What I wish commercial bullet casters would do.

[Kosh75287]

If this post is in the wrong place, Mods should feel free to move it to where they think it appropriate.

It might be seen as anathema that I don't cast my own bullets, but I still need more time spent to get better at it. As a results I still tend to buy my cast bullets from high-volume manufacturers. Given the hysterics in the market and the horrendous demand & associated with these products, I wish the commercial casters would make a change on their websites. I wish they'd list items that ARE in stock, ready to ship, somewhere on their sites, so that we who do not cast well may spend less time, casting about (pun unintended) their website, trying to figure what's in stock and what will take 8 to 15 weeks to deliver. On several sites, I've also clicked on links for bullets with no "Out of Stock" notices on them, only to find that they are, indeed, unavailable in any quantity, when I try to order. Frustrating.

I'm really VERY sympathetic to these manufacturers and I know they're doing the best that they can, during this "CRUSH". But some moves to ameliorate the above-mentioned features on their sites might go a long way toward reducing the elevated coefficient of "customer grumpiness" that they're almost certainly experiencing, now.

Just a thought...

[popper]

It is entire retail system now. Friend tried to get a freezer, ordered and then found it would be months to get it, then - not available. Appliances are sent to builders now so you get to wait. Manufacturing and shipping has been shut down so pipeline will take a long time to fill. Can't find cleaning supplies? Schools are getting most now. Powder and primers? Ha. Get a real bargain on high $ scopes now - cut inventory before tax time.

[dragon813gt]

All they have to do is add an “in stock” filter to their site. This is very easy to do in most cases. They’re either lazy or want you to spend more time on their site. Powder Valley badly needs this filter. Wasted to much time trying to find bullets to maximize shipping costs. Eventually just stopped and they got a smaller order from me. I really appreciate Primary Arms who has a “hide out of stock” filter. One more reason they get my business more often then not.

[Winger Ed.]

They're probably using a older and/or cheaper inventory & shipping program.

It's irritating, but may help keep the prices down.

[Mal Paso]

I got a notice from Brownells a couple weeks ago, they were shipping ammo to California. I followed the link to find Nothing I Use In Stock. What Timing!

[ACC]

If this post is in the wrong place, Mods should feel free to move it to where they think it appropriate.

It might be seen as anathema that I don't cast my own bullets, but I still need more time spent to get better at it. As a results I still tend to buy my cast bullets from high-volume manufacturers. Given the hysterics in the market and the horrendous demand & associated with these products, I wish the commercial casters would make a change on their websites. I wish they'd list items that ARE in stock, ready to ship, somewhere on their sites, so that we who do not cast well may spend less time, casting about (pun unintended) their website, trying to figure what's in stock and what will take 8 to 15 weeks to deliver. On several sites, I've also clicked on links for bullets with no "Out of Stock" notices on them, only to find that they are, indeed, unavailable in any quantity, when I try to order. Frustrating.

I'm really VERY sympathetic to these manufacturers and I know they're doing the best that they can, during this "CRUSH". But some moves to ameliorate the above-mentioned features on their sites might go a long way toward reducing the elevated coefficient of "customer grumpiness" that they're almost certainly experiencing, now.

Just a thought...

The problem is that these casters are not web guru's and it costs them a lot to hire a company to take care of it, or it costs them a lot to have a web master on staff.

My sister has her own company and one of her biggest costs is web master service.

ACC

[Jhopson]

At Hoosier Bullets we try to keep an accurate inventory on our website. If it is not bagged and ready to ship we do not list it as in stock.
I feel that it is dishonest to take someone’s money and then tell them the item is out of stock or on back order.
We are a small part time business that is only able to cast about 100k bullets a week, but we work very hard to try to meet a customers needs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[FLINTNFIRE]

Well show where you live and maybe someone could help you along on your learning casting , I myself would rather show and mentor someone to keep this hobby alive and active , so many people miss out on the enjoyment of making your own , and with that said its time for a pint and back to the casting pot .

[elmacgyver0]

Just be happy you can even get the stuff you want.
Someday you may not be able to.
Then you will have something to complain about.

[Kosh75287]

at hoosier bullets we try to keep an accurate inventory on our website. If it is not bagged and ready to ship we do not list it as in stock.
thank you!

[RedlegEd]

Hi Kosh,
I agree with you, and it's not just the commercial bullet sellers. Even big names like Sportsman's Warehouse don't have an "In stock" filter so you waste a lot of time looking. I just wanted to let you know we also have some great vendors like Casting Machine on this site that sell bullets at very reasonable prices. I just ordered, and received, some 95gr coated bullets for my .380, and before that, I got some 122gr 9mm bullets. You don't have to go to their web site to see what they have and how much. It's a pretty good deal.
Ed


If this post is in the wrong place, Mods should feel free to move it to where they think it appropriate.

It might be seen as anathema that I don't cast my own bullets, but I still need more time spent to get better at it. As a results I still tend to buy my cast bullets from high-volume manufacturers. Given the hysterics in the market and the horrendous demand & associated with these products, I wish the commercial casters would make a change on their websites. I wish they'd list items that ARE in stock, ready to ship, somewhere on their sites, so that we who do not cast well may spend less time, casting about (pun unintended) their website, trying to figure what's in stock and what will take 8 to 15 weeks to deliver. On several sites, I've also clicked on links for bullets with no "Out of Stock" notices on them, only to find that they are, indeed, unavailable in any quantity, when I try to order. Frustrating.

