High Cost of Caps and Powder-Gets Crazier

You have to get out and look for them.

Gunb*oker . I saw a pound of GOEX for around $75! Back Creek Gun Shop has powder in stock for $22 a pound!

Whughett said:

And never will for the most part. Folks who have been in the shooting sports of one genera or another for decades can recall several instances of shortages of components followed by higher than normal price increases that never retreat. Relatively speaking I’m new to blackpowder shooting, only 15 years or so, but I’ve been hand loading and shooting since the late 70’s.
Supply and demand, inflation or corporate conspiracy. ??

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Y'all always have the option to just stop shooting, put your guns away and find something else to do.

granth said:

Gunb*oker . I saw a pound of GOEX for around $75! Back Creek Gun Shop has powder in stock for $22 a pound!

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And they don't charge or pay hazmat fees. They refuse to pay shippers bogus charges. Hazmat is a scam. Nothing legal to the charges. Rates are set by each vendor. That's why they vary from one vendor to another.

Hazmat placards on trucks is not part of the scam and are required by DOT

Hawk54 said:

Further craziness. On GunbBroker right now there is a can of #11 Remington caps that is at $130 with four days left and $20 shipping. Same seller has a pound of 2F Goex that is at $150 and $35 shipping with time left. This is becoming insane.

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With scarcity and inflation, I expect cap prices to keep going up on a monthly basis for the next several years.
A year from now people will consider $20 per hundred for #10 or #11 caps to be a bargain.
Heck, they may even be that by this November.
2020 prices on shooting components are gone forever. Anyone who thinks that they can just wait this availability and pricing crisis out for a few months and then return to buying powder at $20 per pound and caps at $6 per can is kidding themselves.

I have no problem with Gunbroker. I've made a few purchases of hard to find firearms, one being a "1 of 1,000" rifle, happy to find it at a reasonable price, this was about 10 years ago and now its worth more than double what I paid for it.

What I find is, a few who have a distaste for Gunbroker or other auctions sites, find items that they would really like to buy but in their minds eye believe the price that bidders have elevated the item to is ridiculous, or beyond what they're willing to pay. Some who rundown Gunbroker have never made a purchase through the site, and if you have, what about the site makes you despise it so? I myself will put in a blind bid which is the maximum price I'm willing to pay and walk away until the auction is over. If I win, I'm happy, and it really doesn't matter what the price of the item was as long as I feel I got a good deal. At least for the time being, Gunbroker doesn't charge a "Buyers Premium" like Christie's, Rock Island, Highnoon, and the like, which can be 18% - 25% of the hammer price, which you'll pay on top of the "SOLD" price.

Unfortunately, sales tax is pretty much the norm these days when making an internet purchase from a large business or auction site. Even if a company doesn't charge tax, most States require you (the purchaser) to sign and file an affidavit when filing your State taxes as to whether or not you made any internet purchases where State tax was not collected.

I've never put up for auction anything on Gunbroker or Ebay, but I have sold antique leather tools and equipment at a yearly auction in Ohio. The best sale of an item I put up for bid was a mint Singer 7 Class Sewing Machine which was made in 1939, still in the crate, originally shipped from Singer to the U.S. Navy, which provided it to the British on a lend-lease during WW2, and later reimported to the U.S. in the 1980s. I paid $1,800 for the machine and decided to sell it a little over 10 years later. When I put it up for auction, quite a few bidders were going nuts. I had went to the gedunk for a Coke and snack, when my partner came up and said "You better get back to the tent, these guys are going nuts over that machine". When I reached the tent, the machine was already over $5,000, and finally sold for $6,400. Not once did I have the desire to stop the auction or pull the item, nor did I jump up and down shouting it's not worth it, that the machine was bringing too much. I know one thing, the 700 mile drive back home was a little brighter.

Folks running down Gunbroker probably won’t buy from these pages or other on line sources either. Other than the bidding process one has to rely on one’s own knowledge of the item, be it gun or other and the photos as pictured.
like Gunny says on Gunbroker decide on your price, place your bid , walk away.
I’ve bought numerous firearms both from Gunbroker, GunsAmerica and these pages.
Only one , a ROA turned out less than expected, the seller forgot to mention the guns hair trigger.

