I am getting low on some pistol powder so stopped in to a LGS yesterday. They had a pretty good stock of powder which surprised me because of the continuing shortage of components in general and powder in particular. When I looked at their pricing I found out why they still have stock. They wanted over $33 for a pound of 800X I don't need it that bad!

Most powder in Alaska has been over $30 for years,,that's when shows up at all!

I was in Cabela's today. They had bunches of primers including some Federal match small rifle primers. The prices were, as I recall, in the mid $30s to almost $40 per 1,000.

Their powder offerings were pathetic.

Our LGS was 28 bucks a pound before, it's still $28 a pound for what they have. I paid $40 for 1000 match primers because I was looking for large rifle match primers in February. They were just as much before also. I remember seeing primers online for $250 a case plus shipping a few months ago.

When you need a pound of powder buy it. When you stock up on powder shop around online.

Have to agree that it has been totally blown out of proportion. I have been buying powder online from 2 different sources
powdervalleyinc.com and 3rdgss.com
The prices are very competitive, 3rdgss ships very quickly and seem to have different powders coming and going at a rapid rate. Their average pricing is 21 -23 dollars per pound. Only downside is the hazmat fee that they have to charge. But if you buy 8 or 10 lbs, it evens out. I check them every morning to see what they have in stock. If they have it, it usually doesn't last very long.

For one reason or another, I've been away from shooting/loading for about 5 years or so, and, just got back into it in the last week (the first cold snap got the blood stirring again, I guess). Anyway, when I started looking at components, I was just totally blown away by the pricing I'm seeing.
I feel like I fell asleep and woke up 30 years later or something.

At this time, because of the circumstances, you have little choice but the pay the price. However, when supplies become abundant and the prices come down (like gas, they will never drop to the old level), just remember the shops that tried to gouge you and go elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktailer:
I am getting low on some pistol powder so stopped in to a LGS yesterday. They had a pretty good stock of powder which surprised me because of the continuing shortage of components in general and powder in particular. When I looked at their pricing I found out why they still have stock. They wanted over $33 for a pound of 800X I don't need it that bad!

You're lucky. I wouldn't bitch about getting a gift horse. Up here, in the far north, at the end of the supply chain, we still can't get squat.
Bear in Fairbanks

I paid $53 for a thousand Federal 215s last week. I get the last laugh. I haven't bought a gun from these thieves for decades. I would rather be able to buy 1k of 215s for $53 than buy no 215s for $30.

I just figure in the hazmat fee for on-line purchases and see which is still cheaper by the pound (or 8), then buy the cheapest. I bought a pound of AA4350 the other day for $26 from Cabelas and didn't figure that was too bad.

I would not be to quick to claim LGS are gouging.
Think of it this way, most are mom and pop operations and up till a year or so ago they were making X amount off each box of ammo or components they sold. Fast forward to todays world and now they have maybe 10-20% to sell compared to what they sold in the past. Their profit margins are way down and they need to make the money somehow or go out of business. They are most likely a victim just like the rest of us are.