Has anyone heard Alliant is stopping sales of powder for reloading?

[1peggy]

My local gun shop handed me this flyer yesterday

 

[Boardwalk72]

Yes, a few reloading supplies sites have shared a letter from Vista outdoors that all existing and new orders of alliant powders will not be filled due to a world wide shortage of nitrocellulose. It's only a matter of time before we see the same on the others. Governments around the world are gearing up their military arms manufacturing thanks to the current conflicts and they're going to get the supplies before we will.

 

[cash_tx]

I hadn't heard that specifically, but Reloder powders have been so scarce it seems they stopped production quite some time ago. ;-)

 

[1peggy]

Sorry I am unable to post flyer from Ammolandl Inc, on May 22

 

[Hunter4752001]

Nothing on Alliant Powder website. Primary source of the rumour seems to be post on the Powder Valley facebook site (since taken down) and from Gary Marbut (both in his role as Ammoland Inc and Montana Shooting Sports Association). Seems to be a mixture of "the Chinese are withholding nitrocellulose" and "its all going to Ukraine".

A few facts:

• Alliant Powder is part of the Vista Outdoors group which is currently being sold off. Given that the Vista Outdoors group includes manufacturers of loaded ammunition there is a question of competing interests as well as uncertainties as to the priorities of the new owners.
• Prior to the Russian invasion, Vista Outdoors had military ammunition supply contract with Ukraine. Since the invasion, this has likely considerably expanded.
• Most if not all Alliant Powders are not made by Alliant. Most of the RL series are made by Bofors in Sweden, a small number of RL powders are made by RUAG in Europe, and the ball type powders are made by General Dynamics in St Marks Florida.
• Most propellant manufacturers make nitrocellulose by purchasing cellulose and nitrating it themselves.
• The events of the last two years have shocked the countries of Europe. Apart from the need to supply Ukraine, almost all European nations have realised that they had run down their defence stores and that they now face a real and present danger from an agressive and expansionist Russia. They know what Russian rule looks like. As a consequence they are furiously rebuilding all their defence stocks.
• In the US, not only are the armed forces rebuilding stocks of munitions, they are also witnessing, and responding to, the rate of munition expenditure in modern peer on peer conflict. Add to that the extra complications of being in the early stages of adopting a new military small arms cartridge.

I don't know if there is any truth to the story that the Alliant has suspended the supply of propellants to the civilian market, but I'm quite sure that the coming years will be challenging for civilian shooters.

 

[30.06king]

I have seen the supposed Alliant "announcement" re suspending powder supplies to the civilian market.
Have also seen comment that those same propellants are employed in the making of artillery and tank ammunition in, of course, vastly greater quantities. And while current world hostilities rage supplying military demands has precendence over all others.
I believe comments re cellulose shortages are correct also, at least to the extent that supplies are almost exclusively sourced from China which, supposedly, has cut supplies to western nations in favour of supplying Russia currently. Not that cellulose cannot be sourcd elsewhere ( e.g. USA, Australia ) but not as cheaply.
Whatever the facts it seems to amount to an unholy grail stacked against recreational and sporting shooters. Gonna be difficult to live with this and it's likely to be ongoing for a while as far as I can see.

 

[JimP]

It has come down to the fact that if you reload and see the powder that you use sitting on a shelf you better buy it, not in 1 lb bottles but in the 5 or 8 lb jugs if they have them.

I missed out last fall on a 5 lb jug of my favorite powder but I still have a couple of pounds of it left. But if I see it again I'll pick it up.

 

[cajunchefray]

This:

"It has come down to the fact that if you reload and see the powder that you use sitting on a shelf you better buy it, not in 1 lb. bottles but in the 5 or 8 lb. jugs if they have them."

I have 5+ pound jugs of 2 select Rifle powders. Given my "rationalized" rifle culling down to 7 rifles, I'm covered for rifle.
For Handguns, 1 Eight pound of Unique, couple of pounds of 2400, and Bullseye. One more jug of slow burning handgun/shotgun powder and I'm set for anything I want to reload.

Buy early and buy often.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I hope not as I am waiting for some 2400 and unique to be in stock. Luckily I still have about four pounds of 296 on the shelf.

