Why there's a Powder Shortage?

[Laurie]

There are actually many structural and other reasons, but I was struck by this post on a topic on loading 284 Win on the American Accurate Shooter Forum.

"I had one barrel that didn't seem to like any of the go-to powders On a whim I tried N160 and found the barrel loved it! I haven't used it since but do have 18 lbs around just in case"

 

[paul o']

typical septic

 

[MarinePMI]

There are actually many structural and other reasons, but I was struck by this post on a topic on loading 284 Win on the American Accurate Shooter Forum.

"I had one barrel that didn't seem to like any of the go-to powders On a whim I tried N160 and found the barrel loved it! I haven't used it since but do have 18 lbs around just in case"

<chuckle> It's highly likely he had that powder long before the drought. American shooters tend to buy in bulk, since we don't have limits on what we can have on hand.

Heck, I'm probably sitting on 70-100 lbs of various powders that were bought well before the current drought. In fact, I've only bought powder once in the last two years, specifically because I bought in bulk (and had my suspicions that things were going to dry up soon) beforehand. And that was a single 8lb keg of Ramshot Tac I bought simply because I needed a case of pistol primers and didn't want to pay the hazmat fee for just that.

Americans just have different perspectives on when and how much powder they buy, and always have. As such, it really isn't hoarding (or some such) as many would call it, since that is the normal buying habits of American shooters. Leading up to the drought, this has always been the case, so continuing to do so during the drought isn't hoarding in my my mind; it's just normal customer buying habits for America.

 

[finnbear270]

I purchased 4000 Large Magnum rifle primers last month, I could have cleared their stock but didn't.

 

[JTO]

I've got just over 1lb of H4831sc left out of the 20lb I bought some time back. Wish I hadn't let a fellow club member have 5lb, only for him to sell it on.
The last time I bought primers, I drove to HpS and bought 5,000 large and 5,000 small Murom. I wonder if prices will have come down a bit when I need some more.

 

[GGG]

”I drove to HpS and bought 5,000 large and 5,000 small Murom. I wonder if prices will have come down a bit when I need some more.”

I’d like to think so, but the hard bitten cynic within me says ”Not a cat in Hell’s chance”.

 

[slider]

Ukraine, amongst other conflicts cause all weapon component to be diverted.

 

[Dave_45]

UK shooters are every bit as bad , where the law allows for amounts anyway.

 

[User00040]

There are actually many structural and other reasons, but I was struck by this post on a topic on loading 284 Win on the American Accurate Shooter Forum.

"I had one barrel that didn't seem to like any of the go-to powders On a whim I tried N160 and found the barrel loved it! I haven't used it since but do have 18 lbs around just in case"

Yes, the prevailing attitude towards other reloaders since the great CV-19 hysteria and Ukraine, seems to be: 'F*ck you and everyone else, I'm buying it all'.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I purchased 4000 Large Magnum rifle primers last month, I could have cleared their stock but didn't.

My RFD are limiting to 500 per customer, same with bullets. They had people buying out all stock when it landed and their words "why do you need thousands of bullets, you shoot 20 a month..."

 

[Dave_45]

Some RFDs wisely ration their stock out and some take the money..

 

[finnbear270]

Mine were £107 per Thou'

 

[kenbro]

Back end of last year I bought 1200 LR Magnum Gold Medal primers from Henry K.
£123.80 per thousand.
Then, at home found nearly 1K Rem 9 1/2 primers that I'd mislaid.
Sold 1K of the Gold Medal ones to an SD member for (If I remember right) £70.

Struggling for bullets at moment, but they are out there if you go farther afield rather than expecting your preferred (Local) shop to have all your needs all the time.
Ken.

 

[bluesako]

those were the good old days

 

[finnbear270]

What bullets you looking for Ken?

 

[User00040]

Mine were £107 per Thou'

Most I have paid was £60 per K for Fed 215m

Much much less for other brands.

 

[Franchi Matt]

Ukraine, amongst other conflicts cause all weapon component to be diverted.

For all the trouble its caused you have to ask yourself- does the world really need the Ukraine?
I mean eveyones limping along just fine now. The flour they produced that fed the world, the mailorder brides they sent globally, and really old ugly people in poorly fitting coats, those gaps in our economy have now been filled by other importers so no point in living in the past.

 

[kenbro]

What bullets you looking for Ken?

Hi,
Was looking for 33 and 35 grain X 224 bullets and by googling found both at Livens .
Thanks much, Ken.

 

[Liveonce]

The last time I bought primers, I drove to HpS and bought 5,000 large and 5,000 small Murom. I wonder if prices will have come down a bit when I need some more.

Given they are made in Russia I think the chances of us ever buying them again is very close to zero.

 

[MarinePMI]

Given they are made in Russia I think the chances of us ever buying them again is very close to zero.

Depends on how hungry the Russians get...