2015 Handgun Powder Shortage Status

[ejcrist]

I've noticed handgun (and shot shell) powders seem to be coming back somewhat and was wondering if others on the forum are seeing the same thing in their respective locations. I had a pretty good stock before 2008 and was able to maintain it throughout all the runs by keeping an eye out and buying whenever the opportunity presented itself. I was a little low on 2400 for a while until one of the local LGS's got a shipment in the other day. 2400 seemed to be the most scarce so I was glad to see it last week. So have others noticed the same thing or are handgun/shotshell powders still scarce in your neck of the woods?

[Butler Ford]

Greendot and 231 would make me a much happier camper but yes, there has been some improvement. I haven't had a problem with 2400 and recently got a jug of 110 but the two I use most is Greendot and 231 and they are two I just haven't see ANY of for a long while.

BF

[Ia.redneck]

Seeing a little more in Iowa, but not much.
Still no Power Pistol.

[BattleRife]

I am seeing more reports of pistol powders available in Canada, but have only actually seen some for sale myself once in the last 12 months. That was a small shipment of Titegroup and HS-6 back in January.

[Beagle333]

'Seen everything but 2400. It seems to be the only one that doesn't make any appearances around here.

[triggerhappy243]

On my last powder order, i ordered 10 lbs of titegroup, 12 pounds of power pistol. The titegroup took 4 weeks to come in and the power pistol took 8 months. All is good now.

[ejcrist]

Well, it sounds like it's getting a little better anyway. For the longest while after 2013 there just wasn't much of anything on the shelves. If it helps you fella's looking for Power Pistol and Green Dot, Bruno's Shooters Supply has both. It's a little pricey but available. The only good thing that came out of all these shortages for me was that I discovered how good IMR 4227 shot in one of my 45 Colts. It wasn't too hard to find through all this; I guess it's just not as popular as some of the other powders but I'm glad I tried it. Hopefully things will settle down some going forward.

[deepwater]

What handguns are you gentlemen using Greendot in?

deepwater

[Butler Ford]

12 and 20 ga

[Cmm_3940]

I just bought a 4# of 231. There was also an 8# on the shelf that I left behind.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I remember when it came out that a shortage of Flit insecticide was caused by the need to stockpile hundreds of thousands of low-vaporizing fuel for the U-2 spy plane. I wonder what they were doing with nitrocellulose?

[triggerhappy243]

Making democratic politicians stupid.

[375supermag]

Hi...

Haven't seen any W231 or HP38 around here in practically forever.
Pretty much everything else I use has been available here and there at some time or another.
Haven't seen any 2400 for quite some time, but I have a good supply(at least 4-5 unopened 1lb cans).
Some handgun powders I haven't used are probably still hard to find, but I have enough of the old stand-bys to keep reloading for some time to come.

[762sultan]

I have not seen 2400 for quite a while and have switched to 4227,H110 and AA9 in my revolvers. I plan on buying 2400 again and will get a bigger supply this time around. There seems to be an ample supply of Unique,Bullseye and most rifle powders but the prices vary from store to store. It just depends on what you are willing to pay.

[bcr]

I haven't been able to find anything at all locally. But online, I started to see 231 and HP-38 a number of times. Unique also. But Bullseye only once, and it was expensive. No 2400 at all, and no Blue Dot.

[GhostHawk]

Steady by jerks it is improving. Months happen where there does not seem to be much online in pistol/shotgun. But then Bass Pro gets in a big order and it rains Unique, Bullseye, and Red Dot for 3 weeks.

The system appears to be trying to return to normal. People, please, 10 lbs of powder is a whole LOT of shooting. So please limit your shotgun/pistol stash to 10 lbs until we can all get some.

I think the real shortage is pretty much over, we are down to just dealing with each other now.
Yes we all want 4 pounds of every powder we use stashed away safe.

But we need to let some of this trickle down too.

[dubber123]

What handguns are you gentlemen using Greendot in?

deepwater

.45 ACP, .38 Spl, 9mm, 32-20 mostly. I lucked into a bunch for $10/lb. a while back, so I use it where I can.

[FergusonTO35]

Green Dot works awesome for full power .38 Special loads with a magnum primer. Very accurate too.

Bullseye has only been seen on milk cartons here since the Newtown panic began. We have finally gotten to the point where you can find a suitable powder for any cartridge, it just may not be the one you want. I'm currently enjoying HP-38, in fact so far I find it will do anything Bullseye can do just as well.

[Petrol & Powder]

You can order any powder you want if you're willing to pay the price and hazmat fees. I suspect the hazmat fees are used to supplement the profit even more.
I don't like extortion so I hunt for deals. Here's a short summary:
* 231/HP-38 has been absent from local stores for years but I have seen some at gun shows in both 1 lb. and 8 lb. containers . Clearly old stock and expensive.
*Unique is non-existent in stores, appears at gun shows at high prices
*I did find a pound of Bullseye locally and I regularly see it at gun shows.
*WSF and WST are gone
*700x, 800x and PB are available but I don't use those powders
*Clays is consistently available and I see tightgroup from time to time.
*Hodgdon CFE Pistol is available at gun shows, generally in good supply at a decent price.
*Some of the slower pistol powders like 296/H110 were on the shelves longer but I haven't seen any locally for over a year.
*AA9 was available for a while but is gone. Haven't seen AA2, AA5 or AA7 in over two years. I don't use 2400 anymore but I can't remember the last time I saw a pound.
I did find a pound of Vihtavuori 3 N 38 (not 3N37) which would be great if I was running 9x21mm and a compensator!

Most rifle powders are consistently in stock with the slower powders being in larger supply.

Primers are readily available.

[groovy mike]

still scarce in NY

[Handloader109]

Bought at what I consider a good price recently 700x Titegroup, H110, 8 pounds total. Other powders are peaking out of the woodwork occasionally. I've enough for severely years now. Will be leaving rest for others:-) gunshow over the w/e had a bunch, but were very high priced as tax was being added.