Is Reloading on the way out?

[gumpokc]

I've seen pretty much what the rest of you have.

We had a good store here in OKC that used to have lots of reloading equipment and supplies, more than anyone else.
Basspro ran them into the ground

Basspro carries some stuff, but their pisspoor attitude, and high prices really don't cut it.

Several others stores carry some reloading stuff, but they are usually willing to order for you, just they cant go making special orders of small amounts of oddballs products generally.

I have three places that i've gotten a good enough relationship that they will order me whatever i need as long as I:
A: realise they are not a charity
B: give them a little headsup if possible
C: provide them with the information for _exactly_ what it is I
want.

I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for good service, especially if it helps keep the local shops around.
Might cost me a little more shortterm, but it saves alot of headaches and hassles in the longrun.

[Adam Helmer]

I do not think "reloading is on the way out."

Local sources of components may "dry up" in some areas, but then the reloaders need to go stock up at a distant place and get several bricks of primers, 20 or 30 pounds of powder and whatever brass they need for 3 or 4 years down the road.
The haz mat fees will pay for enough gasoline to go get a pickup load of components for most reloaders.

I cast most of my bullets and have a ton of bullet metal on establishment. I have enough primers and powder for the rest of my life put by. If some reloaders cannot, or will not, stock up on components, then they are the real losers. You got to smarten up when local shops stop carrying reloading components.

Adam

[Catfish]

I think that Adam hit the nail on the head. The way things are going now prices going up and down and supplies totally drying for for periods of time, if your giong to reload and shoot alot you better lay in a good supply when you can. I bought 4,000 .22 cal bullets in the last month. I bought 48 lbs. of 1 powder awhile back. When you find a deal stock up. I was talking to the owner of a local gun shop last nite. He`s only been in busness for abt. 2 years now and is struggling but said he had been selling several starting kits to new reloaders. He said with the price of ammo going up he is seeing people starting to reload more. I did buy 2 lb. of powder off of him that I could find no place else. His bullet and primer selection is the best, but his powder selection is out standing, and he can get you most of the things you want the next day with his conections.

[tooldummy]

I didn't have a real good close by shop until about six months ago a new one opened about 7 miles from me. He only does the gun shop thing part time as he works a full time job. But his prices are very reasonable and he is very accomodating. I've started buying all my supplies from him and telling others as I want to see him stay in business. I am thankfull that some of the prices on components seem to have stabilized somewhat from what they were doing a few months ago. But I can't help but wonder what the OSHA regulations I've been hearing about is going to do to our hobby.

[Contenderizer]

Tooldummy suggested that OSHA regulations may have an impact on our hobby. Perhaps so, but a recent decision by the US Supreme Court will definitely change things. At least over time.

The high court has ruled that manufacturers may set the sale price of their goods. The court said that price fixing laws were never intended to prevent a manufacturer from establishing the price for which their products will sell, but only to prevent manufacturers of similar items from getting together and fixing prices. So now, as an example, Lee Precision may tell ALL retailers that they must sell the Lee Factory Crimp Die for $12.98. Period. As a consumer, should you not like the price, you will be forced to buy another product.

This ruling could change the way we shop (provided manufacturers indeed decide to set retail prices). It will definitely impact the big boxes and internet stores - though the big boxes will resist by threatening to drop the product all together.

This ruling is far reaching too. You may soon see the changes when you shop for your next power saw or your next automobile. But what hurts the big guys also helps the mom and pop stores. And. perhaps, that's a good thing.

[Catfish]

Contenderizer,
I don`t think it will mean much it will mean much. The free market is a wonderfull thing. If a manufacture were to say that all retailers had to sell his products at the same price he would put him self out of business. All a competator would have to do would be to let the retailer set his own price on his good and just with the compitation between retailers useing his products as leaders he would soon control the vast share of the market. This would force the first manufacture to change his policy or go out of busniess, and since most companies don`t want to go out of business,

[Contenderizer]

Your point is well made, Catfish. Our free enterprise system is great. But the Supreme Court didn't hear this case without someone first making it.

I think the impact will be felt over time, with high-end products trying to establish themselves as "luxury" products making the move first. Think Rolls Royce, as an example. Other manufactures - of products where demand is greater than supply or where competition is limited - may follow. In this case think Barnes bullets or Green Mountian barrels. Also, don't forget perscription drugs during that time they are still patent protected.

[Rapier]

I would suggest that you guys join a club near you or frequent a range. Get together with the other folks and order your supplies. Example, you can order 8lb containers of powder and split the weight with others, etc. This is the comming thing for the future. In a few years there will be no local shops with reloading supplies.

Our silhouette shooters and clays shooters order supplies by group and it helps to defray costs. We buy shot shells by the bunch and get drop shipment and free freight for orders over 125 flats at which point we throw in all the shot, wads and powder we need. When ordered on the net there is no sales tax as well.
Ed

[wyt_tail]

Originally posted by Contenderizer
The Haz Mat fee is still $20, but they won't mix primers with powder. Each must be shipped in a seperate package with a Haz Mat fee paid on both. If you're working-up a new recipe that requires primers and powder you don't have around the shop, you're looking at $40 in Haz Mat fees when ordering off the internet. That's a sharp stick in the eye that can discourage almost anyone who works for a living. It sure gives me pause about any experimentation.

Powder Valley ships primers and powder together in the same package with one Hazmat fee. That is how I usually buy my supplies. Everything is packaged in seperate boxes within one box and saves on the H/M fee. I am surprised that others don't ship the same way.

[TKO]

I'm having trouble finding powder in my area, and hate ordering it online, but is the way it goes in Ca. The number of outdoors men seems to be declining. I usually try and stock up at gun shows or when I am in a larger city like Sacromento...