442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

Per Tim's CHG meeting notes and this posted on the CHG site. People should start making arrangements to get their blanks "ahead of time" either individually or as a unit.

Matt Charapata has be doing a great job, with a lot of extra work(read what he has to do at each event - below) without any compensation or comps. Not to mention he has to store and haul all of the blanks out to events. He has given the CHG plenty of time to find a replacement (over a year now); so he will probably stop by the summer.

Atlantic Wall Blanks http://www.atlanticwallblanks.com/
$26.00 + $13.00 freight = $39.00 for 100 rounds = $39.00 per 100 rounds
$52.00 + $13.00 freight = $65.00 for 200 rounds = $32.50 per 100 rounds
Working on a credit card system - No Paypal
Takes checks and Money Orders

Joe Swanson's Blanks http://www.joeswansonsmotionpictureblanks.com/
$40.00 + $??.00 freight
Accepts credit cards online - No PayPal


Matt Charapata of the 12th SS has recently reiterated the need for him to step down from his job as the CHG blank seller, which he has done for many years. If he is not replaced, each unit will be in the position of having to directly order their own blanks from Joe Swanson Motion Picture Blanks in Kingman AZ or Atlantic Wall Blanks. Basically, the job entails attending every battle or making arrangements to transfer the blanks to someone who is going to the battle. In preparation for an event, the seller needs to contact Joe Swanson at least three-four weeks in advance of the event and order the additional blanks which will be needed to replenish the inventory of that particular caliber. Joe can either ship the blanks to your home or place of work or meet you at a location halfway between Kingman, AZ and your place of residence.

At the battle, the seller needs to make himself available on friday evening and Saurday/Sunday mornings for the sale of the balnks to our members and guests. In the process, the seller will keep a detailed record on a "tally sheet" of the blanks that are sold and reconcile it with the actual inventory at the conclusion of the battle. Then, periodically, the seller sends or delivers in person to Joe the receipts for that or other battles that he has accummulated and gets a hand receipt from Joe.

Atlantic Wall Blanks also told me that they are at least a year away from accepting Credit Cards.

The best thing to do I think is to buy blanks in bulk together as a unit if we have to order from Atlantic Wall or Swansons... Saves on shipping and maybe they can cut us deals on ordering together... Besides those hungy hungry hippos in the MG section need all the .30 they can get

I'd be happy to do the gruntwork if we have to and take care of the money/paperwork/ordering... but someone needs to receive a large load of blanks lol...

Besides for the MG's... Atlantic does $287 for a 1,000 with shipping, but its only made for the MGs.

If you think about it the "active guy" goes to 5 events a year. If you figure that's 500 rounds, you're probably better off like Rich said, to order in bulk at the beginning of each season. Given the summer break, it would give people time to plan and order.

If each person order their own "allotment" you wouldn't have to order together, and go through the "money dance" several times a year, not to mention store everyone blanks at one location or hauling them all out to the first event. Or trying to track people down for money and/or to get them their blanks.


If someone has and extra bag of blanks they could may arrangements to sell them at cost at the event, to new guys who are going to be exposed to the "no blanks at event" problem. Much the same way as guys ask for missing gear; blanks simply become a piece of one's impression.

But that being said, someone will get smart and buy $26.00 blanks from Atlantic Wall, and after frieght sell them at big events like Camp Roberts for $45.00 and thereby make a profit. You would probably see guys like WPG, ATF or WW2I selling them in the vendor room, or some other reenactor.

From the article on the CHG site it didn't sound like Matt Charapata, was given any "comp" or "discount" for his efforts, inventoring, and doing the accounting of ammo and money. If we try to do the same thing as a unit we would have to deal with the same issues and challenges.

Atlantic Wall is $13.00 for 0-300 rounds. Not sure what Joe Swanson's shipping is.


Bottomline is they probably won't find anyone unless they are compensated in some fashion for the time, effort, and hassle. Accordingly it is good that we inform our members and makes plans. What I do, is always have is one extra bag of ammo ready for the next event.

One day we will here a surprise announcement, "Dear CHG Members, please buy your blanks ahead of time, there will be no CHG selling of blanks at the ________ event" Forcing everyone to scramble.

