Hodgdon Powders at $50/lb -- New Norm?

[JimSC]

I have been picking a few pounds of this and that powder to experiment with but I the most I paid was $35 a pound. A few dollars more than a year or two ago but even with hazmat and shipping not even close to 50 a pound. Be patient and keep a eye out and the deals are out there

 

[D-4297]

Don't think it will go to $50.00 as a "New Norm" , but I do think we are looking at a across the board increase for most higher demand powders , just because ....Meaning : just because of increases in fuel costs , wages , and let's not forget the Pre-planned inflation our current regime said will be , "short-lived" . Yeah Right ! And I'm a space shuttle pilot . Average increase will probably end up around $5 - 7.00 a pound when it all shakes out . IMO

 

[WIB3]

I was at a local sporting shop in Pa this past Saturday. I was surprised to see a 8lb container of H4350 on the shelf. Price was $220.

 

[dcali]

Price gouging during a shortage is a good thing. It keeps people from hoarding so we can all at least choose whether or not it’s worth it. I’d pay a fair amount for a pound of 4895 right now. I’d probably be able to find one if a bunch of guys hadn’t stocked up at below market (normal) prices. It sucks, but there’s only so much to go around.

 

[WIB3]

Don’t know if it’s a help but they, for what ever reason, seem to get powder when the other big guys can’t. They also had H1000 in 1lbs and H4831SC in 1lbs. They were both priced in the low $30ish a pound. Prior to the hysteria, most of their 8 pounders were $180. I am more than willing to pay $220. I did not buy the 4350 because I have enough. Their Name is Shyda’s outdoor center. Lebanon, Pa. They have a website and will ship.

 

[WIB3]

They also were selling Br-4’s by the 1000 but were running low on inventory and cut it back to 100 only. I respect that.

 

[searcher]

If you have been paying that It's your choice but your just hurting everyone else. To me that is local price gouging. But today if you look around men in general have the let's get along and not stand up attitude. This has been reinforced to me when attempting any conversation at matches about supporting conservative values. Women now days are much more outspoken on many subjects which means they have more balls than the modern man. So, back to price gouging. Will only get worse by supporting those who do it. If you were not prepared that's your fault. Big election right before the Covid farce, and guys didn't have the common sense to stock up a year or two ahead. So 338 dude, my rant is not directed to you per se, just my disgust about where we are, how we got here, and how many have responded over the last year. How sbout everyone that reads this call you senator and congressman this week and tell them its not sbout them. It's about there job to represent those who voted for them and not the stinking lousy corrupt party. Pick any party, they are all in the same bed. Rant over....for now. Almost....let it sit on the shelf for 6 months. There will be some good sales.

I totally agree that there is a lot of what we call gouging going on. But - imagine the powder and primers priced as you would like them. That would only promote stockpiling by those who would probably buy excessive supplies - further taking away from those willing to spend a higher amount to get the product. A lot of guys camp out on sites waiting for something to come up. A lot of us just don't have time for all of that. Tough situation, for sure. If the stores that sell at these high prices NEED to charge what they do to stay open - I don't blame them. Big places that carry a diverse number of things to sell - I'm not so happy with them, as they are making far too much on some of these things. If the wholesale of powder is $20.00 per pound and these large stores $50.00 - I'd say it is pretty sad to see them making more than the powder manufacturer, container manufacturer, shipper and any other involved company, combined.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Until we quit paying it, it will continue. You can come up with all the reasons you want, but let it sit on their shelves and prices will come down. Keep paying jacked up prices.....and watch them climb higher. Look at the bargains that appear when you tell Sirruis radio or Dish or AT&T you no longer want their services. Same thing here just a different product. We tend to think of shooting relayed businesses as the good guys. Many small to medium ones are. But the larger corperations have one goal....increase shareholder returns. If you think orher wise....you probably believe Dr Faucci is the smartest most honest man alive. NOT!!!!.

 

[JohnKielly]

Those prices aren't inconsistent with what we're paying here in Australia for the same stuff before it's shipped stateside & put in the Hodgdon containers.

 

[KY_Windage]

It’s not hard to abstain from paying high prices when you have what you need. It’s a lot more difficult when your just beginning or just keep a limited supply on hand and then run out. Then how much you pay changes rapidly for many. Hard to play hardball when you really need what is sitting in front of you.

