This .50 BMG owner says thankyou!

o.k. rifle costs aside, why is the ammo so expensive up here in Canada?
the same stuff is half the price or less in the U.S., does it cost THAT much to bring it across the border?

http://www.nwammo.com/products/50-BMG-Tactical-Manufacturing-Inc-647-gr.html
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=47078
http://www.buy-phoenix-arms.com/item/72581_PMC_Ammunition_PMC_50BMG_660GR_FMJ_BT_10RD_BOX.aspx
http://www.sniperworld.com/item/72581_PMC_Ammunition_PMC_50BMG_660GR_FMJ_BT_10RD_BOX.aspx
http://ammoman.com/webstore_50BMG.htm
http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8648&dir=
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/47078-5.html ($23.95-out of stock-no surprise ;-)

i'm not trying to insult any of the dealers on this site. i just would like to know what's involved in importing 50BMG that makes it SO much more expensive up here?
 
You can't bring it across the Canada/USA border unfortunately. It id forbidden by the US dept.of state. The higher cost reflects the smallish quantities (relative to what the US is buying from the same sources) being brought into Canada from overseas.
 
bobdbldr said:
My question is, why do the .50 cal. rifles cost so much more? I can see it being a bit more cause you have to have a few pounds more steel , but you still poke a hole in it ,mill a reciever and bolt or action of some sort and put a stock on it. Maybe a bit more money for a bigger drill bit or lathe?
I would like to see the chinese or their importers wake up and say hey these foolish Canadians wil pay many thousands of dollars for a rifle that cost us $25. more to make than a .30 cal ,,lets make ten thousand of them and we can retail them for $1500. and make a wok full of cash, and then sell them norinco ammo for about $3. a round and make another wok full of cash.
Just saying, I don't undestand the exhorbitant prices!
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If Norinco can sell a .45 here for $350, they should be able to sell a .50 for $400. :p Heck, if it's nonrestricted, they could even bump the price up to $450.

I'd buy a .50 for $450. Use it to teach the in-laws how to shoot. :cool:
 
krausb said:
You can't bring it across the Canada/USA border unfortunately. It id forbidden by the US dept.of state. The higher cost reflects the smallish quantities (relative to what the US is buying from the same sources) being brought into Canada from overseas.
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All of our .50 BMG (PMC) has to circumnavigate the globe because if it gets NEAR the USA, the shipment gets diverted to Seattle and then seized!

We had 2 shipments seized so we are pretty adamant on how we need it shipped.

This also means almost 3 times the shipping charges. Plus the much more limited market which means increased prices. We only bid on 10,000 rounds at a time while the US market probably brings in 100,000 rounds at a time… Better pricing for sure!

I think we have done a great job by getting NEW ammo Nat Resources APPROVED (we did that too) and on the shelves for less than $6 per round.

Yes you can find it cheaper in the USA, but if I could buy it at those prices, I would buy them too.

Cheers,

JR
 
TSE JR said:
All of our .50 BMG (PMC) has to circumnavigate the globe because if it gets NEAR the USA, the shipment gets diverted to Seattle and then seized!

We had 2 shipments seized so we are pretty adamant on how we need it shipped.

This also means almost 3 times the shipping charges. Plus the much more limited market which means increased prices. We only bid on 10,000 rounds at a time while the US market probably brings in 100,000 rounds at a time… Better pricing for sure!

I think we have done a great job by getting NEW ammo Nat Resources APPROVED (we did that too) and on the shelves for less than $6 per round.

Yes you can find it cheaper in the USA, but if I could buy it at those prices, I would buy them too.

Cheers,

JR
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JR, first you have to be thanked deeply for all the hard work and effort that went into getting your .50 cal at the price and availability that you did. It wasn't easy or painless and it's very much appreciated.
I don't think most realize just how restrictive and anti-business/good neighbor the State Department is .... you would almost think they are trying to kill thier own in country business with thier less than stellar policies on export (Is Canada now part of the Axis of Evil?, just asking)
Any chance of us as a community (CGN and sponsors) working on a combined order (much in the same way northern European countries do for medication) so as to pool our buying power and get larger and therefore less expensive ammo orders to be distributed to dealers. Food for thought.
 
