Due to unavailability of powders...


...found two good loads using powders I found/had already in place of ones I'd already worked up. RL-19 and 150-grain Sciroccos for my .280 Remington (instead of IMR 4350); RL-22 and 160-grain Sierra Game Kings (BT) for my 7x64 Brenneke (instead of H4831SC)!

Necessity is the mother of invention!

Here in NZ we now get more varieties of powders than 15 years ago. In those days I made do with ADI & VV. I did manage to get a few cans of H322 for my 222 Rem.

Easy to get in the market are ADI, Hodgedon, Reloader, IMR, Winchester & VV. The consolidation of the industry has resulted in Hodgdon becoming the US distributor for IMR & Re apart from ramshot.

The main NZ distributor supplies ADI, Hodgdon, IMR & Re. I wish we could also get Ramshot - the most modern double based powder technology around I understand.

You're lucky!
UK is drier than a dry thing regards any US manufactured powder/primer/bullet. Viht and Ramshot powders are readily available though and there are alternatives for bullets and primers so time to re work that load.
I heard a story of a guy in the States who bought all the bricks of 22LR ammo he could get his hands on, the store owner quizzed him and it turned out he didn't have a 22 flavoured firearm to put them through, just felt the need to stock up with anything he could find. Anybody Stateside give us poor slobs in dry component land an idea of when the panic buying will stop?

I have had pretty good luck with Ramshot powder so, a while ago, before the big rush, I stocked up on Big Game and Hunter. I also have a bunch of Reloader 15. Could use some Accurate 2230 and H 4831 though.

I don't panic I simply keep several years worth of the powders I normally use. The panic had no effect on my bench.

quote:

Originally posted by Haggis:
You're lucky!
UK is drier than a dry thing regards any US manufactured powder/primer/bullet. Viht and Ramshot powders are readily available though and there are alternatives for bullets and primers so time to re work that load.
I heard a story of a guy in the States who bought all the bricks of 22LR ammo he could get his hands on, the store owner quizzed him and it turned out he didn't have a 22 flavoured firearm to put them through, just felt the need to stock up with anything he could find. Anybody Stateside give us poor slobs in dry component land an idea of when the panic buying will stop?

When we get a president that stops attacking our 2nd Amendment Rights!!

It is not panic, it is economics.
Why not buy product which can be turned over for a profit? No, I don't do that so save your bullets (pun intended).
Just look at the prices for powder on GunBroker!!
Notice that some of the stuff is actually being BID on!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Reloading-Supplies/BI.aspx

I just bought powders through the normal channels for standard prices which these yahoos are bidding over double for on GB.

I also bought some I am not familiar with so will have to work up loads with those as well. Kind of like going back to how it was when first starting to reload. Fun in its own right.

Got another with 120-grainer and RL-15 to work. A bit slower than "the books", tho.

Nagel you grasshopper, I feel for ya. I went through it fall 2008, summer 2009 I said never again, walked into Sportsmans, spent 3500 on powder & primers and haven't had a wont for reloading supplies since. When it gets right in about 8-12 months, you need to be prudent and do the same. Then you won't feel so bad and look for somebody to blame; just kidding. If you lived in Alaska, I'd give ya all the 4350 & 4831SC you could use.

The local Indians around here are all Dems. The ole Grandmas think Big Ears is the best thing since electricity. So they are all outta ammo now, can't buy any at gun shop and call me. I tell them to call Big Ears; he'll send them some.

Hey, checkout Shooters Pro, they have 6mm, 6.5, 25 cal on their site; very reasonable.

quote:

The local Indians around here are all Dems. The ole Grandmas think Big Ears is the best thing since electricity. So they are all outta ammo now, can't buy any at gun shop and call me. I tell them to call Big Ears; he'll send them some.

They just want the goverment to send them more money.

I bought some Ramshot Hunter, Big Game and TAC from Powder Valley just this morning.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
I don't panic I simply keep several years worth of the powders I normally use. The panic had no effect on my bench.

+1

Barstooler

When my daughter was born I bought some supplies to keep ahead. After Obama, I just kept the same levels. I will be ok till the end of summer except for my new .300 Win Mag.

Is funny. About a year ago I decided to focus on the Ramshot and, mostly because I was low on other powders at the time and i wanted to start more work on a progressive press for bulk reloading (sphericals meter better). Anyway I ordered - 8# each of Big Game, Hunter and Magnum. Mostly I ordered the 8# kegs just to maximize the value of the hazmat fee. Fast forward to today and Im really, really glad I made that order...

