Powder price increase

[Ned Ludd]

I have been watching the price of Varget at a large online reloading supply vendor the last few days, as they stated prices would increase after Jan 15th. The price of one pound of Varget increased from ~$49 to ~$56, or just under a 15% increase. I typically use about 20 lb of Varget per year, so that would represent an increase of $140 per year (not including any changes to other costs such as shipping). I can afford that, even if I don't like paying it. I don't want to start an argument over anyone's personal finances, but $140 per year is not that big of a deal. In fact, I would respond to anyone that wants to argue the point that if they can't afford such an increase, then maybe shooting sports are too expensive for their income/budget. For those that want to tell me I'm part of the problem because I buy what I need regardless of the cost (within reason, anyhow), mind your own business. I will buy what I want, when I want, and it's none of your affair. If you think my actions are raising the price of reloading components such as powder, then you really have very little understanding of the market. The amount of reloading components such as powder that we buy as private reloaders is not even a drop in the bucket as compared to other consumers such as commercial and military ammunition.

 

[ArtinNC]

Powder is going to be hard to get again .

 

[cmysix]

Am I factually wrong? I said: Since 1969, republicans have held the presidency more than twice as many years as the dems if I had to count it. Tell me how I am factually wrong:

1973	Richard M. Nixon	Pat Nixon	Spiro T. Agnew
1973-1974	Richard M. Nixon	Pat Nixon	Gerald R. Ford
1974-1977	Gerald R. Ford	Betty Ford	Nelson Rockefeller
1977-1981	Jimmy Carter	Rosalynn Carter	Walter F. Mondale
1981-1989	Ronald Reagan	Nancy Reagan	George Bush
1989-1993	George Bush	Barbara Bush	Dan Quayle
1993-2001	Bill Clinton	Hillary Rodham Clinton	Albert Gore
2001-2009	George W. Bush	Laura Bush	Richard Cheney
2009-2017	Barack Obama	Michelle Obama	Joseph R. Biden
2017-2021	Donald J. Trump	Melania Trump	Mike Pence
2021-	Joseph R. Biden	Jill Biden

president don't mean squat, house and senate

 

[Ccrider]

president don't mean squat, house and senate

I get your point, though a bit overstated. That still does not make my previous statement wrong.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Taken from:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Combined--Control_of_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives_-_Control_of_the_U.S._Senate.png

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I have been watching the price of Varget at a large online reloading supply vendor the last few days, as they stated prices would increase after Jan 15th. The price of one pound of Varget increased from ~$49 to ~$56, or just under a 15% increase. I typically use about 20 lb of Varget per year, so that would represent an increase of $140 per year (not including any changes to other costs such as shipping). I can afford that, even if I don't like paying it. I don't want to start an argument over anyone's personal finances, but $140 per year is not that big of a deal. In fact, I would respond to anyone that wants to argue the point that if they can't afford such an increase, then maybe shooting sports are too expensive for their income/budget. For those that want to tell me I'm part of the problem because I buy what I need regardless of the cost (within reason, anyhow), mind your own business. I will buy what I want, when I want, and it's none of your affair. If you think my actions are raising the price of reloading components such as powder, then you really have very little understanding of the market. The amount of reloading components such as powder that we buy as private reloaders is not even a drop in the bucket as compared to other consumers such as commercial and military ammunition.

We get your point Ned. But there will be kids that ask Dad can we go shoot Today, sorry kids there’s no money left to buy ammo.

 

[Ned Ludd]

We get your point Ned. But there will be kids that ask Dad can we go shoot Today, sorry kids there’s no money left to buy ammo.

Really? I'm guessing that shooting with the kids doesn't require 20 lbs of Varget per year...maybe not even more than a single pound, which would cost an extra $7 today as compared to before the price increase. I think you're being overly dramatic about the price increases, and not by just a little bit.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Really? I'm guessing that shooting with the kids doesn't require 20 lbs of Varget per year...maybe not even more than a single pound, which would cost an extra $7 today as compared to before the price increase. I think you're being overly dramatic about the price increases, and not by just a little bit.

