I have been searching out several powders for the last few of months and some for years...Locally there hasn't been much to choose from that I was looking for.
But even today nowheres was Hodgdon Lil'Gun in stock. The 300 Blackout guys have been scooping this stuff up fast!
Alliant BE-86 has not been on any of the local shelves.
It has been frustrating to say the least, some want to take you order with no estimated delivery date insight!
I ordered BE-86 from Powder Valley when they had the 8 pounders in stock - funny thing is it turned out $10 cheaper with hazmat and shipping than the big local supplier! Longshot has been coming in locally pretty regularly as well as 800X. I did get very luck at the last gun show and picked up 6 pounds of AA #7 and 6 pounds of AA #9, the table I bought it from said it had been on order since 2013!
I have been seeing 800x, 700x , hp38/231, titegroup, varget and then some finally!! I am up to about 28 pounds of pistol powder and 15 so of rifle. I won't be caught again :). Wish I was seeing AA9 though :(
Here is some info while looking for powders today...
http://www.ammoland.com/2010/10/loss-of-smokeless-powder-the-greatest-threat-to-keep-bear-arms/#axzz3bZuh3YKo (http://www.ammoland.com/2010/10/loss-of-smokeless-powder-the-greatest-threat-to-keep-bear-arms/#axzz3bZuh3YKo)
That is a little bit dated but things just do add up at the moment!
It's been at least four years since I've seen pistol powder on a shelf. I am starting to get really low. I've been BUYING practice ammo. :o
It must be a regional thing because I can go to the lgs and buy all the lil gun I need in the metro Detroit area, but powders like Blue Dot haven't been around since 2012. Accurate powders are starting to show up in these parts for the first time in a long time though. I picked up 2 lbs of AA9 at a gun show along with a # of 2400 so it is getting better, but that could all change tomorrow so get your supplies while you can just don't go overboard and leave some for your fellow reloaders.
About a year ago I couldn't find powder that was useful for 10mm so I haven't bought a press. I still look for powder locally but still no luck.
Blue water outriggers where I used to live has loads of powders in store. They didn't have any blue dot like I really wanted but I splurged and got a 4lb jug of lilgun. Still another 4lb and many 1lb left.
One of my local contacts (80 miles one way) has some Lil'gun, so I'll be making the trip Monday morning. I'll be making a day of it stopping by several other stores in the area. Maybe I can find some other stuff I don't need but have to have! ::)
Well I managed to get the 4lbs of the Lil'Gun powder, he had several rifle powders, but was limited on most pistol powders.
No Alliant pistol at all, but some rifle.
I visited several other shops in the area, but they have very little powders at all, one of my local guys had more powder than three of those shops in total. That is so messed up. I did get me 1k of small pistol primers just because...
Hope things get better, still searching for the BE-86..... ???
Lucked out recently. Ordered 4 lbs of Longshot and 4 of BE-86 (purchases were limited to 4 lbs of BE ) Even with the shipping + hazmat, it only came to < $26.00 a pound. ( They only had 1 pounders. ) This was from Recob and they are out of both of those now. Just traded for 2 lbs of red dot and it cost me $23.00. Plan to use for 9 & 45 for target loads
LGS only have rifle powder
I see most at my local gunshot that comes around every 2 months. Patriot if there is something you need let me know I'll keep an eye out.