Maybe we should have a powder update thread too...

[oldhickory]

A person I know who works for a large east coast sporting goods wholesaler told me they are only getting about 60% of the primers they used to get in and every one is sold the minute it arrives in the warehouse. The scary thing is they said powder is down to 50% or less of what they are used to getting and it is spoken for also before it ever touches the dock.

This is in central Pa...How's the powder supply around the country?

So far I have no problem getting either powder or primers from my local gun shop, but he's the kind of guy who doesn't wait for delivery, he makes several trips a week to the wholesalers and grabs what he needs keeping prices low and his shelves stocked. He's a great guy who runs a farm, machine shop, and gun shop in partnership with his brother way off the beaten path.

[badgeredd]

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in any of the posts about shortages. Are the manufacturers producing less?

I have to wonder if our 2 active wars and ammunition production for our troops and allied troops is the root cause of some if not most of our shortages. It really doesn't make sense to say the manufacturers are producing less. Sales are sales and I doubt that the major companies would produce less to make a shortage. If I remember correctly, the powders we get for reloading are the same powders that are manufactured for the military ammunition, but are a little more carefully checked for burn rate etc. to fit the civilian market cannister powders.

Am I mistaking?

Edd

[TDC]

Powder is in short supply in my area but most powders are still trickling through. Unique has become very scarce as has 231, 2400 and H110. Stores that have maintained a pricing of $18 TO $20 a pound always seem to be sold out immediately after supplies arrive. Most powders (as well as primers) are available if you want to pay a "market adjustment" price as I'm sure they are elsewhere.

Powder is tight but nothing like primers in this area. Brass for certain calibers like .380, .223, 45 ACP, 44 mag., and 50 S&W hasn't been seen for several weeks.

Some other component shortages can be attributed to inventory reductions for tax purposes at this time of year plus the downturn in the overall economy. I'm seeing empty display areas for Lee products in many stores for example, and they haven't been replenished for a couple of months..... Everyone is frustrated ... no one seems to have the future availability answers we all seek.....

TC

[par0thead151]

I heard that manufacturers are cutting production of reloading components, and diverting the powder to manufacturing loaded rounds. why? a loaded round nets more profit than reloading components.

[oldhickory]

From what I understand the manufacturers are running at full capasity, and yes I do think the current wars in the Middle East have something to do with it. I also think, (just my opinion here) that the gov't is ordering A LOT more ammo than before!

[JIMinPHX]

How's the powder supply around the country?


Real thin here. The average store's powder shelf is about 5-10% full. I can find EEE, 410, RE-10 & a few others, but not much. I've been looking for Bullseye & RE-7 for a month now with no luck. Primers are thin to spotty. Right now 209's can be had, but others are tight, especially small rifle. Brass in certain calibers is non-existent, even at high prices. I'm not just talking about Sportsman's warehouse who is in the middle of a financial crisis. I'm also talking about the better funded local stores.

[par0thead151]

i wish i had bought more powder. im ok on primers and bullets/boolits and living it large with the brass,but powder is low...
varget, RL15, or other 223 powders are in need here

[fishhawk]

well the pentagon is privalige to more info than we have and if they are really expecting a major conflict some place you can bet they are going to have to be ready before it breaks out. north korea and there saber ratleing also iran could flair up if the israles take on there nuclear project russia with there new "artic" force. all this is going on that we know about but how much we know we arnt privilage to. these "shortages" may be a warning of a worlds major crissis steve k

[Ole]

I don't normally buy powder online, but I got 12 lbs recently from armsandammo.com. They seemed to be pretty well stocked.

I didn't get a great price, but i've been selling quite a few of my "extra" components lately, so I didn't mind paying the extra for a couple powders that I felt I really needed.

[Ole]

BTW: Things are pretty hopeless in the gun stores around here locally.

The only place that I know in Phoenix that has much powder wants $28/lb for it.

[Gerry N.]

Since "Teh Magic Negro" got elected and we're also stuck with a Socialist Congress with a totally anti-gun agenda, gun sales have doubled. Many, if not most State legislatures have introduced legislaton intended to make ammunition too expensive to buy.

Do you suppose there may be a connection to ammo and component shortages?

Thank the "fiddytooers" and the morons who either didn't vote or voted for an unelectable candidate, "to send a message". Elections have consequences.

One of those consequences is that when I see a can of powder or a box of primers that I might be able to use, and I have some money, I buy. Same with .22 shells.

Gerry N.

[largom]

There is one answer for all of the shortages, PANIC BUYING!
Everyone is afraid of what Obama and the Demo. congress will do regarding guns and ammo so they are stocking up.
Manufacturer's are running full capacity. It also has nothing to do with the wars since the military does not use all of the same components we use.
Some of those shooters,"stocking up", should have thought about
"the change" before they cast their vote back in Nov.
Larry

[captaint]

Yeah, Im with largom, it's the panic thing. I did just receive 500 45acp cases from Starline last week. They took about 10 days to get, directly from Starline. Around here at least stuff is available, but you have to look a lot and wait some.

[Willbird]

There are rumors about the rumors about this whole deal. But one of them was that primer production was the hold up on increasing ammo production. Well if they ramp up AMMO production it makes sense that component primers would become shorter in supply.

Bill