I'm really VERY sympathetic to these manufacturers and I know they're doing the best that they can, during this "CRUSH". But some moves to ameliorate the above-mentioned features on their sites might go a long way toward reducing the elevated coefficient of "customer grumpiness" that they're almost certainly experiencing, now.

Just a thought...

[cp1969]

My wish list has more to do with the bullets themselves rather than the websites.

I'd like to see as options:

Plain base bullets, no bevel.

Plain bullets for those, meaning no sizing, no lube or coating, for who want to size and lube their own.

[Kosh75287]

Well show where you live and maybe someone could help you along on your learning casting , I myself would rather show and mentor someone to keep this hobby alive and active , so many people miss out on the enjoyment of making your own , and with that said its time for a pint and back to the casting pot.
Sounds good on paper, but my my melting pot went the way of the estate sale when my shooting buddy passed. I'm not really set up to cast at the moment, but I hope to get that way soon. I'd LOVE to be able to cast the SAECO #058 215 gr. SWC, but much simpler projectiles that I've tried to cast tend to vary way too much in weight from bullet to bullet. I'm sure it's a learning curve thing. But now is not the best time to work on it.

[Tazza]

My wish list has more to do with the bullets themselves rather than the websites.

I'd like to see as options:

Plain base bullets, no bevel.

Plain bullets for those, meaning no sizing, no lube or coating, for who want to size and lube their own.

I considered offering them like this, but i have heard stories of a caster from years ago, that got burnt by this. The guy that bought his plain cast projectiles, coated and sold them as the casters brand and not his own. The coating he used was not the same, the application was not right, apparently, this caused massive issues with coated lead and his business suffered and later closed.

I have been asked if i wanted to sell un-coated cast again, if i was to, i'd ensure to not sell them as my own, as i don't want people to spread the word that "my" cast aren't any good after someone messed up sizing or the coating. I know my coating sticks and they do not lead up.

[charlie b]

We ran a home business for many years and I did my own web service. It took a lot of my time while my wife did most of the production (not bullets :) ). Just the inventory actions alone were daunting for a two person operation when you have many products. We ended up going to a production on demand system and no inventory. It added a few days to an order but reduced our workload tremendously. Also made tax season much easier :)

The best bet for web sites like that is to make a list of what you want and call them with the order. Takes a bit longer but it has the added benefit of 'getting to know' the people who work there. Sometimes it really pays off as they may have some experience with their products and can steer you to something better than what you initially considered.

charlie

[MostlyLeverGuns]

ACC has it. Websites are not cheap or easy to build. Changes are expensive. I spent many years in the industry. What might seem simple can be very complicated to the uninformed. Downloading apps and posting pictures does not make you a computer tech wizard. To maintain inventory on a website - input what you just completed (cast,lubed,boxed), subtract from inventory displayed every time an order is completed, when inventory is empty, post out of stock to system. All that requires website work, then input along all points of the process - that is expensive and takes time away from production and shipping. A great deal of cost there, with low or no return.

[Burnt Fingers]

Do you want them making bullets or sitting at the computer?

[cp1969]

I considered offering them like this, but i have heard stories of a caster from years ago, that got burnt by this. The guy that bought his plain cast projectiles, coated and sold them as the casters brand and not his own. The coating he used was not the same, the application was not right, apparently, this caused massive issues with coated lead and his business suffered and later closed.

I have been asked if i wanted to sell un-coated cast again, if i was to, i'd ensure to not sell them as my own, as i don't want people to spread the word that "my" cast aren't any good after someone messed up sizing or the coating. I know my coating sticks and they do not lead up.

Although I didn't say it, my comment was meant for Hoosier Bullets. If you are happy operating your business using "I heard of..." driving your product line, that's your business, not mine.

That does not change what I would like to see offered for sale.

[Shiloh]

Commercial didn't supply what I needed, so I started rolling my own.

shILOH

[Murphy]

Commercial didn't supply what I needed, so I started rolling my own.

shILOH

That sir, is exactly why I got into casting in the mid 1980's. Skeeter Skeltons promotion of the Lyman #358156 and Elmer Keiths #429421. I checked pretty much every popular gun magazine and Shotgun News looking for them. No luck on the Thompson gas checked #358156, and only "Keith Style" .44's were available. I wanted as close as I could to the real deal on those boolits. So my casting began. I later got into 4 cavity molds for mass production plinking and blasting. I can honestly say I've not regretted it one bit. :)


Murphy

[charlie b]

As an alternative, I went to Montana Bullet Works for some rifle bullets. Excellent service and nice people.

Why did I buy from them? I was shopping for a bullet mold. So, they have a couple of the ones I was considering buying. Bought 100 bullets from each mold to try out. Then I picked the one I liked the best and bought the mold.

When exchanging emails with the owner it came up that he supplied quite a few people who competed with his bullets, cowboy, BPCR and cast bullet bench rest.

The bullets aren't cheap but are very well made.

And, yes, I'd rather he and his wife concentrate on the work rather than keeping up a web site.

[bakerjw]

Powder and primers?
Primers, yes. I just snagged another 5 pounds of powder from midway at typical market prices.
Bullets??? scarce...