Powder selection choices and substitution reality for 2024

[ballman6711]

Are we still supposed to be practicing patience and not buying so the prices will come down?

I personally have no intentions of buying anything else for awhile, except maybe some bullets. But with this being a presidential election year and not knowing which way it will go, I would suggest to people to get what they need or what they think they will need to hold them over for a while. If you add in the two wars overseas and the amount of munitions being used, it really becomes a best guess type of situation on whether to wait or not.

I also don't think the prices will come down much, if any. Sure, we'll see some minor fluctuations, a sale here and there, and maybe the odd cheap or zero hazmat, but overall I don't see it improving any time soon.

I really hope I'm wrong and end up thinking that I over paid for components these last couple of years, but at least I'm set for awhile.

chris

 

[rfwobbly]

I have a brand new, unopened, 8lb keg of Hodgdon TiteGroup I've been trying to sell at >>give-away prices<< to someone willing to meet in NE Georgia. I've had it in the Reloading Components for Sale section of THR for months without a single question.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/wts-estate-clean-out-updated-1-4-24-ne-georgia.925261/post-12798544

 

[Charlie98]

I have a brand new, unopened, 8lb keg of Hodgdon TiteGroup I've been trying to sell at >>give-away prices<<

I had the same thing with a jug of H335. Because the price of H335 actually came DOWN, I was selling it at a loss... and still no interest.

 

[AJC1]

I have a brand new, unopened, 8lb keg of Hodgdon TiteGroup I've been trying to sell at >>give-away prices<< to someone willing to meet in NE Georgia. I've had it in the Reloading Components for Sale section of THR for months without a single question.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/wts-estate-clean-out-updated-1-4-24-ne-georgia.925261/post-12798544

That's a lifetime supply I can't even fathom the expense of primers equating to using that all up....

 

[Random 8]

That's a lifetime supply I can't even fathom the expense of primers equating to using that all up....

IDK about you, but in the ballpark of 18600 .38spl 148 WC is NOT a lifetime supply! And that's IF I didn't use it for shotgun also! Know what you mean though. That TG just never seems to end, even with 1lb cans.

 

[AJC1]

IDK about you, but in the ballpark of 18600 .38spl 148 WC is NOT a lifetime supply! And that's IF I didn't use it for shotgun also! Know what you mean though. That TG just never seems to end, even with 1lb cans.

My son wants me to get into shotgun reloading. That's definitely how you can dispose of unwanted powder in a hurry....

 

[Charlie98]

That TG just never seems to end, even with 1lb cans.

I bought 2# of TiteGroup back during the Obama Shortage... and I'm STILL trying to use it up. I akin TiteGroup to Jesus' feeding the masses with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

 

[LiveLife]

brand new, unopened, 8lb keg of Hodgdon TiteGroup I've been trying to sell at >>give-away prices<< to someone willing to meet in NE Georgia. I've had it in the Reloading Components for Sale section of THR for months without a single question.

I had the same thing with a jug of H335. Because the price of H335 actually came DOWN, I was selling it at a loss... and still no interest.

If I was within driving distance to you guys, I would happily take them off your hands without question as I like Titegroup/H335 and even buy you lunch.

jug of H335 ... still no interest.

My sister moved her family to Denton, TX. If I end up visiting her this year (I would drive and visit other points of interest on same road trip), I could pick up that jug of H335 from you. I LOVE Texas BBQ and would gladly buy you lunch at your favorite place.

PM sent.

 

[dartor]

That's a lifetime supply I can't even fathom the expense of primers equating to using that all up....

I bought one pound of TiteGroup a few years ago just to try it. Didn't care for it...thought I'd never use it up.

 

[AJC1]

I bought one pound of TiteGroup a few years ago just to try it. Didn't care for it...thought I'd never use it up.

It was the first powder I ever used. Ran up 2lbs in 9mm. I decided to explore the wide range of possibilities and a third pound just sits....

 

[Random 8]

About TG in regards to this thread.
Pros: IT lasts forever. It is usable in most cartridges on the light/target/plinking side of things, particularly the blammo handgun rounds. It is also a good shotgun target powder. It is allegedly not so position sensitive. Data is widely available for most suitable applications/bullets. It has been pretty available and reasonably priced through at least 2 shortages. It meters quite precisely, which is important in the next paragraph!

