Just wanted to let my Canadian counterparts know that this past weekend while in Edmonton, Wholesale Sports had a limit on the amount of powder one could buy. You could only buy 1lb of one type per customer. The store said they would be out of powder in about 3 weeks. Its due to the importer getting nailed for unsafe handling procedures. Has anybody else heard anything???

Hi Mark

I did have some problems recently getting powder shipped to my local shop because the courier was confused. It turned out that they mistook it for black powder which is not shipped that way. I got my powder in the end.

Primers are the new concern now. It seems that everybody is stock piling because of the up comming war. I'm told that in 91 when gulf war 1 happened the companies were too busy making military primers that there was a shortage for the reloader. I wasn't reloading at the time and don't remember this so I'll buy some extras just to be safe.

I was living in CA during the 91 Campaign in the Gulf and I can tell you that primers of any type were hard to get. The shortage lasted about 3-4 months as I recall. Hmmm maybe I should stock up on another 10,000 or so.

Mark,I just received an order from wholesale sports placed two weeks ago.It contained 10lbs of powder.I must have ordered just in time.I am glad I have powder to shoot with in the following months.

Hey Guys:

Hey Guys:

I was at the White Elephant in Spokan in the early 90's and I remember a powder and primmer shortage.

Hey Guys:

I was at the White Elephant in Spokan in the early 90's and I remember a powder and primmer shortage.
I live in Northern B.C. and I know what you are saying Mark, things are gettig a little tight up here to. It will only last for a few months and then things will losen up again I'm sure.
Just keep the faith brother.

Grijim

Gents,
Primer shortage wasn't due to the Gulf War, It was due to the Klintons threats to make folks get "Arsenal" permits for having more than 1000 rounds or primers or bullets and due to their desires to make primers that would degrade over time so that folks couldn't stockpile ammo or primers.
Prices skyrocketed and then came backdown after the proposed legislation failed.

While I was not aware of a shortage at this point I am aware their was some talk amongst the Liberals to try and limit the amount of Ammo that could be imported into Canada.

I usually get my Powder in Colville or Spokane now as it is a little closer for me and with exchange works out to be the same price so long as I buy made in the USA stuff.

I just have to check and make sure I can still import it. A year ago you could import up to 8 Kg a trip.

I have been using most reloader series of powders.

And Hogdons powder as well.

The free trade agreement is supposed to just remove any tarriffs on goods made in Canada, America or Mexico. So even if I did buy IMR it would/should work out to being about the same price. Still its only an hour to Colville or 5 hours to Calgary. And then to have it shipped they tack on a dangerous good fee as well.

So as far as I have found it is cheaper for me to go the the USA for powder.

I just got some powder from Wholesale last week. My buddy was going down south to Edmonton, and he picked up 2 lbs of 4064 for me, 2 lbs of RL-22, 2 lbs of 4350, and a lb of VihtaVuori of some kind for another buddy's 22PPC. I heard the rumor of 'only one pound per person - another friend was at Wholesale and wanted 3 lbs of RL-22; they wouldn't sell him 3 one-pound cans, but sold him one five-pound can......what's the logic here?

Off topic but perhaps one of the gentlemen from Canada could respond.
Is it legal to receive via mail shipment from outside Canada .308/7.62 NATO caliber components in the form of dummy cartridges linked together with M-60 machinegun links?

Thanks,

Abe

As long as they're dummy cartridges (ie; no primers, or silicon in the primer pockets) you shouldn't have any problem. It's certainly legal to mail it, however a customs inspector with an agenda can put a crimp in your plans no matter what. I've had to send copies of the postal regs' down to CCRA (Canada Customs And Revenue) to straighten out some folks on what can be sent. Basically if it isn't flammable or explosive, it can be sent. In Canada you can mail firearms as well, it's just another package. It's just when the customs guys get involved that you might have trouble. - Dan

The truth is them Canucks have always been short of powder and now they have a limit!

You can try here if in need.
http://www.higginsonpowders.com/

Just more Whoresale rhetoric. The other gunshops have lots of powder. Wholesale buys one big lot of powder every so often and keeps it in the calgary wharehouse and supplies their other branches from there. When they run out they don't bother to buy more until the usual time they buy large volumes at discount prices a couple or maybe only once a year, when that runs out its too bad until next big bulk shipment comes in. they wont buy less than a certain amount because they don't get the discount. Just like everything else in the store once the wharehouse runs out its too bad till next season. I notice it with all kinds of things in that store, they fill the shelves twice a year and when things run out they make excuses until the next batch comes in. Most locals know how they operate and when the restock comes in the locals buy up what they need for the season and that results in the store running out of stuff sooner. Meanwhile all the other gunshops seem to have no problem ordering in what you need if they don't have it in the store. They buy smaller lots and make less profit so charge a couple bucks more for a pound of powder, but at least they have it or will get it for you.

Oscar hit it right on the head, Wholesale Sports pulls this stunt quite often, only sometimes the panic spreads through the whole province. Any new laws reguarding firearms at all and they start spreading rumors that the powder prices just have to go up "cuz' it's gonna get hard to get".

Move over a province or two and shop away.

Joe

I tried to get some Varget at wholesale in calgary this time last year. They told me they did not have any Varget in. Just after that i heard a voice in a cough like mutter say " We got Varget at Russells" I looked all around and this older guy was checking out a couple rifles. He looked at me looked around and said " we have Varget at Russell's" He was just their checking out prices and a few other things I guess.

The first time I ever went to Russells was to buy a rifle and scope and all the reloading goods. All in all I had just about 2000 dollars worth of goods I was going to buy and their service was terrible. Worst I have ever had. I bought my next rifle at Wholesale and got good service until I paid for my rifle. Then a few hours later try to find out if the paper work had gone through and no one could find the guy who made the calls.

I have been going to Russell's since then and have had very good, pretty knowledgable service. Just a one time bad experience with Russell's I hope.