Several times this year I have bought powder, both Internet (Midway, Brownell) and Local (CAL Ranch, Trail Boss, both in Sierra Vista). I start my trips from Pearce, in SE Cochise County.
Primers and projectiles are bought online, since most of my bullets are match style and seldom available locally. Primers are best bought in bulk, and that favors internet purchasing in my particular situation.
The locals will factor shipping and hazmat into the shelf price. This, in turn, makes Midway more affordable for me. Two pounds of IMR-4064 comes to $40.00 per pound (same price from Midway and Brownell's, all fees and shipping included), where prices at CAL and TB can be as high as $43.00 per pound, and add to that the trip (72mi, 1hr 12min, each way) to find out they don't have it (and yes, we've done some calling ahead). The variance is even higher for primers, as long as I wait for sales specials.
As much as I have a significant interest in keeping my business and money in the hands of local vendors, the economics (just barely) don't support that, and the difference in time invested is night and day; 5 minutes (at most) on the net to Midway vs 2 1/2 to 3hrs in person.
I hadn't really made any judgement until I responded to this topic. But I'm going with Midway, etc., until brick and mortar vendors open up closer to me with better rates.
I load several calibers,and also shoot 9mm, with the emphasis leaning more toward suitability and self reliance, as opposed to cost.
But for 9mm, purchasing would be the preferred approach. I use inexpensive 115gr Ball ammo (Independence aluminum case) for the grand majority of my shooting (practice mainly), and I'd rather use Federal Premium Hydra-Shok as my defensive/carry round, rather than building my own. I do, however, have a full capacity and good components set aside for 9mm should supplies dry up for any reason, but right now, handloading 9mm makes less economical and time expenditure sense. If I had the Dillon 650, that might change, but with the 550, I just don't load handgun ammo anymore.
For 223, my emphasis is on accuracy, but current pricing being what it is, my meager stock of ammunition includes a fair amount of 75gr and 50gr handloads, as well as IMI 77, and Hornady 75gr Steel Match (for applications where picking up fired brass could be impractical).
For .260, .308, and .30-06, the 260 is strictly handloads, the .308 is about an even balance between 168gr handloads, IMI150gr, and IMI 168Gr. The .30-06 is all 150-155gr and 168gr handloads configured for use in Garand(s) with nearly the entire supply loaded in En-Bloc clips, ready for immediate application. I have found that my 168gr 30-06 Garand Match loads shoot exquisitely in my 22" Axis II Sporter, and that substituting 165gr Game Kings for the 168 allows identical accuracy with about a 3" POI shift at 200yd.
Greg
Topic: Where do folks around here like to get their supplies? (Read 3619 times)
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