Now No Powder

44caliberkid · February 27, 2021, 10:00 PM

Thought I had a pound of 4895, but it was something else, so I find myself with no suitable powder for 308/ 30-06 loads, 150gr. FMJ, 2650 - 2700 fps. I went to a big sporting goods store that usually has everything, just picked up a can of H-110 there a few weeks ago, they were sold out of everything except BP substitute. On line reloading suppliers are all out of stock. I could use 4895, RL-15, Tac X, Varget, Win 748, or similar. Anyone know a place with any product? You might want to PM me to avoid a run on the place.

Shadow9mm · February 27, 2021, 11:23 PM

Have not seen varget online or in store for months now. Have just under 2lb left��

chris in va · February 28, 2021, 03:13 AM

Man, where have you been? Primers and (most) powder have been MIA for a year.

STORM2 · February 28, 2021, 03:40 AM

I’m in the Dallas area. There are no powders of any size in any retail outlets. There are some powders showing up as consignments at gun shows. Folks offering ammunition and reloading components on consignment are motivated to sell only if they are able to realize long term ROI prices. It’s now a trading/investment commodity. He who has the gold makes the rules. The market of all gun related transactions should be considered a day trading skill. The occasional buyer is gonna find themselves overwhelmed. Folks who had never purchased/owned a gun in the past discovered this during 2020 when they made that first gun purchase. Most of the guns sold were on the used market because folks sold off excess or collectors stuff ONLY because they could make very a high ROI. I am not criticizing or endorsing folks financial motives, just calling it as I see it. It is a free market and SHTF has been discussed for years. I guess some folks just were not listening. This will pass. It will take several years, but it will pass.....Then it will happen again so plan accordingly.

On the opposite side of this evolution there are folks who find themselves with too many guns they overpaid for who are shocked when they cannot get their money back in the future. There are not going to be enough of the next generation/s who give a hoot about old military stuff or those rare boxed over priced Colts folks go crazy for to continue the price spiral. Look at the age of the folks buying and selling those blue boxes. The majority of the next generation will trade inherited collections for a new iGadget.

Sorry to have wandered off in the weeds. No there are no secret powder supplies.

Maxwell Haus · February 28, 2021, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STORM2

I’m in the Dallas area. There are no powders of any size in any retail outlets. There are some powders showing up as consignments at gun shows. Folks offering ammunition and reloading components on consignment are motivated to sell only if they are able to realize long term ROI prices. It’s now a trading/investment commodity. He who has the gold makes the rules. The market of all gun related transactions should be considered a day trading skill. The occasional buyer is gonna find themselves overwhelmed. Folks who had never purchased/owned a gun in the past discovered this during 2020 when they made that first gun purchase. Most of the guns sold were on the used market because folks sold off excess or collectors stuff ONLY because they could make very a high ROI. I am not criticizing or endorsing folks financial motives, just calling it as I see it. It is a free market and SHTF has been discussed for years. I guess some folks just were not listening. This will pass. It will take several years, but it will pass.....Then it will happen again so plan accordingly.

On the opposite side of this evolution there are folks who find themselves with too many guns they overpaid for who are shocked when they cannot get their money back in the future. There are not going to be enough of the next generation/s who give a hoot about old military stuff or those rare boxed over priced Colts folks go crazy for to continue the price spiral. Look at the age of the folks buying and selling those blue boxes. The majority of the next generation will trade inherited collections for a new iGadget.

Sorry to have wandered off in the weeds. No there are no secret powder supplies.

The OP was asking about powder, not your personal take on the firearms industry . You paint with a broad brush . I can tell you from EXPERIENCE , there are Many many young folks interested in historical firearms , reloading, etc .

To the OP, you are very late to the game . The web based powders sales have dried up, unless you go to places like Gunbroker . Prices are very high there, but they do have powder . Good luck to you.

44caliberkid · February 28, 2021, 08:27 AM

Not late to the game. I haven’t been worried about shortages because I have ammo and components. I have primers, bullets, lead, powder and shot to last my lifetime, that’s why I haven’t been looking. I’ll just wait and spend my time loading 5.56 and handgun cartridges.

Maxwell Haus · February 28, 2021, 08:34 AM

When you asked about buying powder it did not occur to me you already had a lifetime worth . .

