What is your powder $ spending breaking point?

[CNC-Dude]

I think of all the hobbies I've had throughout the years, and cost-wise, shooting has had the least amount of cost increase compared to racing. When you compare the increases in racing fuel, machine work, engine parts and parts to build the car with, entry fees, etc...to build and duplicate the same race cars I had 15 to 20 years ago costs over $12K-$15K more today. So for the price of consumables to only be increased by the little amount they have is mere pocket change in comparison. Golf is the same way, how much are a set of titanium clubs today versus 5 to 10 years ago. If you enjoy your hobby, I don't think there is a dollar figure that changes the priority of it, only if you grow tired of it and find something else that you enjoy more.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

While all of that is true it does not justify price gouging, which is a big part of our problem.

When local guns shops charge anywhere from $45 to $60 for a pound of Varget (not to mention whatever gouging comes from Hodgdon), it’s up to us to police it.

The price of pickup trucks or horse hay or sailboats doesn’t really matter. If anything it proves this is narrowing down from a rich persons game to a very rich persons game.

Agree, but part of problem is nice F150. is a LOT of money these days.

 

[jimmymac]

LOL. Yea, fishing is cheap after buying a $30,000 boat and a truck to pull it. I don't know bout fishing equipment.

I’m running a boat I paid 9K for fourteen years ago. That boat can be pulled with a small SUV which I already owned so there has never been a time where I needed to buy a truck to accommodate my boat, so fishing is one hell of a lot cheaper for me than my shooting addiction.

 

[rebs]

Good point. I only shoot 223 - it's much less painful for me.

+1 223 uses less powder and bullets are cheaper

 

[Bottom Fodder]

So the new norm is to shoot something that uses less powder and cheaper bullets, fits me to a tee never liked the big boomers anyway

 

[Fuj]

Just for sh_ts and giggles.....I'm out at the range and having about the
same discussion. One bud bitches about the price of powder and another
about the price of primers, and I'm bitchin' about the price of chicken wings !!
But all 3 of us were not bitchin' about our 3 to 4000 dollar scopes. But I guess
you can't count a scope as being a consumable.

 

[MUP]

I am always on high alert for powder, primes and bullets. I am the guy everyone loves to hate because I buy it when the price is right or I find the hard to find items. Just bought 3lbs of vihtavouri at Scheels on sale for 30 bucks a pound. I didnt need it or even use it for anything "yet" but when everyone else is out I am still rolling.

I assume in the next 5 years I will have enough supplies to last me until I die and still have ample in reserve. Every election cycle or dreamed up crisis brings another wave of price increases and supply shortages. Buy what you can when you can and don't regret it because the next time it's probably going to be worse.

I got an earlier start than you did most likely. I have friends ask me if I have what they need now.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Just got home from the grocery store and now I have decided that shooting is cheaper than eating

 

[Jayplace]

I’m running a boat I paid 9K for fourteen years ago. That boat can be pulled with a small SUV which I already owned so there has never been a time where I needed to buy a truck to accommodate my boat, so fishing is one hell of a lot cheaper for me than my shooting addiction.

Fair enough.

 

[markm87]

+1 223 uses less powder and bullets are cheaper

A nice 223 bolt gun with a good scope is guilt free shooting.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Just got home from the grocery store and now I have decided that shooting is cheaper than eating

That’s the sad truth.

 

[Dgd6mm]

How many craps does it take to flush a pounds worth of powder down the toilet?

 

[Bill Clifton]

My LGS has had Varget regularly 49.99 but I haven't been there in a couple months

 

[Ccrider]

LOL. Yea, fishing is cheap after buying a $30,000 boat and a truck to pull it. I don't know bout fishing equipment.

30k is cheap. I paid 2x that years ago for my 21 foot fully rigged out Basscat. You are talking 80k now. Since I fail down this benchrest reloading rabbit hole, my boat has been neglected.

Go buy a Stella spinning reel, you drop 600 bucks. Buy a top line rod, another 600 bucks. You need at least 5 rod and reel setups.

You can fish on the cheap, but if you like to play with nice toys, it is much cheaper to shoot, even at today’s component prices. I can’t say I would not pay 60 a pound for H4895 if I needed it. I would pay it if I could afford it and not give it much thought.

If I could not afford it, I would go fishing, maybe on the cheap with some red worms and A zebco 202 and still have a ball. And maybe get some good eating food to boot!


My Dad use to quote Philippians 4:11: I have learned to be content in any circumstances in which I find myself.
Glad to be living.

 

[Fuj]

My Dad use to quote Philippians 4:11: I have learned to be content in any circumstances in which I find myself.
Glad to be living.

A foot note to that is when someone says to you...."It's good to see you"
and you reply....."It's good to be seen"

I did buy those way over priced chicken wings. Ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do......

By the way.....I do have a breaking point but only on single pound orders which
I never do. A pound of Varget would actually be over $90 bucks. Add in Haz,
shipping, and Pa. state tax. Hazmat is the real screw job......

 

[JSH]

At what dollar amount would it take for you to stop buying powder on line to load with? $100.00 + all the fees or higher still?

Bill

To stay on track here, I look a lot harder today at loaded ammo of all NEW components and cost.
I break that down into what would it cost for me to buy ALL of the components, tax, shipping and everything of the full price included. Sadly and I hate to admit it, there is a fair amount of loaded ammo out there that is relatively cheap, or at least a good buy.

If it’s a new cartridge to me, dies have to be included. Is it a cartridge that will be shot a lot, or one that sees use 1-3 times a year? High volume, I buy dies. Low volume, I may spend a bit on ammo looking for a better factory load, but I won’t have partials of powder and partial boxes of bullets sitting around either. Taken me a long time to do this.

I could get by very well with 4895, Unique/or 2400 and bullseye. I can run most rifle or pistol with jacketed or cast with those powders. @$100 a pound though my shooting would be limited.

What spooks me is if powder gets to $100 per pound as an average and a normal, primers will be .20-.30 each.

 

[Ccrider]

What spooks me is if powder gets to $100 per pound as an average and a normal, primers will be .20-.30 each.

Don’t forget that this is not the first time that this rise in cost has happened. Seems to be triggered by what party is on control of the whitehouse. When the republicans win, the prices will likely go down significantly, although not to where they were.

I see it as this is a hobby. We have enough invested to make it hard to just walk away. If you love doing it, I believe most would pay 100+ a pound if that was the cost to do it, and shoot less if they have to, rather than walking away.

 

[HTSmith]

Alliant just reached mine.

 

[JSH]

Don’t forget that this is not the first time that this rise in cost has happened. Seems to be triggered by what party is on control of the whitehouse. When the republicans win, the prices will likely go down significantly, although not to where they were.

I see it as this is a hobby. We have enough invested to make it hard to just walk away. If you love doing it, I believe most would pay 100+ a pound if that was the cost to do it, and shoot less if they have to, rather than walking away.

Totally agree.
With what a lot of us have invested makes it harder to walk away. But on the other hand, when should one “cull the heard” and cut losses and go forward with the rest.
I have no adult supervision, so I suffer from some impulse buying and realize I am not 40 anymore.

 

[bozo699]

Totally agree.
With what a lot of us have invested makes it harder to walk away. But on the other hand, when should one “cull the heard” and cut losses and go forward with the rest.
I have no adult supervision, so I suffer from some impulse buying and realize I am not 40 anymore.

^^^^^^^
And so the hoarding and impulse buying continues at my house as well. I think I have 8 or 10 8 lb jugs of Varget and a tote full of 1 pounders but if my lgs had 3 8 pounders in today I would come home with them!… h4350, rl 16-26-33 etc etc etc……
Wayne