Does anyone have any idea where to find powder?

ArkPaul,
I think you may mean 7625. (maybe not, but I think so)

And I think you will find the Autocomp to be most acceptable.

^ Yeah you're probably right.
I've never used any IMR pistol powders so I don't really know them off the top of my head. Supposed to be similar burn rate to HP38 so it should perform well.

Just my 2 cents on this subject.
1. Powder is hard to find, but not impossible. I have found some powder, not a lot , but at my local Gander Mtn., Cabela's, Scheels All Sport stores I have found some. Some stores don't have it on the shelf, its in the back and I had to ask for it. My best sources have been small LGS in out of the way places that I found as I travel around. My local hometown gun store has ordered some for me and its taken several months but he coming through.
2. It is not a conspiracy, There is a huge demand for ammunition and powder. I read and article in a outdoor paper that I came across in the barber shop. It was concerning the funds that the state gets from the Pitman - Robertson act that puts a federal tax on all guns and ammunition and gun related accessories sold. In turn this money collected is distributed to the states for conservation projects and the likes. The last 2 years there has been a 43% increase in the amount of funds coming back to the state. That is a direct correlation to the amount of guns and ammo that has been sold to the public in the last two years. In retrospect, there is another act that applies a simalar fed tax to boats, bait and fishing equipment. That fund is not growing like the P-R fund.

3. On one of these internet forums just lately a post from some one in Texas was showing off his stash of pistol powder that amounted to 50#, which was the maximum amount that he was allowed to store, per city ordinances, in his house. He went on to add that he was inventorying it because he had similar stashes are friends houses also. He laid claim that he shot over 16,697 rounds every year for the last 5 years. When the hell does this guy go to work, if he is reloading and shooting that much and like the rest of us he should have to search for powder like the rest of us. That guy is one of our own shooting community members who I think can't pass the smell test.
4. In 2012 it was reported that there were enough guns sold to the public in the USA to outfit the entire chinese army and the army of india. That is a significant number, and if the manufacturers of ammunition are going to keep up with feeding ammo to all those additional guns they are going to have to expand. Even Steve Hornaday's statements at the shot show informed us of that problem and risks involved. Demand from the shooting community is what has caused this shortage. And I wouldn't expect the prices to come down very much as the demand is gets satisfied. Too many have shown and proven that the price will be paid to get the goods, just like food, gasoline and beer.

I love how people post as if they actually know the answer.

At 2ndtimer: I think you are correct. I am sure some of the conspiracy theories will hold some water too, but I think the main problem is that when the shortage began, TONS of folks were coming into the market, (3 to 4 times normal number) combined with unprecedented gun sales, bolstered by the antis wanting to get rid of all our fun items, caused a huge rush. It spilled over into the reloading market. Shoot, I AM one of these numbers!

Got a little nervous in the Clinton ban days, but all came back. With the Obama mess, I jumped on board and started learning to build AR 15 and did so. Started buying guns and clips that were being threatened with ban, and so did everyone else. Sort of reminds me of the cigar craze in the 90's. Supplies dried up when bizzillions of folks decided to get trendy and smoke premium cigars. Well, same thing happened, you couldnt find jack, you had to be special friends with dealers to buy their back room stash...same basic problem. Some got uninterested, production increased and prices rose....sound familiar? Its just on steroids as the whole Obama machine is tinkering with it as well. Eventually those who are here to stay will get stocked up, supplies will return, but prices will likely stay high.

Russellc

I just go to my lgs thats where i would start looking . All kidding aside you just have to keep looking its out there.

I agree with Russell on this and I have nearly the same story about how I got into reloading.

However, as far as future availability of powder is concerned, I have some concerns. If politicians ever decided to turn their focus on reloading as something the federal government could "add their value" to, what would happen to reloading components? It seems that their reach extends further and further into our lives and liberties and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Reloading is probably way down the list of things they want to add some of their "common sense" laws to, but after enough damage has been done elsewhere, its still on the to do list.

I know this won't specifically help you but a lot of small local gun stores around my area have had a nice stock of powder on the shelf even when all large retailers are out. Snoop around your local gun stores and you may be surprised what you find. Also no hazmat fees.

We have a local shop that often has a decent selection, but the cost might catch you by surprise if you aren't ready for it

A store near me has approx. 30 jugs of IMR4064 at $27.99/lb. They also have a little IMR3031 and Remington SR primers. It's not a gun or sporting goods store, it's a farm/ranch store, that's probably why they still have it.

Big R stores, Rondog?

Arkansas Paul - great minds

I settled for AutoComp at a gun show when I couldn't find my favouries (WSF, N-340 or HS-6). Developing a load for AutoComp in 9mmx19 now...

I really like AutoComp. It's not as popular as it should be-yet.

Everything seems to becoming more available at the Internet Shooting Stuff companies. And stuff that had for the longest been "out of stock" like bullets is starting to hold for availability. I suspect powder will be starting to show up pretty soon.

Speculation about causes of shortages aside or improvements on the horizon, the question is where to actually find powder. Until that question can be answered there is no change.

Wideners has 8 lbs of WIN 748 if you are looking for .223 powder. They just ran out of 8 pounder H-335. Its hit and miss. I dedicate a lot of time every day searching. When it pops up, you must call immediately and order. I can hardly believe the 748 has lasted! Whoops! Just checked again, gone. They still have 1 pounders. Got to act when it pops up. I really want BL-2C in 8 lbs, and have foolishly passed on both H-335 and the 748....see?

Russellc

the reason its hard to find powder is because it has been out of stock for so long that when it does come in stock those who find it buy up as much as they can afford or are allowed. My LGS gets powder in occasionally and all of it is pretty much gone the day it comes in with the exception of the super slow rifle powders that have been on the shelf so long they are building a thick layer of dust.

Primers are readily available here along with a decent selection of bullets. .22lr? Forget it. The only way you will find anything other than a few overpriced 50rnd boxes is to get lucky and walk into the store right after they put it out. As soon as people see bulk .22 in stock it gets posted to Facebook and they call all of their buddies and hundreds of boxes are gone in less than 2 hours.

I have about 1/10 of a pound of pistol powder left, so I had to bite the bullet and order some online. Recobs had some aa5 and aa7, and I also got some primers to lessen the effects of the hazmat fee. I sure wish I could have found stuff locally so I didn't have to drop $150

Cheaper online than locally for me, besides that it doesn't really exist locally.

I never buy less than 8lbs.

I bought IMR 4895 online just a couple days ago, and some IMR SR 4759 at the same time because it interests me.

I see pistol powders out there, but you have to be quick. Midsouth had all the goodies the other day, BE, 231, PP, 110 and others, but it didn't last an hour.

In my parts, there are one or two vendors that have powder and regularly attend the local gun shows. Their supply and inventory changes but checking them frequently affords the opportunity to get some powders. I figure the entry fee is entertainment as I look around the show and see what folks are trying to hawk.

This may not be the case in the Northwest.

Local gun stores in my parts routinely have little or no powder even in good times and in general they do not have what I am looking for with most other gun related things. So I do not darken their doors. Gas and time is too valuable for dashing around town.

If I cannot get the powder at the gun shows, I will make a large enough order online to cover the HAZMAT fees. Since this last shortage, I was pretty well stocked up with powder but I have bought some primers online when I saw the brand/size that i was potentially running short of. I have missed a few cycles of stores selling out before I get an order in, but i do not wait until my inventory is in panic mode. I start shopping well in advance of that situation.