Powder Prices - good lord

[Mike6158]

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.

 

[comfisherman]

Couple decades of corporate consolidation came to roost, energy prices drop but cartridge energy does whatever they tell us it will.

 

[KMLampson]

Those prices are pure insanity…..

 

[ARlife4me]

About $60# for 8#ers adds up quick. I've thought about getting some 23 and 16, but not at over $50. Luckily I already have ar-comp.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Dang, that's steep!!

 

[Varmint Hunter]

It seems like it wasn't all that long ago that I'd buy a pound of powder here and there as I needed it. Most of the powder was under $30/lb and availability wasn't even a question.

Boy have things changed. Now I grab 8lb jugs when I can, and I try not to think about the elevated prices + the sales tax + shipping + Hazmat fees. Locally, I can't find/buy anything. The LGS stopped selling primers all together. They said it's just not worth the hassle. The other nearby LGS sells all of his powder & primers at auction houses to maximize his profits. Not much is ever sold in the storefront anymore

Waiting patiently for LR Match primers (Fed or CCI) to be available ANYWHERE. If they don't become available by the spring, I'll be out of the game altogether.

 

[BrBa.]

It's definitely frustrating, especially with the lack of available supply. Question is, are prices going down at some point, or are they only going up?

 

[levers4life]

Apparently, they're adding 24k gold flake to the Varget these days....

 

[Reelamin]

I know this is about powder and etc.. Everything is through the roof. I track some things I buy often. Since 2020 Dog soap +100%, Fire Starters +30%, and many others with nothing be less than 25 and most at least 50% price increase. Right or wrong at this point no question all sellers are absolutely taking advantage and pricing way above their costs. No, I dont believe inflation is what the gov. claims, yet no way are the costs still as high as they are. As said above when you eliminate multiple companies able to produce the same products, and narrow it down to one or two. Throughout history prices have instantly inflated the less competition there is.

 

[comfisherman]

Deflates on the input side when competition goes away as well.. we're down to functionally 3 companies in my industry and our wares sell for priced that would have been hard to sustain in 1975.

We had it good for a while. The 08 and 13 shortages should have taught us that supply side of powder and components was weak. Fast forward to now and we're in a precarious position with not many options to dig out of this. We're near 4 years in to primers being sporadically available from essentially 2 sources and no new options.

 

[Pa.Frank]

Its everything not just powder.. I use Rig Rags to wipe down my guns.. I gave the last one away so i needed another.. I used to be able to get then on Amazon for 6 bucks.. cheapest i could find anywhere was 12 bucks!

 

[del2les]

Is it possible I may live long enough to actually see 22LR and/or bird shot shells trade/sell for $1/rd and 1# of powder for $100?

Remembering all those dystopian movies and books about post apocalypse, choose your flavor, where bartering ammo and other were in high demand.

 

[Mark37082]

Since we are near the Christmas season I thought I would attempt to spread a little cheer. Go look at your reloading supplies. Do a quick calculation on how much you have in the cabinets. Many of you are rich and don't realize it. Merry Christmas!

 

[Montana'eer]

It's definitely frustrating, especially with the lack of available supply. Question is, are prices going down at some point, or are they only going up?

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

The company reorganized its segments during the quarter, and its Sporting Products segment now includes only its ammunition brands, including Federal, Speer, Remington and Hevi-Shot. The segment saw revenue increase 60% in the quarter to $460 million, while gross profit increased 123% to $178 million.

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!