Wheelgunner57
New Member
I am running out of Unique and 2400, two must have powders for the bullet caster. Anyone know why Alliant is awol?
Where the heck is Alliant powder?
- Thread starter Wheelgunner57
- Start date
Edward R Southgate
Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
??????????????????????? I got plenty of both but I buy by the case and don't wait to run out to resupply . I restock at the end of every Republican party control cycle to get ahead of the artificial Democrat induced shortages.
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Well,....
There are numerous hypotheses, some seeming somewhat reasonable, all the way to downright preposterous, and I am less inclines to speculate the longer the severity of the shortage lasts.
I worked in a factory, for a brief, miserable time, working "on the line," making household appliances. This was over thirty years ago, and I was astounded each and every night (afternoons) at how many of these things we made on that one shift. "Where can these all be going??" "How many of these things can people POSSIBLY need??" In a seven-hour shift, the line I worked on made 600 to 700 of these things, five days a week. There were three other lines and almost all of them ran three shifts for 40 hours a week. We weren't the only company making the same thing either, and there was a lot of foreign competition to boot, but boy, we couldn't keep up. Couldn't make enough of them fast enough.
So, I guess it's not too terribly outlandish to think that there really are enough people out there buying enough stuff to cause a shortage of something so few companies produce. I also THINK I know that hand-loaders are the vast MINORITY of consumers of components, and if so many people are buying so much ammo, we go to the back burner on powder, primers, brass....
I don't think we'll be seeing any "Russian Unique" or "cheap" Russian primers trickling in to relieve a little pressure now either.
In other words, I just don't know and am less and less confident in making any kind of hypothesis these days. Probably, it's the obvious, but it is beyond my comprehension to imagine that many people buying t hat much stuff, even thouigh I had a first-hand look at how many people buy so much stuff on a regular day.
There are numerous hypotheses, some seeming somewhat reasonable, all the way to downright preposterous, and I am less inclines to speculate the longer the severity of the shortage lasts.
I worked in a factory, for a brief, miserable time, working "on the line," making household appliances. This was over thirty years ago, and I was astounded each and every night (afternoons) at how many of these things we made on that one shift. "Where can these all be going??" "How many of these things can people POSSIBLY need??" In a seven-hour shift, the line I worked on made 600 to 700 of these things, five days a week. There were three other lines and almost all of them ran three shifts for 40 hours a week. We weren't the only company making the same thing either, and there was a lot of foreign competition to boot, but boy, we couldn't keep up. Couldn't make enough of them fast enough.
So, I guess it's not too terribly outlandish to think that there really are enough people out there buying enough stuff to cause a shortage of something so few companies produce. I also THINK I know that hand-loaders are the vast MINORITY of consumers of components, and if so many people are buying so much ammo, we go to the back burner on powder, primers, brass....
I don't think we'll be seeing any "Russian Unique" or "cheap" Russian primers trickling in to relieve a little pressure now either.
In other words, I just don't know and am less and less confident in making any kind of hypothesis these days. Probably, it's the obvious, but it is beyond my comprehension to imagine that many people buying t hat much stuff, even thouigh I had a first-hand look at how many people buy so much stuff on a regular day.
True. It boils down to ONE PRIMER PER SHOT, regardless of what you don't have to spend on a jacketed bullet, because you cast, or how little owder you use for light loads to keep shooting, or how careful you are with your brass, to amortize its original cost over as many firings as possible. We have SOME control over the bullets, brass and powder, but we won't get away from the ONE PRIMER PER SHOT - a fixed cost we really need a solution to.
I have more powder than I have primers to light it.
I'm not desperate yet, but don't like not knowing when or how I can restock.
Primers are the priority, but I have been keeping a list of suggested alternates to the powders I prefer anyway. Thanks, Ian, for those two suggestions. They'll go on my list under "Unique Alternatives."
All I want for Christmas is 32# of 2400, 24# of Unique, 16# of Bullseye and a pallet of primers. THAT would relieve a fair amount of anxiety.
Irony is that the magazine/bunker (and security) for the storage of such a Christmas present would probably cost LESS than the Christmas present.
Joshua
Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
I’ve got 7 pounds of 2400 at the moment.
But if I didn’t I might look at Shooters World Heavy Pistol. It’s in stock at Midsouth, $23.80 a pound. It’s described as similar to AA no. 9 and 2400. Per the SW manual it doesn’t need to be loaded at full density like 296 to ignite properly.
But if I didn’t I might look at Shooters World Heavy Pistol. It’s in stock at Midsouth, $23.80 a pound. It’s described as similar to AA no. 9 and 2400. Per the SW manual it doesn’t need to be loaded at full density like 296 to ignite properly.