It is not GunBrokers fault when people pay way more than an item is worth. If it was my listed item and it sold for twenty times what it it is worth I would be smiling from ear to ear. I too have bought quite a few things off GunBroker over the years and only had one thing that I was not happy with. It is an auction and you just have to use common sense when bidding unless you have a lot of money and don't care what you pay. I do what Gunny5821 does and submit a bid of the max with shipping and tax I am willing to pay. If I get it fine. If I don't I am fine with that also. With the caps and powder it is entertaining to watch what the items are selling for.

It's against federal law to sell black powder without a license.

I have 2 muzzleloaders I bought off Gun Broker and was happy that both were in a lot better condition than I expected from the description and got at a bargain Not all sellers are crooks and are honest with description and provide a lot of good pictures I also have been outbid a lot and just say well maybe next time. I am waiting for a nice Hopkins And Allen Underhammer That sells reasonable so I can replace the 1 I traded years ago

I can give some simple advise about GUNBROKER,don't buy ammo there! Most of it is for sale by the creepy little scalpers and their buddies making their runs to Walmart and other retailers to buy the ammo up.Then X2's the price and onto Gunbroker.Slimey dealings but hey it's "AMERCA" ! I have bought several guns on there and never a problem,but is kind of frustrating watching these fools bidding out of their butts.

R Ellis said:

I have 2 muzzleloaders I bought off Gun Broker and was happy that both were in a lot better condition than I expected from the description and got at a bargain Not all sellers are crooks and are honest with description and provide a lot of good pictures I also have been outbid a lot and just say well maybe next time. I am waiting for a nice Hopkins And Allen Underhammer That sells reasonable so I can replace the 1 I traded years ago

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I too bought a flintlock off there a few months ago. The rifle was actually way nicer than described and I got it for what I thought was a bargain.

Gunbrokers was the only place I could find CCI #41 primers. I paid way too much for the primers, and I am guilty of selling some 9mm ammo on the auction that I got a high price for to pay for the primers I bought. So Gunbrokers helped me.
A couple months ago I bought a Pietta 1860 and couldn't find percussion caps anywhere. But lucky for me the forums steered me to the guy selling cap makers. Found some pydrex in one store, so at least I can shoot it. I hope someday I can make or find real black powder!

Replay13 said:

Gunbrokers was the only place I could find CCI #41 primers. I paid way too much for the primers, and I am guilty of selling some 9mm ammo on the auction that I got a high price for to pay for the primers I bought. So Gunbrokers helped me.
A couple months ago I bought a Pietta 1860 and couldn't find percussion caps anywhere. But lucky for me the forums steered me to the guy selling cap makers. Found some pydrex in one store, so at least I can shoot it. I hope someday I can make or find real black powder!

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You aren't guilty of anything. Capitalism. Buy low and sell high. If someone wants to pay it that is fine. Their choice.

Replay13 said:

Gunbrokers was the only place I could find CCI #41 primers. I paid way too much for the primers, and I am guilty of selling some 9mm ammo on the auction that I got a high price for to pay for the primers I bought. So Gunbrokers helped me.
A couple months ago I bought a Pietta 1860 and couldn't find percussion caps anywhere. But lucky for me the forums steered me to the guy selling cap makers. Found some pydrex in one store, so at least I can shoot it. I hope someday I can make or find real black powder!

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If you need caps and powder, try Back Creek Gun Shop for powder (although you must buy 5 pounds minimum) and for caps contact Jon at Jacks Powder Keg. He is excellent to work with and I know for a fact he has #10 and #11 caps in stock. Contact | jacks-powder-keg

It is not just GunBroker, local Gun Shows as well.
Last year a guy was selling GOEX for $35/lb., he had 3lbs on the table, I told him I would not buy for that as I just bought online for around $28/lb. including shipping and he said "They dont make this anymore!", I walked away and bought a pound on other side of building for $25.

Last month, same Show, I find a guy selling 1/2lb Swiss for $15, 1lb GOEX fff for $25, and had 2lbs of Elephant for $25/lb.- I took his Swiss, GOEX, and 1 can of Elephant (ya I know, but I'm a young sucker and haven't come across Elephant before, probably good in the blunderbuss that is easy to clean).