Actually it was voted to compensate Matt $20 or $25 a battle for his service but he is just ready to retire from this job. I can't say as I blame him and was pretty amazed that someone like that was around as long as he was. Takes someone with great community spirit to do something like that in the first place.

Kudos to Matt.

kanowarrior wrote:Actually it was voted to compensate Matt $20 or $25 a battle for his service but he is just ready to retire from this job. I can't say as I blame him and was pretty amazed that someone like that was around as long as he was. Takes someone with great community spirit to do something like that in the first place.

Kudos to Matt.

I agree Tim,

If Atlantic Wall can sell M1-Blanks for $26.00 and Joe Swanson Blanks sell for $40.00 that's a big profit spread. If you factor in Frieght for Atlantic on 500 rounds that another $4.20. So It becomes $30.20 versus $40.00 - that $10.00 profit difference. The least the CHG could do is give the guy "comp" ammo for any event. Giving him "$20 ro $25 is a joke".

Also if you figure at a Camp Robert's Battle with 250 people or 250; 100 round bags, If the CHG was to buy their blanks from Atlantic Wall that's $2,500 cost savings. Two Camp Roberts events that is $5,000 add in the two or three smaller events and you're up to $6,500 per year.

OH that brings up another issue, we are charged $40.00 a bag; what is the CHG paying Joe Swanson? If the CHG is making money on ammo sales, which they should given all the work that goes into having them onhand and hauling them from event to event, it should be willing to comp the guy who does the work and manages the inventory.

Given we are paying $40.00 a bag; if that is all going to Joe Swanson, he isn't giving the CHG any volume discount.

The CHG doesn't pay Swanson anything. And no there isn't any volume discount. Joe had to raise his prices because of a huge increase in the cost of brass.

For a very long time Joe was using a surplus of brass he had stockpiled so the price was fixed. However, with all the PTO movies being filmed lately they sucked up all his supply so he recently had to shop around for brass again and harse reality of the price of brass today hit him.

kanowarrior wrote:The CHG doesn't pay Swanson anything. And no there isn't any volume discount. Joe had to raise his prices because of a huge increase in the cost of brass.

For a very long time Joe was using a surplus of brass he had stockpiled so the price was fixed. However, with all the PTO movies being filmed lately they sucked up all his supply so he recently had to shop around for brass again and harse reality of the price of brass today hit him.

Which then you would wonder how long Atlantic Wall can sell their's for $26.00 (30.40 with shipping) - or better maybe it's time to stock up given they're $10.00 cheaper a bag.

Or maybe Joe Swanson is charging us the Movie Studio cost for blanks, where Atlantic Wall is charging guys the Reenactor rate.

Joe is much closer to the film industry. Atlantic wall is probably more geared to supplying the east coast/midwest re-enactors with blanks. I can see since Joe advertises himself as "the Movie blanks" guy that can get companies to purchase from him instead.

Opie74 wrote:Also Swanson is delivering direct to the event on friday

Opie, we're talking about our month to months events in California, were a CHG member does all the buying, hauling and selling of blanks at every event, or has to find a guy to do it when it can't make it. The guy is burned out, and has been doing it without any comps.

We've been spoiled by going to an event an having someone who has already done all the pre-buying, storing and hauling the CHG inventory back and forth to events. We show up and buy as much or as little as we want. There is no planning on the individual size.

You are not a moron. You were trying to help.

Opie74 wrote:Also Swanson is delivering direct to the event on Friday

Is Joe going to be there? I haven't seen him in years. It will be good to talk to him again. I miss him from back in the days.

Per the March 30th Board Meeting and per announcment on the CHG website

At the March 30, 2008, Board meeting, it was determined that a replacement for Matt Charapata as blank ammo seller hadn’t been obtained after two months of advertising. Accordingly, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, all units and their members will have to assume responsibility for providing their own blanks for use at battles. There are two recommended suppliers, as follows:



JOE SWANSON’S MOTION PICTURE BLANKS
Joe was our original provider and his business grew from providing CHG with blanks. Joe’s website address is:
http://www.joeswansonsmotionpictureblanks.com.
He can be reached by phone at (928) 715-8868 (shop) or (928) 757-5851 (home) or by email at orders@joeswansonsmotionpictureblanks.com.