I'm not sure they are necessarily any better than the RL and H powders I'm used to but it seems I've got the bases covered at least for the current insanity to die down.

Zhurh

Much obleeged.
an old machinist I worked car parts with used to say, "I feel for ya but I can't reach ya!" Have a spectacular day.

Barry

Barry, Honestly though, now that the gun control lost all it's momentum; we might see things working their way back normal; which we all would agree is right about time.

Up here at Sportsmans, since January they have been having drawings just for the chance to buy the few ARs that came in; they just ended that policy as they can keep a couple in stock the last week or so. Maybe we'll see reloading supplies on the shelves again.

Yeah, I think the horders & speculators are gonna have to eat alot of expensive ammo, primers, etc. Like Ramrod said, I keep enough for my immediate needs.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Is funny. About a year ago I decided to focus on the Ramshot and, mostly because I was low on other powders at the time and i wanted to start more work on a progressive press for bulk reloading (sphericals meter better). Anyway I ordered - 8# each of Big Game, Hunter and Magnum. Mostly I ordered the 8# kegs just to maximize the value of the hazmat fee. Fast forward to today and Im really, really glad I made that order...

I'm not sure they are necessarily any better than the RL and H powders I'm used to but it seems I've got the bases covered at least for the current insanity to die down.

I've found that the Ramshot powders, especially Hunter, seems to burn a little cleaner in the rifles I'm now shooting it in.

I'm sorry, I feel much better having all the supplies I'll ever need for the rest of my days, (even if I had to pay a buck or two more for a few items). Up here in Alaska, everything is higher anyway. I did pay $45 for a thou large pistol primers this winter, normally 39 bucks; but I wasn't about to be completely out over 6 bucks. a box of 210 grain ttsx cost me 50 bucks too at Ak gun shop, I bet they might be that expensive from mail order places now too? Those two items made me think how awful proud the shop was.

Ya know, over 20 years back, I bought case after case of win Q3131 white box .556 for $179 and the wifey thought I was nuts for sure. I have never bought anymore .556 since and still have more than my grandkids will ever use. Same with 22 shells. I'm shootin red squirrels, rabbits, and trash at high water in the YUkon with the 22's I bought in late 80s.

When you got it stocked up, one less thing to worry about; and just wait till they start the sin taxes on ammo & supplies????????

The envy and bitterness just drip off these anti-hoarder posts. If you couldn't see the times coming several years ago and take appropriate prudent measures, then I have very little sympathy for you, and you aren't going to make me feel guilty by bellyaching about it. I started seeing to my supplies before The Zero got elected the first time, and since then I have judiciously looked for opportunities to stock up whenever I found them. I didn't panic even once; I have very deliberately looked around and compared prices and turned down more opportunities than I took. Some try to console themselves by thinking of how the value of our supplies will collapse when the shortage ends (if it ends). Have it your way - more envy and bitterness. I will admit that I have on two occasions paid more than I thought something was really worth for something I needed. That was my choice, all I had to do was decline to do so if I didn't want to do it. I use my supplies myself, I am not jacking up prices and re-selling. I do share what I have with a select few fellow shooter friends who have earned my respect and trust. Call this whatever you want. Even now you can find components and ammunition if you keep a sharp lookout and/or have bothered to develop some networks and relationships with suppliers. Things may begin to loosen up in the next few months, but I wouldn't bet on conditions completely returning to what they were. From now on we will be in a cycle of shortages and availability but each time conditions relax, they will still be just a bit tighter than they were previously. Supplies will be a little shorter and prices will stay a little higher. There, I've spelled it out for you, be ready or shame on you.

I have to agree. Just today 'ole Joe Bite Me said that executive orders were in the works.
Prices aren't coming down nor supplies gonna get more plentiful until the full force of Obama care kicks in. That will be when your Dr./MD asks you during a physical if you are exposed to lead gasses, powder fumes, etc.
Firearms will become so "taboo" that everyone will be afraid to take them out for fear of being turned in by others.
Firearm possession = no health care.
Then supplies will catch up!

I wonder who decides what hoarding is? Some truth to that those who didn't realize in 2008 then after supplies were back on the shelf in 2009; deserve their situation.

Whatever the commodity is, those with the highest value didn't get there making poor decisions, way it works; socialism doesn't work.

Sure glad that I have stocked up over the years; no worries come hunting season.

Calm down. I turned lots of components into ammo long ago. Just having some fun experimenting with powders I didn't know would be as good/better than what I already had since my regular stuff isn't around to play with. ARPF is wide open for ranting...