Skyrocketing price on Accurate 5744

[dogfood]

Ok, shame on me for not paying closer attention over the last 6 months or so ... although my supply was sufficient and I was waiting for the pipeline to refill as Obamamania subsided.

Anyway, I went to Powder Valley's site to check out availability of Accurate 5744. It's available, alright ... at $170 per 8 lb jug. Holy smokeless! What happened here? I believe the product is made in Canada, so is this simply the reflection of the U.S.-Canadien exchange rates - or is something else going on?

At that price, I'm wondering if I should go back to Alliant 2400 (which I used for light rifle loads back in the dark ages) or SR 4759 (which I've never tried).

Thoughts?

Thanks,
dogfood

[Bullshop]

$170.00 per 8lb keg ! Where !! I will buy it all !!! Is that with the antifreeze or do I still have to add that?
Bummer you guys get the warm weather and the cheap powder!!!!

[bobthenailer]

Does that include shipping and has mat charges ?

[Tedly]

FWIW I use AA5744 and buy smaller #1 containers...I did price some #8 kegs and found out that Powder Vallet had the lowest prices on it or just about anything else. They musy have figured out that is popular?

[leadman]

This is the reason I won't buy anymore of 5744. The price has been climbing faster than other powder for a couple years.
SR4759 does not measure as well as 5744 or 2400 but it is makes very accurate loads for me.

[JesterGrin_1]

I really feel they have priced 5744 out of the game. But that is just me.

[bobthenailer]

i just got the 2011 midsouth catalog and 5744 sell for $196.82 + ship and haz. WOW !!!!!
The other 8 # from accurate range from $138.33 , $147.01 , $169.82 also WOW!!!
I hope the other powder manfactures dont take to the price increase !!!!
Hodgen ranges from $113.21 to $149.33 for there 8#

[1Shirt]

I like 5744, but it will be a cold day in south hell befor I will pay that for 8 lb.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[oldhickory]

I guess it's just as well it's hard to come by in my area then. I used it once about 12yrs. or so ago, it was "ok" but I'll stick to IMR4227 and IMR4198 in that general burn range.

[smokemjoe]

I know alot of that use it, I have and dont like the trail of powder behine it, I like 4759 the best,

[dogfood]

Relative to questions about Powder Valley pricing, the $170 per 8 lb keg price does not include any shipping charges. The last time I ordered powder and primers from them ... I'm guessing 3 years ago ... a few of us pooled together to fill a 48 lb box (max size under a single hazmat fee). Total shipping cost was in the $45-50 range IIRC - or roughly $1 per lb of product - to the Cincinnati, OH area.

See www.powdervalleyinc.com for more info.

Now, getting back to the price of 5744 relative to the other powders I listed. SR4759 is $125 (8 lb) and 2400 is $109 (8 lb). I've been using 5744 as a reduced load powder in .30-06 (03A3), and I've been quite happy with it. But at this point, I think I'll try SR4759 ... and if I don't get good results, I may revisit 2400. Maybe one of the 4227's, too?

dogfood

[Ole]

Dear Accurate Arms:

FYI: Most cast bullet shooters are cheap.

If you price your powder 50% higher than anyone else, most of us cheap folks aren't going to buy your powder. :p

Have a nice day.

[JesterGrin_1]

Ole I agree I think that Accurate Arms are shooting themselves in the foot with this one.

Maybe they thought they had the Cowboy Action shooters by there short hairs to raise the price as they have. Which from what I have seen of the Cowboy Acton shooters the price of the powder will not mean much to them but for others well that is another story all together.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I like 5744, but it will be a cold day in south hell befor I will pay that for 8 lb.
1Shirt!:coffee:


I seem to remember alot of reloaders saying about the same thing when the primer scarcity rush was taking place a few years back.Robert

[JesterGrin_1]

A few years back lol. It has not been all that long ago.

