Alliant powder alternatives

[TopGunVF31]

Just found out that [Alliant powders may become more difficult to find and/or expensive]. Now I need to find a substitute for Unique powder for my Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor. Any suggestions? I'm using 12 grains of Unique behind a 405 grain lead bullet until I run out.

[Edited by rust collector to more accurately reflect Alliant powder availability circumstances as reported in #4]

 

[Mostly Lead]

Any links you could share on this?

 

[2ndtimer]

Just found out that Alliant is no longer making powder. Now I need to find a substitute for Unique powder for my Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor. Any suggestions? I'm using 12 grains of Unique behind a 405 grain lead bullet until I run out.

Actually, they are still making it, just not selling it to private purchasers. Wish I could help on a substitute powder. The two mentioned in loading manuals are also hard to find, Accurate 5744 and H-4198. In handguns, I find BE-86 to be a good replacement (also an Alliant powder, but I grabbed some on sale before the news hit and prices jumped). I wonder if Vihtavuori offers something in that burn rate?

 

[CQB45ACP]

Been discussed at length here…take a look at this thread. I havent heard anything new, after reading this maybe you can update based on your facts.

Powder Valley and Alliant customer service verified suspension of canister powder production due to global shortage of "nitrocellulose"

Powder Valley on their FB page announced Alliant suspended canister powders significantly for "unknown period" - https://www.facebook.com/p/Powder-Valley-100064328033682/ “... Vista Outdoor supply agreement for the sale of Alliant Powder canisters has been suspended for an unknown period. At...

www.thehighroad.org

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

With Accurate 5744 also MIA for who knows how long it might be time to consider black powder again.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Any suggestions? I'm using 12 grains of Unique behind a 405 grain lead bullet until I run out.

I also am getting low on Unique to load that cartridge…
I purchased some of the VhitaVouri powders to try…N320 and 3N37…..
I am loading for suppressed subs for my Marlin 1895….
It’s a bit different than your loading needs, but the velocities and pressures would be safe….

…….IMO……

 

[Mostly Lead]

Actually, they are still making it, just not selling it to private purchasers.

Just found out that Alliant is no longer making powder.

Any links to these announcements?

 

[Soonerpesek]

Any links to these announcements?

Post #4…….


2posts down from the first time you asked…..

 

[Soonerpesek]

With Accurate 5744 also MIA for who knows how long it might be time to consider black powder again.

But…………………..





………………., it’s so…………………





SMOKY………..!!

 

[Mostly Lead]

Actually, they are still making it, just not selling it to private purchasers. Wish I could help on a substitute powder. The two mentioned in loading manuals are also hard to find, Accurate 5744 and H-4198. In handguns, I find BE-86 to be a good replacement (also an Alliant powder, but I grabbed some on sale before the news hit and prices jumped). I wonder if Vihtavuori offers something in that burn rate?

PowderValley has BE-86 in stock.

 

[Mostly Lead]

Post #4…….


2posts down from the first time you asked…..

And still no actual links... trying to decide when to start with the panic buying. PowderValley still shows 9 different Alliant powders in stock.

Or are the rumors as yet unconfirmed?

 

[Soonerpesek]

And still no actual links... trying to decide when to start with the panic buying. PowderValley still shows 9 different Alliant powders in stock.

Buy what you want when you think you need to…….
Don’t need anyone’s permission……

Plenty of places have Alliant powders in stock, but when is the last time you saw Unique, PP, the Dots, ect on hand anywhere…..??
That would indicate that said places haven’t received any NEW shipments…..

 

[Mostly Lead]

Buy what you want when you think you need to…….
Don’t need anyone’s permission……

Plenty of places have Alliant powders in stock, but when is the last time you saw Unique, PP, the Dots, ect on hand anywhere…..??
That would indicate that said places haven’t received any NEW shipments…..

Which is slightly different from "No more Alliant powders" as claimed by the OP.

Click bait and fear mongering. Will block the OP (as this was his first and only post, doubt we'll hear much more from him anyway) and drop back out of the thread now...

 

[Soonerpesek]

Ummmmmm……


…..OK…..

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

But…………………..





………………., it’s so…………………





SMOKY………..!!

Yeeeaaah. I know.

 

[TopGunVF31]

My local reloading store owner (Full Circle Reloading in St Charles MO) told me about the Alliant powder situation. He said Alliant cancelled all of his backorders and said it was no longer available. I'm switching to HP-38 and W231 for most of my other handgun loads and saving the Unique I have left for the Springfield trapdoor. 3+ pounds should last a few years since I don't shoot it often. Lyman shows IMR 3031 loads for old trapdoors so I'm not too worried.