 

[Daggaboy375]

Unfortunately, the Second amendment does not guarantee ammo.

DB

 

[sgt_zim]

It has come down to the fact that if you reload and see the powder that you use sitting on a shelf you better buy it, not in 1 lb bottles but in the 5 or 8 lb jugs if they have them.

I missed out last fall on a 5 lb jug of my favorite powder but I still have a couple of pounds of it left. But if I see it again I'll pick it up.

Exactly this. Same thing goes for bullets, brass, and LRM primers.

It's why I have jugs of Varget, 2000MR, RL7, Win748, and CFE223.

I also need brass for 280AI and 9.3x62. No way am I paying what Nosler's asking for their brass. If it were THAT good, I might be willing to pay it.

I bought some Nosler and Hornady brass for my 6.5x55 a while back, before Nosler got stupid expensive. I don't see any difference in consistency or life.

 

[D.M.V]

At first it came gradually then it came suddenly

 

[Joker12]

This may be a good time to try powders that are still available. There seem to be many Accurate , Ramshot and VihtaVuori powders in stock at least in the U.S.

 

[Dirtdart]

I was having a hard time finding Alliant RE15 so I picked up some Norma 203B. At the time the Norma powders were a little more expensive and seemed to always be in stock. Shortly after that Norma branded powders vanished in the US.

Nobel Sport Vectan was in stock at Grafs at a good price so I thought I would give them a try. I think that the Vectan stayed on the shelf as long as it did was because people were reluctant to try them out.
I am looking at an invoice from 2021 where I paid $24.99 a pound for that brand. Shortly there after Vectan branded powders vanished form the US.

VihtaVuori as far back as I can remember was usually the most available and expensive powder on the shelf. Lately I have seen eight pound jugs of VV not only available but priced below most of similar burn rates of Hodgdon and Alliant.

It is annoying to make a powder switch (or bullet for that matter) when you have found the sweet spot.
I think @Joker12 is spot on. If you don't feel like you have enough of (fill in the blank) it is time to consider the few remaining options available, while still available.

 

[JimP]

One problem with switching powders is that after you have built up loads for a certain powder you have to start all over with the new one and rebuild the load all over again. And you may find that you just can't get the accuracy with the new powder that you got out of the new one.

 

[Dirtdart]

One problem with switching powders is that after you have built up loads for a certain powder you have to start all over with the new one and rebuild the load all over again. And you may find that you just can't get the accuracy with the new powder that you got out of the new one.

I agree 100% but what choice do you have when your favorite powder is no longer an option?

 

[JimP]

I agree 100% but what choice do you have when your favorite powder is no longer an option?

That is what I was saying in one of my post, forget about 1 lb bottles and think larger quantities, or even several 1 lb bottles. I haven't purchase a 1 lb bottle for my rifle powders in close to 20 years. I also would purchase primers by the 1000 when I saw what I needed.

It isn't quite likely that your favorite powder will be gone forever but you need to weather the storms that come along. Right now I'm stocking up on brass for the wildcats rounds that I shoot based on the 30-30 Winchester. I just got 1000 new brass just the other day.

 

[Dirtdart]

That is what I was saying in one of my post, forget about 1 lb bottles and think larger quantities, or even several 1 lb bottles. I haven't purchase a 1 lb bottle for my rifle powders in close to 20 years. I also would purchase primers by the 1000 when I saw what I needed.

It isn't quite likely that your favorite powder will be gone forever but you need to weather the storms that come along. Right now I'm stocking up on brass for the wildcats rounds that I shoot based on the 30-30 Winchester. I just got 1000 new brass just the other day.

I am currently working on a 9.3x64 and a 10.75x68 so I know exactly where you are coming form when it comes to having an ample supply of brass.

 

[D.M.V]

@JimP
30-30W for wildcat... Just curious are you shooting 219 Donaldson Wasp.

 

[JimP]

@JimP
30-30W for wildcat... Just curious are you shooting 219 Donaldson Wasp.

A 30 and 357 Herrett and I just got a barrel for a 6mm-30 Waters for my Contender that I'm going to try out.