Powder Prices - good lord

[C-130 Dude]

That all depends on whether the companies involved in powder and primers are way in the black. If sales start to pull back then I'd imagine like everything else prices will start to come down. However there is a limited number of companies in the industry so competition is limited.

This is interesting -

Century-old Federal Ammunition continues to drive results for parent company

Vista Outdoor reports third-quarter earnings that are up 50% over last year and beat expectations.

www.startribune.com

I'd say there is wiggle room in pricing- GP increase in a quarter by 123%? Unless there was some adjustment to prior quarters- that is a healthy margin!

This is what happens when one company buys up the competition. Can you say "monopoly "?

 

[C-130 Dude]

Hey, just think it as cheap entertainment! Wait till the government requires all guns to be electric powered. Each manufacturer will have their own proprietary charger and we'll all be out of luck when the Tesla's drain off the dwindling power grid.

With the power costs going up and power outages hitting us ever other month, it seems, just where in in hell are we going to get all this electricity the govt keeps pushing on us? Great idea pushing ev vechicles. Can you say yard decoration?

Sorry, I had to go there.

 

[C-130 Dude]

Midway has RL16. Pretty much the same price. Payment options were gold bars, first born son, title to your house if it's paid for.

Left nut.....

 

[memtb]

With the power costs going up and power outages hitting us ever other month, it seems, just where in in hell are we going to get all this electricity the govt keeps pushing on us? Great idea pushing ev vechicles. Can you say yard decoration?

Sorry, I had to go there.

You're good C-130…..I'm the one that is on a short leash! And, I approve your message! memtb

 

[tony d willIiams]

I would like to hear more about this! Can you share some details?

When I get a bit further I will share. Design, component weights, and timing are in process.
Being retired, (engineer), by bad lungs, I hate to stop thinking and designing. Too much fun.

 

[Mike6158]

If only all my guns used black powder. Easy to mix, and a rock tumbler, with SS tumbler and SS ball bearings, make it mighty fine with a low chance of mistaken ignition.

I got into making fireworks during "the c-vid event". I got out when it came time to make the stuff that makes the pretty sparkly stuff spread out with a loud bang. I made my own charcoal from pecan sheds. The green limbs seemed to make the fastest BP. I granulated it. I haven't pucked any yet to see if that's faster.

 

[Len Backus]

Mr. Backus my article was not ment as political just research and facts found in our own goverment archives sorry if it a fended you.

Absolutely no offense at all...

 

[skipglo]

So LGS this afternoon, I wanted to try and voila! The price is very nice.

View attachment 526833

Ohhhhh....the PRICE IS VERY NICE, THE PRRRICE IS VERY NICE! At 90.00/lb for powder here, I'd say the price is nice too......but I'd have bought A LOT MORE THAN 1 #"@€|√G LB!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cabelasken]

LRP are starting to show up more and more. The lowest price I've seen is $79.95/brick. I have not seen the magnum variety in any of the stores or maybe they are gone before I get there!!!

 

[Bravo 4]

I got two alerts from Powder Valley this weekend. It was for availability of 2 powders. I had put in an alert for RL16 and AR-Comp. The link they provided was for the 8# jugs, one of each, that I set in the alert for some time ago. I clicked each link and it automatically loaded them in the cart and put me on the website. Very convenient. I scrolled down, expecting a hefty bill, but not that hefty... almost $1,100.00 and Hazmat shipping wasn't added yet. When I came to, I checked for injuries from falling out of my chair, called the neighbors to let them know that the screams they heard were from the tv, clicked delete, delete, and wept for three hours. Ok... most of that is bs but the price sure wasn't.

I learned how to make decent black powder a few years ago. Decent enough to sub it in for GOEX in a pinch. At this rate it won't be long and all competition will be with muzzle loaders and flintlocks.

At the rate prices are increasing the "saving money by reloading" will soon no longer be a factor. I remember over 20 years ago when I started loading my own, it cost me about $7 to load the same bullet in my 7 RemMag that cost over $30 buying it off a shelf. Reality of it is I don't think I actually saved much, I just shot a lot more for the same amount.

 

[memtb]

Reality of it is I don't think I actually saved much, I just shot a lot more for the same amount

But, ya shot better! memtb

 

[skipglo]

At the rate prices are increasing the "saving money by reloading" will soon no longer be a factor. I remember over 20 years ago when I started loading my own, it cost me about $7 to load the same bullet in my 7 RemMag that cost over $30 buying it off a shelf. Reality of it is I don't think I actually saved much, I just shot a lot more for the same amount.

Factory ammo rises exponentially to all ingredients.... reloading will always save money...even when a box of shells gets to 900.00....you'll still be able to load for 650.00!

 

[Bravo 4]

Factory ammo rises exponentially to all ingredients.... reloading will always save money...even when a box of shells gets to 900.00....you'll still be able to load for 650.00!

I can agree, but not 100% totally. I'm sure factories are paying higher component prices, but at the same rate we as hand loaders are? Remember that they buy in bulk.
There always has been and always will be prices on factory ammo that seems absurd. The mark up on some of that stuff is also amazing. Until a couple years back my cousin worked for the Remington plant and got rifle ammo for $5 a box, $10 for premium. That's right the same $4+ per shot (300 RUM) when bought at a gun store he got for $0.50. Plus he (they) could buy cases (and did), so I doubt it was at a loss to the company. When you compare some decent (shooting and price) let's say Hornady ammo to the price of buying the components and the investment of reloading equipment… all I'm saying is the gap narrows.
I also am aware that the price on factory ammo goes up every time it changes hands. Part of the problem is that it can changes hands a half dozen times before you get your hands on it. By some law (or whatever) the Remington plant couldn't sell direct to any local, it had to leave the state to a distributor and make its way 10 miles away from the plant. But then again, so do our components.

Added: I will also always load my own ammo in some form or fashion, so not necessarily advocating for going all factory. I have rifles that there is no factory made ammo and some that are specialize for maximum performance.

 

[skipglo]

@Bravo 4 .....Its frustrating to say the least. It's supply chain....a 3 x profit before the consumer gets anything...3 x costs minimally! Manufacturers take their profit....freight costs to distributors and distributor mark up, freight costs to retailers and retail mark up....no way to get around it.,.in the end....the consumer bares the burden. As a manufacturer...The Internet and website business can help now by eliminating the middlemen... distribution/ retail which can offer better prices on certain items, this wasn't possible 20 years ago but it's still along ways away to show the true benefits...the world will always need salesmen and logistics and today logistics is the highest uncontrollable cost as long as NO GOVERNMENT stabalizes/caps Fuel costs. When Mazut/ Diesel goes up ..... everything you can touch in your life has to go up accordingly. Sorry ..I'm starting to write responses like @Muddyboots !