price of powder

[F.G. Ford]

There is serious mark-up on black powder.
It costs a little over $5.00 a pound to make it, and it retails for the price that it sells at.
I know we do NOT discuss making it here, and will make no attempt to start.
However with the unavailability of caps, over priced powder, one has to start wondering what is going on.
Here in Canada even smokeless powder is difficult to find the old standard powders. They are replaced with foreign powders with VERY limited loading instructions.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but am very curious as to why I cannot purchase the loading components that could previously do so, for many years without any difficulty.
Fred

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Obama controls reloading component supply in Canada?

Seriously, I can't for the life of me figure out why the mark up on some things is so high. Generally, somebody will start undercutting the competition .

The process to make percussion caps is rather simple, yet they cost as much or more than fully loaded 22 rim fire ammo.

 

[garra]

Maybe Obama is the cause. Remember when he was re-elected the shelves emptied for powder, brass, bullets and primers.
Once a shortage is perceived, panic buying and hoarding make it happen.
When I checked all the big major reloading outfits, caps were backordered in all quantities, all brands, BP was available, prices were $16. and change for Goex.

 

[Flintfan69]

Once a shortage is perceived, panic buying and hoarding make it happen.

Exactly. If you are looking for someone to blame for the shortages the past several years, you need look no farther than your fellow shooters/reloaders. It's panic buying and hoarding that is causing the shortages on the shelves of powder, bullets, caps, primers, ammo..etc. Gotta be prepared for when the zombies come I guess.

 

[Dewey]

The biggest cost of BP is the hazmat fees. For example, Graf sells 1 lb of 3F for $16.59. BUT, handling & Insurance adds $7.95 and the Hazardous Materials Fee another $28.50!

The Hazmat fees are set by the carrier (UPS, FEDEX, etc.) according to what they think it costs to comply with CFR regulations governing hazardous material shipping. The Code of Federal Regulations being, of course, the laws established by congress.

So complain to your congressman.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Soooo.....Where does the haz-mat fee money go ?

What does it actually pay for?

Does the fee generate a surplus ?

How much money does it generate annually?

 

[garra]

I figure if I have to pay a haz mat fee I will buy enough quantity to offset the impact. If you buy a case then it only ups the price per can $1.16.

 

[Dewey]

The strange thing to me is that the hazmat fee seems to be independent of the amount of hazardous material shipped. Or at least that seems to be the case at Graf & Sons.

Graf states that "Blackpowder can now be added to your hazardous materials order under the same $28.50 fee (up to 50lbs)."

So the fee is the same for either 5lbs or 50lbs of black powder!?

 

[F.G. Ford]

Perhaps, and I say perhaps, those that are securing so much powder&bullets want to be sure when they are done shootin' polyticians that the job is well done :grin:
Fred

 

[Zonie]

...

So the fee is the same for either 5lbs or 50lbs of black powder!?

Yes it is.

As for clyde's question

Soooo.....Where does the haz-mat fee money go ?

What does it actually pay for?

Does the fee generate a surplus ?

it goes into the pockets of the transport companies.
It might be passed on to the stockholders of the company but most likely, it just goes into running the company.

 

[Jim C]

There is serious mark-up on black powder.
It costs a little over $5.00 a pound to make it, and it retails for the price that it sells at.
I know we do NOT discuss making it here, and will make no attempt to start.
However with the unavailability of caps, over priced powder, one has to start wondering what is going on.
Here in Canada even smokeless powder is difficult to find the old standard powders. They are replaced with foreign powders with VERY limited loading instructions.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but am very curious as to why I cannot purchase the loading components that could previously do so, for many years without any difficulty.
Fred

I hear ya, I'd like to know the answer to that myself, but, no ones talking about it for some strange reason.