Then, I work my way around to a fellow I know that has reasonable prices on his unmentionable. 44s, and there was that powder guy from last year but Now he wants $55/lb. for his GOEX!! A guy was looking at it and asking "Will it shoot better in my gun the Pyrodex?" and the seller told him "Oh yes and much cleaner..and Its Not Made Anymore"...the young customer put it in his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet - $55 for One Pound!! At a Gun Show where people go looking for Deals...so sad.
I so want to step in and stop him, tell him I left a pound of Elephant for $25 on the other table - - or, offer him my pound of GOEX for $50....double my money back and he still gets a $5 discount!! And then of course tell him about ordering on line.

I really felt bad for that young fellow, but did not want to make a scene at our one and only close gun show here...but dangit, now every time I look at that can I brought home, marked $25 on top, I think of that poor sucker....wish I had at least gotten his name and number to help him out in the future.

Mad L said:

It is not just GunBroker, local Gun Shows as well.
Last year a guy was selling GOEX for $35/lb., he had 3lbs on the table, I told him I would not buy for that as I just bought online for around $28/lb. including shipping and he said "They dont make this anymore!", I walked away and bought a pound on other side of building for $25.

Last month, same Show, I find a guy selling 1/2lb Swiss for $15, 1lb GOEX fff for $25, and had 2lbs of Elephant for $25/lb.- I took his Swiss, GOEX, and 1 can of Elephant (ya I know, but I'm a young sucker and haven't come across Elephant before, probably good in the blunderbuss that is easy to clean).

Then, I work my way around to a fellow I know that has reasonable prices on his unmentionable. 44s, and there was that powder guy from last year but Now he wants $55/lb. for his GOEX!! A guy was looking at it and asking "Will it shoot better in my gun the Pyrodex?" and the seller told him "Oh yes and much cleaner..and Its Not Made Anymore"...the young customer put it in his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet - $55 for One Pound!! At a Gun Show where people go looking for Deals...so sad.
I so want to step in and stop him, tell him I left a pound of Elephant for $25 on the other table - - or, offer him my pound of GOEX for $50....double my money back and he still gets a $5 discount!! And then of course tell him about ordering on line.

I really felt bad for that young fellow, but did not want to make a scene at our one and only close gun show here...but dangit, now every time I look at that can I brought home, marked $25 on top, I think of that poor sucker....wish I had at least gotten his name and number to help him out in the future.

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PT Barnum said "There's a sucker born evey minute".

granth said:

Gunb*oker . I saw a pound of GOEX for around $75! Back Creek Gun Shop has powder in stock for $22 a pound!

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Probably won’t be much left at black creek after this weekend it’s the N-Saa Nationals

I have bought firearms on GB and sold them on GB. I had one piece i purchased that i thought was less than what the pictures showed. Pictures can be deceiving. I just resold it and did fine. I had one buyer on GB who kept insisting after he bought an item that he wanted to pay less. He ended up paying the correct price! Many items on GB I believe are over priced(IMHO) but you do not have to buy them! I have found that if there is an item on GB the is a fair price it will go quickly. If people are stupid enough to keep bidding the item up, oh well, don't blame the seller. You decide what it is worth to you, make your bid ,done. What I "detest" on GB is the 15 min rule, that extends an auction interminably and does nothing but artificially raise the price of an item. I think the auction should have a set/firm end time(like FleaBay) and you bid accordingly. If you miss the cut off , oh well, better luck next time or you should have put a bid in sooner. I bought ammo & caps on GB and was satisfied with the price, but I have seen ammo going for exorbitant prices and people bid on it?!! I don't get it, but that's me. Another person posting said something like, "if things get to expensive you can always sell everything and do something else". Absolutely correct. If prices keep going up and up, I will do exactly that. No one makes you be stupid, you do that on your own. I can always take up fishing!

I’ve only had one bad experience on GB, it was a gun that was misrepresented. There was a three day inspection period and I contacted the seller, got my money back and returned the gun.

GB is no different than any other auction, bid what you‘re comfortable with and let it go if it surpasses your comfort level. Buyers set the prices at auctions, not sellers. Yes there are shill bids, but you have those at live auctions too.