Alliant v. Hodgdon prices

[Zendude]

So I’ve noticed that both of these brands have decent availability now. However, Alliant pistol powder is consistently about $10 more per pound than the Hodgdon brands, both in retail stores and online.
Is Vista just playing games with valuing its inventory since CSG is trying to buy Vista?

It seems this will drive consumers toward the Hodgdon powders, and Alliant might never get these customers back. For example, I pretty much use Bullseye and Red Dot for my reloading needs. Recently I bought HP 38 instead due to the price difference. Once I go through the trouble to work up loads with HP38, I might not go back to buying Alliant.

Anyone else share this sentiment?

 

[CQB45ACP]

So I’ve noticed that both of these brands have decent availability now. However, Alliant pistol powder is consistently about $10 more per pound than the Hodgdon brands, both in retail stores and online.
Is Vista just playing games with valuing its inventory since CSG is trying to buy Vista?

It seems this will drive consumers toward the Hodgdon powders, and Alliant might never get these customers back. For example, I pretty much use Bullseye and Red Dot for my reloading needs. Recently I bought HP 38 instead due to the price difference. Once I go through the trouble to work up loads with HP38, I might not go back to buying Alliant.

Anyone else share this sentiment?

I think the pricing reflects Alliant’s superior quality and performance and I’m willing to pay the cost.

 

[AJC1]

It's the land of choice. I started shooting ramshot for that reason and are now owned by the same people .

 

[sparkyv]

I have also noticed that Alliant's prices are higher than Hodgdon's. Yup, competitors are more and more limited.

 

[Zendude]

It's the land of choice. I started shooting ramshot for that reason and are now owned by the same people .

I also considered Ramshot Zip. I understand it is very similar to Hp38/231.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The price is the price. Pay it or go elsewhere.

 

[AJC1]

I also considered Ramshot Zip. I understand it is very similar to Hp38/231.

I absolutely love Silhouette, not terribly in love with competition but never tried zip. Love tac and hunter never tried big game. So many options, I just need to win the lottery and shoot more

 

[CQB45ACP]

I really don’t like corporate takeovers, product consolidation, and brands dropping here and there whether it’s powders, food products, automobiles, you name it. Guess I simply don’t like change.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I really don’t like corporate takeovers, product consolidation, and brands dropping here and there whether it’s powders, food products, automobiles, you name it. Guess I simply don’t like change.

I worked in aerospace. Corporate takeover, consolidation, contract transfers, etc were part of daily life. Walking into the shop to clock in was always an interesting experience. One day I’m making satellite parts for an RCA contract, the next I’m working for US Satellites making the same parts on different machines in a different building on the same block at a higher rate of pay. no complaints here but I also have a new supervisor and a new dress code. After a few weeks I’m right back in my old shop working on a new contract.
Like Bugs Bunny says, “Meh! It’s a living.”

Free market economics dictates the resources available go to the most effective, efficient, and economical producers. Only government holds any true monopoly. The one monopoly government holds exclusively is the use of force. Only government can commit acts of extreme violence without repercussions.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I worked in aerospace. Corporate takeover, consolidation, contract transfers, etc were part of daily life. Walking into the shop to clock in was always an interesting experience. One day I’m making satellite parts for an RCA contract, the next I’m working for US Satellites making the same parts on different machines in a different building on the same block at a higher rate of pay. no complaints here but I also have a new supervisor and a new dress code. After a few weeks I’m right back in my old shop working on a new contract.
Like Bugs Bunny says, “Meh! It’s a living.”

Free market economics dictates the resources available go to the most effective, efficient, and economical producers. Only government holds any true monopoly. The one monopoly government holds exclusively is the use of force. Only government can commit acts of extreme violence without repercussions.

And now there are even fewer defense/aerospace companies to work for. Sign making companies are really losing business.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

And now there are even fewer defense/aerospace companies to work for. Sign making companies are really losing business.

Humanity has lost hope for the future. That’s what aerospace was really about: exploring the vastness of the universe, leaving Earth behind to settle new worlds and seek the answers to age old questions.
No one cares about any of that anymore. Just fire up the video and watch a movie about people exploring the universe. Then get with your tribe and burn down a city while chanting tribal slogans.
Or, sit down at the reloading bench and see if you can figure out the correct COAL of the old Remington 9mm 125gr BJHP. The pre-bonded one.

 

[LiveLife]

Is Vista just playing games with valuing its inventory since CSG is trying to buy Vista?

During my lifetime, I have come to realize companies/corporations will do whatever they want to do. Some value customer satisfaction and ensuing royalty. Some value profits and market share. Some don't care and/or misunderstand target customer base and go bankrupt or bought out.

Did IMR, Ramshot, Accurate play games with their inventory/pricing when Hodgdon bought them? How about when Remington Ammunition was bought by Federal/CCI/Speer/Alliant/Vista Outdoor? Not sure.

