Powder buying question

5pointCal · 10-09-2008, 11:04 AM

I was just on MidSouth's website looking at powder and see that they have to tack on a $20 - $30 HazMat fee. That would put a 50 pack of 777 pellets being $32 - $42 dollars. How is this cheaper and how can people afford that when I can get a 100 pack of the same stuff for under $30 at a local store? Am I missing something here?

arcticap · 10-09-2008, 11:13 AM

I guess that the order would need to be for a larger quantity of powders and primers,and if some folks live quite a ways away from the nearest store, then the cost of gas might be very expensive to drive there.
No one needs to mail order if the bottom line is more expensive then it would cost them otherwise.

cayugad · 10-09-2008, 11:14 AM

No your not. You have just discovered one of the biggest rip offs the government has ever done. We are charged a Haz Mat fee because of the Hazardous Material and how it has to be shipped. The joke is according to the UPS driver, there are three extra forms, other then that they sent the same way. Another joke.. if you order primers or caps in the order, they will hit you with a second haz mat fee because they claim it can not be shipped in the same box. Which again is a lie because they have done it to me.

Yes it is much better cost wise to buy your powder locally even if you have to pay a couple bucks more per pound. The only way you save money is order 25 pounds of the stuff at one time. Then it is a $1.00 more a pound plus shipping and normally because of the reduction in the initial cost of the powder it is a little cheaper.

If you can get a group of people that want powder, then you can order in volume. Although they will not ship substitute powder and black powder together. They hit you with another haz mat for that as well. I order my powder by the case, but I shoot off that and then some in a year. Also watch stores like Wal Mart. Sometimes at their end of the hunting season, they will put their powder on sale and you can pick up powder for about half the price. Unless of course someone like me beats you to the store..

Semisane · 10-09-2008, 11:16 AM

Nope, you're not missing anything. Buy local when you can. You'll pay taxes but save shipping. I've never shot pellets and probably never will. I was at a local sporting goods store yesterday and was amazed to see that the canisters of loose T7 that were around $19 last fall are now marked $26.

5pointCal · 10-09-2008, 11:19 AM

Thank you guys. Yeah, I've noticed a price hike as our ML season here in GA approaches. I guess I'm going to have to hit'em up after the season and stock pile. Hopefully I'll beat the guys like you, cayugad, there.

I'm going to have to make a friend at the local Walmart so they can call me when prices start getting slashed.

liquidorange · 10-09-2008, 06:17 PM

you need to just do a little math. for instance pyrodex pellets cost like 26- 29$ in most stores. i can get it online for 20$. same thing with other powders. i can usually save a bunch even with the haz-fee. try natchez shooters and grafs and sons.