The "New" Normal?

[TXBryan]

We don't really have a LGS but my son and I frequent one in Abilene fairly often when passing through. It's a fun and friendly place with a decent firearm inventory. Their powder selection is pretty good and getting better over the last year or so but the prices are keeping pace.

We took a quick "average" price last week and we came up with over $50 a pound for almost everything with low $60s for some with an occasional $45 for a select few they seemed to be long on.

We have frequently picked up some powder at this place but this last time around we figured even with shipping and hazmat we were far better off to order on-line from one of our regular suppliers. They did not provide much of an explanation for their relatively high prices and don't owe me one.

Seems only a few months ago their "average" was $10 less. Forget primers; this place wants over $15 per hundred and don't have many. Fortunately we don't "need" anything (perhaps for the duration of my active reloading future).

What's the going rates for powder at your LGS and has it been a moving target lately?

Bryan

 

[robertrwalsh]

I pay $35-40 at my LGS-range and they have had a decent selection for months. That has been stable for a fairly long time.

 

[Skeet 028]

Bought a pound of Herco the other day at the local Por...er pawn shop..20 bucks but not typical Last I got at Scheel's not on sale was 35-45 dollars

 

[Model19man]

It's not just reloading supplies. It's everything. Your dollar is worth half what it used to be because of economic policies. Buy a gallon of gas. Buy groceries. Anything and everything costs a lot more than it did three years ago.

 

[madmikeb]

I bought a pound of Bullseye a month back and paid $60. I couldn't believe the price, but I was happy to get some. Good thing is a pound of Bullseye goes a long ways when you throwing charges of 5.5 grains!

 

[DWalt]

Some of the imported primers (Balkans, Mexico, Argentine) are now selling for $60/M, and from what I read, they all work fine. But not needed, as I already have a large stash of primers going back years, will probably never need to buy them again. I believe the new normal primer price is around that, probably not much less for the foreseeable future.

 

[jag22]

Okay, this is an over simplification but if the store can only get half the inventory they used to then they need to sell it at twice the price or go out of business. Think about Powder Valley, a long time and respected dealer. For what, maybe two years they had virtually no powder or primers to sell, if some came in it sold out in a few hours. They must have some excellent management to weather that out. I think if they could get all the powder and primers they want the prices would come back down, maybe not to what they used to be, I don't think that will ever happen, too much has changed.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Last powder I got was 4 months ago, 2 pounds of HS-6 for $38 a pound. My go-to pistol powder is WW 231. During a previous scare I picked up two 8-pounders. Then I found a 18 pound keg I bought a long time ago. Back when I started reloading (1979)) Winchester powders came in metal paint cans with screw lids, 231 came in quart cans and I still use one for "Ready Use Powder". A pound of 748 came in pint cans.

Ivan

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

I miss the old normal.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Wholesale prices today are higher than MSRP was in 2019. The world has changed a lot since then. You can look back but you can't go back.

 

[oddshooter]

The "New" normal ?

There is no such thing.

It's the new Abnormal !


Prescut

 

[ajgunner]

My local "variety" store that stocks guns and ammo has a huge supply of ammo but powders and primers have been really sporadic. When they have powders they run from $35-$60. Primers have been $7 per sleeve with a limit of 2. I have plenty of everything, but do buy for friends and family when I find the right stuff at the right price.

On the other hand a local farm store is out of touch with their powder prices but did price match with the other place just across the street. My last purchase was some CFE Pistol at $36 and the farm store was at $59. I asked if that $59 powder came with Vaseline. When I showed him a pic from the competitors price on the shelf and asked if he would save me from having to make a trip back, he did price match it.

2 other actual gun shops I found were also over the top on their prices on powder. Both gave the same answer when I asked about primers. Both said they have them, but would only sell primers at the same quantities of bullets I bought from them. Neither gave the actual price on the primers, but both were also waaaaay over the top on their bullet prices. Thinking I really could do better than $42 for a box of 100 44 240gr JHP bullets. I can buy 240gr coated cast all day long delivered to my door for $12 per 100. I also have a healthy stock of JHP from the Clinton era with prices in the $12-$16 range.

