Hazmat rates for shippin powder

[hobowonkanobe]

not sure where to post this so I opted for this being "general"
Im lookin at getting my 1803 Harpers Ferry back from a friend including the better part of 2 lbs BP. I promised I'd look up the hazmat shipping rate but have so far been unsuccessful.
I know its a flat rate that from TotW etc covers 25 to 50 lbs but the actual amount is as of yet a mystery.
And before anyone asks why Im bothering, actual BP is apparently not available in Michigan like it is in Oregon.

 

[rafterob]

The real problem is only an authorized distributor can ship it. Not good for an individual to attempt to ship explosives.

 

[Ames]

Its not worth the trouble. Get your gun back. Order 5 lbs. online. $20 hazmat, $7.95 shipping, Grafs.
Tell your buddy to pour out the old stuff out if he's not a die hard shooter. Its just not worth the hassle.

 

[dsayer]

Its not worth the trouble. Get your gun back. Order 5 lbs. online. $20 hazmat, $7.95 shipping, Grafs.
Tell your buddy to pour out the old stuff out if he's not a die hard shooter. Its just not worth the hassle.

Plus one on ordering from Graf's. I really like their $7.95 shipping and $20 hazmat (I think this is standard maybe?) fee regardless of order size. To me, a five pound order is the minimum to make the hazmat fee "worth it."

 

[SgtMaj65]

Yes, Graf's excellent. My BP vendor.

 

[smoothshooter]

Agreed.

Buying 10 to 25 pounds makes even more sense. Spreads out the fees even more.
Really doesn't take that long to go thru 10 pounds if you like to shoot.
I tell people buy all they can afford now. Lifetime supply.
Same with caps.
With all the terrorism crap going on, and the politicians and government agencies just looking for an excuse to tighten the screws on the shooting sports, it wil be very difficult and MUCH more expensive to get powder and caps in a very few years. And I mean FEW.

 

[dsayer]

Yes, but it's easier to convince my wife I need $110 of powder twice than $200 once... :grin:

 

[Adui]

Yes, but it's easier to convince my wife I need $110 of powder twice than $200 once... :grin:

Amen brother! I feel that pain SO often!

 

[fleener]

Haz Mat fees are just a add on that trucking companies have come up to help cover the cost of additional compliance with the USDOT haz mat regulations.

As an individual, you certainly can ship black powder via a commercial carrier like fed ex. However, you would need to ship it following all the USDOT regulations for shipping a flammable solid.

You would have to have an approved UN packaging, marking, labeling, shipping paper, training, etc.

I echo what others have said. Dont do it, because unless you really know what you are doing, you wont do it right.

Fleener

 

[rodwha]

When I began it was 3F Triple 7 for me as Olde Eynsford wasn’t out yet and Swiss wasn’t available locally. But then came the dark times when many shooting accessories became hard to find and for months I’d show up at my local BassPro to find they still didn’t have it. Went to Grafs and found I could order 3 pounds to about break even without the hassle of driving an hour to come home empty handed as a phone call wouldn’t likely be productive.

But then Olde E was available and cheaper. Can’t say how the cost might compare because I lived but don’t have anywhere I’d want to go anyway, which would be more than hour and in Austin traffic, which just isn’t worth it. So I feel I’m gaining regardless.

 

[SgtMaj65]

Mine too! :thumbsup:

 

[dsayer]

I hear ya on driving through traffic (avoiding that is worth the hazmat fee itself). I also found that it was about 3.5 pounds to break even on Graf's house powder vs. buying T7 locally. So 4 saves a bit of money but for some reason I felt compelled to purchase in an integer of 5.

 

[dsayer]

Yes, but it's easier to convince my wife I need $110 of powder twice than $200 once... :grin:

Amen brother! I feel that pain SO often!

They just don't get it...

 

[Rifleman1776]

Haz Mat fees are just a add on that trucking companies have come up

Not really. It was part of the "black powder relief" bill introduced by then U.S. Senator Birch Bayh in the 1970s. He was a liberal Democrat and stabbed the ml avocation in the back after being treated like some kind of savior by the NMLRA officers. Relief? No way, it was what we now find so restricting in trying to obtain bp. I'll stop here before I get :cursing:

 

[fleener]

Rifleman

I think you thinking of something else. The haz mat fees are not associated with any government agency or requirements to collect money for a program or legislation.

The trucking companies simply keep 100% of the money they collect from it.

Fleener

 

[Rifleman1776]

Rifleman

I think you thinking of something else. The haz mat fees are not associated with any government agency or requirements to collect money for a program or legislation.

The trucking companies simply keep 100% of the money they collect from it.

Fleener

Nope. I was there and followed the legislation carefully. If the Fed. law did not impose the haz-mat it certainly authorized it. FWIW, during hearings leading up to the vote on the "bp relief" bill, it was reported there was not a single instance of fires or explosions with bp during transport or while setting on a shelf in a store.

 

[fleener]

The trucking companies can charge haz mat fees on all shipments of haz mat, not just black powder or explosives.

Fleener

 

[nhmoose]

And they do. Deal with it.

I have shot BP competition for years and had an interest in a gun shop for years.

Sorry to say but ML shooters are the cheapest bunch of shooter known to any dealer.

Make a living of them good luck to the ones who can.

To others who complain jump in the waters fine. Put up with the laws and rules etc. See how you come out.

 

[fleener]

Not sure why your negative comments to my post. I never complained or said it was unfair or not right.

Just simply stating that the facts are as it relates to the haz mat fees. That they are simply collected by the trucking companies to help offset the cost of hauling haz mat.

Not pro or con, simply making a factual statement.

Fleener

 

[jpm1963]

When I lived in Saline, MI i bought my real BP from Johnson's Sporting goods in Adrian.
It is a pleasant drive out through the Irish hills.

I bought my Triple & from Meijers. Along with caps and other odds and ends.

Jim in NC now.