KentM · February 28, 2021, 04:55 PM

There IS powder out there, but you have to have the time to birddog it. I just scored a 5 lb bottle of Accurate #2 for $103 and three 1-pounders of Accurate 1680 for $26 each from Powder Valley. But I was able to keep checking their site throughout the day.

I also had "notify me' clicked on Midsouth Shooters and received separate notifications that they had stock of H110, Varget, Win 748, Vih. N110 and Vih N120. I went to get the Win 748 and it was sold out less than 15 minutes after the notice was sent out! These were all at decent prices around $35-40 per pound, so at least Powder Valley and Midsouth Shooters are NOT price gouging. And I will remember that when the crush is over. Bottom line, there is powder if you can afford to just keep checking the Web sites.

Unfortunately the same is not true for primers!@#$

RC20 · February 28, 2021, 05:19 PM

OP said he was looking for 4895 AND had no powder for 308 and 30-05 in 150 gr loads at a 2650 to 2700 fps .

I take that as he is out as there are about a dozen powders I can list off the top of my head that will do that. 4064 (two or 3) /Varget/VHT-140/ 2495 (two or 3) /AL15/R-17/Bigame/4350 (3 types I know of) / Norma URP/4451/Superperformance etc.

Some of the 223 powders cross into usable in those ranges. Shrug

44caliberkid · February 28, 2021, 06:18 PM

Thanks RC20. I thought I had a can of 4895, but when I went to get it, it was 4198. There are loads for 308 with 4198, but using 90 gr to 100 grain bullets. I also have some Reloader 17 , but loads for it in 308 use 175 - 180 gr bullets. Does anyone have a 150 gr load with either?

NWPilgrim · February 28, 2021, 07:28 PM

According to Sierra v6 data you should be able to get 2600-2800fps in .30/06 150 gr with 50.2-54.0 gr RE17. The max load is 59.6 gr for 3080fps. COL= 3.235”, WLR, 24” bbl.

RE17 should be close to H4350 which is about ideal for mid range .30-06.

Hornady 10 (app) shows RE17 for same load to be min/max 50.9 - 61.1 gr for 2500-3000fps, COL= 3.210”, WLR

The only data I found for .308 is Alliant itself:
Maximum! 50.0 gr RE17, 2763fps, Fed 210, minimum COL=2.80”, 24” bbl. start at 45.0 and work up.

Good luck!

FITASC · February 28, 2021, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Man, where have you been? Primers and (most) powder have been MIA for a year.

Yep, this is reality...............

44caliberkid · February 28, 2021, 08:24 PM

Great, thank you Pilgrim. My big Sierra book is a 5th edition and didn't have RL-17 listed. Back to work.

Wyosam · February 28, 2021, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow9mm

Have not seen varget online or in store for months now. Have just under 2lb leftí ½í¸

I bought a bunch last week. Actually saw it at another spot later. Saw H1000, too. Just have to be quick!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RC20 · February 28, 2021, 11:27 PM

Hmmm, lucky me thinks.

RC20 · February 28, 2021, 11:32 PM

Please note to check the data.

R17: 30-06: Hornady: 150 gr. 50.9 to 61.1 2500 to 3000 FPS

53.5 = 2650 FPS per the book.

RC20 · February 28, 2021, 11:37 PM

https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...5&cartridge=80

MAX LOAD: FOR 150 Gr. BTSP Speer: 50 gr. 2763 fps. REDUCE BY 10% FOR STARTING.

By my calcs that is a 45 GR starting load.

Josh_Putman · March 1, 2021, 06:40 AM

Have you tried looking right on Hodgdons website for powder and/or load data?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

44caliberkid · March 1, 2021, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh_Putman

Have you tried looking right on Hodgdons website for powder and/or load data?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

Yes, Hodgdons is totally sold out of powder of any kind except black powder substitutes. Yes, I use their load data all the time. But 4198 is the only Hodgdon product I have right now, and it is only for very light Bullets in 308, as stated above. Not useful.

lll Otto lll · March 1, 2021, 03:48 PM

In my neck of the woods Varget is fetching $90 a pound. Apparently some folks out there have plenty of cash to burn. A guy I occasionally shoot with, spends $200 for a thousand SPP. He’s a MD so it’s really no big deal to him. Astronomical prices aren’t stopping him from shooting. $90 Varget could very well be a bargain a year from now....who knows.

