Powder

[mule69]

I drive 70 miles one way once a month to Bass Pro Shops to see if they have any reloading powder. Most often the pickings are slim but yesterday they did not have one container of powder of any kind on the shelf. I reload mostly .45 ACP and .44 Magnums and I traveled all over south west Missouri and stopped in every gun shop, pawn shop, guitar shop and quilt shop and there is no powder to be found.

I don't know what to do.

 

[36general]

Check gunbot, they have a powder section. Act quickly and you will be able to find what you need. Good luck!

 

[arjay]

The shortage in 08 caught me a little low on some powder and completely out of pistol primers.I just checked the sporting goods stores for supplies periodically and went on to other things.When the stuff finally showed up again I bought enough to last 10 years.

 

[scooter123]

If you have gun shows in your area they can be a good source for powder. Yeah, you will pay a small premium but that beats nothing at all.

Something else that you have to do is to check the various suppliers DAILY, even twice a day. Just this week Powder Valley got in a shipment of IMR powder that they posted about 9:00 PM EST. In that shipment were 8 and 1 lbs. bottles of IMR SR7625, which is my goto powder for range ammo in 45 ACP and 40 S&W. I decided to sleep on it before placing an order for 8 lbs. and at 6:30 AM the next morning they had sold out completely. The lesson is if you snooze you lose and that won't happen again. Fortunately, I do have a good stock of SR7625 on hand so I can wait until it pops up again.

BTW, I do check with Gunbot but have found that it's useless. The notifications are too far behind the buying curve and I don't believe that it updates as frequently as claimed.

The final tip is that you need to have a list of alternates that are useful. Because right now only a fool walks away from some useful handgun powder. Right now for 45 ACP I have SR7625, AA #5, Unique, Longshot, and VV N330 & 3N37 on my "useful for 45 ACP" list. If I see a pound of anything on that list for sale I make sure that at least 1 pound goes home with me.

 

[Johnnu2]

GOT POWDER ?

I've put in an order every 6 months or so with a buddy....we order primers and powders to last a coupla years... The orders are backordered for us by MidSouth, and take about a year to deliver. Works for us.....AND THE PRICES ARE ACTUALLY WAY BELOW THE HOARDERS/DEALERS PRICES CURRENTLY.

 

[FishingPilot]

Check with some gun clubs. My dad's just placed a big order and they get great prices on items. Here is a link to the wholesaler they purchase from and the prices. CAC Associates. They are putting an order together now. I'm getting some 8lb jugs of powder and some cases of primers. I should be set for the next year or so.

Example:
Alliant Red Dot
1 lb. $17.99
4 lb. $58.10
8 lb. $101.30

 

[mule69]

I should have posted my question long ago. These are all great ideas and I sincerely appreciate the replies. I will definitely not pass anything up when I see it and I will be going to the local gun show the middle of March. Thanks again and if any of you are in southwest Missouri and need a place to shoot just give me a holler

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Check with some gun clubs. My dad's just placed a big order and they get great prices on items. Here is a link to the wholesaler they purchase from and the prices. CAC Associates. They are putting an order together now. I'm getting some 8lb jugs of powder and some cases of primers. I should be set for the next year or so.

Example:
Alliant Red Dot
1 lb. $17.99
4 lb. $58.10
8 lb. $101.30

Well, those are GOOD prices. Saw some powder the other day, 1lb. only and $30.00 a lb.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

And just think what will happen when powder again becomes available.....the rush will be on to stock up for the next shortage, creating yet another.....it will be a long time before this ends.

 

[smith17]

If you have a hard time swallowing the price of a pistol powder at a gun show, stop and figure the difference for price per round based on the asking price vs what you want to pay. I agree with scooter.
Ed

 

[trophyhunter]

So why a shortage in powder though? It's all blended from similar base ingredients to make the various branded canister powders we all know and use right?

I'd think it was the one thing a manufacturer could and would turn out as fast as demand called for. Unless those base ingredients are all imported and aren't available in enough quantity to satisfy demand.

 

[arjay]

Same problem as with 22s,we all used to just keep enough around for the next few weeks or months because it was always available at the store.Hoarding has a way of snowballing.

 

[Nevada Ed]

You can see how far you can get with $27 worth of gas, or......

pay the hazmat fee.

It really comes down to what you have to pay for the supplies and if you can find them.

Some local stores have a certain day that they get the shipments on. If you are early, you can usually score on components.
One time I showed up at 9:30 am and my buddy behind the counter told me that "Bankers hours" don't get it !!
All the powder was gone........except for stuff a pistol guy could not use.

Good luck on your search.

 

[NJM15]

Shooter supply in Cal got 3 lbs of HS 6 and 2 lbs H322 the haz fee is high but what can you do besides do without

 

[Constrictor]

there is a nice gun shop in Joplin Mo called Steves trading post that always has more stuff than other shops. ive been surprised to see powder and primers there when no one else had any. might give them a try.

 

[W.E.G.]

Watch gunbot.

GunBot powder reloading

 

[aviserated]

Here is a verygood deal on N32C pistol powder. Some say it works verygood in 45acp. I ordered 4 lbs, good service, with tracking number.

Browsing Store - N32C 1# VIHTAVUORI Powder

 

[M29since14]

Check with some gun clubs...

The shotgun clubs may be able to help you. If they can get you some Red Dot or 700X you can keep your .45 going and if they have .410 powders (like H110/W296 or even Lil Gun) that should be OK for your .44. The club I belong to has been able to get various shotgun powders - not always exactly what you want, but something that can be used.

 

[gwpercle]

No powder, no loaded ammo , no 22 rimfire ammo, no primers, no wheel-weights.....is this a back-handed form of gun control. I guess if you don't have ammo we don't have much use for our guns.....this is getting scarey.
I don't like it and I don't know what to do to solve the problem.

 

[stavman11]

No powder, no loaded ammo , no 22 rimfire ammo, no primers, no wheel-weights.....is this a back-handed form of gun control. I guess if you don't have ammo we don't have much use for our guns.....this is getting scarey.
I don't like it and I don't know what to do to solve the problem.

Ya have to be persistant at your Searches.... best Advice i can give..

1. Cabela's localy... be there at 9am when they open... 2-3x a week till ya find what ya need...
Any local Similar Store.. find out when they STOCK the Shelves.. and be there anytime ya can
Get in good with LGS, and ask when they are getting orders in... and BE there

2. Check all the reloading Forums multiple times a day for when online Stores get Stock available... as well as gunbot... and when STUFF is available... BUY it.. Dont hesitate, or it will be Gone


There are components available... ya just cant expect to look 2x a month and Find it.... if you are Serious about the Hobby... then take some Time and Find whats available..

A) get Up in the AM... Check Threads and Sites
B) At lunch.. stop by LGS or Super Store... also check threads and Sites
C) get Home from Work... Rinse and Repeat.
D) Before Bed... do it all again...


ya powders are NOT $16/lb anymore.... but ya can get 8lb Jugs for about that if ya Find it....

Also expand the powders ya are looking for... I only use 5 powders... and, well, in the last 3months I have found all of them and am stocked up.... i have also seen many many More Alternates if I wanted....


Early bird gets the Worm..... so GO GET that WORM