Powder price spikes

[brewer12345]

For most handgun loads, powder is by far the lowest cost component. Bullet prices are getting crazy.

Copper at all time highs, add in spiking energy costs and rising labor costs and jacketed gets pricy fast.

 

[brewer12345]

that’s why I’m making my own bullets! My brother told me to save up for the RCBS and skip the Lee 4-20 Pot!

I hear those are nice, but... I've cast over 10k bullets with the Lee.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I hear those are nice, but... I've cast over 10k bullets with the Lee.

that’s a literal ton of bullets

 

[brewer12345]

that’s a literal ton of bullets

I shoot em, stash em, and supply my hunting buddy with as cast fodder.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I shoot em, stash em, and supply my hunting buddy with as cast fodder.

hope the gave you some meat! walmart is putting security tags on their expensive steaks

 

[AgPilot]

hope the gave you some meat! walmart is putting security tags on their expensive steaks

I’d buy $199 primers before I bought anything in Wally World!!! Lol

 

[IlikeSA]

I can't get primers so I am not getting more powder. I have a shelf full of a variety.

 

[brewer12345]

hope the gave you some meat! walmart is putting security tags on their expensive steaks

My bosom buddy who I regularly trust my life to in the field. Who do you think is pulling me out of the ice if I fall in while beaver hunting? Of course it goes both ways. In reality, I like casting and I am thrilled to have a friend to load, shoot, hunt, fish and hang out with, so its small beer to share bullets.

 

[AgPilot]

My bosom buddy who I regularly trust my life to in the field. Who do you think is pulling me out of the ice if I fall in while beaver hunting? Of course it goes both ways. In reality, I like casting and I am thrilled to have a friend to load, shoot, hunt, fish and hang out with, so its small beer to share bullets.

I’ve got several Buds like that and I feel fortunate to say that.

 

[brewer12345]

I’d buy $199 primers before I bought anything in Wally World!!! Lol

For the moment I am primer'd up, but my stash isn't endless. I am watching primer pricing and availability a bit nervously. I suppose the day may come when I pay current prices for primers. I probably have another year or two before I feel light enough to pay up.

 

[brewer12345]

I’ve got several Buds like that and I feel fortunate to say that.

The third member of the hunting trio doesn't reload because he is an aerospace engineer and knows that if he started he would go crazy trying to track down the last little niggling variance. Still fun to hunt, shoot, fish and hang out with and one of the people I would bet my life on.

 

[Mark_Mark]

My bosom buddy who I regularly trust my life to in the field. Who do you think is pulling me out of the ice if I fall in while beaver hunting? Of course it goes both ways. In reality, I like casting and I am thrilled to have a friend to load, shoot, hunt, fish and hang out with, so its small beer to share bullets.

Good friends make you live longer

 

[AgPilot]

The third member of the hunting trio doesn't reload because he is an aerospace engineer and knows that if he started he would go crazy trying to track down the last little niggling variance. Still fun to hunt, shoot, fish and hang out with and one of the people I would bet my life on.

My best Friend who is 25 years senior with a Son a year older than me are like that. We load hunt and shoot together. We are More like Family!!!

 

[fields]

Do not expect prices to go back.They have not in the last 20 years after a shortage.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

hope the gave you some meat! walmart is putting security tags on their expensive steaks

Walmart sells steaks? Now I’ve heard everything! Next thing you’ll tell me they do covid tests.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Walmart sells steaks? Now I’ve heard everything! Next thing you’ll tell me they do covid tests.

LOL… yeah, it’s badm, but cheap

 

[bullseye308]

I saw some seriously scary prices recently on Bullseye, 2400, and a few rifle powders and am so thankful I still have an 8# jug of Bullseye, but hadn’t planned on loading much 223 and had enough, but got a second one I want to shoot a bunch and will come up short on powder and primers in 2 years. Still have 12 pounds of BE-86 so I’m good for the 9’s which is mostly what I shoot. The Bullseye will do 5# for 357 @ 5.0 grains and 3# for 38 @ 2.7 grains. That plus 2 loaded ammo cans of each will keep the revolvers happy for about 5 more years with no resupply. Still need to cast another 5 gallon bucket of 9mm bullets to fill most of my primed brass tho.

Prices have always come back down after each election cycle, sometimes not as much as we think they should, but it will happen. Doubt we will ever see 20/1000 primers again, but if we do, id expect everyone to stock up and not be complaining next cycle about not having components. Coupe years ago was some great pricing, free shipping, and no limits. Remember folks, always stock at least 5 years worth, it gets you through every cycle but the last one. Maybe bump it to 6 years worth.... hmmmmm.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I saw some seriously scary prices recently on Bullseye, 2400, and a few rifle powders and am so thankful I still have an 8# jug of Bullseye, but hadn’t planned on loading much 223 and had enough, but got a second one I want to shoot a bunch and will come up short on powder and primers in 2 years. Still have 12 pounds of BE-86 so I’m good for the 9’s which is mostly what I shoot. The Bullseye will do 5# for 357 @ 5.0 grains and 3# for 38 @ 2.7 grains. That plus 2 loaded ammo cans of each will keep the revolvers happy for about 5 more years with no resupply. Still need to cast another 5 gallon bucket of 9mm bullets to fill most of my primed brass tho.

Prices have always come back down after each election cycle, sometimes not as much as we think they should, but it will happen. Doubt we will ever see 20/1000 primers again, but if we do, id expect everyone to stock up and not be complaining next cycle about not having components. Coupe years ago was some great pricing, free shipping, and no limits. Remember folks, always stock at least 5 years worth, it gets you through every cycle but the last one. Maybe bump it to 6 years worth.... hmmmmm.

