handgun or black rifle would be pretty much out of the question here.

Let's not turn into a Wal-Mart bashing thread (if possible) and come up with some constructive suggestions.

They have primers??!!?? I wonder how long it would take to drive from Tennessee to Loveland Colorado.

Found 550 bulk 22lr on the shelves there today. Not greedy so I only took one. Hunting caliber ammo was on sale with federal 150 gr 30-30 going for $11 a box. I reload that so didn't get any. Our WM also has a reloading section but still only has 209 primers.

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NRA Life Member

Small town, only about 7,000 or so, none of that in our Wal-Mart. Would love to have it will check next time I go "Big City" shopping.

I think the decisdion of merchandize is made locally or regionally. Yuppies around here... lucky there is hunting stuff. Ammo goes out as fast as it comes in.

The WalMart in Cottonwood, Arizona carries reloading supplies and the clerk in sporting goods is very knowledgeable regarding his equipment and supplies. He told me there are only 7 WalMart stores in the Country that carry reloading supplies, including powder and primers (when and if).

So, if there are only that many in the country, I'm not so sure its a major issue to worry about.

Dan R

The Super Wal-Mart off of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. and Loop 101 in Scottsdale used to have a huge reloading section. It went away quite a few years ago. Then the guns went away, but they still sell ammo. Of course they are across the street from the Scottsdale Gun Club...

After the glut of weapons purchasing over the last 1-2 years, and what I'd wager will be the inevitable tightening of sales due to either regulation or economics, smaller shops not being driven from business is impossible for me NOT to expect? And if Mr.& Mrs. Mom and Pop gun shop can no longer keep their doors open, the reloading hardware outfits will need another venue to keep product before the public at.
The internet changed forever ammo and supply purchasing patterns. I can't imagine all that's tugging at the industry not eventually affecting the number of smaller brick/mortar/physical inventory type locations? Who knows?

The WalMart down here has canned menudo and lots of cans of something called frijoles

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Forum consigliere

Price-cutter grocery has the usual isle of ethnic foods including mexican salsa made in "New York City" and bags and cans of beans. The next isle is totally genuine mexican imported food for our population of chicken-pluckers.

I still have a few powder cans with WM labels. At least 25 years old.

up here in northern NY they stopped selling firearms("cept black powder),a few yrs ago. they sell ammo but they dont "push it". I understand it was a corporate decision to stop selling firearms in the north east, due to competition from real gun stores with knowelable salespeople.

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

There is a Sportsmans Warehouse just up the road from the Loveland Walmart. I wonder are they just testing the water to see if they can compete. There is also a huge distro center just up the interstate for this regions Walmarts.

Joe

The regional manager (state) has the primary merchandize authority. Stores can reduce the number and type of items they chose but they cannot order more than what is on the approved list.