Current price of Black Powder

[Esrussell]

I have no black powder dealer near me and in the past have just ordered it in bulk and paid the big hazmat and shipping fees. But yesterday, I had to drive a few hours away for work and I looked on the Goex dealer locater site and found a dealer near where I was working. I stopped in and he was selling Goex at $25 per pound. I always thought I could save money if I had a black powder dealer near me but if that is the normal price, then the savings aren't as high as I thought they would be. Is $25 a normal price at a dealer or is this guy a little high on his prices? I'll probably be going by this shop once a month or so for work so I'm trying to decide if this is a fair price.

 

[Ames]

Sounds high but you are paying for convenience.
Graf & sons will sell it for $19 lb. normally, but I wait for a sale and get it for $17 lb., sometimes with free shipping. That leaves a $12.50 hazmat fee to deal with. I don't know what you consider high for shipping or where you were ordering it. Nor do I know how much powder you burn in a year. But if you order a dozen lbs. when it goes on sale and pay $1 per for the hazmat..................
And it gets even cheaper if you are not a competition shooter and could use their house brand. I've bought that at only $15 a lb. Stuff kills game and backyard targets just fine.

 

[Juice Jaws]

I have no black powder dealer near me and in the past have just ordered it in bulk and paid the big hazmat and shipping fees. But yesterday, I had to drive a few hours away for work and I looked on the Goex dealer locater site and found a dealer near where I was working. I stopped in and he was selling Goex at $25 per pound. I always thought I could save money if I had a black powder dealer near me but if that is the normal price, then the savings aren't as high as I thought they would be. Is $25 a normal price at a dealer or is this guy a little high on his prices? I'll probably be going by this shop once a month or so for work so I'm trying to decide if this is a fair price.

I live in the Sierra's by Yosemite Park and over the counter the price goes from 18 to 24 dollars a pound. Last time a group of us brought a case from Power Inc. I think is was around 14 or 15 dollars.

 

[Bassdog1]

I would buy in bulk you can save some cash probably 6 bucks a pound. 10 lbs from Grafs $212.35 shipped vs $250 plus tax from retailer. If you get nuts and get 25 lbs to split with friends 497.20 from Grafs vs $625 plus tax from retailer.

 

[Esrussell]

Thank guys. So it seems like his price is a little high. I bought 2 pounds yesterday because I'm getting low but I think I'll go back to ordering it online. I wish the regulations on BP weren't so strict. I have 4 great gun shops within 10 minutes from me but no BP dealers.

 

[Zonie]

You might want to think over the idea of going back to ordering on line.
Yes, I know, money is money and "a penny saved is a penny earned" but that dealer has gone thru a lot of manure just to be able to sell the black powder.
He had to apply for and get a license to sell explosives. He had to build a special powder vault to store it in. He had to deal with Federal regulators inspecting his store and storage area. He might have to pay additional insurance premiums. He has to keep records of his sales.....

All of this just to make maybe $6 a pound profit on something that might not sell over 2 to 3 pounds a week.

IMO, he's walked the extra mile by bringing black powder to your area so, he might deserve your business. In fact, you might want to thank him for going out of his way so people in your area can have access to real black powder.

Just something to think about.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Good advice Zonie. I agree. I only have to drive 30 miles and I pay $24. The Feds put these guys through holy you know what....

Dave

 

[30coupe]

You might want to think over the idea of going back to ordering on line.
Yes, I know, money is money and "a penny saved is a penny earned" but that dealer has gone thru a lot of manure just to be able to sell the black powder.
He had to apply for and get a license to sell explosives. He had to build a special powder vault to store it in. He had to deal with Federal regulators inspecting his store and storage area. He might have to pay additional insurance premiums. He has to keep records of his sales.....

All of this just to make maybe $6 a pound profit on something that might not sell over 2 to 3 pounds a week.

IMO, he's walked the extra mile by bringing black powder to your area so, he might deserve your business. In fact, you might want to thank him for going out of his way so people in your area can have access to real black powder.

Just something to think about.

I heartily agree. Large dealers like Graf's are paying considerably less per pound than your local dealer, yet he has to go through all the red tape and expense as well. Years ago, when I had a little gunshop, Walmart was selling .22 ammo for less than I could buy it for from my distributor. I asked him why and he said, "I can't afford to buy train car loads of .22s. Walmart does." Walmart has even put several distributors out of business. Now they are falling into the liberal gun control agenda as well. I quit shopping there, though I have to admit, the wife does at times...she's too much of a penny pincher to quit.

 

[Col. Batguano]

Unfortunately, the internet and places like Amazon has driven more and more brick & mortar stores out of business, and the trend continues.

