Do you purchase some of your bullets, brass, primers, powder, etc. at gun shows? Or do you find the prices are not competitive with mail order sellers like Powder Valley, etc. Thank you.
Buying reloading supplies at gun shows
- Thread starter RM
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The last time I went to a gun show (Amarillo), no one was selling reloading supplies. I picked up primers and powder at Camp Perry during the National matches last year at pretty good prices. And, until they closed it, the Sportsman's Warehouse in Lewisville had the best prices locally for supplies. I never buy powder or primers through the mail. The shipping costs are too high. Bullets, I buy locally from KEAD or Bullet Works.
If you're buying more than a few pounds of powder and more than 3000 primers, it's hard to beat Powder Valley, even with shipping/hazmat fees included. Unless you're in Kansas, you're not paying tax, either. And if you're going to a gun show just for reloading supplies, you're also spending money on admission and gas to get there.
I've bought lots of reloading components and surplus ammo at gun shows. It's cheaper than in stores and you don't pay shipping and hazmat charges. However, you do have to know what is and is not an acceptable price.
What's available and when varies all over the place. Sometimes there's no vendors who specialize in that stuff, and you're stuck with whatever odds and ends are offered by individuals. Sometimes a vendor shows up with a ton of stuff and the line to their "window" stretches around the table and down the aisle. I've had to wait in line for a half hour to buy some stuff at the right price sometimes.
Bottom line, you have to look around and see what the going rate is for what you want, and figure in shipping and hazmat charges for anything that's ordered in.
What's available and when varies all over the place. Sometimes there's no vendors who specialize in that stuff, and you're stuck with whatever odds and ends are offered by individuals. Sometimes a vendor shows up with a ton of stuff and the line to their "window" stretches around the table and down the aisle. I've had to wait in line for a half hour to buy some stuff at the right price sometimes.
Bottom line, you have to look around and see what the going rate is for what you want, and figure in shipping and hazmat charges for anything that's ordered in.
Powder Valley
Powder Valley Inc. rocks!
I always save up my orders until I am getting at least 4 pounds of powder and 10K primers, the Hazmat fee and shipping disappear compared to local pricing. The gun store near me charges $28 for a pound of power pistol and $32 / K for Winchester primers. Ouch.
Powder Valley Inc. rocks!
I always save up my orders until I am getting at least 4 pounds of powder and 10K primers, the Hazmat fee and shipping disappear compared to local pricing. The gun store near me charges $28 for a pound of power pistol and $32 / K for Winchester primers. Ouch.
dagger dog
Member
We have "National Gun Day" twice a year Feb. July. It's our 2 biggest shows.That where I buy reloading supplies that I can't buy of the shelf a Bass Pro. or Knob Creek Shooting range.
I reload pistol, rifle and am planning to start shot gun.
The pricing for hazmat, shipping
requires buying in larger quanities to realize a savings .
But the real pain is not being able to get the workings for a new load ,that my local supply doesn't stock, for 6 months!
I don't use powder in larger units than a pound and 1,000 primers last me years, would rather be able to buy them by the 100. Bullets and brass can be had through the shooter supply houses.
Right now I have about 22 lbs assorted rifle ,pistol powder 2,000 bullets 5,000 primers 1,500 rounds brass.
My reloading bench is made from an old 3 drawer chest of drawers with a plywood top glued and screwed to the top, and has 2 presses bolted to it, I'm just a small guy!
Yoda you must be at the top I'm at the bottom the two shows are in KY, lived here so long I don't think of it as two states!
I reload pistol, rifle and am planning to start shot gun.
The pricing for hazmat, shipping
requires buying in larger quanities to realize a savings .
But the real pain is not being able to get the workings for a new load ,that my local supply doesn't stock, for 6 months!
I don't use powder in larger units than a pound and 1,000 primers last me years, would rather be able to buy them by the 100. Bullets and brass can be had through the shooter supply houses.
Right now I have about 22 lbs assorted rifle ,pistol powder 2,000 bullets 5,000 primers 1,500 rounds brass.
