Is Reloading on the way out?

[Contenderizer]

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? We have three gunshops in the area and two are getting out of the reloading business (the third has so little in stock that they never have what you want anyway). They claim they can't compete with online stores which sell presses and dies for less than they can buy them. I can understand that, but unfortunatly, they also stopped carrying the expendables, such as powder and primers. Sure, I can buy them on the internet too, but the Haz Mat charges kill you. The nearest Cabela's is 600 miles away; Bass Pro about 150 (and I'm not sure Bass Pro carries expendables anyway). What's a guy to do these days?

[Gil Martin]

Ammo prices are marching right off the charts. I use cast and jacketed bullets. We are blessed with a number of local gun shops and they have everything I need. I cannot afford factory ammo. All the best...
Gil

[fabsroman]

Same thing happened here. Most of the gun shops started cutting back on their supplies. It got to the point where it wasn't worth it for me to even waste the gas to go and look.

I order everything from the internet now and just pay the haz mat fee. Last time I had to order powder and primers, the haz mat fee was $20. How much is it now?

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by fabsroman
Same thing happened here. Most of the gun shops started cutting back on their supplies. It got to the point where it wasn't worth it for me to even waste the gas to go and look.

I order everything from the internet now and just pay the haz mat fee. Last time I had to order powder and primers, the haz mat fee was $20. How much is it now?

Fabs and Contenderizer

It is becoming increasingly difficult for the small shops to stock the things we need to feed our hobby. And money is the reason. When ever I can buy from a local shop I do. But it's hard for me to drive to Bismarck,112 miles for a pack of primers. I usually make 2 trips a year down there, spring and fall. I'm surprised the North Dakota DOT doesn't make me put a placard on my truck.

The haz mat fee is still $20 and you can ship a goodly amount for that. I just got 5#'s of MRP in for a friend of mine that lives in Canada. He was so happy with the price and being able to get that brand, I thought he was gonna kiss me. YUCK. Now he could sick his Lady friend on me anytime. She is knock down drag out dead gorgeous. Far out.

It sure is fun getting to meet folks that you have only conversed with on the net. Believe it or not there are real people behind those screen names. Good people. We already made plans for another powder drop off later this year. I didn't get to stay very long cause I was on my way to Minneapolis. I'm visiting my Grandaughter.

By the way if you need primers and powders Powder Valley in Kansas is a great source. They have a web site.

Best wishes, Bill

[Rocky Raab]

Vicious Cycle #111

My local shop doesn't carry what I need so I'll shop on the internet.

My customers shop on the internet, so I'll stop carrying what they need.


This is the exact parallel to what happened with Wal-Mart. People stopped buying at their local shop because things were a little cheaper at WM. The local shops went out of business. Now WM has stopped carrying shooting stuff at any price. So who came out ahead? Not shooters. Not the local shop owners. Not even Wal-Mart.

Any lessons learned? I sure hope so.

[Catfish]

I`m finding it harder and harder to find what I want locally for 2 reasons. As stated there are few shops and carring less, plus I`m getting into more speclized bullets and powder. I`m shooting alot of 80 gn. .22 cal. bullets and no body ever carried them to start with. That and the alot of the powder I`m burning is slower than anyone carries. I can still get primers locally and when I order powder I get 6 - 8 lb. juggs at a time. That $ 20 doesn`t hurt as bad when you spread it over 48 lbs. of powder. I just ordered another 2,000 bullets alittle bit ago, thank heavens there`s not hasmat on lead.

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Catfish
I`m finding it harder and harder to find what I want locally for 2 reasons. As stated there are few shops and carring less, plus I`m getting into more speclized bullets and powder. I`m shooting alot of 80 gn. .22 cal. bullets and no body ever carried them to start with. That and the alot of the powder I`m burning is slower than anyone carries. I can still get primers locally and when I order powder I get 6 - 8 lb. juggs at a time. That $ 20 doesn`t hurt as bad when you spread it over 48 lbs. of powder. I just ordered another 2,000 bullets alittle bit ago, thank heavens there`s not hasmat on lead.

