2026 - Powder Availability and Pricing

[Ucsdryder]

Anybody have thoughts on the current powder situation? Most powders are still out of stock and prices haven’t come down, some have gone up! The shelves are stuffed full of ammo and prices have been slashed. You can now find primers for 50/1000 often and they’re everywhere, but rl26c bh209, etc aren’t popping up and are 3x what they were 6 years ago.

I find it hard to believe it’s a supply and demand issue, maybe 26 but not 209. If we were seeing powders monthly but they were selling out quickly then maybe, but most of these powders just don’t appear anymore.

Hogdgon monopoly creating an artificial supply issue?

 

[CorbLand]

BH209 is only made a couple times a year so it makes sense it’s not available and still priced high.

All I can say is for the last 20 or so years, the cycle is kind of predictable, it’s the levels that’s not. When things come back in stock, buy more than you need.

People made fun of my when I worked at Sportsmans and every paycheck I would buy a brick of primers or a pound of powder. Did it through the entire Trump presidency. I haven’t looked at prices since and won’t have to for another 10 years. The powders that I probably won’t use, I could sell for double to triple what I paid.

 

[Ucsdryder]

BH209 is only made a couple times a year so it makes sense it’s not available and still priced high.

All I can say is for the last 20 or so years, the cycle is kind of predictable, it’s the levels that’s not. When things come back in stock, buy more than you need.

People made fun of my when I worked at Sportsmans and every paycheck I would buy a brick of primers or a pound of powder. Did it through the entire Trump presidency. I haven’t looked at prices since and won’t have to for another 10 years. The powders that I probably won’t use, I could sell for double to triple what I paid.

Agree with the cycle which is why the powder situation is weird. Doesn’t seem to be in line with the cycle.

 

[ckleeves]

Other than some of the Alliant powders I feel like availability is pretty good? People forget and think the 2016-Covid era is the norm but I think we are in a pretty good time for availability right now. Prices are horrible but I think that applies to just about everything these days.

 

[CorbLand]

Agree with the cycle which is why the powder situation is weird. Doesn’t seem to be in line with the cycle.

This last run was insane compared to others. I worked at Sportsmans through 3 of them and the 2020 was absolutely nuts.

 

[Weldor]

Been seeing H1000 and RE26 on some classifieds, could not find it a couple years back.

 

[CMcCormick1805]

I think some retailers are still taking advantage of COVID scarcity though. It is anecdotal but I saw a local establishment had H4831SC marked up to $89 and change.

 

[waspocrew]

It’s been interesting to see powder stay the same or increase while primers have dropped quite a bit.

I’m set for a long time so I haven’t paid anything crazy.

 

[tater]

Is there an actual U.S. manufacturer (not packager) of powder?
To my (limited) understanding, offshore manufactured powders are subject to current tariffs on imported good by the U.S. federal government.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Powder it still up there in price but as you noted primers have come down, we'll see what happens. As noted its a cycle and if you aren't paycheck to paycheck mode stock up on the things you use when the prices are good, grind your teeth in the off times if you need something. I recently picked up 5 bricks of rem 7.5 ~$45ea, can't imagine seeing those cheaper anytime soon (or ever again) and if they are its a few bucks rather than when primers were $80-100+, seemed logical to stock up.

 

[JF_Idaho]

I thought Alliant powders were discontinued?

 

[Mike D Texas]

I thought Alliant powders were discontinued?

Not discontinued, just not being shipped in bulk to the US market.


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[Colorado Cowboy]

I'm feeling lucky. Several years ago I had some spare cash and I decided to buy reloading components. I am a Bulls Eye pistol shooter and also cowboy action. I shoot and practice 2 or 3 times a week. I bought bullets, powder and primers for everything I reload. I have 5 to 8 pounds of my powder that I shoot most and 4 or 5 of my rifle powder. I have lots of primer and bullets too. I am in my early 80's so I probably have all I need.

 

[Smithb9841]

Not discontinued, just not being shipped in bulk to the US market.


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What’s the backstory on that?

 

[HuntHarder]

Availability- very little to no issue minus Alliant.

Price- F me sideways. It's come down a little but I think this might be the new norm.

 

[ckleeves]

I think we will see powder prices come down a little bit if some wars end. I don’t feel powder is flying off the shelves right now at current prices and at some point there is going to be an excess on the market. Quite a few retailers already have unpopular powder in the “sale” section.

 

[jjordan355]

Primer prices are down and powder has gone up some. Where I’m at powder availability is actually pretty solid besides alliant powders and I use quite a big variety of powders between all my rifles and pistols. I’d say buy an extra can or two every time you can and stash it.