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Old October 15, 2022, 12:59 PM   #1
ligonierbill
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How are y'all doing with powder?

Me - better. Recently found some Reloder 17 and 22, two of my favorites. In looking for potential replacements, I've been grabbing what I could. And now I'm looking for uses for some of these. Here is what I've learned thus far:

Reloder 15.5 seems to match the discontinued IMR-4320. This is ironic, as I bought 4320 during the last shortage, when I couldn't find Reloder 15. Have plenty now, but sometimes 4320 is a better mid-range powder.

Reloder 16 is too bulky in most of the rounds I've tried. It may have a home in 250-3000.

StaBall 6.5 works well in 257 B...ah Roberts, but as yet I have no other home for it. Has potential.

Finally, Alliant 4000-MR. Hate that they won't share data so I can run Quickload projections, but I definitely have a home for it in 300 H&H. I bought a Remington 700 Classic earlier this year, and 4000-MR is delivering great velocity, consistency, and accuracy.
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Old October 15, 2022, 01:40 PM   #2
Dave P
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$300 for a keg of 2400. Wasnt it just 2 years ago it cost $125 or so??
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Old October 15, 2022, 05:17 PM   #3
rclark
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Yep... We were going along just fine .... until... Well, you all know...

I think I have enough powder for years as well as primers. I feel though for those just starting into the hobby. Hopefully prices will depress... But not holding my breath with people more than willing to shell out for double/triple the cost of primers or powder (and .22LR) of two-three years ago, there is simply no pressure to reduce prices.....

Quote:
How are y'all doing with powder?
Just fine. I've found my favorite loads for my favorite cartridges, so no push to try something new.
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Last edited by rclark; October 15, 2022 at 05:34 PM.
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Old October 15, 2022, 05:29 PM   #4
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Doing fine , as long as not looking to try something new .
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Old October 15, 2022, 06:42 PM   #5
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Powder: Fine.

Primers: Not so much.
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Old October 15, 2022, 08:54 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick_C_S View Post
Powder: Fine.

Primers: Not so much.
Same here ; )
Y/D
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Old October 15, 2022, 09:09 PM   #7
Metal god
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I’m good , the longer the shortage goes the more worried I get . I have enough pistol powder to last the rest of my life and then some . Rifle powder I have enough for quite awhile , long enough to not be overly concerned but looking for another 16# of IMR 4064 or 4895 . That would ease my mind quite a bit . I’m actually looking to trade a 8# jug of H-110 for some 2400 . Where can I get those kegs of 2400 ?


Primers ? I’m fine for now but could use some large pistol . Looking to only use Win LPP do to there multi use capabilities.
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Old October 15, 2022, 09:09 PM   #8
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I'm OK on powder and primers for about two more years. Using my stockpile from before the panic. Hoping things get back to more normal by then.
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Old October 15, 2022, 09:35 PM   #9
reynolds357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ligonierbill View Post
Me - better. Recently found some Reloder 17 and 22, two of my favorites. In looking for potential replacements, I've been grabbing what I could. And now I'm looking for uses for some of these. Here is what I've learned thus far:

Reloder 15.5 seems to match the discontinued IMR-4320. This is ironic, as I bought 4320 during the last shortage, when I couldn't find Reloder 15. Have plenty now, but sometimes 4320 is a better mid-range powder.

Reloder 16 is too bulky in most of the rounds I've tried. It may have a home in 250-3000.

StaBall 6.5 works well in 257 B...ah Roberts, but as yet I have no other home for it. Has potential.

Finally, Alliant 4000-MR. Hate that they won't share data so I can run Quickload projections, but I definitely have a home for it in 300 H&H. I bought a Remington 700 Classic earlier this year, and 4000-MR is delivering great velocity, consistency, and accuracy.
Staball 6.5 is awesome in 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5x55, and its wicked in the .270 Winchester.
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Old October 16, 2022, 06:26 AM   #10
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Powder i'm doing fairly well.
Bullets are good!
Primers are nonexistent in my area of central PA.
Namely large rifle & small pistol.
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Old October 16, 2022, 06:52 AM   #11
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Sittin in high cotton for the time being. My oldest grandson and I got a new small caliber toy a while back. Up until then, most everything I had was based off either a 308 or '06 case so powders were fairly easy to use across calibers but nothing for the small cased fodder.

Being good on primers helped a ton, but had to do a bit of research and waiting to get powder. Finally bit the bullet so to speak and picked up some TAC and Precision Rifle. We shot some preliminary loads yesterday that produced 1/2 - 3/4" groups at 100yds with 4 different bullets so we are excited to continue with our development of loads.

The tricky part of it all was finding stuff that could be used for other calibers, and then finding it period.
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Old October 16, 2022, 07:26 AM   #12
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I’m estimating that I probably have enough of everything to last me as long as I’ll still be shooting. Yes, I’m that well stocked.
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Old October 16, 2022, 10:13 AM   #13
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After the 2012 shortage I saw the handwriting on the wall of the way things were going to be ... So I became a Full Fledged Card Carrying Buyer and Hoarder of Powder , Primers, Brass , Bullet Moulds and Lead . It was a wise investment !!!
I have a lifetime supply X 2 stashed .
I'm Good ...
Gary
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Old October 16, 2022, 10:52 AM   #14
mikejonestkd
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Here in upstate Ny components are starting to show up more frequently and in great numbers. Primers are still scarce and expensive though
Powder is better than its been in several years, although high demand ones are still challenging to find
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Old October 16, 2022, 10:52 AM   #15
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I haven't been loading much for about five years and back then, I bought a bunch of components just because I found some items on sale. I'm low on small pistol magnum primers so that's my only real concern when I get back into it.

