Powder prices seem to be normalizing

[ballman6711]

I just saw a link to Vihtavouri powder on the "Where are reloading components" thread. I don't need any, but thought I would look to see how much it would cost.

The price for one pound of VV N-310 was $70.68 after shipping and hazmat (Midway). I recall looking at a pound of VV N-320 in 2019 (pre-pandemic) for about $65 (Midsouth) also after shipping and hazmat.

A price increase of five dollars or so doesn't seem out of line to me two years later. I'm also seeing many more components (including powder) becoming available, and many are very close to the price they were two years ago.

If this trend continues, primers should be next.

chris

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Let’s hope.
I don’t like price increases. But if they drop to a level with only a small bump it would be great.

I have enough components on hand for my basic needs. But would love to build my supply so I can practice at will.
And yes I was buying when I could. It’s why I actually have a bit more pistol ammo than I though!

 

[Varminterror]

It seems we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Demand is becoming sufficiently satisfied and products are surviving longer on the shelf. Evidence that retailers are also noticing the receding tide is the fact Midway returned their free shipping promotion, as has Brownells (cyclic promotion) - they’re offering sales they’ve had restricted for a while to 1) keep their active buyers buying, and 2) draw back buyers which had gone silent because of lacking inventory and increased prices.

We’re not out of the woods, and as we have seen, it doesn’t take much to upset the apple cart, so we may never again be too far from the next demand panic - AND we’ll see a flood of buyers grabbing fairly big volumes for a while still to buy back the inventory they consumed during the last year and a half... BUT... the end is coming...

 

[Hokie_PhD]

It seems we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Demand is becoming sufficiently satisfied and products are surviving longer on the shelf. Evidence that retailers are also noticing the receding tide is the fact Midway returned their free shipping promotion, as has Brownells (cyclic promotion) - they’re offering sales they’ve had restricted for a while to 1) keep their active buyers buying, and 2) draw back buyers which had gone silent because of lacking inventory and increased prices.

We’re not out of the woods, and as we have seen, it doesn’t take much to upset the apple cart, so we may never again be too far from the next demand panic - AND we’ll see a flood of buyers grabbing fairly big volumes for a while still to buy back the inventory they consumed during the last year and a half... BUT... the end is coming...

I think this is good.

If I can offer a suggestion that might help.

One way to build up your supply without hoarding is to buy what you need. As you shoot replace what you shot plus an extra box for each box. Save your brass, and either give it to someone who reloads, or reload it.

I do the same thing with components. When I use up a bottle of powder I order two. When I use a brick of primers I order two. (Well sore of I set the money aside and order when I have enough to meet the hazmat and order mins). Likewise I order bullets in lots of 1000.

my point is is we all stock up a little at a time we can handle times like the last year and not add to the problem.

 

[Walkalong]

my point is is we all stock up a little at a time we can handle times like the last year and not add to the problem.

True, but, imho, most of us are not the problem. Most of us were ready, but some new to this got caught, heck, I got caught on a couple of things, but I suspect most of us are being as patient as we can, vs folks out there buying case quantities of powder etc.

 

[WeekendReloader]

I don't usually plan to stock up. I'm more of an opportunist. When I see a sale on an item I use, at a reasonable price, I'll go all in.
Other things that are more expensive or less available, I'll use the "use one, buy two" method.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

In the last week I've purchased 3 different jugs if Accurate powder. The type doesn't matter.

The point is that the powder was in stock long enough to actually get to the checkout and purchase it.
I know that several 5-pound jugs of AA#2 were available at Powder Valley for hours. 3 months ago that powder would have sold in 30 seconds.

It could just be that folks are tapped out, no money to spend. The economy, no matter what one hears on TV, isn't all that robust, and seems to be faltering even more.

We shall see. It's going to be a bumpy ride for the next 19 months.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Powder is Dry in Seattle! have not seen a bottle in 5 months.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I wrote about this months ago and advised people to watch for trends. A shortage in one product line will typically result in a surplus of others. Cases in point: when primers and powder were unobtainable, I stocked up on some real bargains in cases, various calibers. I was even able to pass on those bargains to some other people, which always feels good. I got around 3K indoor range brass, cleaned but not prep'd, in .40S&W brass for under $100 and as many cleaned, prep'd, ready-to-load .380ACP brass for around the same - including a sale from a forum member (500 for $34 shipped) and a sale back in January at Precision One on new production .380 brass in bulk loads of 1000 pcs for $115, shipped. Brass prices went down because no one had primers or powder so they became an excess inventory. Powder prices are now lower because primers are still costly and not available for inventory. I got a lot of bargains on bullets - lead and discontinued jacketed - for the same reasons. High demand for small-framed, concealable revolvers and pocket-pistols temporarily drove prices of older large-frame revolvers and holster-carry pistols down - but they rebounded quickly - giving me a VG condition 1935 Colt's OP .32-20 for $300, to my FFL.

In every shortage, there are counter-surpluses which create opportunities. I stocked up on some powders I hadn't used before for LESS than pre-plandemic prices when the primer shortage was causing people to give up reloading. $20/lb for NOS AA#5, same for NOS AA#9, pre-plandemic production Red Dot and Blue Dot for $25/lb (in 9/2020), I was given two opened bottles of powder by some work friends - about 3/4 bottle of Unique and 1/2 bottle of Bullseye - in exchange for a couple boxes of factory Blazer 9mm I paid less than $7/box for according to the prices tags on the boxes. Those same work friends are now buying IMI 9mm for what I consider extortion prices but, they're happy.

Bargain shopping, trading and swapping can be fun or exasperating. It all depends on your attitude. ATB.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The economy, no matter what one hears on TV, isn't all that robust, and seems to be faltering even more.

I don't watch TV news so I have no idea what's being said but, I do know local businesses are having hiring problems because people are making more on federal benefits than they can make working a time-clock job. We're having problems, too and the state pays a really good wage. More folks with degrees want the benefits of not working while they last than want the jobs with benefits that might go away in the next budget cycle. Seems kind of insane to me but, I'm just simple country boy who don't know about the ways of city slickers.

 

[Akula69]

I have noticed a trend in the powder retailers as well, but in a different direction. Whereas I used to see only 1 lb containers now I am seeing more and more retailers going with "10 - 1 lb case" pricing or "2-8 lb case" pricing. I find it interesting the resellers are ordering those quantities instead of single 1 lb containers.
In any case, powder has become more available...even if I don't really need an excessive amount.

 

[FROGO207]

I never thought hearing someone stating "the end is near" and be happy about it. LOL
I have, for years always buy two and use one when I had the cash to do it. Also put a mad money pile aside for that firearm or component purchase when there was a good deal or sale. Through the last couple years I have basically idled through the mess while reloading and shooting as much as I want. Can't wait to be able to restock though.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I never thought hearing someone stating "the end is near" and be happy about it. LOL
I have, for years always buy two and use one when I had the cash to do it. Also put a mad money pile aside for that firearm or component purchase when there was a good sale.

Sadly, all of my "mad money" since April of 2019 has gone to medical bills. Even with good insurance, chemo treatments, cardiologists, etc. will burn through a savings account like a wildfire. Medical miracles aren't cheap or easy. But they're worth it!

Through the last couple years I have basically idled through the mess while reloading and shooting as much as I want. Can't wait to be able to restock though.

Same here. I don't like to talk up too much because there are folks who jsut plain got caught short and some who came to the party late. I don't brag about my good fortune while others are hurting. It's not good "karma," for lack of a better (less controversial) word.