What did you learn from the "Big Shortage?"
- Thread starter Nick_C_S
- Start date
I learned that Congress said nothing about defunding the mega orders and strain on supply lines, when all the agencies decided they needed millions of rounds of battle grade ammo. They said nothing when imports were waylaid indefinitely at port without fanfare or explanation. When you have control and the media on your side, a lot of nefarious stuff can take place.
Actually it was caused by us because we were scared that the Dems would enact laws that would make it illegal to buy what we need, thus causing our supplies to dwindle. The "proof" of this was previous shortages.
What we have is a self fulfilling prophecy. The powder shortage was exacerbated by the Hodgden plant fire and talk of conspiracies.
When it comes to powder shortages, which are still ongoing, people didn't understand that manufacturing and supplying powder to stores is unlike other components. Because of bulk orders from ammo makers, I'm betting that the first priority, due to contracts, was to supply them before they made powder to send to wholesalers. This would also apply to primers. With so many different types of powder, they don't make them all at once. They make a supply of however many of the best selling powders, and then make a supply of the next group of best sellers. This kind of manufacturing schedule would affect primers less because there are fewer types.
Now, when they send it out to wholesalers, there isn't enough to send to all of them, so a whole bunch of stores are left out. Notice how no kind of powder showed up everywhere at once. At any one time, only some wholesalers received shipments of a particular powder. And when powder did show up in Internet stores, it was gone within 30 minutes. People realized that they really couldn't buy too much because it would last years or they could always sell it later. Looking at the auction sites makes it obvious that many people bought it so they could sell it at double or triple the price.
Because of all the lags built into the process, we are still seeing a lack of pistol powders and I suspect that this will continue for quite some time until everyone realizes they have enough.
It think that if one picks up a few things here and there to maintain a reasonable supply of what you need based on how much you use it when it is available, and if you are mindful to think about adjusting your usage during the times when things get hard to find, then you don't have the compulsion to be taken advantage of by the price gougers.
I have been able to get what I needed all along, (or an acceptable substitute)and didn't pay a significant amount more for it than I ordinarily would have. I do however have a lot of the same thing as far as feeding my guns, so my needs are not as varied. The only hard to find cartridge that I shoot is 7mm WSM, and I don't hand load for that one so I just pick up a box or two whenever I see it.
I am very close to having a lifetime supply of loaded rounds and brass for it, I always can find 7mm bullets, and I can use the same propellant in it that I use in my 25-06 hand loads, and some 30-06 propellants will probably be OK in it.
I have a gazillion .30-06 cases, from which I can make 25-06 cases. Same with 308 cases (what's bigger than a gazillion here) mondomillion maybe? So, as the logic follows, no problem with 7mm-08 if I have to go there. Same thing with propellants. 308, 7mm-08, 30-06, 25-06. There are powders that are useful in all of them(maybe not ideal) but I'm going to be able to go hunting if I want to, and protect my family without concern for not having any bullets.
If times are hard, the lesson is that I can have some self discipline, and not go shoot it all up at the range. Shortages don't last forever. Wait a time with patience, and some opportunistic buzzard will not be circling your wallet when you are at the store.
If nothing else, folks should learn to keep a reasonable amount of loaded rounds in reserve. If you don't have any to replace it, don't shoot it up. Then you will not need to wring your hands because you don't have any.
Its not likely that there is going to be a large scale combined arms/mechanized infantry assault on you home. If it were, what most folks have (by reading these forums) is not going to save the day, or even slow it down. Kind of like a bug on a locomotive windshield.
Oh, I forgot primers, since I don't have anything that uses small rifle primers, Large Rifle primers will work in every rifle I have id need be. 7mm WSM does not need to have a magnum primer last time I checked. I don't reload handgun except for .38 Spl. which I don't carry. Everything else I shoot as far as handguns I use commercial ammunition in. I don't like to carry with hand loads, and I like to practice with what I carry, so I try to keep a reasonable amount on hand. 9mm, and .45 Auto.
I have been able to get what I needed all along, (or an acceptable substitute)and didn't pay a significant amount more for it than I ordinarily would have. I do however have a lot of the same thing as far as feeding my guns, so my needs are not as varied. The only hard to find cartridge that I shoot is 7mm WSM, and I don't hand load for that one so I just pick up a box or two whenever I see it.
