doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Another powder price jack

Graf's now has Perfect Pattern at $300 a jug.

This represents a 42% increase in total since the stuff was first introduced about 2 years ago. Other Hodgdon powders have also seen a sharp increase.

Graf's has always been a fair supplier, and were one of the few to not screw us over during the primer shortage of 15 years ago so it's not their fault.

In fact, they and Natchez have been running low cost or free shipping and free haz on and off for some time now. This tells me their products are not exactly flying off the shelves now that some of it is back in stock.

Shooting is in general down, partially due to the cost.

This latest valentine from The Powder Trust will not help our sport or our clubs survive.

I get Atlanta Arms ammo from Natchez, I like them. If the tariff war continues and escalates it will probably get worse, fasten your seatbelt and 😬. Wish I could help. The minimum for free shipping at Midway went from $50 to $150 and it's only going to get worse.

Finally some affordable bottles of powder!

Ha! Maybe not even then Ken...

Pal of mine sent a Gunbroker ad a few days ago one pound of that for $160.

I loaded one ounce 12 gauge shells for 11 cents each for a couple decades, in what now seems not long ago.

The best I can now do is 30 cents and that takes some doing and a pal who hauls lead for me from the state shoot.

If St. Marks blows up or goes strictly military as New River has allegedly done, we're finished.

I've got shells and components on hand for about 4 years. After that, I'm seriously looking at retirement from the sport.

Everybody I used to shoot with is dead anyway, and what we have for new kids sure won't miss me nor I them.

I would like to think the games and the clubs have a future, but I'm not so sure. The big thing now is 'Scholastic Target Sports' that we're supposed to support. The problem is that I've never once seen a young person spend his or her own money on the game once turning of adult age. They may come back after the house is paid for and the kids raised, but don't count on it. It may keep some kids off the street and on a good path and that's well and good, as far as being 'the future of the sport' i think that's a pipe dream.

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but I think we've had our run. The industry is helping to kill to us off with these insane prices.

I'm looking for a plan B.

😆

Yes, that's 3oz, it was not lost on me nor the humor.

Universal, or any of the 'Clays' line has not been available for years and likely never will be.

Universal is similar to Unique, now also gone. I recall buying my last 15 pound keg of Unique for about $90.

What once was $6/lb is now $50. Gunpowder is outstripping inflation by over 100%.

So are primers, and so is lead shot.

We thought the world was ending when a flat of Top Gun went to $32. That was only in 2006.

They are now $100 or so. An inflation calculator will show they should be $50.

Do the math. We are being screwed blue.

I might have a lifetime supply of powder. Last count was over 300 pounds across 20+ different types. Most bought before this insanity ever broke out. Average cost per pound has to be still about $20.00/lb. Enough empty hulls to last me for certain, I do not stockpile wads like I use to do, but still have enough to last several years. Primers are another issue but I still have thousands I bought when they were under $40.00/thousand. I even bought more at $50 & 55/thousand thinking those prices were crazy high. If prices keep going up at these rates I might be done shooting everything before I know it. I thought loading shells for $4.00/25 was high, now that would be a dream. Only gauges I save big money are 28 and .410, not much on other gauges except those low pressure loads I can not buy at any price still make 12 and 20 worth loading. My guns need to be fed loads that will allow them years of remaining enjoyment by me or the next owner. I do not know how any young shooter can afford to shoot as much as I did when I was young.

Those 3oz bottles of Universal were actually never offered for sale. They are marked “Sample Only Not For Sale.” Definitely not something you would see offered in todays climate.

I’ve been lucky enough concerning keeping a good supply of reasonably priced components (other than shot). My friends know I shoot (alot) and give me leads to components via estate sales etc. Additionally I’m fortunate that friends have given me a lot of components because they don’t reload or use certain components anymore.I don’t have a cache that compares with Johns, but I’ve enough to keep me going for a long time.

I give away or sell components (cheaply) that I have a surplus of so my friends can continue to shoot. In that respect, I’ve found the returns far outweigh the cost.

I’m not happy about todays shortages or prices but I’ve been able to finagle a way to keep shooting mainly through a network of friends.

The small club I shoot at in FL reclaimed their fields 2 years ago. Cleaned, screened, magnet, and graphite $30 a bag. Almost $60 a bag at home. People talk about prices dropping in the future... never because we keep buying it at the inflated prices. At this club in FL I shoot every 2 weeks and I'm usually the youngest guy there I'm 68. One older gentlemen told me he was almost out of reloading supplies and was going to put his gun away and play more golf. Golf balls were plentiful and cheap!