Reloading supplies...Frustration!

I

icedog

CGN Regular
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Local suppliers carry a very limited stock of reloading supplies, mostly at fairly inflated prices (please, no posts about it being a business, covering overhead, supporting local businesses etc.). I've been repeatedly disappointed by thinking I might find what I'm looking for when I have infrequent opportunities to shop at Wholesale, Bass Pro, and other such places. If I visit with a list of 8 or 10 items, I feel fortunate if they actually have a couple of them. The selection of in-stock bullets, powders, brass, and reloading related tools, even at the "big" retailers, is frequently pathetic.

Anyone from Alberta or B.C. purchase regularly from Higginsons? Is their stock generally good? How much do you need to order to make it worthwhile considering shipping cost, dangerous goods charges etc.?

I am fed up with hearing things like "We don't have any 4064... haven't had for weeks, and it could be a month." ... " Nope, haven't got ANY .270 Barnes bullets" ... "Haven't seen any of those 25 calibre Hornady bullets forever." or "We've been out of that brass since last (insert month of your choice)."

Please pardon the rant ... so what's the deal with Higginsons?
 
I buy from Higginsons once in a while (pick-up). He's a great guy to deal with (albeit very busy). He, and I think all suppliers, suffer from restocking problems. Higg's website will list new arrivals, and sometimes, after a long dry spell, you'll have to snatch something up before the others do (last year's primer shortage, for example).

You really have to have a list of suppliers, and poll them when ready to buy. SFRC and Reloaders are well represented on CGN.
 
I hear you & your right. Stuff seems harder to get all the time....
I too like to support the little gun shop but the stock is thin, & same story as yours. I even held off this yr in hoping to find some of the stuff at the local gun show,....didn't happen & what I did see was like,... gold priced!

I'm to a point now when I have to have it now, will order it, pay the shipping & save the truck & gas for going to the club to shoot instead of running all over hell to find what they don't have. I'm done now too....d:h:
 
I don't disagree, but when you can, load up on the stuff. Every year its harder to get, and get it long before its time to reload. It will not go bad sitting in your cabinet.

P&D is generally ok, but it months to get powder in this year. I made a road trip and stocked up on a 3 year supply for five of us. Sometimes it hurts the wallet, but its my business to reload when I require, not someone else's.
 
Where you are matters. Buying components on-line will cost you more than buying locally. The shipping will hurt.
 
As much as I like to try to buy locally and even with a WSS close by, I now almost buy all my reloading supply on line.
 
To the OP,Seeing as you asked about AB and BC I can somewhat feel your pain.The Big stores a lot of the time have almost nothing on the shelves.But the"smaller" Mom and Pop places can sometimes surprise you.I went months waiting for shipments to come in at all the sporting good superstores with no results.Finally fed-up I went for a 200 mile round trip from Edmonton to Rocky Mountain House to Caroline and back!Red Dot,Unique,H 4895 and AA4350 in-stock and how much do you want?FFG,FFFG,Lube,wads measures and other accessories what else would you like?We carry a full line of their bullets and how many primers would you like Sir?Sure you can sit on your arse and complain about the prices and save a couple of bucks on the cost of components by ordering on-line and then pay through the nose for shipping. Support the little guys in your community or the next one over and make sure that they have a reason to stock the supplies that you want so they will be there next year.
 
The TIME TO BUY is when you FIND IT. HEY Nut Up and Stock Up.

Powder, Buy by the KEG, Primers, By the 5K's and Bullets, But the 5K's as well.

Bullets don't go Bad, so stock up on what you need when u see them. I once CLEARED the shelf of cheap 223 ammo when i found it, its tough , i know, but i mostly shoot several calibers, and man Stock up for those.

Whats the use of thousands of dollars on the GEAR if you got no ammo for it. Might as well but a Harley and ride :D:D

As fr powder, its only end of April and i used up 5lbs of UNIQUE already :D:D

My 2 Cents.
 
INTIMIDATOR said:
Holy Cwap, what are you reloading shells for a Sherman tank? That would last me 42 years of loading my 223 and my 7mm. lol
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You'll use it eventually and prices aren't going down.

I would rather not have to work up a load every time I buy powder because the store doesn't have the same powder I bought last time. This doesn't happen as often if you make a point of stockpiling components.
 
i am from northern bc and have much of the same problems your having i order all my bullets from Henry Nierychlo here on CGN he is excellent to deal with and excellent priced i have also started using him for reloading tools and other general reloading stuff with great success you should give him a try
 
ripitup911 said:
i am from northern bc and have much of the same problems your having i order all my bullets from Henry Nierychlo here on CGN he is excellent to deal with and excellent priced i have also started using him for reloading tools and other general reloading stuff with great success you should give him a try
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x2 for Henry I have used his sevices a couple of times I was very happy with his company which is Budget Shooter Supply, he has a tab at the top of the page,I bet you will not be dissapointed
 
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