Midway

[TheTinMan]

How about Power Pistol? BE-86?

I’ve used mainly Alliant powders but lookin’ hard at W231.

I have used Winchester 231/HP-38 in 9mm Luger, 9x23 Winchester, .38 Special, .44 Special, .45 Colt, and .45 ACP. It’s is great for middle of the road loads. Despite small charges, it is not position sensitive. (I’ve actually tested this.) However, if I want a higher velocity .45 ACP or .4r Special, I reach for Power Pistol. The 9x23 Winchester loads were just for practice ammo. For 9mm Luger I switched to AA #7 a long time ago … so long I don’t remember exactly why but I’m guessing it was accuracy. (I do have notes somewhere that would tell me, but I stopped bothering to reload 9mm.)

The only powder I have more of than W-231 is Hodgdon 4895, and that’s because rifle cartridges use so much more powder.

 

[Huskerguy]

Interesting. I stocked up on 2400 a few years ago thinking I would shoot a lot of 357 but ended up shooting more 38's.

 

[robertrwalsh]

There is a LGS with a fair supply of many powders on the rack for reasonable prices. Maybe I should buy some and stash it? No Unique or Bullseye but plenty of 231 and BE86. Also some Sport Pistol.

 

[rwsmith]

I think that Alliant...

...wants BE-86 to be the "powder for everything" in a pistol. Fortunately I am well stocked up on powder and on load data.

 

[raljr1]

I stopped in a little roadside shop recently that has quite a bit of powder in stock. I am sure I saw unique on the shelf. I may have to swing by there again and buy up what he has.

 

[glenwolde]

Sadly, I think Hodgdon's Universal may suffer the same fate. That was what I began using in lieu of Unique. CFE Pistol or Win244 may be the replacements. Universal is right between those two.

I think the "old" powders will be giving way to the "new" powders. The process has changed.

 

[gwpercle]

You guy's know how the dance goes ...
Create a shortage ... Double / Triple the Price ...
And Back it comes at the new price ...

The shortage / price increase two step .

They can do the dance really well now !
Gary

 

[venomballistics]

...wants BE-86 to be the "powder for everything" in a pistol. Fortunately I am well stocked up on powder and on load data.

Nah .... it's closer to Vista outdoors Kinetic group wanting to shift EVERYTHING to government contracts, leaving us high and dry.
If it didn't just happen, bet that it will

 

[venomballistics]

Sadly, I think Hodgdon's Universal may suffer the same fate. That was what I began using in lieu of Unique. CFE Pistol or Win244 may be the replacements. Universal is right between those two.

I think the "old" powders will be giving way to the "new" powders. The process has changed.

that's part of the story. Hodgdon is not without some back office drama. The factory that makes the clays line (including universal) wither blew up or got retooled for cannon propellant. I've heard both.
What Hodgdon seems to be trying to do is open up options for these sorts of failures. It's kinda working

 

[smoothshooter]

Mercy. Who'd've ever thought we'd see the day?

In these times, we see things almost every day we never thought we would see.
Almost all of them bad.
The frequency of them seems to accelerate every week, in all facets of our life.

 

[Auburn4]

How do you eat a elephant? One bite at a time. There is a attack on the 2nd Amendment every day somewhere. Just saying!! IMHO

 

[GypsmJim]

This. And it’s not news. It was announced about a month ago. Given the shortage of motor glycerin due to production of small arms and artillery shells for the war in Ukraine Alliant is suspending production of its canister powders for reloading in order to support production of factory ammunition.

I used to love watching Paul Harvey's "rest if the story" dialog.

In this case, regarding the source of "motor glycerine", where do you think the US of A sources the majority of this component?

CHINA.

What more need be said?

 

[71vette]

That is less than optimal, but I’ve shifted to other powders already anyway. Win 244 is an excellent “all around” midrange pistol powder. I’m using it in 38, 9mm, 357, and 44 mag for target/field loads. I use Titegroup for my 148gr DEWC 38 Special loads. Enforcer and AA#9 does a good job of getting me to the “2400” realm. #9 is a touch faster and Enforcer is a bit slower.

I’ve stocked up on 244, Titegroup, and HP-38/231 to make sure my “general use” pistol loading will be good for a while.

There were a lot of stories about the nitrocellulose shortage earlier this year. Many stories from manufacturers and distributors of price increases and shortages coming out in the first quarter. If you aren’t already stocked up, it would be wise to get what you need.

 

[Nightowl]

Graf's are stating that Bullseye is discontinued as well! Unless there are major changes in the world situation, it appears that primers and powder are going to be in short supply for the next several years!

Bullseye, Unique and 2400 have been my major use powders for over 57 years. It looks like I will be making some changes when I run out of Bullseye and 2400! Although that might take awhile!

 

[The Norseman]

Powder availability

I too have shifted to other powders, come to think
about it, pass shortages caused not to rely on
supply.

There are so many different powers out there, using
the “old stand byes” is not necessary.

My deal now is to use Single Base powders (mostly
importantly in my rifles) to lengthen barrel life.
There have been discussions on other sites about
Powder Burn temperature.

 

[ruger 22]

They are also likely to cut production of 22lr like before.

 

[The Norseman]

22 Long Rifle

They are also likely
to cut production of 22lr like before.

Excellent thought, and reminder!

We are getting a new Shooting Range. It’s always
a good idea to have more 22lr ammo.

I always have a 22lr Revolver or Rifle with me at
a Shooting Range. I can alternate between Guns
when I’m testing reloads. I’m a very conservative
shooter so 22lr and reloads last me a while.


Thanks

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Versatile... yes. I'll miss Unique. It is great for reduced loads for use in older black powder 45-70 rifles, and such. 12 grains is an accurate load for the trap door Springfield and other old single shot rifles from the 1800s. I know there are others, 4198 for one. But a pound of Unique goes a lot farther.

John

 

[Old Corp]

I'm one of very many that have used a LOT of Unique over the years.
I have jumped around and experimented with a few others.
I used to have a small LGS near me that had really low prices on AA powders...... - between AA-2, AA-5, AA-7 and AA-9 they cover a lot of different uses in handgun cartridge loading. AA-5 males a good stand-in for Unique, and meters better.

I just grabbed my first can of Alliant's BE-86, but have not loaded with it yet.

 

[stansdds]

I'm guessing that Vista Outdoors/Kinetic is focused on government contracts. From a business perspective and given the concept of non-stop wars, it's probably a good financial move. Like Old Corp, I have found that Accurate Arms powders are quite good and they are usually available in good quantities when other powders are absent from the shelves.