if i'm not mistaken, quite a few years back a Canadian ss-109 5.56mm over run was released to the civilian market, sold by the can. has anyone heard of Canadian military surplus being available to the civilian market in more recent times? if so, why not .50BMG ball?
maybe just a pipe dream, but ya gotta wonder where the extra goes, if/when it's over produced.
 
btw JR, no insult intended. thanx for your importing efforts. and i hope your first two shipments were insured or that you've been covered somehow for your loss.

most of us would love to get into the .50 game but it's financially out of reach at current canadian prices.
even if a person can scrape up several grand together for a rifle who can afford to shoot with any kind of regular frequency at 6 to 8 bucks a pop, or more if you're going for hornandy/a-max type precision loads?
i'll keep saving up pop bottles, but for now i'll have to be content with an sks and a $200 crate of 7.62x39.
 
johnone said:
BOBDBLDR;
"lets make ten thousand of them and we can retail them for $1500"

I like your thinking, it would seem that our company has missed something here.... I tell you what, please get back to me with manufacturing cost and details, I will gladly give you the contract....
As for ten thousand units, how many countries are you planning on supplying ??
There would be a few too many for Canada....
I look forward to doing business with you
John
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John I apologize if I somehow offended you but you seem to go off quite quickly ( should be into cowboy shooting ;0) )I was only asking as to why, and (my grammerical error) the we, would actually be you, or the Shooting Edge guys.I would have no Idea about building rifles although I would dearly love to. I used to be a plumber and for the last 23 years a pilot, not the prerequisites for the intricacies of gunsmithing.However, as one contributer tongue in cheek said,chinese 1911 45's are around $350. as opposed to somewhat more refined but no more effective counterparts are 2- 3 times the price.So I take it ,between the sarcastic remarks, that the numbers are not there to make such a thing work,,and I was not saying $400. but just within reach of us regular folk. I thought that if the price got close enough, a lot more would buy the .50 .I thnk I am safe in saying that there are quite a few of us the would like to if the price was better and now the ammo is getting within reason! Perhaps you could put out a questionair here on the cgn site to see what kind of response and what price point would work!
Yep you are all right about the reading and I just bought 4 very thick books about ammo, reloading and gunsmithing to start. I did not even know what the bmg. meant in the .50 bmg ( thoght it meant Big MUTHERF#$KIN GUN ). So I have around 11 lbs. of information to go through,,,to start! Cheers
 
Thank you for your efforts - i too have bought 50 BMG ammo from you.

Just a question - does this PMC ammo not come from Korea? In which case, the US is also paying for shipping to get it halfway around the world...

I agree that they (USA) are buying more at a time, but surely their discount is not THAT big - given that some US dealers (still having to buy from a US middleman/importer) are selling them for under $25 per 10....

So at $59 per 10, it is more than double what the US dealer (not importer) is selling it for....

I don't really understand the maths. I was the sole agent/importer for Carl Walther and some other brands in South Africa before moving to Canada in September, so I do know a small little bit about importing firearms/ammo from overseas.

I'm just curious how some US shops can sell the PMC ammo at under $25 a box of 10. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=47078

Anyway, not wanting to start a war here - just genuinely curious.
 
Globalstar66 said:
Thank you for your efforts - i too have bought 50 BMG ammo from you.

Just a question - does this PMC ammo not come from Korea? In which case, the US is also paying for shipping to get it halfway around the world...

I agree that they (USA) are buying more at a time, but surely their discount is not THAT big - given that some US dealers (still having to buy from a US middleman/importer) are selling them for under $25 per 10....

So at $59 per 10, it is more than double what the US dealer (not importer) is selling it for....

I don't really understand the maths. I was the sole agent/importer for Carl Walther and some other brands in South Africa before moving to Canada in September, so I do know a small little bit about importing firearms/ammo from overseas.

I'm just curious how some US shops can sell the PMC ammo at under $25 a box of 10. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=47078

Anyway, not wanting to start a war here - just genuinely curious.
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Wow.... at $2.50/rnd I would be able to afford a 50. $6 a pop is still too much.
 
Where can one get a .50BMG rifle.
Canstar lists one, with no price.
Why? Is it because, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it".
Sounds like the perfect gun to buy, to celebrate the ending of the LGR.
Providing one can be had for around $5,000.oo
 
There are many places to get a 50 it is all about how much you want to spend. I will say this it is worth every penny! There is no feeling like shooting a 50, I have and LTR3 by PGW.

