Big Shortage Coming!

[mtgianni]

A gun distributors news letter resulting from a suppossed difficulty of another business obtaining necessary materials does not constitute a ban.
JMO.

Is gunpowder hard to find right now? Yes we see that. Did China ban an exportable commodity? That would come from China or from our State Dept,. not a gun distributor.

 

[rockquarry]

Probably so - in the near term.

But when you look at the long-game, the more production of essential goods we can bring back into the USA, and the more we can reduce our dependance on China (and other off-shore producers) for essential goods, the better off we'll be in the long run.

If we were still producing nitrocellulose in the USA, instead of relying on overseas production for our supply, China's boycott wouldn't be an issue.

We all have to get past the short-sighted view of what is going to be the most beneficial in the next few months (short-term gains) and start looking at the longer-term perspective of what will be best for our country and our people 2 or 3 or even 5 YEARS in the future.

I see it as a fundamental question of choosing delayed vs instant gratification.

But I may be wrong. YMMV....

Probably not. Instant fulfillment of temporary (and often unimportant) aims is the only way of life known to many folks these days. From tracking packages to tailgaters to text messages, it's a firmly entrenched lifestyle. Anything long-term requiring thought and planning is very secondary.

 

[taz666]

Sad and true.

 

[H Richard]

Hmmmm, might help me. I just had made up a list of powders I no longer need as I have sold off most of my collection. Will be posting it at the gun club today.

 

[ruger 22]

My next door neighbor just bought a carload of toilet paper. When I asked her why she said that she found out during COVID that paper towel is not a good substitute for toilet paper.

 

[rockquarry]

My next door neighbor just bought a carload of toilet paper. When I asked her why she said that she found out during COVID that paper towel is not a good substitute for toilet paper.

You'd think everyone already knew that.

 

[daverich4]

A friend was telling me that toilet paper is flying off the shelves at Costco because some fool started a rumor of shortage because of the longshoremen strike.

Well, 90% of what is consumed in the US, comes from the US (and of the 10% that is imported, most is from Canada and Mexico). And though there are more than 150 companies that make it, more than 80% comes from just three companies: Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, and Georgia-Pacific.

It's also flying off the shelves here in Charlotte NC but that's because we're buying it and sending it to the areas in Western NC destroyed by Helene.

 

[cracker57]

I like how a powder thread becomes a TP thread.

 

[tom2]

Heard the ports strike is over, anyway? And the Hercules civilian powder production issue is a nitrocellulose shortage related thing. At least someone had an alleged email from them stating that was the problem. Muzzleloaders can apparently burn TP to get the carbon for making DIY powder, too. A guy made a vid......

 

[SafeTFirst]

I like how a powder thread becomes a TP thread.

Cellulose.

 

[djohns6]

Ask any Hospital purchasing agent how much meds and supplies come from China . It'll scare you ..

 

[BC38]

There are a couple of ways to look at this situation.

Yes, China is an adversary, and they are apparently doing everything they can to improve their strategic position on the world stage. And yes, we must always maintain a posture of defense when it comes to such nations. (I would include Russia and Iran in that list.)

On the other hand, engaging in international trade builds relationships with other countries, and I think that makes conflict less likely, if only because we depend upon each other for essential goods and services.

That is definitely a valid point. But ONLY if it is a 2-way street. For that theory to work in the real world, THEY have to be as dependent on US as we are on THEM.

What essentials are China and Iran dependent on the USA for right now?

We are dependent on China for lead, antimony, lithium, nitrocellulose, drugs, computer chips, and who knows how many other essential resources and goods. Not to mention how much of our national debt they currently hold - propping up our currency, and therefore our whole economy.

And I'm sure that the above list isn't even close to being all-inclusive.

The imbalance is currently tipped WAY in their favor. IMO, that imbalance is something we desperately NEED to address and correct.

Unfortunately, there are too many people in positions of "leadership" in our country who don't see this as an issue they need to be concerned about.

JMO....

 

[mtgianni]

Flake and extruded powders need nitrocellulose, ball powders do not. This is from Ed Harris.

 

[max503]

This is why you stock up a year ago.

 

[Smoke]

Pardon me for asking this question.

Maybe there's something I'm missing but isn't Nitro Cellulose an essential War Material? Unless something's changed since I got out of the Army (which was a long time ago admittedly), Nitro Cellulose was essential for artillery. It might be essential for tank rounds.

Why In The Hell are we outsourcing it to a country that to put it mildly doesn't like us ?

 

[Skeet 028]

Because it is essentially against the rules to make anything of strategic importance in the US any longer. Ask any bureaucrat. Start with one's in the EPA

 

[murphydog]

Irregardless of shortages and rumors of shortages, for those in a position to buy ammunition now would be an excellent time. Plenty of supply and prices are reasonable.

 

[SlamFire]

This is a far larger problem than just munitions. Highly nitrated nitrocellulose is used in solid propellants, but there are lots and lots of other uses for lesser nitrated nitrocellulose:

What is nitrocellulose used for?

Nitrocellulose is primarily utilized in various industries, including adhesives, inks, explosives, coatings, and medicine. In the adhesive sector, nitrocellulose serves as a solvent-based adhesive and finds extensive application in the preparation of engineering plastics. In the realm of inks, nitrocellulose enhances the rapid drying characteristics of printing inks. In the explosives field, nitrocellulose's flammability makes it a key component in terminal products such as torpedoes, smokeless explosives, and naval mines.

In the coatings industry, nitrocellulose is employed in the production of cement coatings, decorative coatings, and metal coatings. In the medical field, nitrocellulose membranes are used to manufacture testing reagents for virus antigen detection.

All About Nitrocellulose: Manufacturing Process, Applications
All About Nitrocellulose: Manufacturing Process, Applications - Doxu Chemical

Celluloid is an old plastic based on nitrocellulose. Celluloid gave translucent vivid colors to items such as the handles on this old Queen stockman

Something that is true for old nitrocellulose plastics, and modern gunpowder, nitrocellulose deteriorates because of residual sulfuric acid left after washing. The greater the amount of acid, the faster nitrocellulose deteriorates. The black spot on the handle is nitrocellulose deterioration and it won't stop, and is not reversible.

 

[SmithNut]

Hmmm...I'd better stock up...I'm down to my last 20,000 rounds...

Well I'd have to agree, you need to stock up...

 

[38SPL HV]

Excellent! Maybe now we can start manufacturing our own stuff in the USA.

China restrictions on exports! What a laugh! Bring it on.

Cowardly, fearful people who try to stir up panic disgust me.

Cowardly? Fearful? Certainly not referring to me…