While I hate to not give these guys some business to help them stay afloat, I refuse to take part in the gouging after everything that has gone on in the past 2-4 years. Most stuff can be found on local forums cheaper and we all know those guys aren't just re-selling it for free.

Same deal with the transfers and BG checks. My guy works from his backyard shop and charges $20 for the transfer and $10 for the BG check---yes in Oregon we have to pay for this. Most of the gun shops are charging $40-$60 for the transfer plus the $10 for BG checks. Guess they don't want too be competitive, so guess they can live without my business.

 

[Skeet 028]

Fellow posters. I have sold reloading items since 1965. Still keep my hand in a bit and still get some wholesale pricing from suppliers. Got to say bullet prices have gone up considerably as have powders and primers. I have always tried to supportive to the smaller GS. They are just trying to get by. I even sold to some even last year. But knowing their costs etc I am afraid quite a few are making hay while the sun shines with prices that are truly out of line. Even for the big box stores... The manufacturers are even pricing ever higher...mainlt because they know we will pay. Look at prices for the old standbys such as 38s and others. I don't have answers for what to do but everyone is sticking us up at some point. Hopefully things will finally shake out but till they do we're getting the shake down. Let's try to remember who did the shakedown on us in the future. Unhappily in some instances it is us and our neighbors in the shooting business. I used to like selling shooting/reloading supplies...not now

 

[fleabus101]

The news says everyday we are low on various ammo. We are supplying others while our supplies dwindle. Supply and demand , possibly. Many companies are running more than one production shift. Sometime later on the costs will hopefully fall back to better reasonable rates..We've seen everything go up in multiple amounts in the last 2 yrs.

 

[Beemer-mark]

Okay, this is an over simplification but if the store can only get half the inventory they used to then they need to sell it at twice the price or go out of business.

You can check the MSRP prices on the manufacture's website. Yes powder prices are headed around $50 a pound. For example Varget is $55/lb but Titegroup is only $32/lb. I see dealers selling at MSRP. Plus there is no shortage of powders and no shortage of buyers (if they can afford it). Norma is selling SPP made in Argentina for $65 with no hazemat and free shipping and another 5% off for new buyers. Haven't seen the big primers guys in the US dropping the price much.

 

[Skeet 028]

Okay, this is an over simplification but if the store can only get half the inventory they used to then they need to sell it at twice the price or go out of business. .

The above is utter hogwash. Some have gone out of business and more will. Look at most of the gun shops still open still selling. Most have found other items to sell. Some prices have gone up...without a doubt. people are still buying what they can. Some of the big box stores still sell primers for the new retail(in the 50s) but they limit the amount otherwise there are those among us who would buy them all and make a killing at our expense. But there were some other stores still selling us a couple hundred primers at a time...for twice the $50s retail. Most of the gun show dealers are doing the same...and price their other wares at GB prices. Yes...free market economy...but the name of the game these days is largely greed...and if we want to play some will make us pay. I salute those who don't

 

[raljr1]

local shop today had plenty of primers at $99/100 or $129/100. Powder was between $39 and $55

 

[gwpercle]

Don't buy the high priced powder.

In retail sales a vendor can't afford to stock items that sit on the shelf ...
he should realize he has priced them too high .

They sit on the shelf long enough and said vendor should wake up and have a sale ... drop the price and move the product .

He can't eat powder or pay the rent with primers ... if you guy's want the prices to drop ... don't buy at the too high price ...simple economics will break his back ... but you have to resist the urge to pay the higher prices !
Gary

 

[Skeet 028]

Gary... it sounds really good...don't buy. It would work too. But some will always buy and make a profit later. Seller's economy right now

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Don't buy the high priced powder.

Tell us your price target. Give us an example of your favorite powder and tell us what you would pay for it.