My reloading bench is made from an old 3 drawer chest of drawers with a plywood top glued and screwed to the top, and has 2 presses bolted to it, I'm just a small guy!
Yoda you must be at the top I'm at the bottom the two shows are in KY, lived here so long I don't think of it as two states!
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The largest gun show in IN is the Indy 1500 . Last year was my last visit. On reloading components the only "deal" was one vendor selling powder cheaper than the most gun shops but after adding the entry fee , parking fee and driving the 180 mile round trip it was really not a savings. No real deal on match rifle bullets. And forget small rifle match primers.
In the past I was able to buy most all of my reloading components there.
In the past I was able to buy most all of my reloading components there.
I may sometimes if the price is right on items I am looking for but quite often the prices are as high or higher than where I normally purchase my components.
SASS#23149
Member
Sadly,our gun shows seldome have any supplies anymore.Plenty of loaded ammo,and sometimes some bags of jacketed bullets,but powder and primers,no.
.when they did have them the price was better than local suppliers by a buck or three.
.when they did have them the price was better than local suppliers by a buck or three.
rbernie
Contributing Member
The gun shows I frequent do not have vendors with competitive prices on reloading supplies. It is cheaper for me to mailorder and pay the hazmat fee.
I sometimes buy supplies at shows but the show around here isnt that great. Last time I went I just picked up some bullets that were a good deal. For powder and primers I usually just go to Sportsmans warehouse. They have better prices than any I have seen at the gun show.
Reloading supplies @ gun shows...
I must just be lucky. @ gun shows I frequent there are sometimes xlnt prices to be had, on powder and primers in "old" packaging. The old primers I just snap up--never yet had one misfire. The old powder needs to be asked about--storage conditions, actual age, etc, etc, but it is usually good too.
An "old" box of bullets would of course be dandy, but I have never encountered one I wanted.
Depending on just how old, brass might be suspect. But have never had the chance to find out.
I must just be lucky. @ gun shows I frequent there are sometimes xlnt prices to be had, on powder and primers in "old" packaging. The old primers I just snap up--never yet had one misfire. The old powder needs to be asked about--storage conditions, actual age, etc, etc, but it is usually good too.
An "old" box of bullets would of course be dandy, but I have never encountered one I wanted.
Depending on just how old, brass might be suspect. But have never had the chance to find out.
I have not seen what I considered a good deal at a gun show in many years. I generally only buy if there is something that I need right then. When I am in the next town over for work, I usually swing by the reloading shop and get my supplies usually cheaper than the gun show.
at the last NGD in Louisville ky, I bougth 1000 primers for $23, a lot less then local bass pro, 1 lb of H4895 for $15, and traded the reloading vendor a bunch of brass and $6 for 1 lb of win 231, I saved enough to pay for my parking and admission, plus had a great time.
Many Gun Show dealers want more than retail for their stuff. I figure if they love their products that much I wouldn't be doing right to deprive them of it. Adding the cost of parking and admission to the price of any components or used loading gear certainly raises the actual costs to more than I can get them from my local gun shop. Guess who gets my purchase money?
If/when I go to a gun show, maybe once every three or four years, it's for amusement and not to buy. That's not the way it was 20+ years ago but it's they who have changed, not me.
If/when I go to a gun show, maybe once every three or four years, it's for amusement and not to buy. That's not the way it was 20+ years ago but it's they who have changed, not me.
evan price
Member
By the time you add in admission parking and time to go search through the nazi memorabilia, plastic airsoft crap and overpriced milsurp and fight the crowds, even with HAzMat and S&H added in, it's a better deal to buy from Powder Valley.
So far I have had nearly no luck getting anything at a gunshow cheaper than what it would cost me anywhere else, and I can browse online and deliver to my door.
Funshows used to be fun, now it's more like drudgery. A shame, really. The last one I went to my friends and I competed to find who had the most overpriced items. It wound up a tie.
So far I have had nearly no luck getting anything at a gunshow cheaper than what it would cost me anywhere else, and I can browse online and deliver to my door.
Funshows used to be fun, now it's more like drudgery. A shame, really. The last one I went to my friends and I competed to find who had the most overpriced items. It wound up a tie.