 

[TopGunVF31]

Any links you could share on this?

Just what I was told by the owner of Full Circle Reloading in St Charles MO. All of his backorders were cancelled and told no longer available.

 

[rust collector]

I have edited the thread title to more accurately reflect Alliant availability status. This information is 6 months old, but I find nothing newer:
https://www.ammoland.com/2024/05/al...shipments-of-smokeless-powders-for-reloading/

 

[Ifishsum]

Powder Valley had an announcement on their website a few months ago about it, maybe they took it down? I thought it was pretty much common knowledge.

It said that Alliant will not be producing/selling canister grade powder to reloaders for an unspecified time. Due to nitrocellulose shortage they can only secure enough to supply their OEM and/or military contracts, or something to that effect. Shouldn't be hard to find.

There is and will still be some of their powders still in the pipeline even now. I bought a keg of the new TS15.5 a week before their announcement that was from a recent lot.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have edited the thread title to more accurately reflect Alliant availability status. This information is 6 months old, but I find nothing newer:
https://www.ammoland.com/2024/05/al...shipments-of-smokeless-powders-for-reloading/

Good call.

Given that Lightning, Infallible and Unique were developed by Laflin-Rand to replace traditional black powder handgun, shotgun and rifle loads, replacing Unique with any other black powder substitute is perfectly reasonable. I know some folks don’t like to deal with the mess but Unique isn’t exactly the cleanest thing in this hobby.

 

[LV Gun]

I also am getting low on Unique to load that cartridge…
I purchased some of the VhitaVouri powders to try…N320 and 3N37…..
I am loading for suppressed subs for my Marlin 1895….
It’s a bit different than your loading needs, but the velocities and pressures would be safe….

…….IMO……

N320 is an excellent powder you will not be disappointed.

 

[Charlie98]

and saving the Unique I have left for the Springfield trapdoor. 3+ pounds should last a few years since I don't shoot it often. Lyman shows IMR 3031 loads for old trapdoors so I'm not too worried.

You would be better off looking for IMR or H4198, or even IMR4227... those would work better for your use than IMR3031.

It's funny... the best powders for reduced loading are all Alliant powders... RedDot/Promo, Unique, 2400, RL7.

As far as the Alliant rumor mill about availability... Very likely Alliant shipped everything they had left in inventory to get rid of it, and the distributors are selling it, even at 'sale' prices (like Powder Valley) to clear it out. There is no business sense in trying to maintain an inventory of something you can't get anymore. Whether Alliant will continue to ship/start shipping new manufactured product, in any quantity, will remain to be seen. Many of the Alliant powders have been MIA for quite some time, so it's reasonable to assume they have dropped production of those, specifically. The root cause of the reduced production is the shortage of nitrocellulose, something I don't believe will be a quick fix.

 

[Howa 9700]

My local reloading store owner (Full Circle Reloading in St Charles MO) told me about the Alliant powder situation. He said Alliant cancelled all of his backorders and said it was no longer available. I'm switching to HP-38 and W231 for most of my other handgun loads and saving the Unique I have left for the Springfield trapdoor. 3+ pounds should last a few years since I don't shoot it often. Lyman shows IMR 3031 loads for old trapdoors so I'm not too worried.

Have been wondering how FCR was doing with stock. When I was scrounging for stuff a few years back, they were a big help. But also 80 miles away, so don't go there much anymore unless I'm alone and rolling down I-70. Easy in and out then.

Depending on where you live in relation to St. Charles, you may also wish the visit Graf's retail store in Mexico. As recent as a few months back, Grafs had one pounders of Unique in the cabinet. This was after the Alliant announcement. Stuff comes and goes, but now that supply has started to resemble normal, there is a lot of powder to choose from in those two 4' x 8' cabinets.

 

[cfullgraf]

For pistol cartridges, I have alternate Unique loads developed with W231/HP-38, 700-X, and Accurate #5. Other powders would be suitable as well, I just do not use them. There is a Hodgdon powder or two that come close to Unique (Universal maybe?). It might work but search for some reputable load data,.

i use Accurate 5744 in some of my 32-20 loads. Maybe there is some load data for 5744 for the Trapdoor Springfield.

 

[Show Me]

With Accurate 5744 also MIA for who knows how long it might be time to consider black powder again.

Just bought Buffalo Rifle for 46.00
5744 was priced at 73.00