where to buy supplies?

[Axis II]

where do you get reloading supplies?

I have 2 local shops that carry a lot of stuff but lately they have been out of a lot of stuff. I went last night for Lee 9mm 4 die set and the shelves were bare. looked at RCBS and they were more money for the 3 die set than lee. I called a few weeks ago about a lee turret and the guy said should be in any day now. same thing last night while looking for dies, should be in any day now.

I like the store and like to support them but when is it time to stop waiting and buy online?

 

[Reloadron]

Have kids and grand kids in Worthington, Ohio so when we go down there from Cleveland Cabela's is a mandatory stop going and coming. Saves me HAZMAT on primers and powder if I need any. Also around me in Twinsburg, Ohio the local Gander Mountain has started carrying reloading supplies including powder and primers, brass, bullets and other stuff like dies. You may want to look at some of the larger box stores.

Online can be less costly depending. Since Cabela's began sprouting up in Ohio they charge the Ohio sales tax. My local gun shop has a pretty limited stash of reloading supplies.

I went last night for Lee 9mm 4 die set and the shelves were bare. looked at RCBS and they were more money for the 3 die set than lee.

That would be normal. You will find the Lee dies are just about always the least expensive. They work fine and last a long time too.

I like the store and like to support them but when is it time to stop waiting and buy online?

That is one of those things only you can decide.

Finally, my wife has an Amazon Prime account and I order stuff that way with good pricing, no Ohio tax most of the time and free second day shipping. She buys enough stuff that Amazon Prime is well worth whatever she pays per year for the service.

Ron

 

[oldpapps]

I too prefer to support local business. But.

Access to what I want sometimes trumps supporting local.
Cost per item trumps local.

Things to consider:
Taxes, shipping and hazmat fees (a crock in my mind).

I always check on-line prices and figure in fees before I make a trip to the LGS. Then I can do a proper comparison.

On line places I check include but are not limited to:
Lee products - http://www.titanreloading.com/
Lead bullets - http://www.missouribullet.com/index.php (I cheat here, I have a granddaughter that lives a few miles from them, a good reason to see her)
Brass - http://www.starlinebrass.com/
Powder and primers - http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ (again I cheat and make a plesant day trip to pick up my orders)
Most all other items - http://www.midwayusa.com/
Powder, for powder coating - https://www.powderbuythepound.com/ (my brother lives a few miles south of them, I make the order, he picks the items up for me and I get short vacation out of it.)

I am not associated with any of these businesses other than being a customer. I often combine my orders with friends and relatives and share the shipping costs.

My advise is to not get in a rush and check several sources. I don't know you location but would bet that you too have local or near local manufacturers and dealers. Check for them and their prices.

Enjoy the searches and save money as you get what you want and need.

 

[LiveLife]

I have 2 local shops that carry a lot of stuff but lately they have been out of a lot of stuff.

I like the store and like to support them but when is it time to stop waiting and buy online?

Depends on how soon you need the items.

If the price difference between LGS and online price is not much, I usually try to support the local economy and pay cash to save retailers credit/debit card processing fees. If you have good relationship with local retailers, you could give them first chance by letting them price your reloading equipment/component shopping list (I have been surprised a few times when they actually beat online pricing with better/higher quality items they had in stock). I have had positive experience with most smaller family run local retailers/ranges and giving them first shot at firearms/ammo/reloading equipment/supplies over the decades has earned me "first peek" privileges during the shortages when the delivery trucks arrived with unobtainium/hens teeth items.

where do you get reloading supplies?

For online shopping for items I could not source locally, in decades past I primarily shopped Midwayusa, Brownells/Sinclair. They offer birthday discount (MidwayUSA), sales and closeouts so I would watch for them. I still shop MidwayUSA/Brownells/Sinclair on occasion but mostly on sales items.

For Lee Precision products, FS Reloading and Titan Reloading are major distributors. During the last two reloading component shortages, they were often the first ones to have more popular Lee products in stock. They also run sales and their regular/sales prices are very competitive.