Cons: It must be used very carefully in deference to the small charges...a slight error can cause a big and potentially dangerous change. For the same reason, a small error in charge can cause poor accuracy/velocity spread. It leaves those funny burn marks on brass. It can be fussy with cast bullets and getting proper obturation. It is considered a poor choice for pistol caliber rifles. It will not maximize velocity in almost any loading vs other powders as you run into peak pressure before velocity. It can be difficult to reliably run a stiff automatic handgun with it.

I did buy a pound in the Obama shortage when it was all I could get. I loaded 50,000 rounds of 9mm, .38 and .357 light with it, as well as a few gallery .30-06. Wasn't going for peak performance, just run of the mill target loads with a little safety margin. It worked. It hit targets. It burned cleanly. My 9mm brass that hasn't been lost since still has those blue burn marks on it. It is absolutely worth a look, kind of like buying white rice ahead of a food shortage. A 50 lb sack keeps forever, lasts forever, isn't very appetizing, but it fills in the plate. The downside is you may never want to see white rice again after you've expended it!

 

[Charlie98]

I was surprised to see TiteGroup data for a number of BIG bore cartidges like .454 Casull, and the .460/.480/.500's. It wouldn't be my first choice, but there it is.

Trying to put a positive note on it... it works well in 9mm, and particularly 115grn and 124grn'ish weights... which is where I hope to burn the rest of this junk up at.

I did buy a pound in the Obama shortage when it was all I could get. I loaded 50,000 rounds

That all??? You must have spilled some...

 

[2ndtimer]

I need some BE-86. I bought a one pounder to try and it's the bomb in midrange .357 Mag loads. A couple of pounds would hold me a good while.

Powder Valley has it in stock for $39.99 per pound. Thought that was a little high, until I checked other sources. . Glad I grabbed an 8 lbs back in May for $231.50 + shipping & hazmat.

 

[LiveLife]

I need some BE-86. I bought a one pounder to try and it's the bomb in midrange .357 Mag loads. A couple of pounds would hold me a good while.

Powder Valley has it in stock for $39.99 per pound. Thought that was a little high, until I checked other sources. . Glad I grabbed an 8 lbs back in May for $231.50 + shipping & hazmat.

Natchez lowered prices for Alliant powders on Thursday and BE-86 down to $29/lb if you buy 8 lb container for $234 (Recently offered 10% off too) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ad-link-required.910908/page-23#post-12809906

• BE-86 8 lbs/$234 - https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/powder/alliant-smokeless-be-86-powder-for-handguns-8lbs
• BE-86 1 lb/$39 - https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/powder/alliant-smokeless-pistol-powder-1-lb

Fact that 8 lbs of BE-86 at $234 (when 8 lbs of W231 is selling for $249) and both are STILL IN STOCK after 4 days is significant and may indicate things are not as bad as some may think and could be improving.

 

[Random 8]

I was surprised to see TiteGroup data for a number of BIG bore cartidges like .454 Casull, and the .460/.480/.500's. It wouldn't be my first choice, but there it is.

Yes, it seems to have an application similar to Trail boss with light loads in big calibers...with a whole lot of room to do something BAD. You'll see it splashed all over Lymans cast bullet data. My only experience with this is turning a 30-06 into a bolt action .30 carbine and a handful of .41mag rainbows I made to test the concept. It worked well for that, as does Red Dot or Unique if they still existed.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Fact that 8 lbs of BE-86 at $234 (when 8 lbs of W231 is selling for $249) and both are STILL IN STOCK after 4 days is significant and may indicate things are not as bad as some may think and could be improving

I passed on it on the 10% discount day, since I still have half my last 8lb jug...but now I'm having second thoughts

 

[LiveLife]

I passed on it on the 10% discount day, since I still have half my last 8lb jug...but now I'm having second thoughts

Over the decades, we had many similar thoughts and discussions.

I remember when Powder Valley was blowing out Wolf LP primers at $14/1000 and @Walkalong responding to THR members about price increase. While I stocked up A LOT, I had second thoughts that perhaps "something was wrong" with the primers to be selling at that price.

Wow ... 14 years later ... wish I had bought even more Wolf primers ... when CCI/Winchester primers were $20/1000.

Wish I had bought even more when Cabelas was selling S&B primers for $20/1000 with free shipping!

And I had "second thoughts" about buying Winchester primers at $26/1000 with free shipping after buying so much S&B primers (I ended up stocking around 250,000 primers more to add to my existing stock).

Remember when Promo was first introduced at $78/8 lbs? I complained when price increased to $87/8 lbs ... Now I would be happy to spend $200/8 lbs ... MidwayUSA has estimated restock date of April 2024 - https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013076586?pid=426257

 

[ballman6711]

(I ended up stocking around 250,000 primers more to add to my existing stock).

