I've decided to buy 10,000 bullets all at once from the same lot

[BMW]

I did contact Berger I was told that I could get a group discount of $53/100. Since Powder Valley sells them for $45 and Bullets.com for $47 I wasn't impressed with their response.

I'll probably go with JLK because I've used their 180s and was thrilled with their consistency and performance. Sorting was unnecessary, but I wasn't thrilled with their lead time because I had to order six months ahead of time. But I think I've come around and readjusted my thinking. I used to think that buying in large quantities was financially burdensome, now I see that the benefit of buying all from one lot.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Joe

Have you thought about swagging your own ? It appears your cost for 10,000 bullets exceedes the cost of a manual press and equipment and almost gets into the neighborhood of hydraulic presses.

No more lengthy lead times.

 

[3081FTR]

just buy a barrels worth each time - new barrel is a new load work up anyways

 

[GerryM]

Pretty sure you could get them direct. Just have to place that order and more then likely wait for the run of bullets.
They could add your order to that normal run. 10,000 bullets is a lot to ask from a supplier.
I think that would be your best course of action.
I could give you a lit of reasons why.

 

[barefooter56]

I did contact Berger I was told that I could get a group discount of $53/100. Since Powder Valley sells them for $45 and Bullets.com for $47 I wasn't impressed with their response.

I'll probably go with JLK because I've used their 180s and was thrilled with their consistency and performance. Sorting was unnecessary, but I wasn't thrilled with their lead time because I had to order six months ahead of time. But I think I've come around and readjusted my thinking. I used to think that buying in large quantities was financially burdensome, now I see that the benefit of buying all from one lot.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Joe

Joe R,
The issue is that we dont undercut our dealers. Our dealers are always cheaper. That's all.

 

[butchlambert]

10,000 bullets is not a large order for Berger. They can't give a huge discount to every 10,000 bullet buyer. Their dealers buy way more bullets than that and yes they need to take care of them.
Custom bullets do not always shoot good in different barrels even from the same supplier. Your gunsmith's reamer is a small part of the equation.

 

[BOBC]

just buy a barrels worth each time - new barrel is a new load work up anyways

Butchlambert makes a lot of sense. I've seen it several times over the years, when a shooter orders a large batch of bullets before they try a few first to see if their barrel likes them. In many cases if their rig does not like that particular bullet, you'll see them for sale on a forum or at a match usually for much less than the shooter paid for them.

Try a few first, and if they shoot for you after a thorough testing, just buy enough for the life of the barrel that likes them. Then when you have to replace the worn out barrel, repeat the process.

A bullet maker, should have no problem duplicating a particular lot of their bullet line. I've been there ,and done that. It's not rocket science. It's just dedication and years of bullet making experience and keeping accurate records.

I do think it may be tougher when producing the numbers of bullets almost equal to the numbers of coins produced by the U.S. Mint.

But it all comes down to doing the same thing right, over and over again.

 

[Joe R]

BOBC said:
Try a few first, and if they shoot for you after a thorough testing, just buy enough for the life of the barrel that likes them. Then when you have to replace the worn out barrel, repeat the process.

I have tried a few, about 4,500 of them. I like them, my barrels, reamer and gunsmith all seem to like them and that's why I've decided to settle on them. So that I can concentrate on learning to read mirage and wind. I'm clueless on both, but I know its a learned skill not some voodoo magic, so it's only matter of time until I find a good teacher.

Kindest regards,

Joe

 

[BOBC]

I have tried a few, about 4,500 of them. I like them, my barrels, reamer and gunsmith all seem to like them and that's why I've decided to settle on them. So that I can concentrate on learning to read mirage and wind. I'm clueless on both, but I know its a learned skill not some voodoo magic, so it's only matter of time until I find a good teacher.

Kindest regards,

Joe

DO WHAT YOU FEEL WILL GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. I HOPE ALL YOUR FUTURE BARRELS LIKE THEM AS WELL.

 

[TAJ45]

Have you thought about swagging your own ? It appears your cost for 10,000 bullets exceedes the cost of a manual press and equipment and almost gets into the neighborhood of hydraulic presses.

No more lengthy lead times.

Enough bench shooters have gone this route but making a bullet that is top notch, is similar to making it in the Bigs. I don't think too many will disagree on this.

 

[Ned Ludd]

You really think youre gonna get 10,000 that you could call a lot? Not that much lead on a spool or jacket cups on a roll. Last lot i seen had a box of 80 something 6.5 140gr bullets in a 105 hybrid box right in the middle

Berger makes more than enough to cover that number in a production run and they put the same Lot # on every box. That's good enough for me.

Joe, I've purchased Bergers in the sort of quantities you're talking about in the past. Ultimately, I ordered them through Bruno's, who added my order quantity to the quantity they had ordered themselves for the exact same bullet.

 

[hothead]

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. The day after you receive your bullets,
someone will come out with a better bullet, or something different, that you want. Been there done that.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Year old thread. He probably needs more bullets by now.

 

[McStocks]

We're an authorized Berger dealer - best prices you'll find! Send me an e-mail for our price list!

steve@mcgeestocks.com

 

[long40shot]

10,000 bullets?? Hell, I'd get bored with the caliber before i ever shot all those up.

Matt

 

[people]

DO WHAT YOU FEEL WILL GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. I HOPE ALL YOUR FUTURE BARRELS LIKE THEM AS WELL.

Just put them in a ammo can. They will keep. Then when you do get to use them they are truly cheap.

 

[savagedasher]

Rember you must also get enough primers powder and case of the same lot . To make them work if the barrels your going to use to the same also . Good luck on your endeavors . Larry

 

[Delfuego]

Try 1shotgear in Colorado. They may not have that many on hand but may be able to get you what you want. They are very good people.

 

[Joe R]

10,000 bullets?? Hell, I'd get bored with the caliber before i ever shot all those up.

Matt

Not really, I've gone through about half of them . But I'm slowing down a lot now. I have a 260AI and a 7SAUM to keep it interesting.

Joe

PS Boy a year later and this thread is resurrected. We have some diligent readers.

 

[ebb]

If they are so important to accuracy why did he change to JLKs at the drop of a hat? I like JLKs in my gun .

 

[Shynloco]

Well, it shouldn't take much fine tuning since my gunsmith will be using the same reamer. I'm hoping 3 barrels will do it.

I'm kind of slow, but I just realized that I'm supposed to be using a custom bullet maker to get the same lot and not off the shelf stuff. Silly me, everything else I'm using is custom, why not bullets? All I need now is some Custom Varget.

Joe

Joe,

If I may, tenring pointed out some factors to consider additionally. Whenever you change barrels, regardless if they are all made by the same manufacturer, you'll need to retest no matter if the same reamer was used or not. And the life of the barrel is also dependent on how "hot" your loads are, not to mention, each time you go to a new container of powder, you will also need to retest even though I have no idea how many containers of powder you'll go through with 10,000 bullets. And dependent upon the purpose of your shooting, I too suggest you go directly to the bullet maker and buy directly from them, as well as buy the barrels perhaps at a discounted price when you buy three or four barrels that I believe you may exhaust by the time you are done shooting that many bullets. But sounds like fun and good like in your efforts.

Alex