Powder

[rwsmith]

I've traveled....

I've traveled to 'check out' what some stores have had and always been disappointed. It's better to find it on the web and buy enough to offset the hazmat fee.

 

[36general]

As stated by others, online ordering is the way to go. I've scored AA#2, Trail Boss, HS-6, Unique, H110, W296 all in the last couple months. Just have to check availability as often as possible.

 

[scooter123]

One thing to remember when complaining about the lack of availability of powder is the DOT rules for shipping smokeless powder. The grand total of smokeless powder that is permitted to be placed on a truck is 100 lbs. It doesn't matter if it's a 52 foot trailer for a semi going coast to coast or a small delivery van, the total that can be transported is 100 lbs. So, the daily total that a manufacturer such as Hodgdon can ship out is limited by home many trucks they can persuade Fed Ex to come make a pick up. It doesn't do someone like Hodgdon much good to boost production to say 1000 lbs. per day when they can only ship 600 lbs. per day. You also can't blame Fed Ex for not providing enough trucks, just like there is a weight limit per truck there are also rules about how much smokeless powder can be within the shipping hub and how it's stored. Quite simply it's the limits on Transit Capacity that is limiting how much powder we can find. That is something that isn't going to change unless we reloaders do something to get the NRA to start pushing for a change in the rules.

BTW, there are reasonable Safety Concerns when discussing Black Powder, because real Black Powder is an Explosive. However, treating Smokeless powders with those same Safety Concerns is just plain stupid. Because the only way to get a Smokeless Powder to Explode is to contain it in a high pressure container. Ship smokeless powder in the standard plastic bottles in use today and if it catches fire all it will do is burn. Personally, I suspect that 1000 lbs. of Smokeless Powder on fire would be a smaller fire than what we seen when a gasoline tanker catches fire.

 

[cmj8591]

So they can transport 12000 gallons of gasoline over the road or 1000 pounds of propane that is capable of making a 30' deep crater and wipe out a city block but they can only transport 100 pounds of smokeless powder at a time?

 

[MyDads38]

LGS had powder ON SALE past few weeks. Had plenty in stock on Sat.; the next Friday it was ALL GONE! Wish I had bought more than 1 pound, but when you also need primers, bullets, etc., hard to buy all that you want to have! My "go to" powder for what I load is Bullseye.(38 Special, 9mm, 45acp) Just bought a pound of Red Dot and tried a sample batch this past weekend in my Ruger SR1911. Compared my Bullseye load to the Red Dot load. Yes the Bullseye load shot a tighter group, but not by much! And it was my first load attempt with Red Dot.
So today I found another LGS with 3-4 lb. jugs of Red Dot. Guess who's getting another 4 lbs? Yep, first thing in the am!
First chance I get, be buying as much Bullseye as I can afford!

 

[scooter123]

So they can transport 12000 gallons of gasoline over the road or 1000 pounds of propane that is capable of making a 30' deep crater and wipe out a city block but they can only transport 100 pounds of smokeless powder at a time?

Yep. To make it even worse I've heard that companies like Hodgdon and Powder Valley now have DOT inspectors on their shipping docks to insure that there isn't any "cheating" going on.

 

[smokindog]

Help me out here. You place an order every six months for a 2 year supply and you refer to others as HOARDERS?????

Once you achieve steady state (after a year in your post) every 6 months you increase your supply by 18 months..... I'm not against what you do I'm just suggesting you should be more careful with your judgement on others.....

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.

 

[smokindog]

Do you know the specifics for ordering like "must be a business", must place minimum order, ... I sent them an email but received nothing in return. I know 5 or 6 around here that wouldn't have a problem with a significant order and decent prices!!!!!

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

 

[FishingPilot]

Do you know the specifics for ordering like "must be a business", must place minimum order, ... I sent them an email but received nothing in return. I know 5 or 6 around here that wouldn't have a problem with a significant order and decent prices!!!!!

I do not know the specifics, just what my father told me. You and I can't order from them but the "club" can. Maybe it's worth creating a "club" on paper.

 

[smokindog]

That's kind of where I was going with this. What do we need to become "a club". I know our wives will testify Do you mind asking your Dad?

I do not know the specifics, just what my father told me. You and I can't order from them but the "club" can. Maybe it's worth creating a "club" on paper.

 

[smith17]

Not really my business but...if you look at their "Questions" tab, they are answering questions others have about availability and it appears just because they have a price listed next to an item doesn't mean it is in stock. Many of those items are in stock at other online sites and you don't have to be a club to order. That way you don't need to get your wives involved.
Ed

 

[KnightTime]

I called and ordered and I am not a "club". They responded when asked in the questions section "no there is no special requirements to place an order. You can contact us via phone or email to place an order." Cash or Check only, no Credit or Debit cards.

 

[smokindog]

I just saw that, it was MY question

I called and ordered and I am not a "club". They responded when asked in the questions section "no there is no special requirements to place an order. You can contact us via phone or email to place an order." Cash or Check only, no Credit or Debit cards.

 

[FishingPilot]

I called and ordered and I am not a "club". They responded when asked in the questions section "no there is no special requirements to place an order. You can contact us via phone or email to place an order." Cash or Check only, no Credit or Debit cards.

Nice. Thanks for the info.

 

[36general]

I ordered 4# of unique from them yesterday. A simple phone call and order is secured. You have to mail them a check, no credit cards. I'm just an individual and they seemed like nice folks. Powder should be here next week

 

[FishingPilot]

Someone from dad's club drives up there to pay and pick it up. I think they put together a very large order.

UPDATE - sorry, they drive down and deliver to the club because of the large order. that's always nice.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Powder Valley had lots of N310 at the beginning of the week. I know this for sure because I bought 5 pounds of it. Its a great powder for the 45 acp.

 

[mule69]

I now have six containers of powder I did not have before and it is because of you folks on this forum. What a wealth of information and a great place to be.

Thank you

 

[blujax01]

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.

So basically you're down to a four year supply.

Time to start the hunt again, IMO.