Ok let’s try this.
Everyone here raise their right hand if they think Hodgdon is taking advantage of them when now charging $65 for a pound of IMR 4350.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I think you're being overly dramatic about the price increases, and not by just a little bit.

Ned, I always enjoy your posts and appreciate your knowledge and will take your words above to heart. I know shooting is a pet love for everyone on this Forum, but we all should be careful to not wear blinders when achieving our happiness.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I'm not trying to be a dick about this in any way, shape or form. I'm merely pointing out that the price increase shouldn't be that big of a deal. Prices increase...it's just what they do. Sometimes I get the impression from those complaining about high component prices that they will have to eat Ramen noodles 5 days out of 7 or sell an organ in order to even put a single round downrange, and they want to blame those of us that buy what we need for it. I simply don't accept that. If someone disagrees with me, that is their perogative, but I think my assessment is a little more realistic.

 

[1K6BRA]

If it was just the powder companies that were putting in for an increase (and no doubt, there are many reasons for an increase) but that is not reality at least not for me and I don’t think for any of us. My reality is while I have got two small increases in my hourly pay since the current regime has been in affect, it is like a dance step,one step up and six steps back, at least. If a guy or a gal has made it big in life, I am all for that, that is the great American way. As long as that person did it honestly. I would consider myself lower middle class income scale, and I’m not even sure of that anymore.I was at a point in my life where I could invest some money into this long range shooting stuff that I got myself into 10+ years ago. In reality, I don’t think I would be jumping into it with both feet from scratch now. Luckily I have enough to finish out the rest of my career if I’m fortunate to live and compete into my mid to late 70s or so if I am careful with my component stash and number of matches that I shoot.
I remember my dad telling me his mother, my grandmother, would tell him when he was a young man as she gazed into the windows of the ladies store… from the outside that is… with all the fancy dresses and such inside “I guess that would be really nice but I guess it’s not for me“ The choice is ours to be made if we can afford to continue on with increases. Like a nice big cherry pie that used to be cut into 8 pieces to enjoy my cherry pie is now cut into 24…at least.

I scream “UNCLE”

 

[BobT]

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need to concentrate on the bullet buying now more. This will be a pain for the pocketbook for sure.

I have been doing a lot of my recreational shooting / plinking with cast bullets, frees up finances for the comparatively few jacketed ones I need.

 

[dusterdave173]

I walked in local shop and he had two 8 lb Vargets fresh--he does "out the door" cash price $350 each
I don't need Varget now
Though starting to get spotty again there is still inventory available right this minute if you grab it
So...Now looks like the last chance before the next big dry spell--Prices? Yes that part is no fun but then being without supply is not either.
I got into reloading just a few years back--I have seen nothing but gouging rape prices my entire time--I look at my shelves now--plenty of 6BR and 223 lapua brass ( and others for sure) I have plenty of primers now, powder is well stocked and guess what? The rape prices I have paid in last year or so look like great deals now--I can't imagine that will change going forward--whatever else I lay in will look like a sweet deal one day in the future.
Compared to Everything else I buy--food, hardware, car parts-you Name it! This stuff is no worse at all--and...nobody is coming to take my groceries away causing it ! You guys point to the Wrong bad guy for all of this--It is CORP GREED period--taking advantage at every turn.

I have a Full reloading closet--a Full freezer--a Full pantry--plenty of every supply I can lay in
Just wish I had bought TWO pick up trucks when I bought the last one

It ain't the Dems boys it is just the World coming for you--Like always

 

[whatsupdoc]

Fuel prices go up consumer prices increase, fuel prices go down consumer prices increase.

 

[dantiff2]

I have been doing a lot of my recreational shooting / plinking with cast bullets, frees up finances for the comparatively few jacketed ones I need.

