Alliant has Suspended Powder Production

[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.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist guy, but they (Da Gvmnt) know they can't touch the second amendment, but if you can't get supplies for reloading or ammo (or afford the ammo) to shoot your guns it's the same thing as getting rid of the second amendment. Just a work around on the constitution. Someday we're going to find out what's going on here, for real. You're telling me that there are companies that are willing to walk away from a market with an insatiable demand for a product with few competitors. That's just not the free market system or America. This is ALL B*%llS$%t!!

[Mike of the Mountain]

I'm with you 100% Larry.

[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 .

[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/