I buy reloading supplies from gun shows. I even buy guns at gun shows (imagine that!). Prices are reasonable compared to Powder Valley and Grafs when you consider hazmat & shipping.
I do not factor in the cost of admission. Why? I'm going to the gun show anyway. The gun shows here aren't quite teh such yet so I still enjoy going to see new stuff (Ruger SR9, for example) and old stuff (a Garand in worse condition than mine that goes for 2x what I paid in August 07!).
A move costs just as much but at the movie I won't hear that One Shot is THE ONLY case lube worth buying and the Mini-14 is "far superior" to the AK-47.
I do not factor in the cost of admission. Why? I'm going to the gun show anyway. The gun shows here aren't quite teh such yet so I still enjoy going to see new stuff (Ruger SR9, for example) and old stuff (a Garand in worse condition than mine that goes for 2x what I paid in August 07!).
A move costs just as much but at the movie I won't hear that One Shot is THE ONLY case lube worth buying and the Mini-14 is "far superior" to the AK-47.
Another "Amen!" to Powder Valley. I used to buy powder/primers/bullets at the local shows, but it's been awhile. Especially now that I cast my own boolits, I've gone over to just making bulk buys of the powder/primers from Powdervalley. IIRC shipping plus the hazmat fee is $30, which effectively disappears on a moderate to large size order. Powder Valley's prices are much lower than any of the local stores and gun show sellers. My last order of about 5k primers and 12 pounds of powder ran about $310 including the shipping and hazmat fees. Had I bought it at the local show it would have been in the $350 range, plus tax, plus the $8 to get into the show. I'll still go to the shows occasionally to buy other stuff, including guns, but I'm not likely to buy components anymore unless I stumble across a real deal.
Powder Valley rocks!
Powder Valley rocks!
gun shows
Here in SC the nearest show is 44 miles.georgia arms had powder at 15/16 a pound.last show no powder or georgia arms.next show in mid april.they wont be there.dealers here are high.and shows are small went to show in san fran area yrs ago high also.Mass shows were good and the Springfield Mass show was 1500 tables.most shows seem to have a lot of knifes and indian baubles.
I am to old the gun prices shock me. Burmingham Al. 1945 win 73 in 32/20 $5.00 colt lightning 38 long $3.00.Boston Mass, luger $20 with holster also P38 and broom handle.Johnson rifle $50.old men can dream of the old days.$40 weeks pay.
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Here in SC the nearest show is 44 miles.georgia arms had powder at 15/16 a pound.last show no powder or georgia arms.next show in mid april.they wont be there.dealers here are high.and shows are small went to show in san fran area yrs ago high also.Mass shows were good and the Springfield Mass show was 1500 tables.most shows seem to have a lot of knifes and indian baubles.
I am to old the gun prices shock me. Burmingham Al. 1945 win 73 in 32/20 $5.00 colt lightning 38 long $3.00.Boston Mass, luger $20 with holster also P38 and broom handle.Johnson rifle $50.old men can dream of the old days.$40 weeks pay.
---------I have found gun shows to be a big disappointment. Since I live in Kansas, buying from Powder Valley isn't a very good option - I have to pay Kansas sales tax in addition to shipping, handling and the Hazmat fee.
I suggest you check out Graf&Sons - http://www.grafs.com/. They have a flat $4.50 handling and insurance charge. Hazmat is $20. If you make a large order, they may apply a bulk discount. (The bulk discount on my last order more than offset all of the fees.) If you order 48 pounds of powder, they pay the Hazmat fee. Moreover, their prices are substantially lower than those at my local gun shop.
I suggest you check out Graf&Sons - http://www.grafs.com/. They have a flat $4.50 handling and insurance charge. Hazmat is $20. If you make a large order, they may apply a bulk discount. (The bulk discount on my last order more than offset all of the fees.) If you order 48 pounds of powder, they pay the Hazmat fee. Moreover, their prices are substantially lower than those at my local gun shop.
entropy
Member
One local shop sells in volume at the shows, and prices very competitatively. I usually buy primers and bullets from them, to supplement the bullets I buy online.
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