At Sportsman's Warehouse this week I found IMR 4227 for sale. $90 a pound!!!

GunBum wrote on Feb 13^th, 2025 at 4:56pm:


The only production line making gun cotton (for double based powders) is not (at this time) in production.  (Radford Army Ammunition Plant).  Don't know why; just what I've heard.

GunBum wrote on Feb 13^th, 2025 at 4:56pm:


Hodgdon will bend us over every chance they get, as do lots of other mfgs. They are not in the powder making business. They are in the money making business.

There is a major war going on and a work wide shortage of gunpowder and a former us administration that allows the us to loose a substantial part of our armaments industry 
It’s called supply and demand
Can’t blame Hodgdon for being in the money making business
I don’t see anyone going to work every day for free why should they?
Germany announced a major ammunition shortage so they are scrambling too
Joe S

"One of the hazards of living in AK."

True. We're used to it. Hogdon is not bending me over, it is our local retailers. If you can get it for $60 why do I have to pay $90? Cuz I can not drive to where you are, or have you buy some and ship it to me. It is called Alaskan pricing. But why is it $60 when 4 short years ago it was $30? I thought Uncle Joe said he fixed that inflation thing. Don't tell me he lied! Also don't tell me that the demand for 4227 in HIGH. Higher than what? 4350 or 4064 certainly not higher than CFE 223. It is curiouser and curiouser.

I forgot to mention:
In addition to Germany scrambling to build up its ammo supply ( it was announced two years ago that the German Army only had a two day supply of ammunition), as you have probably heard, other European nations have finally realized that  they all need to step up their defense spending, and most of them are doing it. This has all contributed to a worldwide shortage of nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in smokeless powder, as we all know. China and Taiwan are major players in this market, China is sending most of what they have to Russia, and a large part of what Taiwan produces is ending up in Russia, not directly but indirectly. If 4227 has any use in military ordnance,( I dont know if it does or not) dont expect large amounts to be set aside for a handful of old fogeys shooting single shot rifles. If it does not have any current military application, dont expect the powder companies to be making it in preference over military contracts and other demand. 
Prior to the war in Ukraine and Western Europe sudden interest in defense spending, we experienced several ammunition/primer shortages in the last 20 years. It is apparent that we have allowed our defense industry to atrophy to the point where we cannot even meet the demand of the reloaders in the country, let alone our own military and foreign aid commitments. As early as 2942, the United States  scaled down the production of small arms ammunition because it was realized that we were never going to use up what we had already produced, even though the end  of the war was not in sight.* It was not that long ago that the last of the WWII 30-06 ammo ran out.   Back than we had tremendous industrial capacity, not so now. 
Joe S

*Remington Arms, by Alden Hatch, P278-279

I don't know how many might have access to a Coastal Farm & Ranch store but, I just came from mine, here in So OR. For Vet's they offer a 10% discount on very thing.

They have a limited supply of many powders. For instance, no IMR powders that I could see. They also have a bunch of funky Winchester powders, I never heard of. BUT, they did have #9 for $40 and H110 for $42. I bought some Lil Gun, last Summer, for I think $34. With my 10% that was only $30.60.

So, if you have one of those stores, available to you, you might keep a eye on what they have. Prices are better than Sportsman Warehouse.