Hi

Which 80 grainers are you shooting? I know Nosler makes them also, who else? The 80 gr Sierras just never performed the way I thought they should.
I got a 22-250 AI with a 1:8 twist. My best shot with it was on old Wiley. He took off across the plains and I waited for him to get along ways off and whistled. He stopped and looked at me with this smug look on his face and I popped him. He jumped and did two twists and a half gainer and piled up. Lazered he was 375 yds. I immediately patted myself on the back and told myself what a great shot I am, NOT. All I said to myself was, "you lucky SOB you couldn't do that again in 10 years."

Any way, whatcha using?

Best wishes, Bill

[Catfish]

Bill,
I`ve been shooting the Serrias. I shot 1, 3 shot group at 500 yrds. with them and it was 3 1/4 in., just over .6 moa at 500 not to bad, but I think I can do better. That load was way to slow to suit me though, 2,800 fps. I filled the case with H-870 and got it up to 3,200 fps. still to slow so I`m looking for acouple different powders. OH, the round is a .22-6mm. I did alittle playing with the 75 Hornady A max and they showed promess, but I`m wanting to get alittle faster powder befor I play to much more, kinda looking out for barrel life with this hot rod. I should get 3,500 to 3,600 fps with an 80 gn. bullet.
I did get 1 coyote with it at 350 yrds. He just fell over and never moved. But I really expect that from this rifle. I built it for long range and it wears a 24X Leupold so my aim point at 500 yrds. is a bullet hole. AND, from what I`ve seen so far the bullets are landing exactly where the Serria ballistics charts says they should.

[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.

[Dom]

I don't think reloading is on the way out, but for sure it won't be as easy. Will have to do more planning and less spur of the moment, I mean, keep track of what you need with a list, then order less frequent but more of it to keep the supply up. What we also do here is combine our orders amongst 3 or 4 of us. Yes it will be more difficult, but still worth it. I also notice increases in the cost of the components, especially some bullets, due to metals increases, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Catfish]

Rocky,
Our local Wally World still carries fire arms. It was a fantastic place to buy gun for a while there as they were selling the guns from all of the other stores in the area. They had several youth model Rem. 700`s in .243 with a cheap scope for $ 250 new. It was all I could do to get out of there without buying acouple of guns every time I went in, and they never really had anything I wanted. But that`s all over now. They are still carring guns, but the supper deals are over.

[skeet]

The local?? wally world in Cody also sells reloading supplies etc. The prices however are horrendous. There are approx 7 gun shops on Cody though. Ballard Rifle is based here Kinda neat what you can see in the gunshops out in this area. Even a Barrett or so.

[Contenderizer]

Last time I was in our Wally World I swore I wouldn't go back. The manager of Sporting Goods is as mean as a junkyard dog and has the personality of a 5 lb bar of lead. When I asked her if she would order in some powder, she said I would have to buy the entire case. She seemed to feel that what ever Wally had in stock was good enough for everyone else, so it should be good enough for me. I guess I was being picky.

[Dan Morris]

No, reloading is not going out, a lot of shops are......you just gotta plan longer range. I've been loading seance I was about 14 and don't plan on stopping now! Only use factory when I need brass.
Dan

[Jack]

My local shop carries very little reloading equipment- a few common caliber die sets, a few accessories, etc, and that's all. They'll tell you that everyone's gone to getting their reloading supplies from the on line retailers.
However, they do carry a decent supply of primers and powder, and they do an active trade in those.
The great thing about this shop is that, for a regular customer, they will order anything you want.
Consequently, I do all my powder/primer business with them.
This shop has adapted very well to the internet- they are quite willing to accept/ship things from the gun auction sites, and do quite a bit of business that way. They also do a large trade in used guns, and full service gunsmithing- and they are thriving.
They are a good example of what the local gunshop should do to survive in this era, I think.