--Wag--
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Old October 16, 2022, 11:57 AM   #16
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Last year I sold a lot of stuff and modeled my stock of firearm cartridges around powders that are plentiful for me. As a result, I have larger amounts of specific powders without increasing costs. This has worked out well so far.
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Old October 16, 2022, 01:28 PM   #17
Metal god
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Quote:
Last year I sold a lot of stuff and modeled my stock of firearm cartridges around powders that are plentiful for me. As a result, I have larger amounts of specific powders without increasing costs. This has worked out well so far.
Although not exact I do something similar. I will not buy a firearm that uses a new to me cartridge. I don’t want to need new components specific to only that firearm and have no desire to tool up for new cartridges.

Been wanting a 338 Lapua and a 10mm auto but every time I think of all the extra component cost I stop my self .
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Last edited by Metal god; October 16, 2022 at 01:58 PM.
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Old October 16, 2022, 03:24 PM   #18
kilotanker22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Metal god View Post
Although not exact I do something similar. I will not buy a firearm that uses a new to me cartridge. I don’t want to need new components specific to only that firearm and have no desire to tool up for new cartridges.

Been wanting a 338 Lapua and a 10mm auto but every time I think of all the extra component cost I stop my self .
About the same here. I am only shooting cartridges for which BLC-(2), Varget, PPV, H-4350, and CFE Pistol work well in. Lucky for me, CFE Pistol actually works very well with 10mm Auto and 9mm Luger.

H-4350 is great for 30-06, 280, and 6.5 Creedmoor. The other powders I listed I use for 308/7.62 and 223/5.56.

Then I switched all my short action rifle brass to small rifle, except for 7.62 rounds I load with BLC-(2). I have enough powder, primers, and bullets to support my current habit for another two years or so.
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Old October 16, 2022, 07:07 PM   #19
ligonierbill
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Being a caliber junkie, I not only failed to drop rounds, I added a couple. But I do think powder is becoming more available. And I don't think prices are unreasonable. Primers are another story, of course, Hope I'm wrong, but 10X the pre-shortage price seems the new norm.
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Old October 16, 2022, 10:01 PM   #20
Metal god
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FWIW this shortage doesn’t have anything to do with me not wanting new cartridges. I’ve had this issue for many years . I’ve considered and likely will get a 357sig instead of the 10mm . The only thing I’ll need different then I already have plenty of is brass and dies .
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Old October 16, 2022, 10:47 PM   #21
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Originally Posted by Nick_C_S View Post
Powder: Fine.

Primers: Not so much.
This
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Old October 17, 2022, 02:50 PM   #22
hooligan1
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Primers are my only real need as of lately.
I did score 2 lbs of Retumbo to load my 7mm rem mag up some extra...
Im not even sure when the last time I did buy primers, but just now looking it all over, Id better hunt some large rifle and pistol down before it gets worse..
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Old October 21, 2022, 11:12 AM   #23
will99
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Go to your local gun show and you'll find all you need. At mine (NC) there were two vendors selling nothing but reloading supplies and some gun dealers also had a smaller selection. All the powder, primers and bullets I needed were there. Prices are up, but nothing we can do about it.
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Old October 21, 2022, 06:46 PM   #24
gwpercle
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Between the 2012 and 2020 shortages I spent every spare penny I could beg , borrow or steal and hoarded up on Powder , Primers , Brass and Bullet Moulds . I was still working and making plenty of money ! Now I'm retired ... but ...
I have a lifetime supply of those things ... I hoarded high and deep and the children will discover their inheritance isn't in cash or stocks but Reloading Supplies ... After I'm gone they will either curse me or cheer ... when they find what I have invested in ... reloading supplies and 22 LR ammo !
With the economy and recession and prices ... crazy old Dad might have made a smart investment !
Gary
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Old October 22, 2022, 08:32 AM   #25
Wag
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Originally Posted by gwpercle View Post
Between the 2012 and 2020 shortages I spent every spare penny I could beg , borrow or steal and hoarded up on Powder , Primers , Brass and Bullet Moulds . I was still working and making plenty of money ! Now I'm retired ... but ...
I have a lifetime supply of those things ... I hoarded high and deep and the children will discover their inheritance isn't in cash or stocks but Reloading Supplies ... After I'm gone they will either curse me or cheer ... when they find what I have invested in ... reloading supplies and 22 LR ammo !
With the economy and recession and prices ... crazy old Dad might have made a smart investment !
Gary
Ya never know but prices don't usually come back down much after an inflationary period. Sellers discover what the market will bear and they stick to it. The only prices that come back down are the ones where sellers over stocked and need to get rid of it. That doesn't seem to be happening with consumable loading supplies.

--Wag--
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