Exactly. I want to shoot what I want to shoot. I don't like paying high prices but I am not going to give up shooting in the hope that my abstinence drives prices down.

Either you have faith in capitalism or you don't. High prices paid will attract competition from vendors, which will eventually drive prices down.

But with the current government doing everything it can to screw the economy up, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I was going to make a response to all this but as I thought about it my thoughts said don't do it. Way to much politics involved on both sides of the isle and the blame goes about 70/30 to what ever side you choose.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Exactly. I want to shoot what I want to shoot. I don't like paying high prices but I am not going to give up shooting in the hope that my abstinence drives prices down.

Either you have faith in capitalism or you don't. High prices paid will attract competition from vendors, which will eventually drive prices down.

But with the current government doing everything it can to screw the economy up, I wouldn't hold my breath.

I have faith in capitalism but I believe responsibility and common sense is part of the equation. Keep paying, your just pushing the bar higher. Sometimes some sacrifice might be needed. I think just saying 'believe capitalism' might be an easy excuse. Remember, most of the powder is coming from countries who do not believe in capitalism. I have never seen a major supplier at any level come out and show figures that support they are not using the current issues to raise their profit level. I suppose all those extra generated dollar's are going in the 'black hole.' No, we have the ability but not the fortitude to use it.

 

[jelenko]

Honestly, even with 50,000 members, I think we are a small part of the overall demand. I think that even if we all stopped buying today, the market would hardly notice.

 

[MGYSGT]

If you are paying $50 per lb. you are paying too much

 

[Dgd6mm]

Average National Gas Price
$3.16 a gallon. If we quit buying gas will it go down?

 

[KY_Windage]

$3.76 in my town. I'm cutting my useage of gasoline back, but not powder. You never know how many good years you have left.

 

[JimT]

Average National Gas Price
$3.16 a gallon. If we quit buying gas will it go down?

Yep!!

Gas prices fall to under $1 in 13 states as demand drops during pandemic

In one state, some customers are paying just 89 cents per gallon.

abc7news.com

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have some opinions Dont take any personal as I have done it too.
STOP TELLING US WHO HAS POWDER OR PRIMERS!
If you are actually in NEED, your already on the waiting lists, your looking. When you tell everyone who has a shipment of powder or primers it triggers something inside us that makes us need to buy it just because we can. I have read those posts and thought better get some, even though I dont NEED it.
It will come back, dont worry. The majority of powder, primers, bullets, barrels, actions, ext. are going on the shelf. People are not using them. I predict in a couple years you will be able to buy many of these components at a pretty good price.
To put this in to context, action and barrel lead times have tripled since last year. I have talked to a lot of the top smiths in the country about this, not one has told me their work load is any different. So those parts are being horded as well. If things are horded now, there will be a surplus in the future in my opinion. Be smart, be patient.

 

[LVLAaron]

I have some opinions Dont take any personal as I have done it too.
STOP TELLING US WHO HAS POWDER OR PRIMERS!
If you are actually in NEED, your already on the waiting lists, your looking. When you tell everyone who has a shipment of powder or primers it triggers something inside us that makes us need to buy it just because we can. I have read those posts and thought better get some, even though I dont NEED it.
It will come back, dont worry. The majority of powder, primers, bullets, barrels, actions, ext. are going on the shelf. People are not using them. I predict in a couple years you will be able to buy many of these components at a pretty good price.
To put this in to context, action and barrel lead times have tripled since last year. I have talked to a lot of the top smiths in the country about this, not one has told me their work load is any different. So those parts are being horded as well. If things are horded now, there will be a surplus in the future in my opinion. Be smart, be patient.

I "impulse" bought probably 3,000 dollars in primers and powder in the last 12 months. I've also sold at cost to my fellow competitors who are in need, primers, powder, brass, etc. I'd much rather a competitor get it than someone who's mag dumping at paper plates.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I "impulse" bought probably 3,000 dollars in primers and powder in the last 12 months. I've also sold at cost to my fellow competitors who are in need, primers, powder, brass, etc. I'd much rather a competitor get it than someone who's mag dumping at paper plates.

The mag dumpers are not buying the components, they are buying ammo. Do what you want, but the vast majority of the all the stuff we use is collecting dust sitting on someone's shelf thats "in need". Fact is, people are buying more and shooting less.