Am I Partly to Blame?

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I think we have all ordered a box of 8 pounder unique and found a 4 box of 8lb uniquers in the closet.
 
You guys don't know how lucky you are.
Over here, it is legally prohibited to own/store more than 2 lbs. of powder.
 
I have bought about twice what I planned to shoot for the past 25 years. I apologize to no one for my excess.
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Me either.
When I have a little $ to spare, I spend it on reloading supplies/components. I did that before the shortage so no change here.

You guys don't know how lucky you are.
Over here, it is legally prohibited to own/store more than 2 lbs. of powder.
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I agree we're lucky.
However as restrictive as Belgium's gun laws are in general, the amount of powder you can own at once is the least of it.
 
I still have reloading supplys left over from before the AWB of 1994 and just made sure I placed my annual order before the last election and made it a tad larger than normal.

Funny thing is, you "stock up" if you buy plenty when anyone can, when supply's are low (and price is high) and you buy to store you become a "hoarder".
 
jmorris said:
I still have reloading supplys left over from before the AWB of 1994 and just made sure I placed my annual order before the last election and made it a tad larger than normal.

Funny thing is, you "stock up" if you buy plenty when anyone can, when supply's are low (and price is high) and you buy to store you become a "hoarder".
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The issue with powder and primers is that you can reach a level that is not safe or legal to store. For some high volume shooters, that may not be 2 years supply.
 
Funny thing is, you "stock up" if you buy plenty when anyone can, when supply's are low (and price is high) and you buy to store you become a "hoarder".
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Funny how that works isn't it? :)
And if it is a fellow shooter who is prepared himself it is "stocking up", but if it is someone who exhibited a lack of preparedness and is jealous of anyone who buys more than 1 box it is "hoarding".
 
The only powder I've bought over the past 4 years is 6lbs of H335 for $100 from a guy who was getting out of .223 loading. I don't need any other powders except maybe 1lb of AA5744 if it comes along at a good price.
 
I have been in the habit of buying a lb. at a time to reload 9mm, 40, and 45acp and I plan to change that when the powder returns. I plan on getting a couple 8lb jugs along with larger batches of primers and bullets. They will serve me well when I get the new progressive press. I aim to load larger batches at a time and keep more around for the summer when I have less time to be pumping away on a press.

Don't get me wrong I am not addicted to shooting. I don't love it and want to do it a lot. I don't really love guns either just because I am planning on buying a few more. Nah not me. Not addicted.....:uhoh: :scrutiny: :D
 
The issue with powder and primers is that you can reach a level that is not safe or legal to store. For some high volume shooters, that may not be 2 years supply.
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What level is that? I don't live within city limits that impose any laws on me. I ordered 45,000 primers and powder/bullets in Aug-Sept before the election and cut back on practice for matches a bit just so I don't go below my comfort level.
 
I don't hoard, I just keep a minimum supply of all the powders I use and it just happens to add up to 20+ pounds. Whether there is a shortage or not, that's my normal stock.
I feel bad that powder is so hard to find right now but us seasoned veteran re-loaders could also say that the shortage is caused by all the new people that are getting into reloading!
We don't though, we don't finger point but it sounds like we are having fingers pointed at us right now.
What get's me is all the .22 ammo that is missing in action. What happened this time around that caused that?

I don't understand why it's being hoarded. I have about 6 boxes of 50 rounds and that's enough for me for a long time. I don't shoot much of it and recently passed up buying 250 count boxes of it on sale at my LGS for a decent price.
I don't need it so I didn't buy it. Does that sound like a hoarder?
 
I can't find HP38/W231 anywhere, and it's the only powder I use: part of the problem or not, when I find some I am buying in quantity.
 
I think that a lot of people are starting to look at this hoarding situation correctly. Forget "finger-pointing" at others, look at your own supplies and ask if you have more than you need, say 2 years out. I can get what I want, and I have been getting what I want by just backordering it. If I have a few year's supply of a component, and just order to replace what I use, that takes care of it.
Plus, some people are just too impatient. Some guy in our club ordered a brand new .22 revolver. It came in, he couldn't find any ammo locally, so he turned around and sold the gun NIB. Shortly thereafter, a LGS got a big shipment of .22 ammo.
 
No you are not to blame for anything! Don't be silly!

Powder; Just realized that in the 2 years since starting to reload, I have purchased 14-1 lb. of handgun powders.
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I began shooting in 1958 and hand loading in 1972 so I don't qualify as new to reloading. The quote above reflects good reloading practice, at least in my opinion.

When I go to the range or visit my local Cabela's or outdoor stores including local gun shops I always keep an eye out for ammunition or loading components on sale or whatever. When I see something I use for a good price I buy it. Sooner or later I will get to it. Nice thing about reloading components is a very, very long shelf life and the same is true for loaded ammunition.

Then when something goes awry in the supplies those with a good supply on hand don't need to worry about running out of stuff. How much is enough? Depends on how much you shoot. There is no enough.