I've switched all of my pistol rounds to powder coated cast. I even enjoy the casting as part of the hobby

 

[6BRA]

I stop for lunch on a Saturday have 2 beers and pretzel bites, and of course a tip 40 bucks! Stop in a convenient store buy a snicker bar and a coke..5 bucks. Paid almost 600 bucks with shipping and hazmat for 8 lbs of unicorn powder yesterday.Havent seen any of this in over a year! But I've got it and can shoot. I now have enough until I die. The days after the China virus. Cry or move on. Your choice! Loaded up on the Hodgdon Christmas release of 4895/8208. The shooting bot gets the credit yesterday! Put everything in perspective! My dad bought a 60 fuelie vette new from dealer $3800.00. Remember those days?

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I walked in local shop and he had two 8 lb Vargets fresh--he does "out the door" cash price $350 each
I don't need Varget now
Though starting to get spotty again there is still inventory available right this minute if you grab it
So...Now looks like the last chance before the next big dry spell--Prices? Yes that part is no fun but then being without supply is not either.
I got into reloading just a few years back--I have seen nothing but gouging rape prices my entire time--I look at my shelves now--plenty of 6BR and 223 lapua brass ( and others for sure) I have plenty of primers now, powder is well stocked and guess what? The rape prices I have paid in last year or so look like great deals now--I can't imagine that will change going forward--whatever else I lay in will look like a sweet deal one day in the future.
Compared to Everything else I buy--food, hardware, car parts-you Name it! This stuff is no worse at all--and...nobody is coming to take my groceries away causing it ! You guys point to the Wrong bad guy for all of this--It is CORP GREED period--taking advantage at every turn.

I have a Full reloading closet--a Full freezer--a Full pantry--plenty of every supply I can lay in
Just wish I had bought TWO pick up trucks when I bought the last one

It ain't the Dems boys it is just the World coming for you--Like always

I was on board until that last part.

 

[Camper]

I know of 3 near vicinity gun shops that have lots of powder and primers... for a reason. I think most people just get disgusted and walk away from them. One of them, 3 years ago when prices went to $40 a pound, they went to $63 and $69 for 1Lb... the 63 was for H110, lol... and you couldn't buy a 1K box of primers from them unless you bought 5 x 1lbers. lol And H110 was their cheapest... that and W296. I casually told the lady and her husband they were crooks when I walked out. No outrage... they knew they were crooks. lol And if you're wondering if you could have bought 2 boxes of primers, that would be NO... unless you bought another 5 x 1lbers. I don't think any corporation made them do that.

The 2 other shops have kept their prices ridiculously high but just under the 1st store's prices and no BS requirements to buy other stuff before they allow you to buy primers. lol You could literally buy stuff online with hazmat and shipping for cheaper than you could walk in their stores. It's like these stores added a hazmat charge to every single item, separately. One store had a 9.99 can of 500ct of crosman pellets for $35. I know that because I had just ordered 16 of those exact cans online for 7.99 each. Talk about some BS. And I told him that.

Now, the store where I go by most often still has the lowest prices. That was the store where I saw Alliant BE-86 for $34 a lb just a few weeks ago. Their prices went up, but they didn't go up like all the shops online and the other stores I mentioned above.

Bullets, the only thing I even shop for these days, I just bought 4 x 100ct 45 XTPs 230gr for 23.95 a piece. I think on Optic's planet they are $45+. When prices magically landed on $99 as the cheapst price you could find primers before prices went even higher, his prices were $69. So there is gouging going on and it's not all the big Corporations.

 

[dusterdave173]

Ha ha ha Multi Level gouging

Yes I have one local shop that has kept things within reason--compared to all the others--he gets all the business I can swing him---we have Bluecollar which has been decent--new ownership now so who knows what the future is there
And..like you we have several local shops that might as well start their own TV show they are so crazy and out of touch--one trip down their aisles and I never have to go back ever.

 

[BobT]

https://www.powdervalley.com/produc...attributes=1&tags=1&sku=1&ixwpse=1&in_stock=1
Here you go!
Yesterday FYI.
View attachment 1512784

And today that same 8 pounder is $464.00