Wheelgunner57
New Member
Well, I did manage to lay in primers. But I started shooting more recently. Hogdon is cranking out the powder but I have not seen Alliant hit the shelves in any quantity since this started. It's almost likenthey just stopped making consumer powder or something. 2400 and Unique are great performers for loads shy of full on magnum loads which is what i shoot the most of.
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Wheelgunner57
New Member
Thanks Joshua, Midsouth has it as well.
Ian
Notorious member
I say never put all of your eggs in one basket. Spread out primers and powder (separately of course} in small lots here and there and keep a master list.
RBHarter
West Central AR
To extend my supply I just made a deal for 1000 sp 45 ACP . I bought a lot of SPP , from 2014 to 2017 based on what was available under $40 . I can't remember when I shot the last 38/357 , I've shot a bunch of 380 and 40 since those .
I can't tell you what I paid but it was almost as criminal as that batch 45 AR . I might not ever load it .
I didn't reach my quota of on hand for every cartridge but I'm pretty close on those of intent .
I've sold a few to the truly desperate but I'm done there too now .
I can't tell you what I paid but it was almost as criminal as that batch 45 AR . I might not ever load it .
I didn't reach my quota of on hand for every cartridge but I'm pretty close on those of intent .
I've sold a few to the truly desperate but I'm done there too now .
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Local here last fall I was able to find much of the Alliant products and stocked up.
Sorry your having difficulties in your area.
I cannot find Varget here. I bought a 4# last summer but split it with my buddy and Im down to less then 1#.
Sorry your having difficulties in your area.
I cannot find Varget here. I bought a 4# last summer but split it with my buddy and Im down to less then 1#.
Just before the previous election (just a time reference, not being political), a friend called from a shop which is traditionally over-priced on everything all the time and told me they had Unique for $20/#. I asked if he'd grab me some and he did. It goes a long way in the doses I administer, but I'm glad he had the foresight to call and the generosity to spot me the money until he delivered it.
Around here, the only powder I've seen in quantity is VV: never used the stuff so I'm having to figure out which I can substitute for what. I'm down to dribbles and drabs of rifle powders, less than 8# each of Red Dot, Blue Dot, FFg, and partial cans of various pistol/shotgun powders.
Given my druthers, this spring I'd be buying 8# each of WW231, Unique or Herco, 4064, and Ball C2. Haven't seen primers on the shelf in several years, so my stores there are low too. On the bright side, my brass supply for most cartridges is OK, but it is a limiting factor on new purchases.
The regional nature of some of the shortages is a puzzlement. Not for the addball stuff--50-70 brass, for example--but primers, various powders etc. Almost seems if we could map them, we could arrange meets on the regional borders to swap.
Given my druthers, this spring I'd be buying 8# each of WW231, Unique or Herco, 4064, and Ball C2. Haven't seen primers on the shelf in several years, so my stores there are low too. On the bright side, my brass supply for most cartridges is OK, but it is a limiting factor on new purchases.
The regional nature of some of the shortages is a puzzlement. Not for the addball stuff--50-70 brass, for example--but primers, various powders etc. Almost seems if we could map them, we could arrange meets on the regional borders to swap.
fiver
Well-Known Member
they don't continuously make the various powders.
they make large batches of them @ quarterly and distribute them, they are supposed to last till the next time they are made.
fortunately there are other powders out there that work just as well as the old standby's, accurate makes 4100 and enforcer [same powder, different bottles] they also make number-9, they all work just as good as 2400.
you have to adjust the amount a touch but they get the job done just fine.
shot shells [shrug] i got like 6 different hull/wad/powder/primer combinations that all throw an ounce of shot to 1170 fps.
nuthin knows the difference between them.
they make large batches of them @ quarterly and distribute them, they are supposed to last till the next time they are made.
fortunately there are other powders out there that work just as well as the old standby's, accurate makes 4100 and enforcer [same powder, different bottles] they also make number-9, they all work just as good as 2400.
you have to adjust the amount a touch but they get the job done just fine.
shot shells [shrug] i got like 6 different hull/wad/powder/primer combinations that all throw an ounce of shot to 1170 fps.
nuthin knows the difference between them.
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
Just an FYI. SR 4759 works well as a substitute for 2400 in 357 and 44 Magnum. If you have excess and want to conserve 2400.
Four targets with 1/2 grain powder increases with Rossi 357 carbine.. All are decent five shot groups, for being shot off just a tripod front rest at 60 yards.
Conventionally, lubed Accurate's 158 RNFP GC using Carnuba Red.
Four targets with 1/2 grain powder increases with Rossi 357 carbine.. All are decent five shot groups, for being shot off just a tripod front rest at 60 yards.
Conventionally, lubed Accurate's 158 RNFP GC using Carnuba Red.