Cabela's has become a joke

berettaprofessor said:

My local Cabelas (Kansas City) is well-stocked with primers and reloading supplies in general, particularly powder. That wasn't necessarily the case 5 years ago, but it is pretty good now.

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That's the one I go to, last time they had plenty.

Russellc

kmw1954 said:

I have been buying most of my reloading supplies from our local Cabela's store because the prices were good and they had what I wanted and needed. Until recently or at least since the end of February.

Today I get the email that they are having their Shooting Sports Classic promotion so I went online to see what I could find. Same ole, ole. Checked with two different stores and they do not have a single primer in stock at either store, still. Again been out of pistol primers since March. A couple of the powders I use are out or very limited.

I hate trying to buy primers and powders online because the small amounts that I need/use the shipping and Hazmat fees eat up any savings I would get. Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

So anyone know what the deal is with Cabela's? I'd love to keep shopping there but everything is always out of stock.

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Unless they have that good S&B sale I’ve found their prices horrible. I figured that if I but an 8lb jug of BE86 I’m ahead even with shipping and Hazmat. Throw in a a couple thousand primers and it just makes sense to order online.

kmw1954 said:

I have been buying most of my reloading supplies from our local Cabela's store because the prices were good and they had what I wanted and needed. Until recently or at least since the end of February.

Today I get the email that they are having their Shooting Sports Classic promotion so I went online to see what I could find. Same ole, ole. Checked with two different stores and they do not have a single primer in stock at either store, still. Again been out of pistol primers since March. A couple of the powders I use are out or very limited.

I hate trying to buy primers and powders online because the small amounts that I need/use the shipping and Hazmat fees eat up any savings I would get. Also at 64 yo. I really do not want to have 5 years worth of primers and powders sitting under the bench. I may not be here that long!

So anyone know what the deal is with Cabela's? I'd love to keep shopping there but everything is always out of stock.

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So about 20 minutes north(ish) of Cabelas is Titan Reloading in Hartford. Out in Lomira, about 30 minutes north of Cabelas in Richfield is Bills Sport Shop. Between MJ's, Titan and Bills I can usually find, or have one of them order what I need. Plus they are all local small business.

kmw1954 said:

In all honesty 2k small pistol and 1k large pistol primers is about a one year supply for me. Also unfortunately for me my circle is small. Haven't joined a club as I haven't found a pistol club near by and I do not shoot rifle or shotgun. Also there is only one other person right now that I shoot with that reloads and I have already suggested splitting an order. He wasn't very receptive of the idea.

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I hope you are able to find a nice club and make some shooting buddies.

When we moved (from NJ) to Pennsylvania in 2004 I had zip in the way of friends here. My company moved me that is why I'm here. I still work full time btw. Anyway, at the time we moved here my son was still shooting Jr. smallbore rifle and so I searched around for a club where he could continue and that is how I found my present primary home club, Ontelaunee Rod and Gun club which is in my opinion the best all around private club in a geographic area that has a gun club under every rock and behind every tree. I don't want to say that my best friends are members there but it is one of those places where a core of members are very serious about the shooting sports and a real effort is made to encourage members to get out there and shoot. This is a club that hosts numerous state, regional and even national matches. The 2019 IRC (International Revolver Championship) will be held there and the East Coast Steel Challenge Championship matches is the largest steel challenge match in the world , plus section 8 USPSA regionals and sectionals and lots of trap, skeet, 3 gun and archery. Dues is $30.00/year which is the best deal on planet earth.

But to the OP. Since I shoot revolvers and those have had action work done to lighten the triggers, I can only use Federal Small Pistol primers. In fall of 2016 I had 20,000 of these primers. The suddenly the supply dried up. Sure from time to time they would appear but if you didn't act quickly you were SOL. When I got down to 4K of these I started to panic but ordered 10K from Cabelas which was showing out of stock but to my amazement within a week they were delivered. No one at the time had these primers and no one would accept an order but Cabelas delivered.

My local Cabelas (Hamburg PA) is not a bad place to shop and the local store sponsors many matches in the area. True if you shop diligently you can save some money but saving money is not the only consideration. I like Cabelas.