For other reloading equipment/supplies, these are major vendors I purchased from over the years as they had lower pricing on sales or popular items in stock and often listed in the "Where are there reloading equipment/supplies" thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=707473&page=141

- Powder Valley - Powder/primers/components
- Recob's target shop - Powder/primers
- 3rd Generation Shooting Supplies - Powder/primer
- Widener's Reloading & Shooting Supply - Powder/primer/components/equipment
- Graf & Sons - Equipment/components/powder/primers & Dillon products (free shipping with $7.95 processing fee per order)
- Midsouth Shooters - Equipment/components/powder/primer
- Natchez - Equipment/components/powder/primer
- Butch's Reloading - Equipment/components/powder/primer
- TJConevera - Components (Free shipping on $75+ order)
- X-Treme bullets (Look for weekly deals) - Components/primers
- Starline - New brass

If you have Amazon Prime, it's hard to beat Amazon's pricing with free 2-day shipping.

For bullets, these vendors/manufacturers offer 5% THR discount and have provided great products with great customer service:

- Missouri Bullet Company (THR-Original promo code) - Lead and coated lead bullets
- Dardas Cast Bullets (HIGHROAD promo code) - Lead bullets
- Rocky Mountain Reloading (thehighroad5 promo code & must enter THR ID in order comment box and also run Facebook promotions) - Jacketed and plated lead bullets, reloading/shooting accessories (Free shipping on all orders)

I am sure there are many other vendors others will chime in with.

 

[Axis II]

I have what I need for 223 reloading but im using a c press for now until they finally get the turret in.

I cant shoot rifle for a month or so but have unlimited access to the handgun range so would like to start making handgun ammo just tired of waiting.

nothing against the local shop but its been like 3 weeks for the stuff to come in and I see it online all the time in stock. I like to see things first before I order. was going to order a scale from cabelas but figured take the hour ride to Columbus and pick it up and make sure I liked it and ups didn't throw it around.

 

[LiveLife]

3 weeks is a long time to be waiting as many faster online vendors will have items shipped to you in less than a week.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I buy all my primers, powder, and guns from my LGS because I won't pay hazmat fees period, I am very faithful to them as much as possible, and it has benefited me greatly.
My LGS doesn't say "any day now" She tells me when it will be in and that she will put one of what I want back for me and will call me so I know when to come get it.

When it comes to buying presses, dies, anything other than those things in my first sentence, I go to the web and find out who has the best price and has it in stock.

That's where I draw the line.

When it comes to me needing presses, dies, measures, any other hardware, anything goes.

 

[Axis II]

the guy was really nice when I called and he said they only had the kit but the press alone was on order and should be in in a couple of days. asked if I wanted to leave my name and number and he would call me. that was about 2.5-3 weeks ago.

I had to go there to get a few other things last friday so I asked if it was in and he said any day. I forgot 9mm dies last Friday so I went last night and they were out and I asked when they would be in he said same with the press, any day now that the order had been put in.

I think ill give it until next weekend cause its payday and if its not in ill get them online. feel kinda bad about doing it when he said he would hold it.

I had no clue online charged hazmat fees so I will get that stuff from there store.

for you guys around ohio, Fin feather fur is the store. they have an Ashland, boardman, canton and Cleveland store. all carry loading stuff but Ashland is the largest selection when they have it, hahah.

 

[Reloadron]

for you guys around ohio, Fin feather fur is the store. they have an Ashland, boardman, canton and Cleveland store. all carry loading stuff but Ashland is the largest selection when they have it, hahah.

I keep forgetting about those guys and they are not far (Cleveland Store) and yeah, the big store I remember going back over 25 years is Ashland.

I can't understand the problem of getting you that press. I have a few old Lee presses lying around here and someday I need to get them organized.

Ron

 

[BullRunBear]

I want to support my LGSs so I buy locally if possible. But they carry little reloading gear and none of it is Lee, which is what I use. I can get primers and powder locally, including black powder, and do so. (I hate hazmat fees.) My in-laws used to live near the Lee facility and I could get their factory seconds for half price or better when we visited. Alas, no longer.

Now I wait for sales or free delivery offers at Cabelas, Midwayusa, Midsouth Shooters Supply and Natchez to get dies and other gear. I use Missouri Bullets for cast bullets. I've found Amazon prices are seldom better than sale prices at the places above.

