Powder shortage/cost through the roof!!

[billybob44]

Came across this on the U-Tube??
Watch to the end of the video=The Author is nothing to look at, but He does make sense of this problem that we are now all in on the powder purchase mode...Worth the time...Bill.

 

[Creedmoor]

Not all of us are in the powder purchase mode, some bought well long before the sillyness started again. Its not like its never been discussed since the clinton administration.

 

[bgcatty]

The way to deal with the powder shortage is being able to improvise and adapt. I know its a pain to develop new loads but.... And when you do see the powder you "love" grab it and buy it. Unless the war in Ukraine suddenly stops or Hamas stops the war with Israel; it is going to keep the powder shortage going. My !

 

[Mgderf]

There is currently a global shortage of nitrocellulose, the base component in most modern smokeless powders.
Wars, politics, panic buying...pick your poison.
If things don't change drastically, we're in for a long shortage.

 

[rb288]

I was lucky enough to come into some extra funds a few years ago.
I stocked up on bullets, powder, and primers, so this current draught isn't affecting me that much.
I have my stockpile of commercial ammo stored away to fall back on, but I also have enough supplies to make several thousand rounds of the calibers I need.
Like I said, I was lucky. Otherwise I'd be very restricted in my shooting right now.

 

[BackFromDC]

Someone on this forum told me the best time to buy powder is always right now...

 

[Cameramonkey]

I was lucky enough to come into some extra funds a few years ago.
I stocked up on bullets, powder, and primers, so this current draught isn't affecting me that much.
I have my stockpile of commercial ammo stored away to fall back on, but I also have enough supplies to make several thousand rounds of the calibers I need.
Like I said, I was lucky. Otherwise I'd be very restricted in my shooting right now.

I'm doing the opposite. bulk pistol ammo is back down to reasonable levels. And I think less than I can crank out myself.

So I'm buying cases of factory and reserving my reloading supplies for a rainy day.

 

[indyblue]

I'm doing the opposite. bulk pistol ammo is back down to reasonable levels. And I think less than I can crank out myself.

So I'm buying cases of factory and reserving my reloading supplies for a rainy day.

I’ve been stocking up on primers and projectiles for a while now.

I have quite a bit of powder, but I fear it’s not enough so I’m on the hunt for that now.

 

[d.kaufman]

I'm doing the opposite. bulk pistol ammo is back down to reasonable levels. And I think less than I can crank out myself.

So I'm buying cases of factory and reserving my reloading supplies for a rainy day.

I've been doing the same here recently. The prices are manageable for factory ammo especially talking 9mm.

I'm only reloading the heavy hitters for the time being. 308, 6.5 creedmoor, and 450 bushmaster as I can save significantly on those

 

[55fairlane]

We did our first of many trips to the National Matches this weekend, stopped at Fin Feather Fur, Bass Pro, and all the both on vendor row, primers & projectiles (even Bass Pro had primers) not much powder. I did see VarGet for $65/LB at Bass Pro seems to be the going rate.

 

[Mgderf]

I did see VarGet for $65/LB at Bass Pro seems to be the going rate.

 

[2in1evtime]

went to runnings couple weeks ago, bought a 8 pound jug of target, cost was like 401.00 with tax

 

[indyjohn]

I did see VarGet for $65/LB at Bass Pro seems to be the going rate.

Last time I bought that it was less than half that price. And that really wasn't that long ago.

 

[BackFromDC]

Last time I bought that it was less than half that price. And that really wasn't that long ago.

Same. I went to Bass Pro to get IMR 4064, in December I paid $42ish...now it's like $68ish.

 

[DadSmith]

Not all of us are in the powder purchase mode, some bought well long before the sillyness started again. Its not like its never been discussed since the clinton administration.

I still buy when I see a decent deal on powder of something I use or can use in today's market.

 

[Leadeye]

I can't think of any primary nitration works left in the US. Maybe it's still made here on a "boutique" basis for something like art conservation, but like most of the chemical industry, it's gone. The big difference between what we call industrial grade cotton and munition grade cotton is the degree of nitration along the cellulose chain, and it's not a lot. As I remember industrial was around and below 10% and munition was above 11% so it's not a lot of difference.

Government policy has chased most of the industrial chemical industry out of this country and it's not something that could be rebuilt overnight. It will be a "all you have is what you got" logistical situation if we are ever in a big war. Lose imports, and this country is shut down just about everywhere.

 

[Remington 90T]

Last time I bought that it was less than half that price. And that really wasn't that long ago.

Thats why powder was a better investment than money in the bank.

 

[Goodcat]

I'm doing the opposite. bulk pistol ammo is back down to reasonable levels. And I think less than I can crank out myself.

So I'm buying cases of factory and reserving my reloading supplies for a rainy day.

I don’t even load for pistol or .223 anymore, just precision and rifle competition loads. This hobby used to be about saving money, until you are buying $1000 tricklers. Lol At least I ended up with 25k BR2 match primers before the last price hike.

 

[Creedmoor]

I don’t even load for pistol or .223 anymore, just precision and rifle competition loads. This hobby used to be about saving money, until you are buying $1000 tricklers. Lol At least I ended up with 25k BR2 match primers before the last price hike.

Gotta ask, whats the need for a $1,000 powder trickler?

 

[Goodcat]

Gotta ask, whats the need for a $1,000 powder trickler?

Well, I guess more like $1400 on mine. For me, peace of mind and speed. I use an FX120i and a Supertrickler, but have used Auto trickers in the past. It can be accurate within 0.02 of a grain, and once programmed, throws them pretty consistently (I keep mine at +/- .02 (.04 resolution) for speed.

In reality, it’s not that necessary when you are in a good speed node, but as competitive as F-class is, I take absolutely every advantage I can get. Obvious not just the trickler, but I typical run 5-7 SD over 20-25 rounds with low teens ES and it can hold as tight at 0.1 moa @ 100 from a bench and heavy rests. Every variable I can eliminate as a possible issue helps me with everything else and I need ammo that is consistently .25 moa or better. But who am I kidding, I do all this crap, then miss a wind change and fall on my face.