Is reloading dying?

[Trooperdan]

I wanted some Trail Boss powder today and thought maybe I could also find a Lee powder drop die at the only place in Palm Beach County that I know of that carries ANY reloading supplies, Gander Mountain.
Much ammo, pyramids of Golden Bullet .22' buckets of 1400 (I think) rounds for $80, cases of shotgun and rifle ammo but darned if I could find powder. Had to finally ask and was directed to a wooden cabinet about 4 feet high by 5 wide that had about 6-7 types of powder! Also had trays of 100 primers for $4 but no Trail Boss. Cripes, I have more powder than they had! And not a bit of Lee equipment to be seen.
I think there is a gun show at the fairgrounds this weekend, maybe I can find what I want there. With so few places to buy powder and primers, reloading must be on the decline, both cause and effect! Is it like this all over?

 

[Culina]

Most people are buying online because when you go to the local gunshop, they only have a couple cans of powder and usually stuff you aren't looking for.

 

[rvenneman]

Do all online vendors charge a HazMat fee like MidwayUSA?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[4barrel]

I woke up with a grin today. I think the dry spell may be coming to an end. I went to work early & gave myself a raise.

 

[rwsmith]

It's required.....

Do all online vendors charge a HazMat fee like MidwayUSA?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Besides the fee, some materials may require ground shipment.

 

[Fishslayer]

Not sure how it might vary by locale but storage of powder depends on how much. Over a certain amount & the storage requirements become pretty expensive. One of our local chains has loads of bullets & equipment but usually a very meager supply of powder.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Is reloading dying? Everything I've read from manufacturers says demand for cartridge components has never been higher.

 

[Fishslayer]

Do all online vendors charge a HazMat fee like MidwayUSA?

Yes. Most places will charge you $30 x 2 if you order powder & primers.

Widener's doesn't usually have the greatest selection but you can order powder & primers on one hazmat fee. Not sure about Midway.

It really pays to compare. Some places will have lower prices but get it back on shipping & handling. A group buy with friends is where you can really defray the hazmat & shipping costs. IIRC you can buy up to 48# at a time.

 

[LAA]

Where I live, Cabela's, Sportsman's Warehouse, and Scheels have large inventory's of powders, equipment, bullets, primers, casings, equipment, etc. More than not, the prices are actually the same, or better than online, let alone the extra hazmat/shipping fees. Sometimes a part, such as a bullet removing collet might be a few bucks more. But it's great to have it, when I want it. IMO, powder selection, including Trail Boss, is very good right now. At least it's this way in the Mountain West area.

 

[Rule3]

So you go to a store (Gander MT) no less, in a reloading Mecca like Palm Beach. They have no Trail Boss powder and from this you conclude:

"With so few places to buy powder and primers, reloading must be on the decline, both cause and effect! Is it like this all over? "

 

[colt_saa]

I wanted some Trail Boss powder today and thought maybe I could also find a Lee powder drop die at the only place in Palm Beach County that I know of that carries ANY reloading supplies, Gander Mountain.

Drive over to the Gun Show this weekend. There should be PLENTY of powder at the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds on Saturday. It is a MUCH shorter drive for you than going all the way to Gander Mountain

Though I am not to optimistic on the die. You could always order that through Amazon or look at eBay. It will be at your door next week.

 

[johnnyflake]

Is reloading dying?

Not yet IMHO, however, the never ending increase in pricing of Primers, Powders, Bullets and so on, along with outrageous Haz Fees will eventually kill it and it's coming! Greed from the suppliers, will eventually kill the art of reloading.

The savings we once experienced back in the day (20+ years ago) is no longer a reality, and when ammo is readily available, as it is from time to time, and at fair prices, you may as well buy new commercial ammo.

 

[Chuck24]

Just to be clear, the merchants are not charging a hazmat fee so much as they are passing on the fee the shippers charge them.

 

[SLT223]

Do all online vendors charge a HazMat fee like MidwayUSA?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

yes. I believe Cabelas is the lowest @ $20.00....but their powder and primer prices aren't. I suspect it's a function freight negotiations, and the bigger guys who ship more have more leverage.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Maybe after the election results, things will start to calm down.

 

[Engineer1911]

And what would you have done for components if the other side won the election? It would have been panic buying like the world had ended.

 

[colorado plainsman]

Found CCI primers on the shelves of Walmart today. $3.79 per hundred, they had a good supply of pistol and rifle primers.

 

[gregintenn]

Why is there a hazardous shipping fee on powder and primers, but not on ammo? Guess what two components of loaded ammo are.

 

[Arik]

Maybe it's just not as popular? Not necessarily dying.

I know my friends and I have absolutely zero interest in reloading. I can speak for myself that I don't have the patience or the time or the interest to try different loads and they go home and tweak them. All I want to do is shoot the one day I have off. Same with my friends. No one wants to spend hours at a machine making ammo when one quick order at work takes 30 seconds and I can be at the range at the end of the week

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Harrison]

It's cheaper, better selection, and saves a lot of driving around to just buy on line. Places like "Powder Valley" usually have a good selection at great prices.