I got enough primers, brass and powder that I can afford to be generous and give them away. I’ve given all the above away and don’t hurt one bit. That’s not the point, in my opinion. It’s not about cost per unit or how big your horde is, it’s about supply and control of the market. It’s about the future, long after all of us are worm food. I’m relieved to see supplies returning. I’m a little surprised at what hasn’t come back available. I’m suspicious of price fixing.

 

[bullseye308]

I got enough primers, brass and powder that I can afford to be generous and give them away. I’ve given all the above away and don’t hurt one bit. That’s not the point, in my opinion. It’s not about cost per unit, it’s about supply and control of the market. It’s about the future, long after all of us worm food. I’m relieved to see supplies returning. I’m a little surprised at what hasn’t come back available. I’m suspicious of price fixing.

I agree, some things are pretty much back to normal pricing, and some things are still through the roof. Even things with the same basic materials but in different markets which leads me to believe some folks are just greedy, and something’s definitely going on. At the end of the day I’m just another joe nobody and my opinions matter mostly to me.

 

[AgPilot]

I got enough primers, brass and powder that I can afford to be generous and give them away. I’ve given all the above away and don’t hurt one bit. That’s not the point, in my opinion. It’s not about cost per unit or how big your horde is, it’s about supply and control of the market. It’s about the future, long after all of us are worm food. I’m relieved to see supplies returning. I’m a little surprised at what hasn’t come back available. I’m suspicious of price fixing.

 

[Hartkopf]

Most people are waiting on primers so they can order powder at the same time. So did “they” raise the hell out of powder prices just before the primers come back? Nothing would surprise me now.

 

[AgPilot]

I’m suspicious of price fixing.

I totally agree. That’s what I’m seeing in central Mississippi. 6 months ago primers were $50-$60 which was high but I figured were the new normal. Now at the same stores they are $110- $120
Powder went from $28-32 to $42-60 a pound

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I had picked up a pound of n135 at the beginning of the big event for 39.99. Today vhit powders are 79.99 at avery. I mostly recommend shooters world and ramshot powders now.

Powder prices are definitely waaaay up even if you luck up and find it on the shelves. Mail order is nuts when you combine shipping and hazmat.

I just spent nearly $500 on 8 pounds of N135, 2 pounds of N340 and 1 pound of N133. Plus a box of Bergers for my 300 BLK supersonic loads ... a buck a pill.

i order almost exclusively from Midsouth and Powder Valley anymore because they try hard to keep prices down. I did stumble across a pound cannister of 6.5 StaBALL at Sportsman's Warehouse the other day ... it was stashed away over on the floor mixed in with black powder cannisters. $46 bucks.

Me either. I have enough powder, primers , brass and bullets on hand to last for years so that I don’t care what they ask for it
I will only buy if I see something at normal prices and I want to try a new powder or bullet. . Was at a Gun show a few weekends ago. Primers were $119-$199 a brick. No one bought any of them. Same at the stores

I've got more than any stores I know of ... 400+ pds of powders, 35k primers, maybe 10k projectiles, but that's half of what I had pre-pandemic and it worries me because I reload and shoot a lot, have a range here on my property ... I don't think we'll ever see those old prices again, especially primers but now powders as well.

There appears to be a correlation between powders which are imported, mostly from Canada but Australia too, and increasing prices for ALL powders. There was a lag last year in inflation for powders from Belgium and Canada versus Australia versus domestic, but there seems to be a flattening out or leveling taking place. Supplies are up - which is GREAT! - but so are prices and imports seem to be spiking now, too. Something to keep in mind when working up loads and advising new reloaders. They might not be able to get our old standby, preferred, never-fails powders.

Good point. I've been guilty of recommending something that may be unaffordable for some or unavailable for others.

Still, some things just deserve the better propellents, the better bullets, etc. ... imho.

 

[kill456]

I to am not in a big hurry to buy primers at today's price . I would go to Cabelas and they would have 1000 round bricks of the S&B primers for 19.99 and I would call all my buddies and tell them what I was doing and did they want any and each and every single one of them said "no thanks we will buy our own" In a 2 year period they went on sale twice for the 19.99 a brick and each time I would buy up 10 bricks of each of the 4 sizes only to have them say "no thanks" fast forward to the scamdemic and now they are all calling me asking if I could sell a few . Sorry you had your chance. I have given a few hundred primers (a few flats) away for free to a few friends but thats it . I just dont have any sympathy for people who do the "Johnny come lately" (like WAY lately) thing. Even had a few call me a hoarder. No a hoarder is someone who buys up all they can when its hard to find not someone who buys 40 bricks when there are 500 bricks under the counter at the local Cabelas circa 2015-16 ;-) I guess if thats hoarding then I can live with it but I have had no need to pay 120.00 plus a brick when I was getting them when no one wanted them for 19.99 back in 2015 and 2016 !!! When I am asked what I would do today when buying powder and projo's etc etc I tell people to buy all they can afford when you can afford them and be done with it as history has shown us that prices almost always go up and rarely go down especially with 3 out of 10 new shooters being re loaders since the summer of protesting started summer before last .

 

[kalielkslayer]

All I know is the powder and primers I “horded” during the 1994 Clinton shortage are an extreme value today.

The powder/primers I “horded” during the Obama reign are a great buy today.

The powder I bought at the price gouging LGS 18 months ago are a good value

My point is, buy what you need, or think you’ll need and you’ll appreciate it later.