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Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2178 Location: Central ND

For all the folks that like Green Dot and other Alliant powders. On Friday 8/8/25 I walked into the Scheel's in Minot, North Dakota and low and behold there were 8 lbers. of Green Dot on the shelf for $319.00. Maybe things are actually going in the right direction.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 934

Not for 319. Long way back before I buy

$319 for 8lbs. is the way of it nowadays. Awful long drive from Connecticut, though. I have converted all my 16ga loads to Hodgdon Longshot since I ran out.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2541 Location: West MI

Thanks for sharing, good stuff hope that trend continues. Did you happen to see any Alliant Steel powder? Went on their website and either the GD is gone or just an in house retail item.

Hmmm, shooting 5k reloaded shells/yr w/15grn powder,
@$44/#=$0.094/shell
@$25/#=$0.054/shell
difference of $0.04x5k=$200/50weeks/yr=$4/week increased ammo cost. About a gallon of gas.

YMMV

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2178 Location: Central ND

putz463,

They had other Alliant powders, but that was the only one in an 8 lb. jug. The 1 lb. containers were all powders for centerfire and I really didn't pay attention to which ones they were.

I have found that the Scheel's website doesn't always match the reloading components that are found in the stores. I have two Scheel's within an hour of where I live and what the Minot store may have the Bismarck store may or may not have and vice versa.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2541 Location: West MI

10-4, understand focused on shotgun/pistol powders. Hoping strongly for the return of ASteel powder.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3522 Location: Illinois

Alliant powder is just plain SCARCE anymore----retailers can put just about any price they want now.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2178 Location: Central ND

putz463,

You and me both. I use it for buffered lead and buffered bismuth loads in the 16 gauge. I am down to 1/2 lb.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2541 Location: West MI

MSM2019, curious, seeing that you enjoy using VV powders and have a deep understanding of how all this stuff works; do you see any possibility to either the now obsolete N105 and available N110 powders having the ability to be used similarly as Asteel in heavy hunting loads?

It seems to me they might since they are nearly equally fluffy/bulky and reside in the same relative area on the burn rate chart as Bluedot & Steel. I can't locate any N105 (looked very hard for some wildcat 357 stuff I'm messing with) and do have some N110 for same reason.

What do ya think??

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2178 Location: Central ND

putz463,

I have never looked at the other VihtaVuori powders only the 300 series. I am looking at 3N38 as a possible replacement for A Steel. On the VihtaVuori website there is reloading data for 12 gauge steel loads using N340, 3N37, 3N38 and N105.

Not sure about N105, but it just might be what the 16 gauge needs. N105 might act slower than A Steel. It could get a little pricey sending out loads for testing when I don't have any feel at all, for where I am going with it. I think (emphasis on think) that 3N38 is what I want, because I am not looking for steel loads, I use A Steel for buffered lead and buffered bismuth loads in the 16 gauge.

It's a big jump from 12 gauge to 16 gauge when it comes to some of these loads. Light loads of lead shot isn't much of a big deal, but heavier loads of nontoxic narrow down the playing field as far as powder goes.

I might ask Tom Armbrust about N105.

What I am really hoping for is that Alliant, comes up with some A Steel soon, I'll buy 4 lbs. and that will take me awhile to go through. Right now I have have enough A Steel to get me through this season.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 934

One club I shoot at had several powders in. GD, RD E3, 700X, High gun Winchester , PP, others I can't think of right now. Primers, cheddite, win., rem, fio.

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2541 Location: West MI

Again more encouraging news, thank you Hammer bill.

MSM2019, it'll be interesting to learn what Mr. Armbrust has to say regarding N110 in heavy hunting loads in comparison to Asteel.

I'm reasonably sure N105 unfortunately has been OB'ed although (on paper) it looks/looked like a very useful powder in heavy shotgun and pistol loads.

Might just WAG an N110 load after some extrapolating and send in for testing.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 2178 Location: Central ND

Yup N105 is gone.

I'd like to see how N110 works out, but I am not much for trying powders for shotshell, that even the manufacturers don't use for the purpose. It generally becomes a hit or miss proposition and without a pressure gun to work with you can spend a lot of time and money and end up with nothing.

I think that 3N38 is a much more viable option with no hidden surprises.

I am going to sit tight on all of it. Alliant has been releasing powder and I will get A Steel if I can. The work is already done and for a couple of boxes of ammo a year, not sure the work is worth it.