We're getting RIPPED OFF!!!

Jason Yenko

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Minuteman
Dec 17, 2023
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Mount Vernon, WA
Went to get some supplies for load testing and noticed right away the prices on powder and primers has made another big jump. Powder prices were increased by $10-$15 dollars a pound and primers were increased by $30 fricken bucks to $120.00 dollars for a box of a thousand.
I wonder how effective a "boycott" of some type would be.
They're straight up GOUGING the crap out of us.

Look forward to some thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
 
Went to get some supplies for load testing and noticed right away the prices on powder and primers has made another big jump. Powder prices were increased by $10-$15 dollars a pound and primers were increased by $30 fricken bucks to $120.00 dollars for a box of a thousand.
I wonder how effective a "boycott" of some type would be.
They're straight up GOUGING the crap out of us.

Look forward to some thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
You just wake up out of a coma?
ashleyschaeffer-flick.gif
 
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26lb of powder in a single 155mm artillery round...
vs
30/7000th lb of powder in a 6 BR case...

you do the math...:D
There is no powder in a 155 artillery shell.

The propellent is a separate component and has about as much in common with your smokeless 6br powder as you have with a toaster oven. I don't even think a full charge of powder weighs near 26lbs, (from memory of course). So, where did you get that number from?
 
There is no powder in a 155 artillery shell.

The propellent is a separate component and has about as much in common with your smokeless 6br powder as you have with a toaster oven. I don't even think a full charge of powder weighs near 26lbs, (from memory of course). So, where did you get that number from?

You ever load and fire a 155mm system?
 
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There is no powder in a 155 artillery shell.

The propellent is a separate component and has about as much in common with your smokeless 6br powder as you have with a toaster oven. I don't even think a full charge of powder weighs near 26lbs, (from memory of course). So, where did you get that number from?

The primary ingredient in propellant for artillery, medium cal, small cal, and rockets is all nitrocellulose...
 
Went to get some supplies for load testing and noticed right away the prices on powder and primers has made another big jump. Powder prices were increased by $10-$15 dollars a pound and primers were increased by $30 fricken bucks to $120.00 dollars for a box of a thousand.
I wonder how effective a "boycott" of some type would be.
They're straight up GOUGING the crap out of us.

Look forward to some thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

There are a precious few powder manufacturers in the United States and as far as I'm aware they're all "Commercial run DoD owned" or some flavor as such (if not outright DoD run). The rest comes from import from Australia and Europe mostly. I guess one exception in Canada (if that's still a thing?). If you can imagine, Europe is a little worried with current/local events.

The EPA and to a lesser extent OSHA pretty much make the idea of a new powder manufacturing plant in the US a slim chance at best. Going to take an absolute ton of money and a lot of time to get something new going.

So you get what you get and be grateful for it is the unfortunate reality. Boycotting isn't going to fix anything-- probably the opposite (if it did work-- and it won't. You won't hide the demand).
 
I still find it bizarre that guys in the US say EPA or OHSA make stuff like powder or lead core bullet manufacturing impossible when your railways seem to have numerous safety incidents and you kill people in mines in ways that stopped occurring in Australia 3 decades ago. Likewise you are undoubtedly producing ammonium nitrate/emulsion and high explosives for detonators/boosters for mining and civil works all over the place. What gives?
 
Then you would know how much a max charge could potentially weigh....

Back in the day on a 198 it would be a red bag...Or in the current macs system a charge 5 or 6h....

Hint...it's over 25lbs
Yeah, I remember the max charge was a charge 8 red bag, and I've loaded a bunch of green bag stuff, but I don't remember the charges being that heavy. We are talking circa 2002, so I couldn't come close to telling you what any of it actually weighed. Also never saw any red bag powder. We used to wonder if it even existed. Seems like a full charge of green bag may have been half of that.
 
I called several manufacturers to ask them this very question and they said what was said above; the components of components are being sucked up in new massive European ammo contracts. Specfically H4895, 8208, and primers. It's SUPER annoying. Youre not going to save that boat; quit fucking everyone around you in a futile effort to do so lol.
 
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Likewise you are undoubtedly producing ammonium nitrate/emulsion and high explosives for detonators/boosters for mining and civil works all over the place. What gives?
Using explosives requires permitting and licensing and bureaucratic red tape... And is seen as a legitimate part of "essential" business.

Smokeless powder requires no licensing/permitting (yet) for the average citizen to purchase/possess... But is used for loading ammo for evil, scary guns.

Adding burdensome government regulations bottlenecks supply and increases prices which act to discourage participation in reloading/shooting.

Politics is "what gives."

Mike
 
Went to get some supplies for load testing and noticed right away the prices on powder and primers has made another big jump. Powder prices were increased by $10-$15 dollars a pound and primers were increased by $30 fricken bucks to $120.00 dollars for a box of a thousand.
I wonder how effective a "boycott" of some type would be.
They're straight up GOUGING the crap out of us.

Look forward to some thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

you should sue the democrats
 
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Excellent response. Very well thought out.
I'm a $70 dollar an hour Union pipe welder.
I've been building my own rifles and reloading and testing ammo for 20 years. The increase in the prices of reloading components over the last few years has been overly ridiculous.
Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

He gave you two options, first isn't applicable, so I suggest going with the second one


Besides, you suggested a boycott, so some level of ignorance is apparent, because boycotts never work, especially when you have people willing to pay 10-15 times what reloading components used to cost.

I suggest not going to Gunbroker unless you have a good cardiologist on tap, you'll likely have a stroke 🤣
 
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When I started reloading 30 years ago I was paying $10 a pound for powder, $1 for a hundred primers and $12 for a box of 30cal bullets. Prices went up steadily but jumped a lot during panicks.
 
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Yeah...slept. damn it you got me. I can't believe the glowing intelligence in these comments. Absolutely blown away.
Thanks for your reply. 👍
Thanks for the thread sometimes it nice to have the boring monotony broken up by the squaling of a recently slighted peckerwood and the ensuing dog pile.
 
You slept through those shortages too ehh. I don't know how to tell this but it has happenned every 4-8 years since I have been alive. I can remeber 8lbers were 80 dollars. And a new pickup was 20k.

You whippersnappers, my first brand new Chevrolet Silverado Dually cab and chassis was $8400ish in the early 80s
 
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Yeah, but it had 33hp and the seats were made out of spotted owl skins. Ran on pure crude oil and had solid wooden tires.

Welcome to the future.

I had to Google to see, I remember this was big HP/Torque in 1981, it was a dinosaur 🤣

The 1981 454 truck Engine With a 4-barrel has 210 HP @ 3800 RPMs