I am very close to having a lifetime supply of loaded rounds and brass for it, I always can find 7mm bullets, and I can use the same propellant in it that I use in my 25-06 hand loads, and some 30-06 propellants will probably be OK in it.
I have a gazillion .30-06 cases, from which I can make 25-06 cases. Same with 308 cases (what's bigger than a gazillion here) mondomillion maybe? So, as the logic follows, no problem with 7mm-08 if I have to go there. Same thing with propellants. 308, 7mm-08, 30-06, 25-06. There are powders that are useful in all of them(maybe not ideal) but I'm going to be able to go hunting if I want to, and protect my family without concern for not having any bullets.
If times are hard, the lesson is that I can have some self discipline, and not go shoot it all up at the range. Shortages don't last forever. Wait a time with patience, and some opportunistic buzzard will not be circling your wallet when you are at the store.
If nothing else, folks should learn to keep a reasonable amount of loaded rounds in reserve. If you don't have any to replace it, don't shoot it up. Then you will not need to wring your hands because you don't have any.
Its not likely that there is going to be a large scale combined arms/mechanized infantry assault on you home. If it were, what most folks have (by reading these forums) is not going to save the day, or even slow it down. Kind of like a bug on a locomotive windshield.
Oh, I forgot primers, since I don't have anything that uses small rifle primers, Large Rifle primers will work in every rifle I have id need be. 7mm WSM does not need to have a magnum primer last time I checked. I don't reload handgun except for .38 Spl. which I don't carry. Everything else I shoot as far as handguns I use commercial ammunition in. I don't like to carry with hand loads, and I like to practice with what I carry, so I try to keep a reasonable amount on hand. 9mm, and .45 Auto.
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I've been a handloader for 35+ years,I learned a long time ago and not just when it comes to ammo and reloading supplies that you can take nothing for granted as if it will always be there or available when you want it.
At any given time what you have on hand may be all you ever have or at least for a longer period of time than you want to or are willing to endure before it starts having an effect on your normal routines.
what I've learned from the past and previous shortages is that paying attention to market forces and political winds pays off as none of the shortages have had any effect on me at all.
I've also learned that picking up all that free brass at the range that nobody wanted when ammo was cheap and plentiful and nobody wanted to reload it provides most all the brass I will ever need for years to come.
I also learned that casting all my own bullets for all my handguns and rifles from all that free lead I collected over they years keeps me supplied with plenty of bullets. I have a good supply of J bullet as well bought in bulk years ago but they just stay in there boxes,no point in using them till there needed as the cast loads can do anything the J bullets can do for the purpose and ranges I shoot at.
I've also learned that keeping a stash of factory ammo which ever applies to you but in my case is the cheap steel case stuff for X39 and 54r put back that you just never touch is always a good idea. I reload both these cartridges and have for years with cast lead which is even cheaper than the 10 cents per rd. I paid for the steel case stuff.
The most important lesson you can learn from a shortage is if it happens once it can happen again and often times it tends to increase in the severity and length of time it last especially if the number of individual wanting goods and services grows.
ATK owns Blazer, CCI, Estate Cartridge, Federal Premium, Fusion, Speer and Speer Bullets, Bushnell, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle, Alliant Powder, RCBS, Champion Target, Final Approach, Gunslick Pro, Primos, Bollé, Outers, Hoppe’s, Uncle Mike’s, Butler Creek and Weaver Optics. ATK supplies defense products and systems to the US Government who do you thing is going to get first dibs on powder and components or the materials needed to mfg those products and systems.
At any given time what you have on hand may be all you ever have or at least for a longer period of time than you want to or are willing to endure before it starts having an effect on your normal routines.
what I've learned from the past and previous shortages is that paying attention to market forces and political winds pays off as none of the shortages have had any effect on me at all.
I've also learned that picking up all that free brass at the range that nobody wanted when ammo was cheap and plentiful and nobody wanted to reload it provides most all the brass I will ever need for years to come.
I also learned that casting all my own bullets for all my handguns and rifles from all that free lead I collected over they years keeps me supplied with plenty of bullets. I have a good supply of J bullet as well bought in bulk years ago but they just stay in there boxes,no point in using them till there needed as the cast loads can do anything the J bullets can do for the purpose and ranges I shoot at.
I've also learned that keeping a stash of factory ammo which ever applies to you but in my case is the cheap steel case stuff for X39 and 54r put back that you just never touch is always a good idea. I reload both these cartridges and have for years with cast lead which is even cheaper than the 10 cents per rd. I paid for the steel case stuff.
The most important lesson you can learn from a shortage is if it happens once it can happen again and often times it tends to increase in the severity and length of time it last especially if the number of individual wanting goods and services grows.
ATK owns Blazer, CCI, Estate Cartridge, Federal Premium, Fusion, Speer and Speer Bullets, Bushnell, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle, Alliant Powder, RCBS, Champion Target, Final Approach, Gunslick Pro, Primos, Bollé, Outers, Hoppe’s, Uncle Mike’s, Butler Creek and Weaver Optics. ATK supplies defense products and systems to the US Government who do you thing is going to get first dibs on powder and components or the materials needed to mfg those products and systems.
William T. Watts
New member
The only item I couldn't find were CCI 34 Primers for a Garand, now that I have them I still haven't shot the rifle. I guess it wasn't as important as I thought it was. Other than the aggravation about the CCI 34 primers I have not been impacted by shortages, I'll admit I don't shoot as much as I used too but all in all I have everything I need plus what I want so I'm good to go.. I have the brass I need, powder I need, primers I need, at 72 how much can I shoot?? William
That when someone would ask for advice on loading a particular cartridge WAAAYYYYY too many people here said try (insert unavailable for the last three years powder here). Lots of folks would go shopping with the idea of a particular powder for a particular cartridge. They would be entirely disappointed that they couldn't find their powder of choice. They didn't have any idea what to do next.
When a friend decided to get into reloading during the last shortage, he went to the gun show with me to get supplies using the "I'll get this" mind set. I had a list of 6 suitable powders for his needs. While three people including him were dithering and stuck on stupid I grabbed a 4 lb.er of W231 and an 8 of IMR 4895. I got the last of both.
My friend was happy to find out that
a) W231 would work for him
b) I intended to split the jug with him.
How many folks here tried powders that they wouldn't have considered before? How many learned that many of those powders have broad applications?
When a friend decided to get into reloading during the last shortage, he went to the gun show with me to get supplies using the "I'll get this" mind set. I had a list of 6 suitable powders for his needs. While three people including him were dithering and stuck on stupid I grabbed a 4 lb.er of W231 and an 8 of IMR 4895. I got the last of both.
My friend was happy to find out that a) W231 would work for him
b) I intended to split the jug with him.
How many folks here tried powders that they wouldn't have considered before? How many learned that many of those powders have broad applications?
When I started reading the one gun forum in the early 90s, rec.guns on usenet before www, what bothered me was...
"I can only get one out of 20 rounds to hit the paper at 50 yards. What should I do?"
"You need to weigh each charge, de burr your flash holes, chase the threads in your receiver, get a faster lock time firing pin, use only Lapua bullets, turn your necks, re crown your muzzle, get a one ounce trigger, have your action blue printed, lap your lugs, upgrade your steady rest, read the mirage, check coriolis effect, weigh and sort brass, get match primers, try a different powder."
With this quality advice, it only took me $10k and 1000 hours of effort between 1994 and 2002 to get my first 1" group.
Life it too short for an individual to do controlled test on every variable, so I would have to evaluate what to pick from the gun culture folklore.
Right here.
Accurate Arms #2, #5, & #7.
#2 is fantastic for 115g/9mm; and plated DEWC target loads for 38 Special - exceptional, actually. And 200g 45ACP.
#5 is pretty much awesome for most any semi-auto. And I had good success with it in 125g/357 Mag rounds.
#7 makes potent 180g/10mm rounds; 158g/357 Mag; & hot 230g/45 ACP.
Great stuff, Accurate Arms powders. I got a bunch of Nitro 100 too; but I'm still in the early load workup stages with it just yet. So far, so good. Burns nice n clean.
So yes, the shortage "forced" me to try other powders. Power Pistol being another one (although, I gravitate to Alliant powders anyway; so trying it was probably just a matter of time).
I learned that sometimes the maker of a particular powder will be the only one to recommend it for a certain caliber. That is not necessarily a good choice for that caliber.
I used H335 in a .303 because it was the only powder I could find for both .303 Brit & 7.62 NATO at the time & it was recommended in their reloading manual. Then, using their exact recommendations I discovered this little "issue with it" & had a bunch of click-bangs & click - no bangs.
It took quite a while to actually figure it out & it had me looking at things like case lube contamination. What a HUGE waste of time & effort.
I used H335 in a .303 because it was the only powder I could find for both .303 Brit & 7.62 NATO at the time & it was recommended in their reloading manual. Then, using their exact recommendations I discovered this little "issue with it" & had a bunch of click-bangs & click - no bangs.
It took quite a while to actually figure it out & it had me looking at things like case lube contamination. What a HUGE waste of time & effort.
jetinteriorguy
New member
So, did you figure out what caused the H335 to clump up like this? I've got about 15 lbs of it left to use and don't want the same to happen if possible. So far I love it in my AR's. I've been loading it ahead of time but maybe should just store the components and only load for demand.
I don't think its a bad powder as such. Just that its an unsuitable one for the larger volume & lower pressure of the .303 British case.
I went nuts trying to figure it out then a search on this forum turned up a couple of people using it for .303 Brit & found incomplete & erratic combustion. After that a further search found even more with the same problem. The partially burned yellow colored clumps seem symptomatic of the issue.
The exact same lot of the same powder ran flawlessly in 7.62, so it seems to like higher-density & higher pressure uses.
I went nuts trying to figure it out then a search on this forum turned up a couple of people using it for .303 Brit & found incomplete & erratic combustion. After that a further search found even more with the same problem. The partially burned yellow colored clumps seem symptomatic of the issue.
The exact same lot of the same powder ran flawlessly in 7.62, so it seems to like higher-density & higher pressure uses.
Marco Califo
New member
I disagree. Unless someone else can duplicate your result, AND explain the cause and effect, I think the photo indicates a contamination of the powder indicated by the partial, and perimeter only, discoloration.
I use pull down WC844 and H335 and have never experienced this.
Also, as I think you know, H335 is not the best powder for that round.
Well, I was just getting started in the shooting hobby. I had a hunting rifle, a hunting shotgun and a cc pistol. About 6 months before the hysteria I decided I wanted to get into reloading and expand my "inventory". Needless to say, it's been interesting getting started from scratch during this time. I will say I don't feel bad about any of my purchases. I didn't get gouged on anything. All powder I have bought has been at less than $30/lb, which is less than the new normal around here. All primers I bought for less than $26/1000. I have put together my own AR.
I am no longer as ignorant or dependent as I once was. This is a GREAT thing.
Also, I may be wrong, but after experiencing my first hysteria/shortage and seeing the other side, I believe that components are great investments. I just don't see powder/primers/projectiles coming down in price. If I see a deal I buy it today because I don't think it'll be cheaper next week/month/year.
I am no longer as ignorant or dependent as I once was. This is a GREAT thing.
Also, I may be wrong, but after experiencing my first hysteria/shortage and seeing the other side, I believe that components are great investments. I just don't see powder/primers/projectiles coming down in price. If I see a deal I buy it today because I don't think it'll be cheaper next week/month/year.
Lessons learned.
It taught ME To develop a sufficient supply of everything that inventory rotation becomes a genuine concern. Work to that end continues apace. I've found a few weapons for which I do not have at least 200 rounds on hand, ready to go, so that will ALSO be rectified.
+1. If the gods of forum moderation find your assertion "too politicky" as you put it, then may they find it so, for BOTH of us.
It taught ME To develop a sufficient supply of everything that inventory rotation becomes a genuine concern. Work to that end continues apace. I've found a few weapons for which I do not have at least 200 rounds on hand, ready to go, so that will ALSO be rectified.
+1. If the gods of forum moderation find your assertion "too politicky" as you put it, then may they find it so, for BOTH of us.
boondocker385
New member
I learned that 700x isn't the best powder for pistol loads, but it is versatile and kept me reloading.