I remember the day I bought this powder
- Thread starter Ben
- Start date
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Younger folks have no idea what the huge amount of inflation we have had. In the summer of 69 and again
in 1970, I worked on a farm, a feed lot operation with grazing, and they grew their corn for silage in rural Fla.
I made $1.46 per hour driving a tractor all day. In 72 I managed to get a huge upgrade, working as a construction
laborer at $5.20 per hour or so. I thought I was rich. A brand new car in those days cost about $2300, a VW bug
was $1750 new, and a Porsche 911S, the most expensive model was $6,000. Gas was 19.9 cents a gallon on price
war, but 23.9 cents regularly where I lived.
So that can of 4831 cost about 10 gallons of gas, and that is a fairly similar ratio today. Powder at $25/lb or so and gas
at $2.59 here now. Correction: I filled up at $2.29 at the local Sam's Club a couple days ago. Regular stations are more
like $2.52.
Two bucks was real money then.
And hardware stores sold powder......
Bill
in 1970, I worked on a farm, a feed lot operation with grazing, and they grew their corn for silage in rural Fla.
I made $1.46 per hour driving a tractor all day. In 72 I managed to get a huge upgrade, working as a construction
laborer at $5.20 per hour or so. I thought I was rich. A brand new car in those days cost about $2300, a VW bug
was $1750 new, and a Porsche 911S, the most expensive model was $6,000. Gas was 19.9 cents a gallon on price
war, but 23.9 cents regularly where I lived.
So that can of 4831 cost about 10 gallons of gas, and that is a fairly similar ratio today. Powder at $25/lb or so and gas
at $2.59 here now. Correction: I filled up at $2.29 at the local Sam's Club a couple days ago. Regular stations are more
like $2.52.
Two bucks was real money then.
And hardware stores sold powder......
Bill
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462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
In '66 is was making $1.25 an hour bussing tables and washing dishes in the local Denny's. Three years later, in a far off country, I was making $.875 per hour per 12-hour shift -- but it was tax-free.
I don't know what an average hourly wage is locally, but powder, when available, runs about $30 to $35. If price/inflation numbers hold true, that would put to the hourly wage at $15 to $16. Considering that the local economy is based almost solely on retail stores and tourists (hotels, motels, restaurants, T-shirt shops, golf courses, and a world famous race track) that wage seems reasonable.
I don't know what an average hourly wage is locally, but powder, when available, runs about $30 to $35. If price/inflation numbers hold true, that would put to the hourly wage at $15 to $16. Considering that the local economy is based almost solely on retail stores and tourists (hotels, motels, restaurants, T-shirt shops, golf courses, and a world famous race track) that wage seems reasonable.
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Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Wow, your powder prices are really high. We get powder from various places at $21-26 a lb.
www.scheels.com
www.scheels.com
Scheels is a big sporting goods store here, prices are reasonable, not the lowest. Some of there
powder prices are as high as $28-29, for some kinds.
Bill
Alliant Bullseye Smokeless Handgun Reloading Powder
Billions of rounds have been loaded with Bullseye since it was introduced in 1913.Features:Fast burning and consistentEconomical and acc SCHEELS
Alliant 2400 Handgun Powder
Legendary for its performance in .44 magnum and other magnum pistol loads. Originally developed for the .22 Hornet, it's also the shooter's SCHEELS
Scheels is a big sporting goods store here, prices are reasonable, not the lowest. Some of there
powder prices are as high as $28-29, for some kinds.
Bill
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Hawk
Well-Known Member
In 1969 I could fill up my Camaro for about $3.25.
My grandfather used to tell stories about shooting kids with rock salt from his 12 gauge on the farm. They would try to steal gas from his farm to avoid paying the tax at the pump.
He bought it for agricultural use for $0.03 per gallon. It was $0.05 per gallon at the pump!
My grandfather used to tell stories about shooting kids with rock salt from his 12 gauge on the farm. They would try to steal gas from his farm to avoid paying the tax at the pump.
He bought it for agricultural use for $0.03 per gallon. It was $0.05 per gallon at the pump!
Hawk
Well-Known Member
Look at his Avatar and where he lives. Probably luck to buy it at all!
Try Powder Valley, online. Have to pay hasmat fees, but still, can get about everything.
uncle jimbo
Well-Known Member
I have an old Reddot 8# cardboard container that I bought in the sixties that you can barely see the price on, and it is $2.00
I remember 19¢ a gallon gas. And it would get as low as 12¢ a gallon when there was a gas war. And these were full service stations.
I remember 19¢ a gallon gas. And it would get as low as 12¢ a gallon when there was a gas war. And these were full service stations.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I'm still using powder from my Dads gunshop, he died Fathers Day of '81. Prices on the cans are all in the $11.00 range, mostly IMR or Herc powders. I have some of that early black powder substitute stuff from that era, I forget the name, $8.50 lb IIRC.
Another fan of Powder Valley, cept I don't pay the haz mat. I just call up and have them put it on the shelf, my daughter picks it up on the way to town for groceries since she just lives a few miles away. Grandma is always ready to go see the grandkids so it works out pretty good.
I should have replied more to Bens original post. I used a few cans of that same powder when I was starting out loading for the ol 270. Mil surplus, slightly slower than todays 3rd generation H4831. Wish I still had a few pounds of it.
I'd go to the shop and get a can of H4831 and ask for a couple pounds of Red Dot. The guy would go in the back and come back with a paper sack with loose powder in it. He kept the large kegs and measured out into the bags for smaller amounts. I would transfer the loose powder to empty coffee cans for better sealing. Thats been a while ago. Seems like lead shot was around $8/25 lb bag.
I'd go to the shop and get a can of H4831 and ask for a couple pounds of Red Dot. The guy would go in the back and come back with a paper sack with loose powder in it. He kept the large kegs and measured out into the bags for smaller amounts. I would transfer the loose powder to empty coffee cans for better sealing. Thats been a while ago. Seems like lead shot was around $8/25 lb bag.
Rally
NC Minnesota
Ben,
There are folks that buy old powder cans.
Ole 270 and I must have been to the same LGS. When I first started loading for my .410, my Dad was buying 700X in paper bags. I was loading 2400 and it killed him when my powder cost more than his. LOL The 700X or Red Dot were $2.00 lb. and 2400 was like $3.25 lb.
There are folks that buy old powder cans.
Ole 270 and I must have been to the same LGS. When I first started loading for my .410, my Dad was buying 700X in paper bags. I was loading 2400 and it killed him when my powder cost more than his. LOL The 700X or Red Dot were $2.00 lb. and 2400 was like $3.25 lb.
smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
Only clear memories of somewhat unusual powder cans is the IMR 4895 that Dad kept on hand. It was in a conventional metal gallon can like you'd see coleman fuel/white gas kept in; except it had the cap (push down in the middle to open) like those seen on the little square Hercules cans.
I still have one of those Hercules cans with the original 2400 in it.
I still have one of those Hercules cans with the original 2400 in it.
