16in50calNavalRifle
Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2009
- Messages
- 355
Just for a change of pace, a navel-gazing question for the forum regarding powder manufacturers, their production practices, and the ongoing shortage in smokeless powders.
I am thankfully well set for my limited powder needs, for now. But I do expect to start loading 30-06 for the Garand next year (after I've used up my HXP). So I've been watching as IMR4895 disappeared completely during the panic, only to pop up once or twice (most recently this week) at major online sources and very quickly be gobbled up.
I notice that quite a few of the other powders made by major manufacturers have been available much more frequently since the panic. Nothing like before, but not rarely-sighted and prized birds like 4895 that are sold out within hours of being in stock.
I'm wondering whether powder makers are locked into a fairly rigid program of which powders they will produce, and cannot "surge" to meet demand for particular items. Some bullet and ammo manufacturers have altered production routines - expanding production of some items, suspending that of others - in response to the revealed demand patterns of the panic. And I realize that powder manufacturing is sourced globally, many of our favorite powders are produced overseas.
Does anyone here know if the powder guys are even able to respond that way, so that the most highly sought-after powders (just a few examples: 4895, Unique, HP38) would see larger production runs while the slow-movers might be set aside until things return to normal (assuming they will)?
I am thankfully well set for my limited powder needs, for now. But I do expect to start loading 30-06 for the Garand next year (after I've used up my HXP). So I've been watching as IMR4895 disappeared completely during the panic, only to pop up once or twice (most recently this week) at major online sources and very quickly be gobbled up.
I notice that quite a few of the other powders made by major manufacturers have been available much more frequently since the panic. Nothing like before, but not rarely-sighted and prized birds like 4895 that are sold out within hours of being in stock.
I'm wondering whether powder makers are locked into a fairly rigid program of which powders they will produce, and cannot "surge" to meet demand for particular items. Some bullet and ammo manufacturers have altered production routines - expanding production of some items, suspending that of others - in response to the revealed demand patterns of the panic. And I realize that powder manufacturing is sourced globally, many of our favorite powders are produced overseas.
Does anyone here know if the powder guys are even able to respond that way, so that the most highly sought-after powders (just a few examples: 4895, Unique, HP38) would see larger production runs while the slow-movers might be set aside until things return to normal (assuming they will)?