This is just a few

PGWDTI - Custom
Alberta Tacicalt - Custom
Tactical Import - SEMI Auto $$$
Wolverine - AI

Reloading cost.
Brass new primed IVI match $8.00ea
Brass IVI Match once fired $2.00ea
100 CCi 50bmg Primers $50.00 per 100
50BMG powder $26.00 1 lbs

Bullets

Pulled Ball $1.5
A-Max $ 100 per 20
Laupa $100 per 20
Accurate Bullet $ 80 per 20
 
trebor2880 said:
Where can one get a .50BMG rifle.
Canstar lists one, with no price.
Why? Is it because, "if you have to ask, you can't afford it".
Sounds like the perfect gun to buy, to celebrate the ending of the LGR.
Providing one can be had for around $5,000.oo
Click to expand...

The Steyr HS50 rifles sell new for around the $5000 mark if you shop around a bit - that is for the single shot version without a magazine. The magazine version is more, but absolutely not necessary.

I also have the PGW LRT-3 and it is to say the least - AWESOME!!! They sell for $8500 directly from PGW defence.

Some others sold here are in excess of $13000, and IMHO not worth the extra money over the PGW. The PGW comes in a CADEX Chassis, already has a fully fitted Pelican 1770 case, cleaning kit, 2 mags and an awesome Atlas Bipod.

The Cadex chassis is a folding stock chassis and already has all the picatinny rails on (supplied), so there is nothing much you have to add except ammo and a scope.

And Ross and Steve at PGW are just the best guys to deal with EVER.
 
Globalstar66 said:
The Steyr HS50 rifles sell new for around the $5000 mark if you shop around a bit - that is for the single shot version without a magazine. The magazine version is more, but absolutely not necessary.

I also have the PGW LRT-3 and it is to say the least - AWESOME!!! They sell for $8500 directly from PGW defence.

Some others sold here are in excess of $13000, and IMHO not worth the extra money over the PGW. The PGW comes in a CADEX Chassis, already has a fully fitted Pelican 1770 case, cleaning kit, 2 mags and an awesome Atlas Bipod.

The Cadex chassis is a folding stock chassis and already has all the picatinny rails on (supplied), so there is nothing much you have to add except ammo and a scope.

And Ross and Steve at PGW are just the best guys to deal with EVER.
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Shop Around!?

Shop where? Not much out there in 50BMG
 
trebor2880 said:
Shop Around!?

Shop where? Not much out there in 50BMG
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I think what the meant was that you can get the same rifle from many different stores, find the best price. Lots of stores all get there rifles from one main importer. They all pay the same price for it but the selling price varies a lot. The last STEYR HS50 I bought was $5,200 with tax and to my door step. Some places still want $5,700 for the same rifle.
 
trebor2880 said:
Can you give the names of 3 places that carry 50 BMG rifles?
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I bought my first two from Wolverine supplies, they carry a few different models
I bought the last one from The Outdoorsman
P&D in Edmonton had them
West Edmonton mall has a mag feed STEYR sitting on the shelf last time I was there
The Shooting Edge in Calgary has a STEYR and the have a mag fed Nemesis

I can go on if you like???
 
$$$

dirteemax said:
I bought my first two from Wolverine supplies, they carry a few different models
I bought the last one from The Outdoorsman
P&D in Edmonton had them
West Edmonton mall has a mag feed STEYR sitting on the shelf last time I was there
The Shooting Edge in Calgary has a STEYR and the have a mag fed Nemesis

I can go on if you like???
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dude, you are a blessed man. (and obviously you have a healthy income and, i'm guessing, no kids :) i remember those day$, and i certainly don't want to know about your private life, but dang! most of us just don't have the resources to buy a 5,000 dollar rifle, let alone three. sure the quick and easy response is, don't get into the .50 game then, but in the U.S. you can go lower budget and buy an upper receiver for around $800-1200! [let's not start the debate on .50 upper recoil non-issues, that's been hashed out on other threads].
so, why can't those be found up here? is it that hard to manufacture a bbl and upper receiver combo? how are guys like Bohica [yes, i know. he has a bad business reputation. i'm talking about manufacturing costs here] and others doing it for $800-1200?
and ditto, on the ammo statement mentioned earlier, ...how much does a retailer actually have to buy to get U.S. [$2.50/rd.] prices?
 
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