Alliant has Suspended Powder Production

[Dean Romig]

Same with most all ammo suppliers. In a recent conversation with Morris, this is the same obstacle RST is up against.





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[Craig Larter]

I wish I understood why the Italian and Turkish ammunition manufacturers seem to have no supply issues.

[J.B. Books]

In about 4 years time I have watched not only availability drastically shrink but the following inflation for components by my quick calculations; primer price increased 100%, powder 115%, wads 40% and lead shot 55%.

I believe this is the third significant powder shortage and the longest in duration.

I now better appreciate the term inflation risk when it was used in retirement planning, what was theoretical is now reality. Inflation was pretty much dormant throughout my working career. I graduated from college and entered the workforce during the high inflation of the 1970's and now it's here we go again in retirement.

[Wilmurt]

Damn the US government for sending all those munitions to Ukraine and Israel. It put us shooters in the proverbial pickle jar.

[J.B. Books]

Here is an excellent article by Tom Roster regarding the powder shortage, the information on Cheddite primers is also good.

https://shootingsportsman.com/primer...der-shortages/

[10 bore]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

Here is an excellent article by Tom Roster regarding the powder shortage, the information on Cheddite primers is also good.

https://shootingsportsman.com/primer...der-shortages/

if i am reading the primer story the cx2000 red sealer is = to a win 209??

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by scott kittredge

if i am reading the primer story the cx2000 red sealer is = to a win 209??

Close to Win 209 in bigger bores, pressure increase as much as 2000 psi in small bores has been reported. I have seen it reported a few times with testing data. This is one example. https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads...3#post-4652073

[Cold Spring]

A NY Times article dated Wednesday of this week reported that the Pentagon is moving to increase 155 mm artillery shell production from about 36,000 shells/month at present to 100,000/month by the end of 2025. William A LaPlante the Pentagon's top acquisition official reported along with his Army counterpart in the NYT interview that a new projectile plant is now under construction by General Dynamics in Mesquite TX with a capacity of 30,000 shells/mo and with a 10 month startup timeline, and an Ohio based firm called IMT will make up the difference toward that 100,000/mo target. Article went on to say that all those projectiles are then loaded with charges at a WW2 era Gov't facility in Iowa, and with a second partial startup underway of a closed plant in Kansas. General Dynamics is also building a new shell charging plant in Arkansas. The 100,000 shell/mo target represents a tenfold increase in production over just a few years ago, and LaPlante went on to say the US has provided more than 3 million 155 mm artillery shells to the Ukraine since its war began in February 2022.

Back to the gunpowder used as a propellent, I've read various estimates of 15-20 pounds of powder per 155 mm shell. Of course that's a much different powder than shotgun powders but they're all based largely on nitrocellulose. Recently nitrocellulose had been reported in short supply and Alliant had suspended powder production - which actually was being done in "spare time" at the two US making facilities being operated by General Dynamics. Now with this ~ threefold increase in 155 mm shell production, it remains to be seen what effect it will have on reloading powders and even loaded shotshells by the familiar makers. Net, my take for many of us is: buy what you want while you can.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Frank Srebro

Back to the gunpowder used as a propellent, I've read various estimates of 15-20 pounds of powder per 155 mm shell. Of course that's a much different powder than shotgun powders but they're all based largely on nitrocellulose. Recently nitrocellulose had been reported in short supply and Alliant had suspended powder production - which actually was being done in "spare time" at the two US making facilities being operated by General Dynamics. Now with this ~ threefold increase in 155 mm shell production, it remains to be seen what effect it will have on reloading powders and even loaded shotshells by the familiar makers. Net, my take for many of us is: buy what you want while you can.

Add to this the amount of nitrocellulose the Russian Army has and is consuming on the other side of the war that is no longer available in world markets for sporting use.

[Dean Romig]

***groan*** is there possibly a good side to any of this…?

It appears NOT.





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