Big box home improvement stores have driven the corner hardware stores in to nichier and nicheir places. It's all about revenue and margin per square foot, so most of them do not sell parts for products they sell (like a gasket kit for a nail gun).

Black powder is definitely a niche. My guess is that the need / sales of REAL BP is probably around 2%-3% of all shooting. Maybe less. Most percussion and unmentionable shooters shoot BP substitutes. Even though they are more expensive, they are more convenient to buy, and, let's face it, most ML'er shooters (which means unmentionables) shoot it as a way to extend their hunting seasons. If we really want to expand the world of BP shooters, getting BATFE to re-classify real BP in to the same category as smokeless powder would go a long long way that way.

 

[Erwan]

You might want to think over the idea of going back to ordering on line.
Yes, I know, money is money and "a penny saved is a penny earned" but that dealer has gone thru a lot of manure just to be able to sell the black powder.
He had to apply for and get a license to sell explosives. He had to build a special powder vault to store it in. He had to deal with Federal regulators inspecting his store and storage area. He might have to pay additional insurance premiums. He has to keep records of his sales.....

All of this just to make maybe $6 a pound profit on something that might not sell over 2 to 3 pounds a week.

IMO, he's walked the extra mile by bringing black powder to your area so, he might deserve your business. In fact, you might want to thank him for going out of his way so people in your area can have access to real black powder.

Just something to think about.

Absolutely in accord with you and we have the same discuss everyday: the olds arms dealers are going retired. Nobody wants sale the BP when replacing them: too much complicated for a small profit and small distribution.
The result: we have to buy BP via Internet (very expensive and maxi twoo pounds) too and the new law saids: no more than two Kg by person for all powder kind, this including powder in ammunitions at home...
I don't know one sport shooter who can do like that.
Morality: to nearly five (or minder) years nobody will shoot BP and every body will be happy...

Erwan.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

This is one reason I really appreciate living near Dixon's. +1 on the idea of buying from the local guy, but maybe I'm that fool who is easily separated from his money.

 

[52Bore]

I spoke to Chris Hodgdon about teaming up with the NMLRA and addressing the BATF to allow small quantities (ex: 5# and under) to be sold by FFL dealers w/o any special Explosives license, keep in small safe.
He said - not in this political climate. Prefer to stay under the radar.

 

[Bad Karma]

I spoke to Chris Hodgdon about teaming up with the NMLRA and addressing the BATF to allow small quantities (ex: 5# and under) to be sold by FFL dealers w/o any special Explosives license, keep in small safe.
He said - not in this political climate. Prefer to stay under the radar.

This political climate? We have the most 2a friendly President in years, the Senate and probably the house next election... if not now, when?

 

[Zonie]

Let's not get into talking about politics here.
Political talk can only be done in the sections that are reserved for paying members.

 

[springfield art]

I have no black powder dealer near me and in the past have just ordered it in bulk and paid the big hazmat and shipping fees. But yesterday, I had to drive a few hours away for work and I looked on the Goex dealer locater site and found a dealer near where I was working. I stopped in and he was selling Goex at $25 per pound. I always thought I could save money if I had a black powder dealer near me but if that is the normal price, then the savings aren't as high as I thought they would be. Is $25 a normal price at a dealer or is this guy a little high on his prices? I'll probably be going by this shop once a month or so for work so I'm trying to decide if this is a fair price.

That's what they price it at here in SE Pa. Lots of bang for the buck!

 

[springfield art]

This is one reason I really appreciate living near Dixon's. +1 on the idea of buying from the local guy, but maybe I'm that fool who is easily separated from his money.

I love that drive down the hill towards Dixon's. Only go there once in a blue moon as I'm 60 miles away up the turnpike. The re-build on Rt. 22 is terrible on traffic right now!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The price of real black powder is absolutely skyrocketing across the country at an alarming rate.

As more jurisdictions and laws restrict or outright ban black powder, prices will continue to soar and availability will keep getting less and less. Here locally the ONLY way to buy black powder within 100+ miles in any direction is from Bass Pro and they want about $30 a pound for it.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Compare $18-24$ per pound of real black powder to the cost of Triple Seven, it is a steal. I suggest any and all who shoot real black powder to get together and purchase it NOW while we can. I predict that five years from now these prices will be "remember the good old days". Between local dealers going out of business and the increasing regulations on storage/sale of the stuff, it is NOT going to get cheaper.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Erwan]

24$ it would be cheap here: the cheapest powder is "hunting powder" and it costs 28.50$ but it is impossible to do well with this powder and you need the right powders and the cheapest of the good ones is 34.15$, the priming powder the pound is 49.57$....
Shipping costs are $22 per pound.
The Swiss powder N°2 is at 50.20$ the pound...

 

[Walkingeagle]

$49.99 here in Alberta at Cabelas for Goex...
Walk