Bayou · March 1, 2021, 05:05 PM

I, for one, do not envision this supply shortage to end anytime soon. It could very well get worse - much worse.

With a record number of new gun owners out there, many new shooters may simply be unaware of how inflated current prices are.

Additionally, the politics of the nation have changed, as we all know. To me, all this portends a continuation of current market conditions.

I hope I’m wrong...

Bayou

Road_Clam · March 1, 2021, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44caliberkid

Thought I had a pound of 4895, but it was something else, so I find myself with no suitable powder for 308/ 30-06 loads,

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44caliberkid

I haven’t been worried about shortages because I have ammo and components. I have primers, bullets, lead, powder and shot to last my lifetime,

A pound of 30 caliber powder is NOT enough to "last a lifetime". So note to self moving forward , is to pay close attention to your overall inventory and keep your components "balanced" for each specific caliber you load for.

Shadow9mm · March 1, 2021, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

A pound of 30 caliber powder is NOT enough to "last a lifetime". So note to self moving forward , is to pay close attention to your overall inventory and keep your components "balanced" for each specific caliber you load for.

putting dates on your powder and primers is generally a good idea as well... so you use your old inventory first

44caliberkid · March 1, 2021, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Clam

A pound of 30 caliber powder is NOT enough to "last a lifetime". So note to self moving forward , is to pay close attention to your overall inventory and keep your components "balanced" for each specific caliber you load for.

If I'm only going to live 1 to 5 more years, it well could be a lifetime.

bamaranger · March 1, 2021, 08:53 PM

Been looking for Varget in my area for 9 months to a year, no joy.

February 27, 2021, 10:00 PM	#1
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Now No Powder Thought I had a pound of 4895, but it was something else, so I find myself with no suitable powder for 308/ 30-06 loads, 150gr. FMJ, 2650 - 2700 fps. I went to a big sporting goods store that usually has everything, just picked up a can of H-110 there a few weeks ago, they were sold out of everything except BP substitute. On line reloading suppliers are all out of stock. I could use 4895, RL-15, Tac X, Varget, Win 748, or similar. Anyone know a place with any product? You might want to PM me to avoid a run on the place.

February 28, 2021, 03:40 AM	#4
STORM2 Member Join Date: January 23, 2021 Location: Texas Posts: 75	I’m in the Dallas area. There are no powders of any size in any retail outlets. There are some powders showing up as consignments at gun shows. Folks offering ammunition and reloading components on consignment are motivated to sell only if they are able to realize long term ROI prices. It’s now a trading/investment commodity. He who has the gold makes the rules. The market of all gun related transactions should be considered a day trading skill. The occasional buyer is gonna find themselves overwhelmed. Folks who had never purchased/owned a gun in the past discovered this during 2020 when they made that first gun purchase. Most of the guns sold were on the used market because folks sold off excess or collectors stuff ONLY because they could make very a high ROI. I am not criticizing or endorsing folks financial motives, just calling it as I see it. It is a free market and SHTF has been discussed for years. I guess some folks just were not listening. This will pass. It will take several years, but it will pass.....Then it will happen again so plan accordingly. On the opposite side of this evolution there are folks who find themselves with too many guns they overpaid for who are shocked when they cannot get their money back in the future. There are not going to be enough of the next generation/s who give a hoot about old military stuff or those rare boxed over priced Colts folks go crazy for to continue the price spiral. Look at the age of the folks buying and selling those blue boxes. The majority of the next generation will trade inherited collections for a new iGadget. Sorry to have wandered off in the weeds. No there are no secret powder supplies. Last edited by STORM2; February 28, 2021 at 03:58 AM.

February 28, 2021, 05:19 PM	#9
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	OP said he was looking for 4895 AND had no powder for 308 and 30-05 in 150 gr loads at a 2650 to 2700 fps . I take that as he is out as there are about a dozen powders I can list off the top of my head that will do that. 4064 (two or 3) /Varget/VHT-140/ 2495 (two or 3) /AL15/R-17/Bigame/4350 (3 types I know of) / Norma URP/4451/Superperformance etc. Some of the 223 powders cross into usable in those ranges. Shrug __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

February 28, 2021, 07:28 PM	#11
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Now No Powder According to Sierra v6 data you should be able to get 2600-2800fps in .30/06 150 gr with 50.2-54.0 gr RE17. The max load is 59.6 gr for 3080fps. COL= 3.235”, WLR, 24” bbl. RE17 should be close to H4350 which is about ideal for mid range .30-06. Hornady 10 (app) shows RE17 for same load to be min/max 50.9 - 61.1 gr for 2500-3000fps, COL= 3.210”, WLR The only data I found for .308 is Alliant itself: Maximum! 50.0 gr RE17, 2763fps, Fed 210, minimum COL=2.80”, 24” bbl. start at 45.0 and work up. Good luck! Last edited by NWPilgrim; March 1, 2021 at 12:47 AM.