All I can say is WOW, and I'm not worthy!

chris

 

[LiveLife]

(I ended up stocking around 250,000 primers more to add to my existing stock).

All I can say is WOW, and I'm not worthy!

I was stocking up powder and primers for retirement to meet 1 million pistol rounds reloaded before I died ... (Along with 22LR at $16-$20/500 in 2019)

If I count factory pistol/rifle rounds and rifle rounds reloaded, I already met that goal ... (And I am fast headed towards meeting 500,000 22LR shot with over 50,000 rounds since retirement ... I am averaging 10K/year).

But post Covid shortage, most powder/primers (And 22LR) went to those desperate as Christmas presents and setting up several new reloaders as PIF reloading packages including my sister/BIL who moved to Texas and I gifted them my ABLP along with 15,000 22LR.

So like everyone else, I had to restock my powder inventory and my initial group buy included Titegroup, No. 2, H335, BL-C(2) because that was all I could find and group buy supplied several shooters. After giving up finding powder locally (I even did a 3 county sweep and ended up with a pound of StaBall Match for $59), I just ordered TAC and more H335 (Instead of AR Comp, Benchmark, H4895 and Varget) when Natchez offered 10% off.

 

[P Flados]

I just did my first restock of any powder since 2020. Went looking for TiteGroup but ended up with 15# of Lovex D-032 (SW Clean Shot).

As I was updating my records, I looked back. In late 2017 I stocked up with fast / medium stuff for handguns with 8# Unique, 16# Promo and 8# Titegroup.

Most of the Unique is still there, less than 2# Promo and probably 1# TG.

Note that this was my second 8# jug of TG. The first was bought in the Obama years when I could not find any Promo or similar fast flake.

 

[2ndtimer]

Natchez lowered prices for Alliant powders on Thursday and BE-86 down to $29/lb if you buy 8 lb container for $234 (Recently offered 10% off too) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ad-link-required.910908/page-23#post-12809906

• BE-86 8 lbs/$234 - https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/powder/alliant-smokeless-be-86-powder-for-handguns-8lbs
• BE-86 1 lb/$39 - https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/powder/alliant-smokeless-pistol-powder-1-lb

Fact that 8 lbs of BE-86 at $234 (when 8 lbs of W231 is selling for $249) and both are STILL IN STOCK after 4 days is significant and may indicate things are not as bad as some may think and could be improving.

Thanks, LiveLife! You just cost me money, Natchezss.com not only had the 8 lb of BE-86 for $234.99, but also a free hazmat for two days! So another one is on the way. It was anywhere from $50 to over $100 more anywhere else ($75 to $130 more with hazmat added), so I couldn’t resist. Might have to grab another brick or two of Fiocchi small pistol primers to go with it. The way prices are headed for powder and primers, they seem to be a better investment than mutual funds.

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks, LiveLife! You just cost me money, Natchezss.com not only had the 8 lb of BE-86 for $234.99, but also a free hazmat for two days!

Anything for fellow THR members help "live life" ...

also a free hazmat for two days!

Nice!

 

[American_Fusilier]

I use Alliant Power Pistol almost exclusively for handgun calibers. I still have a pound and some change left. But Power Pistol is basically unavailable in my neck of the woods (I haven't seen it on shelves since before COVID), even if I could find it, the cost has drastically increased.

I might have to switch to CFE Pistol as a replacement when I run out.

Luckily a pound will last me a while.

 

[2ndtimer]

I use Alliant Power Pistol almost exclusively for handgun calibers. I still have a pound and some change left. But Power Pistol is basically unavailable in my neck of the woods (I haven't seen it on shelves since before COVID), even if I could find it, the cost has drastically increased.

I might have to switch to CFE Pistol as a replacement when I run out.

Luckily a pound will last me a while.

I just switched over from Power Pistol to BE-86 because my 4 pound container was running low and I had read that BE-86 was very close to Power Pistol, but with a flash suppressant and “less blasty”. Natchez has the Power Pistol 4 lb container on sale for $137.99 with free hazmat.

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

 

[American_Fusilier]

I just switched over from Power Pistol to BE-86 because my 4 pound container was running low and I had read that BE-86 was very close to Power Pistol, but with a flash suppressant and “less blasty”. Natchez has the Power Pistol 4 lb container on sale for $137.99 with free hazmat.

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

Good to know, thanks!