Alliant has Suspended Powder Production

[J.B. Books]

A press release on the Powder Valley FB page.

Powder Valley
6h ·

FYI – we have just received the following message from Vista Outdoors (the parent company of Alliant Powders):
“Due to the worldwide shortage of nitrocellulose, the Vista Outdoor supply agreement for the sale of Alliant Powder canisters has been suspended for an unknown period. At this time, we have no timeline for the fulfillment and will be canceling outstanding Alliant orders in our system.
Representatives will provide updates and coordinate new orders based on availability.”
We have heard mixed messages from various powder suppliers about the availability of nitrocellulose, and therefore powder, over the past several months. This is one Manufacturer’s analysis of the situation. We are posting this so you can have all the information we have and draw whatever conclusions are right for you.

[Craig Larter]

Translation "we can sell our Nitrocellulose feed stock to governments for way more money than to the hobbyist reloader" Alliant and parent Vista are not our friends IMOP.

[J.B. Books]

It will be interesting to see if the information about the Alliant production being suspended is confirmed by other sources, especially by Alliant or Vista. I think there is a potential buyout of Vista in the works which might have something to do with it that was not mentioned in Powder Valley post on FB. In the meantime Alliant powders have become unobtanium again.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Once again it proves the point we've been saying since the Plandemic was foist upon us, "Buy it when you see it."

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Once again it proves the point we've been saying since the Plandemic was foist upon us, "Buy it when you see it."

....... and buy now what you plan to use many years in the future.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I actually have E3 coming my way so I'll be good with that powder.

[Jim McKee]

Pete,
is this all smokeless powders or just the Alliant brand?

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

I actually have E3 coming my way so I'll be good with that powder.

Alliant E3 has long been my favorite powder for light to medium 12 gauge loads. Super clean burning even with a somewhat lesser charge than shown in the lightest loading as per Alliant's chart. Unfortunately its price had gone crazy. Four years ago 8 pounders were $179. at the PA State Trap Shoot. Last week about $375. when/if you could find it.

Sad news indeed from Alliant, the successor of the famous Hercules Powder Company.

[Cold Spring]

As I understand it, Alliant powders are mainly made at the Radford VA and St Marks FL government facilities that are OPERATED by General Dynamics, a different company. Production for Alliant is reportedly done in spare time - so to speak - when the government and GD demands are met. It sounds like a complicated business arrangement, and government needs for powders have now been ramped up. No doubt military small arms ammo production has increased. And I've read recently that 155mm artillery shells that are now in very high demand and low in inventory use >10 pounds of propellent powder per shell. Sure, artillery shells use a much different propellent than sporting powders, but almost all modern powders are largely based on nitrocellulose. Nearby my home is the Scranton PA Army artillery shell facility that makes 155mm unloaded projectiles, and I've read in the Scranton paper how the facility has moved to 24/7 operation, balls to the wall. The projectiles are then shipped to be filled and assembled elsewhere into loaded shells. In net, all that NC has to come from somewhere and I’d guess that cannister sporting powders are the first to get squeezed out. Is it any wonder that Alliant as kind of a third party has suspended sales? Gents, all this is just my analysis.

Incidentally, I also understand that Hodgdon same as Alliant doesn't manufacture any powders and most of its powders are imported. Might be good to check your crystal ball for the future.

[6pt-Sika]

Hmmmm I have a bunch of Unique and Green Dot I was contemplating to liquidate ! Perhaps it’ll just stay on my shelf .