[hornsurgeon]

scheels sports here has selected cci and remington primers on CLEARANCE. this is in addition to haveing ALL models of primers from remington, cci, federal, and winchester in stock. and they have at least 10k of each model in stock. average price is $26/k.

[excess650]

I think I bought mine from Widener's ($153/8#). Prices do vary so its best to shop around.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=206&dir=278|283|307

[dogfood]

Good point, excess. I had gotten so used to watching PV (because they typically have the best selection) that I failed to consider Wideners. I'll have to see how their shipping prices compare to figure the best deal all-around for my next powder/primer order.

Of course, this still doesn't address the fact that 5744 is 30-50% more expensive than comparable powders. I think I'm ready to go in a different direction.

dogfood

[9.3X62AL]

Having no history with PV, I don't have a dog in this fight.......but retailers aren't stupid, and they looked on with greedy wonderment as at least a portion of their customers paid $6-$7 per 100 for primers during the recent Obama-inspired Buccaneer Period. I developed a new and improved loathing for a number of these characters during their predatory interlude, one of whom is local. He did not disappoint on my last visit--his 17 HMR ammo ran $43/100 after sales tax. I paid it, but won't do so again--and am unlikely to shop there in the future. Used to be a great place to buy stuff--but I think he lost his mind during the Primer O-Scare-Ma. His 1# powder flasks are all at or near $30 before sales tax, too. JERK.

[excess650]

I don't like SR 4759 because of the COARSE grain size. 2400 seems to get lots of postive comments, and I've had pretty good luck with IMR 4227 when I've used it. I didn't realize 2400 was so inexpensive, so may revisit that myself. As of late I'm using H322 for higher velocity loads in several calibers and like it. IIRC, it was $140/8# when I got it last year. Likewise, Unique and Red Dot are downright cheap.

I look at 5744 this way: in my 7.5x55 with cast, I generally use 22gr of 5744 or 30gr H322. This makes H322 MORE expensive per shot. I paid $140/8# H322 and $153/8# AA5744. H322 costs 30/22 x $140 vs AA5744, or would equate to $191 for H322 to shoot the same number of shots as a single 8# jug of AA5744.

[Rodfac]

Most of my cast bullet for rifle work has been done with SR 4759, when that particular 12# keg went dry, I decided to try Jeff Bartlet's pull down substitute for it. I've got 24# of it now and it's been as useful as 4759 at half the cost of current canister prices. Just checked his site, and found that he's not offering it, but it's worth checking from time to time. BTW, primers at the most recent big Louisville, KY gun show were running $27/1000 for Winchesters. Rodfac

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Some days it's hard to figure out who wants to screw you harder, the government, or our "friends" in the industry. The old fashioned notion of "supply & demand" has been replaced by "screw 'em if you can", and "create a shortage if you can" to let you double the pricing.

I will say, I am shooting my bow a lot more. They can turn me into a collector instead of a shooter if they keep it up.

Rich
Sua Sponte

One of the guys from my Ranger Team in Danang found me on their website and sent me a picture of the entire company in summer of 1971. Just 21 and 185lbs. And a full hear of hair...

scary

[41wyom]

A fellow in our area recently sold-off all of his various powders and only uses SR 4756 in quite a few different guns. I bought (2) 1/2 pound cans today for $9.99 each of $20/pound. 11-13 grains in a 1903 (30-06) with an LBT custom 200-grain cast bullet is in the 1300-fps range and fairly accurate. I've played with SR 4759, AA 2400 and AA 5744 but have probably settled on the 4756 load.

[evan price]

Hodgdon Varget during the Obama scare was going for $300 per 8# keg routinely and I think I saw some on Gunbroker for $500 a keg and it was selling.

I believe I paid right around $135 a keg for my kegs of Varget.

Never underestimate the effects of greed and stupidity working together.

[mag44uk]

You guys in the US do make me laugh!
8 pounds of 5744 here in the UK would be about $475!!
8 pounds of Varget is about $380
While you can get it for less than $200 get all you can as it wont get cheaper thats for sure!
Cheers,
Tony.
PS ask me about primer prices!