February 28, 2021, 08:24 PM	#13
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Great, thank you Pilgrim. My big Sierra book is a 5th edition and didn't have RL-17 listed. Back to work. Last edited by 44caliberkid; February 28, 2021 at 11:13 PM.

February 27, 2021, 11:23 PM	#2
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,974	Have not seen varget online or in store for months now. Have just under 2lb left�� __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

February 28, 2021, 03:13 AM	#3
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Man, where have you been? Primers and (most) powder have been MIA for a year.

February 28, 2021, 08:27 AM	#6
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Not late to the game. I haven’t been worried about shortages because I have ammo and components. I have primers, bullets, lead, powder and shot to last my lifetime, that’s why I haven’t been looking. I’ll just wait and spend my time loading 5.56 and handgun cartridges.

February 28, 2021, 08:34 AM	#7
Maxwell Haus member Join Date: December 14, 2016 Posts: 113	When you asked about buying powder it did not occur to me you already had a lifetime worth . .

February 28, 2021, 04:55 PM	#8
KentM Member Join Date: January 4, 2021 Posts: 19	There IS powder out there, but you have to have the time to birddog it. I just scored a 5 lb bottle of Accurate #2 for $103 and three 1-pounders of Accurate 1680 for $26 each from Powder Valley. But I was able to keep checking their site throughout the day. I also had "notify me' clicked on Midsouth Shooters and received separate notifications that they had stock of H110, Varget, Win 748, Vih. N110 and Vih N120. I went to get the Win 748 and it was sold out less than 15 minutes after the notice was sent out! These were all at decent prices around $35-40 per pound, so at least Powder Valley and Midsouth Shooters are NOT price gouging. And I will remember that when the crush is over. Bottom line, there is powder if you can afford to just keep checking the Web sites. Unfortunately the same is not true for primers!@#$

February 28, 2021, 06:18 PM	#10
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Thanks RC20. I thought I had a can of 4895, but when I went to get it, it was 4198. There are loads for 308 with 4198, but using 90 gr to 100 grain bullets. I also have some Reloader 17 , but loads for it in 308 use 175 - 180 gr bullets. Does anyone have a 150 gr load with either?

February 28, 2021, 11:27 PM	#15
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Hmmm, lucky me thinks. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

February 28, 2021, 11:32 PM	#16
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Please note to check the data. R17: 30-06: Hornady: 150 gr. 50.9 to 61.1 2500 to 3000 FPS 53.5 = 2650 FPS per the book. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

February 28, 2021, 11:37 PM	#17
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	https://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...5&cartridge=80 MAX LOAD: FOR 150 Gr. BTSP Speer: 50 gr. 2763 fps. REDUCE BY 10% FOR STARTING. By my calcs that is a 45 GR starting load. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

March 1, 2021, 06:40 AM	#18
Josh_Putman Member Join Date: November 3, 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 32	Have you tried looking right on Hodgdons website for powder and/or load data? Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

March 1, 2021, 03:48 PM	#20
lll Otto lll Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2008 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 295	In my neck of the woods Varget is fetching $90 a pound. Apparently some folks out there have plenty of cash to burn. A guy I occasionally shoot with, spends $200 for a thousand SPP. He’s a MD so it’s really no big deal to him. Astronomical prices aren’t stopping him from shooting. $90 Varget could very well be a bargain a year from now....who knows.

March 1, 2021, 05:05 PM	#21
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	I, for one, do not envision this supply shortage to end anytime soon. It could very well get worse - much worse. With a record number of new gun owners out there, many new shooters may simply be unaware of how inflated current prices are. Additionally, the politics of the nation have changed, as we all know. To me, all this portends a continuation of current market conditions. I hope I’m wrong... Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

March 1, 2021, 08:53 PM	#25
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	Varget Been looking for Varget in my area for 9 months to a year, no joy.