Am I Partly to Blame?

[kcofohio]

At least a small part.

With a chill still in the air, I've been doing an inventory of my reloading supplies.

Primers and bullets, I have plenty.

Powder; Just realized that in the 2 years since starting to reload, I have purchased 14-1 lb. of handgun powders.
At an average of 6.5 gr. per round, that is enough to do 15 grand of reloads. I didn't realize it would add up to that much.

The point is this, how many people in the last couple of years have started to reload and have had to build up a stock of supplies? Searching the internet for reasons of the shortage and now am thinking it was under my nose.

And to some this may not be much of a supply, but we may only shoot 2-3 thousand rds. a year.

 

[jwrowland77]

I did the same the other day. I started a couple years back. Got 3 one pound jugs to start. Now I have probably 10-12 pounds of rifle along with pistol powder. That's not including the 8lb keg of Titegroup I haven't opened and a 4lb jug of Universal I found unopened for $40 from a guy just selling it that I still haven't opened.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have 22lbs of various powders and I use them all. Until things loosen up and powder becomes readily available I will make sure I don't run out. I already ran out of Unique and can't find it anywhere now so that's not going to happen again.

 

[jwrowland77]

Take a trip to Arkansas TG tiger. They have 8lb kegs of Unique at a local store and they ain't moving real fast.

 

[witchhunter]

We all are, even those of us that have been doing this forever. I was just talking to another shooter the other day about this. Those of us that shoot a lot, buy lots of components, usually in bulk. But lately, we have had to buy when it was available instead of when we actually needed it. I usually shoot around 3-5000 rifle rounds a year at prairie dogs, and usually only have that much on hand at any one time. But, with the shortages, I have lots more on hand now, as I had to buy them when they were available. Most of us had several backorders going and when they all come in....well you end up with doubles and triples of your normal stock. Luckily, some of us are networking and trading locally so we keep each other even. We became a product of our own fears.

 

[LiveLife]

I always keep two 8 pound containers of W231/HP-38 (may soon be replaced by CFE Pistol when I find some) and Red Dot/Promo under my bench. I start getting nervous when one of the 8 pound containers feel light when I pick it up.

I shoot 20K-25K+ rounds per year just for pistol now and will shoot more after I finish 2 ARs in 9mm.

My investment in reloading components since 2008 have returned greater yield than CDs/Money Market and I will continue to invest in reloading components when good buying opportunities arise and prices drop in the future. Good thing reloading components have a very long shelf life (I am still finishing up primers I bought many years back when they were $16-$20/1K).

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have bought about twice what I planned to shoot for the past 25 years. I apologize to no one for my excess.

 

[kcofohio]

It is good to see it isn't just us new comers!

But I'm at the point now where I'll pass on over priced supplies. And am now
only concerned with 3 or 4 powders that will be my mainstay supply.

Now for a break in the weather would be nice.

 

[wes79]

A gun with no bullets is a club, clubs loose in a gun fight. 12lbs powder, nuff bullets an brass to feed each gun I own, well.

 

[Rico567]

+1. Yeah, finally a thread where we hear some "true confessions" about this shortage.

 

[jwrowland77]

+1. Yeah, finally a thread where we hear some "true confessions" about this shortage.

Nah, it's just amazing how quick things add up picking up a pound or two here and there. That's all I've done. It just adds up

 

[FROGO207]

No problems here as I have cut back on my purchases due to cost increases as of late. I have SLOOOWLY stocked up for years to avoid what happened to others. I should have piled things even deeper I found. Somewhere things are starting to stabilize I would hope.:banghead:

 

[horsemen61]

I will stack it deep until I can no longer afford/wife leaves me jk

 

[wally247]

I'm down to about 9 lbs. of unique. I've probably got about 5 one pounders of misc. powders to go with that.

 

[Bush Pilot]

The same friends who thought I was nuts for stocking up the past few years are now asking if I have any powder or .22 shells I'd sell or trade. What powder? What .22 shells?

 

[Kp321]

I am working hard to convert my piles of brass, bullets, and powder to loaded ammo. Just like a gun being a club with no ammo, piles of components are just that. Loaded ammo stores nicely.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I am working hard to convert my piles of brass, bullets, and powder to loaded ammo. Just like a gun being a club with no ammo, piles of components are just that. Loaded ammo stores nicely.

I'm not too worried about turning components in to ammo, just knowing I can at any time is enough.

 

[handloader357]

Ive been reloading since I was strong enough to decap a 45... Needless to say ive accumulated a ton of stuff over the years. I am sitting on a ton of rifle powders right now but am running low on pistol powders. Anyone want to trade me a pound of bullseye or 231 for some rifle powder? Have tons to choose from... 4320, 4350, 4895, 380, 748.... The list goes on...

 

[RussellC]

I'm sitting on large amount, and will continue to do so until it gets to where you can decide, "hmmmm, I want to load some Unique, Bullseye, HP-38, so I will just go pick some up." Just like .22 LR, I used to maybe have a couple hundred max on hand, you could always buy what you needed at a couple few cents each, not anymore.

This necessity, combined with at least more than 3 times the normal amount of gun owners coming into the fray will assure the above scenario doesnt happen soon and I continue to stockpile. When I see pistol powder, I buy it. Period.

Russellc

 

[Mad Chemist]

I shoot at least 1k rds per month. I load with whatever powders I can get. Hoarders chap my ass. At least I get the satisfaction of knowing that most of them are getting fleeced for gouger prices.

 

[788Ham]

Bush Pilot, post #15,
I am of the same persuasion. I have a buddy that said when I was buying pistol powder, "You gonna reload all of that powder?" Nope, not today, but I may need it down the line. The same with .22's, he bought a case off an auction site in Florida, definitely cost him too, he won't say how much that stung him! But now he's got 50K 22's. Ha

 

[gamestalker]

Normally I go through more rifle powder than pistol, but this year has been so different. Everyone was hunting everything, so my bottle neck loading was, and sort of is still going at a pretty constant pace. From August 2013 to present I have gone through about about 17 lbs. of rifle powder, mostly H4831 and IMR-4350, some Varget and IMR-4831, and I used up about 4 lbs. of RL22 before it disappeared from my shelf for good.

I really haven't had much time to work on handgun, but things are slowing down some, so I should be able to start getting some shooting in. I have lots of handgun powders on the shelf, and plenty of components, just need a little ME time.

But as powders go, when I see the one's I use, I buy as much as I can get away with. I don't consider myself a hoarder, I just don't ever want to run out. I also keep a large supply of primers on hand. If I were to give myself title, I would call myself a prepper.

GS

 

[Rico567]

"gamestalker" writes: "I don't consider myself a hoarder, I just don't ever want to run out."

Not ragging on you or anything, but is this a distinction without a difference?

 

[Glocktogo]

I keep enough on hand to weather shortages and replenish when the market returns to sanity, based on how much I shoot each year. Just as I carry life, home and car insurance, I do my best not to be left subject to the vagaries of life. I have no one to apologize to for that.

FWIW, that market sanity comment means I've bought precious little powder, loaded ammo and zero primers since the current shortage started. You're welcome for me not perpetuating the insanity.

 

[morcey2]

I have about 6000 rounds of 22LR, but don't own anything chambered for it. Is that bad?