[jlchucker]

Dear Accurate Arms:

FYI: Most cast bullet shooters are cheap.

If you price your powder 50% higher than anyone else, most of us cheap folks aren't going to buy your powder. :p

Have a nice day.

Ole, this ought to be a letter we all could sign, then send to Accurate Arms. You've expressed my opinion exactly!:castmine:

[felix]

If, and only if, I read correctly years ago, there were only two lots of 5744. The first one contained 10 percent nitroglycerin and the second one contained 20 percent with a different deterrent application to make the two lots appear close to each other when used in the BIG cases. From what this thread is saying, it can be concluded there will be no more 5744 lots. Besides, it was made in some eastern bloc country like Hungary. Again, if I remember correctly. Anyhow, 20 percent nitro will make the powder last a long, long time. ... felix

[W.R.Buchanan]

This is my first post here but I've been doing this for along time.

I just bought an 8lb can of 5744 2 weeks ago from Phillips Wholesale in Covina CA. for $172. 1 lb cans were $25

I went wow! :holysheep but he had it, and I wanted it, and it ain't gettin' any cheaper any time soon. Still better pricing than mail order.

Phillips is not a mail order outfit so if you want something you have to go there to pick up,,, but,,, There is no shipping or Hazmat charges which kill prices either.

He also has much in the way of shotgun reloading supplies as well as a good selection of X-Treme plated bullets, and Silver State unplated bullets. Most Auto pistol sizes and cowboy calibers. Primers of every description too.

If you are in the Los Angeles area he's a good place to do business.

I drive 1.5hrs to get there from Ojai CA. It's worth it to me.

626-331-3022

Randy

[John 242]

You guys in the US do make me laugh!
8 pounds of 5744 here in the UK would be about $475!!
8 pounds of Varget is about $380
While you can get it for less than $200 get all you can as it wont get cheaper thats for sure!
Cheers,
Tony.
PS ask me about primer prices!

I paid $25.99 for a pound a few weeks ago locally. I thought I had over paid, but I guess that is about the going rate.

I feel for you, I really do. Unfortunately we are headed full-speed into the same situation you are in. In 20 years we will probably be paying the same amount for primers and powder as you guys.

PS. W.R.B., welcome to the forum. Forgot my manners for a minute.

[bslim]

I had a deal, 20 lbs @ $20 / lb from an estate sale. thought I paid too much!!

[dodgyrog]

You guys in the US do make me laugh!
8 pounds of 5744 here in the UK would be about $475!!
8 pounds of Varget is about $380
While you can get it for less than $200 get all you can as it wont get cheaper thats for sure!
Cheers,
Tony.
PS ask me about primer prices!

Westlander (the importer in the UK) started cheap then got silly. There's no competition for him BUT he does have to drive to the Czech Republic to pick the stuff up.
Stop complaining you Yanks - you've got it easy.

[excess650]

This mention of pricing prompted me to price some 2400. I was shocked to see how much less $$ it was than most powders, so picked up a jug. 8# was $100.99 plus tax.:bigsmyl2:

[Reloader06]

W.R.B.

Thanks for letting my secret out! (Phillips) Rick used to be the manager at The San Gabriel Valley Gun Club. When the club was FORCED out of business he started up useing the contacts from the club. Those were the days! True wholesale + 10% for the club. Includeing firearms. Dang do I miss those days. BTW Welcome to the forum.

Matt

[mustanggt]

I went to buy a pound of H4895 for my Garand two weeks ago and about pooped my pants when it and a box of 100 30 cal. bullets were each $5 more than I paid the week before!!! :-o As far as 5744 goes, don't care for it much. It never was accurate enough for me in any gun I tried it in. To our Anglo friends, if you fellas was paying what we are now you'd be cryin' hard blues too. We'll still be whinin' when we're payin' $500 and you're paying $1000 (can't make the fancy L) :bigsmyl2: