What’s the farthest you’ve gone for reloading supplies?

[tlawler]

Some time back, we had a thread about how far you have driven/flown to pickup a firearm. Now I'm wondering what distance some of you have travelled to support your reloading habit. I travel around Florida for work and am always looking for reloading supplies that always seem to be in short supply. This past weekend during a long planned and much anticipated visit to my son up in Virginia I was able to meet up with an older gentleman whom I've been corresponding with in Richmond. He is in the process of divesting himself of his reloading inventory to move into an assisted living facility. I'm still doing pretty well on primers, powder, and brass, but finding projectiles at a decent price is problematic for me. I do have everything I need to cast and it's on my to do list, but when you can find cheap boolits, ya gotta buy 'em. So anyway, even with shipping, I got several thousand .32 and .38 projectiles for a little less than seven cents each. He also threw in several hundred primed and unprimed .32 h&r and .327 fed mag cases for next to nothing. I wasn't sure about the primed cases and getting them back to Florida, but I wasn't going to tell him no. It turned out TSA let me put them in my checked bag with my firearm as long as they were in the proper ammo cases like regular ammo.

Anyway, long story short, it's 883 miles from Richmond to Port Charlotte, so that's my longest distance.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't travel much and for sure don't fly too many places.

The only distances I have traveled for components are when I'm going to a gun show and the components are there. (40-50 miles)

I'm surprised the TSA didn't flag the primers since they are considered hazardous but ammo is not. (like when shipping)

 

[9mmPatriot]

20 miles. Beyond that the gas cost for a round trip is a waste when I'm limited to one brick, two if I can get my wife to tag along.


I'm down to 1200 SRP's that are going into my 9mm rounds.
after that I'm done with shooting sports till the prices are a bit more sane.

I envy those of you that were wise enough to stock up and weather the storm. I started reloading way to late.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Well, I went so far as to accept the duplicate shipment of small pistol primers when the 1st shipment was delayed, and then paid for both when the original shipment was finally delivered...

That's about as far as I was willing to go.

Cheers!

Cheers!

 

[.38SuperMan]

Not sure of how many miles but it takes 45min to an hour depending on traffic. I'd guess 30-35 miles. I've driven70 miles to pick up a gun.

 

[zeke]

Maybe 80 miles one way. 99% of my supplies are mail ordered. Will only travel if i know the store has something. Precious few storefronts selling much for reloading supplies up here.

 

[Skeet 028]

Don't know how many miles but from Cody to San Angelo Texas to buy an estate. I bought it all and a nice 5 x 8 enclosed trailer to haul what I couldn't get in the truck. The fellow had died in a motorcycle accident...a cardiologist. No guns...all reloading stuff. . I posted before I drove from Cody to east of Philadelphia in New Jersey. I bought another estate from a lady all reloading stuff...about 12,000 bucks worth. I used that trailer I got in San Angelo. I actually shot with her missing/deceased husband but didn't know till I talked with the lady a bit. I also bought a kolar O/U shotgun with Kolar tubes. She was gonna sell it in a yard sale so she said

 

[Rosco Shooter]

I live in Northern Michigan and visit my sons in the Memphis, TN area on a yearly basis. Not too long ago, the Sportsmans Warehouse in Southaven, MS. had everything I ever needed in terms of components, equipment, etc. I used to stock up on supplies every time I went there. One-way distance is about 900 miles. Sadly, they were affected by the recent shortages like everyone else. The Bass Pro Shop in Bartlet, TN. was also good for some purchases.

 

[max]

Several years ago, I was on my annual hunting trip to South Dakota and found some 231 in the local gunshop. It is about 800 miles from home.

 

[tlawler]

I'm surprised the TSA didn't flag the primers since they are considered hazardous but ammo is not. (like when shipping)

The primers were in primed cases which were in ammo boxes. I showed them to a TSA guy and according to him, they treated them like ammo. Not sure if all TSA guys would have had the same answer, but they made it through. I had my son wait in the cell phone lot in case they got flagged.

 

[littleriver1]

Once I sent my wife to a gun store in Youngstown OH. to get some powder and bring it home to me in Va. 404 mi. while she was visiting family in west Pa. At that time there was none anywhere in Va.

 

[old pipefitter]

About 30 miles for specific supplies. A guy drove 300+ miles to buy some CCI LG rifle primers from me this summer. And twice I've driven maybe 35+ to trade primers with a guy on marlinowners forum. The gun community are just great people

 

[mtgianni]

There is a shop that sells reloading components 35 miles away but they don't carry much. When I need something it is usually 60 miles away but I am getting groceries as well. I bought a mold when I was at Knob Creek, that's a ways from SW MT but that wasn't the reason for the trip.

 

[Cdog]

I was on a hunting trip, so it wasn't a special trip for supplies.

Several years ago I bought a bunch of powder and other supplies while in Billings Montana. It was priced well below what I could buy it for at home (Georgia). Online pricing wasn't close to being competitive with what I paid.

It hitched a ride with some fellow hunters that drove out. I took a plane home.

About 1800 miles.

 

[Funflyer]

I've stopped at several stores to pick up reloading supplies when traveling for vacation, some trips totaling 3500 miles. However, travel specifically for reloading goodies is never more than 220 miles round trip. Last time was back when Winchester had a 20% rebate on primers, up to $200 back as I recall. Those were the days!

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Pre pandemic I drove down to Wilmington NC to buy all the lead cas bullets a guy had listed on a gb ad, but wound up with .45-.38 and 9mm, lead and jacketed. About 10 plus 500 rd boxes Didn't need the Berry 9mm jacketed but post pandemic I finally sold them which paid for my trip. Was going to sell the .45 jacketed but I've started shooting zsa which allows jacketed plus I'm shooting an Appleseed clinic next month so I'm loading them for it. Was a 260 mile trip. The only other time was to drive to Greenville NC to get 2 25# bags of #9 shot from a guy i met on the Shotgun Forum. Only 45 miles each way.

 

[Babysitr]

39 miles .....from home to the Grand in Sparta,Il.....several in the 30's range

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Don't. I either buy locally or order from a supplier that has what I want. Bought some Auto Comp the other day at a local store for .32 ACP .

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The primers were in primed cases which were in ammo boxes. I showed them to a TSA guy and according to him, they treated them like ammo. Not sure if all TSA guys would have had the same answer, but they made it through. I had my son wait in the cell phone lot in case they got flagged.

I missed that part. Yes, when the primers are in the brass they are fine according to all the agencies. When you buy primed brass online there is no hazmat fee either.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A lot of you are cheating lol. You didn't travel all that way specifically for components, you added a stop while going somewhere else. Far yes but I'm not sure if it fits the question lol...

 

[Engineer1911]

Augusta, GA to Camp Perry, Ohio, twice for matches, reloading supplies were a bonus.

 

[Skyhunter]

Sometime back in the last century - after my time with Uncle and I was back i college working on my 1st degree, I would drive about 150 miles down to Jackson, MS for my reloading supplies. Ralph Burke Company had converted a small 3-bedroom house into a store. He had rifle & pistol reloading supplies in one room, rifles and ammo in another, and shotguns & ammo and reloading supplies for them in the last bedroom.
He always had what I needed in ample supply, plus he brewed a darn fine cup of coffee!
Years later I asked a buddy that still lived in Jackson if Ralph Burke Company was still in business. He told me no, the business caught fire late one night and burned to the ground. Must'a been a heck of a Fire!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[__steve__]

I've probably gone too far

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

So far I have not had to travel very far, as I bought up some supplies when our local shop sold out about 4 years ago.
Things were cheap, and abundant, and I am wishing now, that I would have bought more than I did.
At the time it seemed like I had spent quite a bit, and figured I had enough. Now 4 years into it, I have went through a lot of it, and I am going to have to go shopping soon. I am all but out of small pistol primers, and Large rifle primers are not much better.
Its going to suck!!!

 

[max503]

About 25 miles to my club where I get a discount.

 

[venomballistics]

Technically ... 750 miles