Jeff

 

[Axis II]

Ashland has been around for awhile. if you have not been to the new Ashland store and been to the old 1 room shack you should go to Ashland again.

they have a lot of other brands but I cant see spending $60 on 3 rcbs dies when lee is $30 for 4. they have a lot of powder, primers, bullets in bulk and not bulk. just no lee stuff. lol.

 

[Bama Drifter]

FWIW...

not to threadjack, but
when you buy Amazon Prime, do the Calguns Foundation a favor by typing www.shop42a.com in your browser. It will direct you straight to Amazon's site, and a portion of what you spend goes straight to fighting for our gun freedoms out west. Thanks!

 

[Gadawg88]

I had no clue online charged hazmat fees so I will get that stuff from there store.

Don't write-off buying powder or primers online just because of the hazmat fee. I find that the big box and LGS prices on powder and primers are higher than many online sources (some mentioned above). If you only buy a pound or two of powder at a a time or a brick of primers it will be cheaper to buy local. If you can buy in larger quantities, it can be cheaper to buy onlin, even with shipping and hazmat. Depending on where you shop, usually you don't pay sales tax online also. You just have to do the math and figure which is cheapest. Then there is availability to consider. That's a whole other matter.

 

[Axis II]

probably will never order a lot of stuff as I don't shoot that much and also don't like having 1lbs of powder and primers in the house let alone a lot more. lol.

 

[thomas15]

they have a lot of other brands but I cant see spending $60 on 3 rcbs dies when lee is $30 for 4. they have a lot of powder, primers, bullets in bulk and not bulk. just no lee stuff. lol.

Well if you are ready to handload and you cannot find the less expensive die set you want then your stuck waiting or paying more.

But just to clear up something, the Lee 4 pc pistol die set will cost about $45.00. It is the 3 pc pistol set that cost $30.00

The Lee 4 pc set comes with a sizing die, expansion die, combination seater/crimp and the factory crimp die. The RCBS 3 pc pistol die set should cost about $49.00 and comes with a sizing die, expansion die and combo seater/crimp.

The way I load pistol ammo, and I'm not alone, is that I use a seat/crimp die to only seat the bullet and I use a separate crimp die to crimp only. An extra step for sure. With my Lee 4 pc die sets I use the factory crimp die as my crimp only die. I'm not trying to sell dies and many many handloaders use and love Lee dies but I have Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Dillon and Hornady dies and I can tell you that the extra money you spend on RCBS dies is worth it.

OK one thing, if you get the RCBS or any set besides Lee 4 pc then you may want to get a separate crimp die. As stated, I use the Lee factory crimp die to taper crimp pistol ammo but in my opinion there are other taper crimp dies that are better.

 

[LiveLife]

Graf & Sons has Hornady American Series 3 die sets with shell holder and 2 extra decapping pins along with lifetime warranty for $29.99 (Free shipping with $7.95 processing fee) - https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/28407

The set comes with "industry-leading titanium nitride sizing ring" on the resizing die and O-ring lock ring like Lee dies.

While I like Lee carbide dies, if I needed new dies, I would consider trying them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My LGS has powder priced $5-10 more per pound than I can buy it for after haz mat and shipping when I buy in bulk. Primers are $5-8 higher per 1k...Yeah, I know his priority is to make money. However, my priority is to save my money...I buy online when I find a deal and always buy at least twice what I need.

 

[styles]

I've used Grafs, Midsouth, Natchez, Midway, Powder Valley, RimRock and probably some others. Great experience with all. We have some really good people and companies serving us.

 

[Axis II]

Well if you are ready to handload and you cannot find the less expensive die set you want then your stuck waiting or paying more.

But just to clear up something, the Lee 4 pc pistol die set will cost about $45.00. It is the 3 pc pistol set that cost $30.00

The Lee 4 pc set comes with a sizing die, expansion die, combination seater/crimp and the factory crimp die. The RCBS 3 pc pistol die set should cost about $49.00 and comes with a sizing die, expansion die and combo seater/crimp.

