I actually view the introduction of all the various new powders we have seen since the start of "The Great 2012 Ammo & Components Shortage" as a positive development.
It indicates that companies are being, after a fashion, responsive to increased demand.
Consider that while a company like Thales (owners of ADI) may be unwilling to put for the capital expenditures necessary to increase production of what we buy as the Hodgdon's Extreme line, others are willing to step in and attempt to fill the void. Rather than simply increase production of the same old stuff (TM) that they have been producing (something that, again, would likely require capital expenditures), General Dynamics (owners of the plant that produces the IMR stick powders in Canada) have developed a new, purportedly more temperature stable line of powders that competes with some of the most popular ADI powders (4166:Varget, 4451:H4350, 7977:H1000/Retumbo). Rather than put capital expenditures into simply increasing production of existing lines of product (some viewed as more outdated, like the IMR series), they have made investments to try and place themselves in a better position for the future. ATK (being broken up now) has done the same in trying to source new lines that, while not equal, are comparable to some of their best selling products (RL15:AR-Comp, RL22:RL23, RL25:RL26), but using new partners and processes.
I have been critical in the past of component manufacturers not stepping up to increased demand, it appears that they are being responsive, just not in the manner one might originally have expected.
It indicates that companies are being, after a fashion, responsive to increased demand.
Consider that while a company like Thales (owners of ADI) may be unwilling to put for the capital expenditures necessary to increase production of what we buy as the Hodgdon's Extreme line, others are willing to step in and attempt to fill the void. Rather than simply increase production of the same old stuff (TM) that they have been producing (something that, again, would likely require capital expenditures), General Dynamics (owners of the plant that produces the IMR stick powders in Canada) have developed a new, purportedly more temperature stable line of powders that competes with some of the most popular ADI powders (4166:Varget, 4451:H4350, 7977:H1000/Retumbo). Rather than put capital expenditures into simply increasing production of existing lines of product (some viewed as more outdated, like the IMR series), they have made investments to try and place themselves in a better position for the future. ATK (being broken up now) has done the same in trying to source new lines that, while not equal, are comparable to some of their best selling products (RL15:AR-Comp, RL22:RL23, RL25:RL26), but using new partners and processes.
I have been critical in the past of component manufacturers not stepping up to increased demand, it appears that they are being responsive, just not in the manner one might originally have expected.
