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
Midway
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GypsmJim
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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?
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.
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.
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!
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
Member
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.
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.
They are also likely to cut production of 22lr like before.
The Norseman
Member
22 Long Rifle
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
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
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
John
Old Corp
Member
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.
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.
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.
I don't use an inordinate amount of smokeless, my recent concern was the loss of Hodgdon's Black Powder interest: Goex. This led to a major shortfall in what I shoot the most of, fortunately they sold to the Estes Corp. Those of us that grew up playing with solid fuel rocket models are familiar with the Estes name, I have to assume that there are other interests in solid rocket fueled projectiles that keeps Estes in business. In the meantime we were forced to purchase from the Germans (Schuetzen) and the Swiss (Swiss). I have been using Swiss for years and use 1-1/2 F Swiss in nearly everything I shoot from Smoothbore musket to .45 target rifle, not to mention 45/70, 45/90, 50/70, .43 Spanish cartridge rifles. Swiss 3F is my preferred cartridge pistol powder as well as what my 38/55 Sharps likes.
I do have many uses for 2400, Unique, Bullseye and Red Dot along with H-110/W296. I just don't shoot enough of it to be concerned about a sudden loss, my cache is enough to last my lifetime or so I like to think. I feel for a few friends that shoot action pistol, they have been shorted on primers, etc. in the past and I helped where I could. Unless I get a wild hair to start shooting F-Class or something of little current interest I think I'm OK and will be able to help out friends where I'm flush. A friend of mine just offered a brick of large rifle match primers for which I was thankful as I have been in a dry spell or at least unwilling to pay the exorbitant price retailers are asking. I know a few action pistol guys that have been paying out the nose for small pistol primers, ridiculous prices. If all else fails I guess I can always go back to the beginning of my retirement years and dust off the old leather working gear. I am getting back into more woodworking than I thought and even bought another lathe after selling the last one twelve years ago.
Gotta stay flexible...."Bend like the willow or snap like an oak" Lao Tse.
I do have many uses for 2400, Unique, Bullseye and Red Dot along with H-110/W296. I just don't shoot enough of it to be concerned about a sudden loss, my cache is enough to last my lifetime or so I like to think. I feel for a few friends that shoot action pistol, they have been shorted on primers, etc. in the past and I helped where I could. Unless I get a wild hair to start shooting F-Class or something of little current interest I think I'm OK and will be able to help out friends where I'm flush. A friend of mine just offered a brick of large rifle match primers for which I was thankful as I have been in a dry spell or at least unwilling to pay the exorbitant price retailers are asking. I know a few action pistol guys that have been paying out the nose for small pistol primers, ridiculous prices. If all else fails I guess I can always go back to the beginning of my retirement years and dust off the old leather working gear. I am getting back into more woodworking than I thought and even bought another lathe after selling the last one twelve years ago.
Gotta stay flexible...."Bend like the willow or snap like an oak" Lao Tse.
shil
Member
Maybe there's some truth in that. The last time I saw Unique offered was maybe 4 months ago at $56 per pound and the vendor sold out. I procrastinated and got nothing.
I will not like it if the rumors are true. I have been using Bullseye, Unique and 2400 since they came in paper cans with a Hercules on them. Unique, most especially, lived up to its name and made usable loads in almost any pistol cartridge, and the best loads in several. Still lamenting the loss of SR4759 for reduced loads in rifle cartridges. Hopefully my current stash of powders will last as long as I do.
shil
Member
SHRIEK!
Two of my favorite powders!
Two of my favorite powders!Model 15-4ever
Member
When I started reloading 50 years ago, Bullseye, Unique and 2400 were all you needed for all handgun shooting. And they were in good supply available everywhere.
Fast forward 25 years. I moved to a locale in which Alliant powder was just not regularly available at the any of the LGS. Hodgdon was readily available. So I switched to Hodgdon. There's no real substitute of the versatility of Unique (weird). But Titegroup, HS-6 and H110 handle everything (with some HP-38/W231 thrown in ).
The real tragedy is the sudden irrelevance all the useful loading data from decades and generations, especially for cartridges that are no longer deemed "worthy" of load development except as cream-puff noise makers. You could always find data for any handgun cartridge using Bullseye, Unique and/or 2400, and at pressure levels that made the cartridges useful.
Most of these ammunition companies don't care about reloading. They would rather sell you high profit loaded ammo. Reloading components were sold to take care of excess capacity. Now, they don't have to do that, they sell all the ammo they make.
Fast forward 25 years. I moved to a locale in which Alliant powder was just not regularly available at the any of the LGS. Hodgdon was readily available. So I switched to Hodgdon. There's no real substitute of the versatility of Unique (weird). But Titegroup, HS-6 and H110 handle everything (with some HP-38/W231 thrown in ).
The real tragedy is the sudden irrelevance all the useful loading data from decades and generations, especially for cartridges that are no longer deemed "worthy" of load development except as cream-puff noise makers. You could always find data for any handgun cartridge using Bullseye, Unique and/or 2400, and at pressure levels that made the cartridges useful.
Most of these ammunition companies don't care about reloading. They would rather sell you high profit loaded ammo. Reloading components were sold to take care of excess capacity. Now, they don't have to do that, they sell all the ammo they make.
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Nothing like making yourself an ICBM target for the bottom line!
Drive on. It don't mean nothin. I switched to BE-86 and IMR 4227.
I started out with Hercules Bullseye when I reloaded with a Lee Loader on my kitchen table. Bullseye was THE powder for bullseye pistol shooters for generations. I stuck with Hercules/ Alliant powders when knowledgeable gun writers, like Elmer Keith, recommended 2400 and Unique. I'll probably switch to Titegroup, H110, HP38 and maybe Accurate #2 and #5 when I run out of Alliant powders. A lot of bullet casting companies are going under, too and the prices are expected to skyrocket. Looks like I'll be dusting off my bullet casting equipment that I was considering selling!
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Once it gets cooler I'll start casting again. Sort and size projectiles then try some new powders and may use some Unique and Bullseyes for few 100 rounds. Really disappointed that the standard powders are going away.
Red and Green Dot are reasonable substitutes for Bullseye if loading mild handgun loads. Not quite as fast burning as Bullseye but close.
I have an unopened 4lb jug of 2400. The only thing I use it for is loading for my 44 Inland. I've been looking for a .357 lever Winchester but none in stock where I live. I don't buy anything on the internet anymore. Too much of a hassle with the transfers. I'll find one someday locally.
Sorry to hear it's gone.
Sorry to hear it's gone.
Old Corp
Member
I bought a 1 lb. can of 'Herco' at an LGS that carries just a smidgen of reloading supplies. They had nothing else I could remotely use.....
IIRC, it's been discontinued, but pretty sure some of my older manuals will show some usable data for it in my main handgun calibers - 9mm, .38/.357. .10mm, .41, .44 Spl/Mag, .45 ACP/.45 Colt.
It was <$25, so sort of a deal.
IIRC, it's been discontinued, but pretty sure some of my older manuals will show some usable data for it in my main handgun calibers - 9mm, .38/.357. .10mm, .41, .44 Spl/Mag, .45 ACP/.45 Colt.
It was <$25, so sort of a deal.
They both are out of stock just about everywhere.
I loved 2400 when casting and shooting 44 mag. When it got hard to find I was recommended accurate number 9 as an alternative. I picked up a couple pounds but they are still un opened. As far as unique , I do have a few pounds left. It did do it all, but there are others. It just takes a couple different powders to cover the same calibers.