After going through several shortage cycles (And believe me they are cycles and will repeat in the future with certainty ), I determined same or comparable powders so when a particular powder is out of stock, I buy alternate powders - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ble-powders-during-component-shortage.890865/

I like Promo/Red Dot for 9mm/45ACP and 9mm carbine loads but if Promo was not available, I could consider Accurate No. 2/Clean Shot/Titegroup/N320/Sport Pistol/W231/HP-38

If I can't find Bullseye/Sport Pistol, could consider WST/Target (Discontinued)/No. 2/Clean Shot/Titegroup/W231/HP-38

If I can't find BE-86, could consider WSF/No 5/CFE Pistol/Auto Comp

If I can't find AR Comp, could consider Benchmark/H335/TAC

If I can't find Reloder 15, could consider 4064/Varget/BL-C(2)

 

[stacktester]

Based upon current price and quality of pistol powders (Alliant vs Vihtavuori), I would buy Vihtavuori.

 

[Zendude]

I can certainly understand that when supply is limited universally the price goes up universally. Or when there's no competition then the remaining brand can increase their prices to a point.
But currently it seems to me that neither is the case. There is a decent supply of both Alliant and Hodgedon powders in stock. Prior to 2020 the two had been priced competitively with each other, so it seems the market didn't perceive any significant difference in the two brands (unlike VV). I am just wondering if Alliant is in trouble, if there's something going on in the market causing this, or if Alliant is just temporarily messed up right now from the pending Vista deal. Probably no way to know for sure without talking to company insiders, but that's the subject of my ponder for the day.

 

[koz4guns]

I’m not sure if I’m correct but I was under the impression that Hodgden didn’t make powder they bought powders from other manufacturers (US and abroad) and put their label on them.

I think Alliant manufacturers all of their powders here in the US, I wonder I that has something to do with the price increase?

 

[JohnB-40]

I'm just happy these days to see powder (and primers) on the shelves these days.

 

[LiveLife]

I think Alliant manufacturers all of their powders here in the US, I wonder I that has something to do with the price increase?

I thought AR Comp and Reloder powders came from "Sweden/Switzerland" listed right on the bottles of RL 16 and RL 26? https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/new-powder-from-alliant-with-improved-stability/330773

And latest "Temperature Stable" TS Reloder 15.5 shows "Made in Sweden" on the bottle - https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/reloder-ts-155-powder-review/463585

 

[GW Staar]

During my lifetime, I have come to realize companies/corporations will do whatever they want to do. Some value customer satisfaction and ensuing royalty. Some value profits and market share. Some don't care and/or misunderstand target customer base and go bankrupt or bought out.

Did IMR, Ramshot, Accurate play games with their inventory/pricing when Hodgdon bought them? How about when Remington Ammunition was bought by Federal/CCI/Speer/Alliant/Vista Outdoor? Not sure.

After going through several shortage cycles (And believe me they are cycles and will repeat in the future with certainty ), I determined same or comparable powders so when a particular powder is out of stock, I buy alternate powders - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ble-powders-during-component-shortage.890865/

I like Promo/Red Dot for 9mm/45ACP and 9mm carbine loads but if Promo was not available, I could consider Accurate No. 2/Clean Shot/Titegroup/N320/Sport Pistol/W231/HP-38

If I can't find Bullseye/Sport Pistol, could consider WST/Target (Discontinued)/No. 2/Clean Shot/Titegroup/W231/HP-38

If I can't find BE-86, could consider WSF/No 5/CFE Pistol/Auto Comp

If I can't find AR Comp, could consider Benchmark/H335/TAC

If I can't find Reloder 15, could consider 4064/Varget/BL-C(2)

These market cycles can be annoying for sure.....I hate change too......but the changes I hate worse come with the 74 years.... If I can't find the reloading room or not know what to do when I walk in......... then.......I'm in trouble...

As far as the future of this country is concerned.....when I was younger I worried more.....at my age I'm more worried about how long it'll take to die, not whether I will! The other side looks better and better as this side looks worse and worse! Being a believing Christian, I'm not worried for the future.....but it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.....hold on to your boot straps......keep busy.....and be prepared the best you can. I'm remembering what a guy who lived through the last Balken war in Kosovo said. There were lots of fear and worries.....but finding toilet paper was near the top of the list! People traded their ammo for toilet paper....

 

[Beancounter81]

The two companies have very different business models. Hodgdon is a powder company. Vista Sporting Products is an ammunition company that also happens to sell some powder, primers & bullets. Vista's SEC filings state that majority of sales for Sporting Products is from ammunition (not surprising). With Vista being a public company, they are likely trying to keep prices as high as possible to maintain higher gross margins. Hodgdon will likely get more of my business going forward.

 

[stacktester]

I’m not sure if I’m correct but I was under the impression that Hodgden didn’t make powder they bought powders from other manufacturers (US and abroad) and put their label on them.

I think Alliant manufacturers all of their powders here in the US, I wonder I that has something to do with the price increase?

Alliant 'Reloder' extruded grades are made by Bofors in Sweden or from Nitrochemie Wimmins AG in Switzerland. Alliant spherical rifle powders are from St. Marks.

 

[Walkalong]

The way America, and companies anywhere, do business isn't really on topic.