Those who have been shooting and hand loading for 40+ years have seen ammunition and component shortages before. It is a fragile balance and let another incident like Sandy Hook happen and the next drought will be worse. Let the government sneeze and the entire shooting community catches a cold.

Since the onset of this mess I have bought a few thousand bullets and maybe 10 Lbs. of powder, only because they were available and I'll use the stuff. Keep your powder and primers dry. :)

Just My Take....
Ron
 
Kind of an interesting thread. The label "hoarders" is overused. Are you a hoarder if you have 200 pounds of powder but shoot 50K rounds a year? Or are you a hoarder if you have 200 pounds of powder and don't shoot at all. Your choice, we're all in the range somewhere.

I go to gun shows when it's convenient. I look for deals on bullets and powder primarily. I may never shoot some of them, but I think $15 for a box of Woodleigh soft points, or $12 for a box of Partitions is a deal too good to be passed by. I don't buy for calibers I don't have or don't intend to have.

I have many 1000's of bullets purchased over the years in this manner. Sometimes, when people on forums are in need, I share in my good fortune without gouging.

I bought primers in bulk whenever they were available without buying at panic prices. Suffice to say I have "enough" primers to last me a good long time.

All that said, I have my needs covered for the rest of my life, come hell, high water, or civil unrest, and likely my ancestors will be reloading from my supplies as well.

Not hoarding, just being prudent. Boy Scout Motto prevails.

Sure wish I could get some .22LR though. :mad:
 
You know, I'm going to take a different tack here.
Yes OP it is your fault. You are to blame. But, I know what will make you feel better and abate your guilt -- send me all the supplies and it will cleanse your soul and absolve all guilt.

PM me for address.
To further get you along the road to moral salvation - you must pay the hazmat and shipping fees.
:evil:
 
TG Tiger, no pointing blame to you here. :)

mstreddy, my OP wasn't so much about guilt as it had to do with us who are fairly new to reloading, and how much of a strain it may or may not have had on supplies. So, not giving up anything. :)
 
KC - I understood -- but I'm just trying to help you through your angst. :D
Yes all the new people may have added to the strain on the supplies. But, I would imagine that it is more of the issues as some have mentioned above. There are a lot of us that have been through shortages and market cycles before and we buy accordingly. For me, I know what I want to reload for, and if I'm able to I pick up the 5 or 8 pound jug instead of a 1 pounder, that's what I do. If it's a powder that is a known quantity (Win231) I'll pick up 16 or more pounds at a time.
On primers - same concept applies, ordering 20K primers is the same as 5K. In fact if you amortize the shipping and hazmat it comes out better with the larger quantities.
As many here, I buy ammo and components as good deals come up. Even though I haven't needed to buy any centerfire ammo since the craziness started. I agree that there is no such thing as too much ammo.

Welcome to the hobby, enjoy, stock up, and enjoy some more.
 
mstreddy, thanks for the welcome, and it has been an enjoyable hobby thus far. And now I can see how the serious veterans of reloading stock up. :)
As for me, I have narrowed it down to 3 handgun and 2 rifle powders that I'd buy in large quanities. And with primers and bullets, buying bulk has been good here.

Thanks to everyone for their input!
 
Hi, my names Justin, and I am a hoard-o-holic. After being caught short years ago, I now buy when the prices are right and stock it away. I am not currently in need, but if I find something for a good price, I still will buy it. Reloading components have a very good shelf life. I also find that I do not have any problems converting them to cash for other projects if needed.
 
I know I am contributing. Since the first of the year, I have picked up over 100 lbs of 8 lb jugs. All pistol or shotgun powder. I am slowing down though. I am running out of offsite storage and I don't want to tick off my friends by asking them to store more for me.
 
kcofohio said:
mstreddy, thanks for the welcome, and it has been an enjoyable hobby thus far. And now I can see how the serious veterans of reloading stock up. :)
As for me, I have narrowed it down to 3 handgun and 2 rifle powders that I'd buy in large quanities. And with primers and bullets, buying bulk has been good here.

Thanks to everyone for their input!
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I can see how you could stock only 3 handgun powders because I can also do that but only 2 rifle powders? I don't think I could do that unless I really try.

My handgun powder trinity is W231(HP-38), W540(HS-6) and W296(H110).

I load a wide verity of rifle cartridges so it's hard to narrow the powder choices down. I actually have some powders on the shelf I use for only 1 rifle cartridge like LVR for the 30-30.

I load for the .223, 30-30, .308, 30-06, 45-70 and a few more.
I like:
H335 or Varget for the .223 (semi-auto and bolt action)
IMR4064 or BL-C(2) for the .308
IMR3031 or LVR for the 30-30
H4895 and H4350 for the 30-06 (M1 and bolt action)
AA5744, IMR4198 or IMR3031 for the 45-70 (different bullets)
 
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