The way I load pistol ammo, and I'm not alone, is that I use a seat/crimp die to only seat the bullet and I use a separate crimp die to crimp only. An extra step for sure. With my Lee 4 pc die sets I use the factory crimp die as my crimp only die. I'm not trying to sell dies and many many handloaders use and love Lee dies but I have Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Dillon and Hornady dies and I can tell you that the extra money you spend on RCBS dies is worth it.

OK one thing, if you get the RCBS or any set besides Lee 4 pc then you may want to get a separate crimp die. As stated, I use the Lee factory crimp die to taper crimp pistol ammo but in my opinion there are other taper crimp dies that are better.

is there a reason one is better than the other? new to this so would like to know for reference. the rcbs ones I found were like $55-60 must have been a special die or something. the lee I must have looked at the wrong sticker as they were out.

 

[LiveLife]

I called a few weeks ago about a lee turret

If you are getting the Lee turret press, you should get Lee dies as Lee powder-thru expanding die works with Lee Auto Disk powder measures.

You can get 4 die set that includes FCD for $39.99 at FS Reloading - https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-deluxe-4-die-set-9mm-luger-carbide-90963.html

Lee turret presses for $69/$99 (I highly recommend the Classic Turret) - https://fsreloading.com/manufacturer/lee-precision/lee-presses/lee-turret-press/

Classic Turret kit for $188 - https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-kit-90304.html

 

[spitballer]

Once during a "shortage" I looked up a brick-and-mortar supplier on the internet about 150 miles away and drove there to purchase some powder. He's been my backup man ever since. Fortunately supplies have reappeared locally and I seldom have to make the drive any more.

 

[Alderman]

We have a new Sportsman's Warehouse within 25 miles.

I've bought a lot of my reloading equipment off of eBay.

 

[LiveLife]

is there a reason one is better than the other? new to this so would like to know for reference. the rcbs ones I found were like $55-60 must have been a special die or something.

There are differences in features but for typical carbide pistol die sets, not much.

 

[thomas15]

is there a reason one is better than the other? new to this so would like to know for reference. the rcbs ones I found were like $55-60 must have been a special die or something. the lee I must have looked at the wrong sticker as they were out.

Again, not trying to sell anything and I have Lee dies that work. My Lee 9mm sizing die, when I went to replace the decapping pin I removed the collet nut from the die and there is no way to replace it without sending it back to Lee. So a simple thing becomes a pain.

Also the Lee adjustment for the seating die is made of aluminum, on mine they are not as fine fitting as my other makes. My 9mm RCBS expansion die puts a bell in the case mouth that "clicks" the bullet in when placing it on the brass which is a nice but not necessary feature. But, if you are using a Lee turret press and their powder measure on the press I think you are stuck using the Lee expansion die.

And to repeat there are better taper crimp dies than the Lee factory crimp die. But it does work.

On my turret press I use in 9mm a mixture of Lee and RCBS dies. This after much experimentation and some frustration.

I think it all comes down to what you intend to do with your ammo and figuring out what works best for you. I use plated and coated bullets for pistol so that is why I seat and crimp in separate operations. These are difficult but not impossible to do with combo seat/crimp dies. With FMJ rifle bullets I have no problems using the combo die. Also, while not good at it I shoot competition and so I go thru a lot of ammo per year. To some shooters 100 rounds per month is a big month, to others 500 rounds per month is a very slow month. So I want my ammo to be the best I can get it not just go boom. So a more precise seating and crimp operation with as little damage to the bullet is what I'm after.

 

[thomas15]

- All Lee die sets and only Hornady's American Series sets come with shell holders. You need to buy shell holder separately when buying other brand/model die sets.

You reminded me of two points. The first is that for $30.00 you can buy a set of Lee shell holders. This is nice to have in the event you lose your shell holder then you have a spare, which allows you to keep loading. I have noticed that the hole in the center of the Lee shell holders is a tad smaller than others, this makes priming a little slower when using non-Lee priming tools.

The other point is that Lee dies come with a non-locking lock nut. I and many others buy Hornady split ring lock nuts to replace the Lee nuts so you don't have to re-adjust the die when you remove/replace the die on your press.