I haven't bought any reloading supplies from Cabelas in at least a year. For me Recobs is the same distance so I will always go there instead. I found Titan in Hartford, Wi usually had powder/primers/bullets and wouldn't be too far away (for you). I also drive down to On Target in Brodhead, Wi quite often. I think he has just about every major manufacturer of, and type of powder, plenty of primers, bullets etc. I'm not positive, but last time I was through the Dam Road Gun shop near Delavan he had some reloading supplies too. You're not w/o in S. Wis, just gotta look around a bit.

Patocazador said:

I wouldn't think of buying reloading supplies at Cabela's. Besides, there is not a Cabela's store in my state.

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Similar situation in my state. The closest Cabela's is over an hour away in north Georgia and Bass Pro is not much closer in the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area.

It is interesting to poke through the stores once in a while but I rarely find anything there that I need for my shooting hobby.

I visit one about once a month. The one in Allen,TX has had a pretty good stock the last time I was there. I normally find a better price from a vendor in a gun show if I'm only need a small quantity. If I'm needing a lot I always order on line. You know you can order on line and do a Store pickup. Doing this you will not be charged HAZMAT or S&H.

I'm fortunate there is a Pawn shop 25min from my house that has a very good inventory of powders, reasonably priced. He's a little high on primers though. Some times he will even match advertised prices (internet). You can negotiate a lower cash price most of the time.

Ever visit Iowa or Minnesota? Sportsmans Warehouse has been very reliable on-hand retailers of reloading supplies. Even during the Great Shortage they usually had small pistol primers on hand.
Stock up if you travel. Yeah, I know, but consider it an investment. Your widow can sell them.

I never buy at Cabela's , way too expensive.....

I can get most powder and primers from my gun club. They stock a lot of shotgun stuff ,but will order anything our suppliers stock . Cost me what they pay + 10 % to cover shipping etc

Never been to Recob but I have ordered from them and they were good.

$10 hazmat fee. Not a penny more. $7.95 for shipping. For that much, you can ship up to 50 pounds of primers, powder, even black powder, and bullets.

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Who has $10 hazmat? (and $7.95 shipping)
I have been ordering from the wrong place
Most places seem to want $20-$25

During the famine made a pass through Cabela's. The stock of powder looked like what would not sell in every Cabella's in America. The girl who was managing the reloading department was helpful. She was anxious. Suggested it may be wise to stock some 2400. I thought she was on the edge of a panic attack. Didn't buy anything that trip. Months later Cabala's had a nationwide sale on #11 percussion caps. Young guy nearly tore the store down finding me the 1000 caps. Yes, they honored those ads. Basically, I'm too poor to shop there most of the time.

Hey Kevin, I see we’re both newbies on the site. My local Cabela’s is similar. Out of primers...though I got lucky when I first started loading in January. I picked up my HP-38 there...and that is also where I mistakenly picked up the SP Magnum primers...along with some LPP, tools, Berry’s bullets....everything that allowed me to start making up my first loads. I’ve been waiting since June 3 for a Frankford Arsenal Hand Priming tool...which is finally enroute arriving Monday. They offer a veteran discount, and I picked up some supplies during the last weekend that it was honored for reloading components.

Right after that I heard about the bullets.com going out of business clearance sale, and loaded up. I paid the hazmat fee THREE times. That’s what happens when you’re not willing to shell out the big bucks all at once. But...based on the prices I got, I still made out good. Even if Cabela’s does restock, I won’t be needing anything else for some time.

Dudedog said:

Never been to Recob but I have ordered from them and they were good.



Who has $10 hazmat? (and $7.95 shipping)
I have been ordering from the wrong place
Most places seem to want $20-$25

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I mentioned it: Grafs.com
I also shop midsouth and midwayusa for bullets and brass. I can buy smokeless powder from a local Sportsmans Warehouse, but Grafs has two other advantages: They carry both Goex and Swiss black powder, whereas SW only carries pyrodex, and the second: Grafs has lead-free Fiocchi primers. Cabelas is too far to drive and the only thing they have going is a fair price on Starline brass, which I can easily get from any of the online shops.

