Question for reloaders

I have found that sometimes the best prices are locally at larger stores, at least for powder and primers. It tends to save you some money on the Hazmat fee. I like sportsmans warehouse for powder and primers, but only if I am getting a little. If you are really going to load a lot the best bet is to order bulk and save a little. Places like powdervalley or wideners. GIbrass sometimes has good projectile and brass prices. Every now and then Dillon will run a sale on projectiles and primers. My local Bass Pro Shop was a little pricey as was gander mountain. It seems like sportsmans warehouse and cabelas are the best "large stores". Usually I could get an 8lb keg of powder at Sportsmans Warehouse for the same price as from powdervalley or wideners.

I buy my powder and primers locally, and everything else from Midway.

I haven't checked out all of the local places yet, but what i have checked either was out of h335 or wanted $23+/pound, making almost every online place i've checked cheaper even after reloading.

Thanks for the input guys.

Projectiles from Wideners/Midaway.
Powder and Primers either locally or in Bulk from Wideners.

For .308 I use AA2520 exclusively.
For 5.56 I use H335 for 55g & 62g, H322/AA2520 for 75g-77g, sometimes I use Varget.

Wideners. Midway (check for sales on blemished bullets). GIBrass. Hi-Tech Ammo. Pats Reloading. BUt in bulk and stock up when the getting is good.

For 5.56 I use 335, it's darn near identical to WC844 for your "mil-spec" loading. For the heavier slugs I use BLC-2. For 7.62 I use BLC-2, which is close to equivalent to WC846. I use to use Varget but being extruded powder it didn't meter as well while using the Dillon. Still shot fine but I didn't like it.

I'm sure your LC brass from gunbroker is fine but be careful about getting brass from an unknown source. With LC it's easy, if the crimp is still there you know you're good to go--once fired. You'll get some folks on there with all sorts of "once fired" whatevers and then when you get it you realize it was "once fired, seven loadings ago."

MickeyC said:

For .308 I use AA2520 exclusively.

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Why AA2520 exclusively on 308?

m118sb said:

I'm sure your LC brass from gunbroker is fine but be careful about getting brass from an unknown source. With LC it's easy, if the crimp is still there you know you're good to go--once fired. You'll get some folks on there with all sorts of "once fired" whatevers and then when you get it you realize it was "once fired, seven loadings ago."

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Yeah, I stick with people who have alot of ratings and have kept their rating high. I haven't received this order yet, but the guy told me it has crimped primers. Hopefully i'm not going to regret it, but we'll see.

Just out of curiosity what primers do you all use for 5.56? I've heard CCI #41 is great, but I can get wolf primers alot cheaper and I wasn't sure if it would make much difference.

Thanks again for all of the input.

The CCI 41's have harder cups, that's about it. I've used the Wolf primers a lot and have had no issues with them at all. Their Small Rifle Magnums are just like the 41's, just a harder cup, no extra oomph behind them.

I think you'll find that all the online places are cheaper than your local dealer -- until you factor in shipping and hazmat fees. That $18, one-pound can of powder can end up costing $50 after a $25 hazmat fee and $7 in shipping.

I've generally found Powder Valley to consistently have the best powder prices online.

GI Brass and Southern Belle Brass have great brass prices (although check the classifieds on FalFiles if you want .308) and decent shipping.

Wideners has great buys on surplus bullets and powders, and so does River Valley Ordinance. RVO is kinda small, so you just call up the nice lady and ask her what she's got laying around. Just got a good deal on some 62-grain penetrators from her.

Montana Gold Bullets now carries 5.56 bullets. They're not as cheap as surplus, but cheaper than most commercial bullets (just remember to figure in the pirce of shipping).

Not knocking the others, just know these guys from having dealt with them.

Consistency out of a Dillon is brilliant. I regularly get strings with SD of less than 10 FPS. Groups at just under 1/4" at 100 yards from a 24" Tikka.

Can't argue with the accuraccy and shot to shot consistency.

Wideners,Midway,Local shops.

I always thought that Powder Valley was cheaper but recently saw that some of my powders are cheaper at Wideners. As always, your results may vary.

aziator said:

I always thought that Powder Valley was cheaper but recently saw that some of my powders are cheaper at Wideners. As always, your results may vary.

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When ordering powder/primers online I have had to order bulk to offset the HazMat but I have a friend who is a member of a reloading cult and gets surplus 5.56 powder every year or so.

I get my stuff from where it's the cheapest. I usually get kegs of surplus powder for 5.56 when I can although it's been slim pickens lately.

Recently it's been Wolf ammo from ammoman.com for high volume.
V-max bullets from midway + Varget Powder from sportsmans for precision work.

powder valley and grafs are my favorite. powder valley only charges $20 for Hazmat up to 48 pounds. So it is a lot cheaper than sales tax. I have a Sportsman Warehouse near me but they are $30 more than Powder Valley for 8lb! So even if I buy just one keg from Powder, I will save money.

I would drive an hour to go to sportsmans when I lived in arizona. most powders were around $100 for an 8lb keg plus they all give a military/LEO discount.

Gun shows if the price is right. Otherwise I go with Midway or Graff & Sons. I miss getting stuff off ebay. :'(