For 8lb powder jugs I order online from Sportsmans Warehouse and pickup in store. No shipping, no hazmat fees and I get OK bulk powder discounts. I have even ordered a couple guns from them that end up being cheaper than GunBroker + Shipping + CreditCard fees + FFL transfer fees... and it is a whole lot less hassle. Only downside is having to listen to the stupid sales people talk to the other customers like they are an expert, know everything fountain of gun knowledge... A XD is a MUCH superior gun to an M&P... B.S.... buy what feels best in your hand and what feels comfortable to you...

For 1 lb powders I usually try to go to the local BiMart first... same for primers.

I bought a KAHR CM9 from Cabellas last Thanksgiving black friday... ordered online drove 2 hours to pick it up a week later... had a great sale at a great price and couldn't find one local at any price. I haven't felt a need to go back to Cabellas since. Everything else seemed way over priced.

We don't have any close but there is one on the way to one of my son's house. I stop by on the way to visit.Wifey is so jacked to see the Gbaby...... I can pretty much come outta there with a grocery basket of "stuff" and she dosen't blink.So,I like cabelas haha.

Mostly get reloading stuff,but catch a sale.And their line of preamo camo is decent.They also carry Badlands packs which is my brand,haha.

Did anyone really doubt this would happen after Bass Pro Shop bought them out? In reality Cabela's was Bass Pro Shop's only direct competition. I had no doubt they were going to run Cabela's down or at least make their products more expensive than those at BPS. I always preferred Cabela's because their prices were lowest, that is no longer true.

OK Thanks, I didn''t realize Grafs shipping was that low.

My local Mom n Pop LGS is 15 minutes away. They have a very limited supply of reloading equipment and components and the pricess are higher than Cabela's except for powder. So i usually buy powder to support them.
Cabela's in Dundee, MI is 45 minutes away and has a huge selection of reloading gear and components but you do have to watch the prices and/or wait for sales. They run 20% off Hornady stuff from time to time and I've seen a FART for $139 on sale. My 2 year old Grandson loves the Taxidermy and Aquarium so we go a couple times a month.

A Cabela’s walks into a bar and the bartender says, “why the long face?”...

I shop places when they offer me the best deals. Last time I bought reloading supplies from them was when they were selling primers for $19/1000.

ArchAngelCD said:

Did anyone really doubt this would happen after Bass Pro Shop bought them out? In reality Cabela's was Bass Pro Shop's only direct competition. I had no doubt they were going to run Cabela's down or at least make their products more expensive than those at BPS. I always preferred Cabela's because their prices were lowest, that is no longer true.

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They didn't make Cabela's more than BASS; they raised Cabela's prices up to BASS levels.

I do buy some locally but use enough that I can buy on line with Haz-Mat three times a year and save money. I buy from Natchez SS, Powder Valley, and Graffs almost exclusively. Unless some one like Cabellas, Midway, or Brownells, etc has a free Haz-Mat special. Then I will buy a bunch of stuff from them. Seriously, if you have the time to check out the popular sites every day or so you can find a deal on shipping/Haz-Mat fairly often. Also don't overlook the other vendors mentioned here either.

My Cabela's has a reasonable supply most times. Lots of bullets and such, the powder is hit or miss. I don't think they stock a big quantity of anything, just one or two, it keeps their inventory cost down, and they rely on frequent resupply. As far as cost, it is what it is. If I'm going into Cabela's, it's because I need something I don't want to wait for.

With a gun show almost any weekend here in the Dallas area, I usually buy my quantity items there... cases of primers, 8# cans of powder, etc. I probably don't save any money, per se, but I don't have to pay shipping or HazMat.

What I have found from Cabela's and other big box sporting goods stores, is that they aren't making their money from those folks that made them what they are, hunters, fishers, outdoors folks looking for decent quality at an affordable price, but from the "new age outdoors person" that doesn't care what the cost, as long as it impresses others. That's why the reloading section in their stores is a mere closet, while the women's designer clothing section is a third of the store. One can find maybe three pair of good hunting boots for sale there, but 90 pairs of sandals that cost more than the best of the boots.Last Time I was at Gander Mountain, they didn't even have a section for hunting dog supplies, the salesman there told me they took it out to make room for Paddleboards. Seems to be where their marketing is too. But that's the way modern business and capitalism works. You try to make the most profit in the shortest amount of time. Luckily tho, there is still many other places out there that target handloaders and true sportsmen.