Alliant Powders Suspended Shipments Of Smokeless Powders For Reloading - Ammoland.com

 It has come to my attention that Alliant Powders has recently suspended shipments of its smokeless powders for reloading. Alliant is the source of such old standards as Bullseye, Unique, and 2400, as well as the more modern Reloader series of powders.

Let me tell you what I have learned about this.

First, there is worldwide pressure on ammunition production capacity because of all the ammunition being consumed in ongoing conflicts, especially in Ukraine. The materials used to make propellants for artillery rounds are the same as those used to make small arms propellants. Many countries have ramped up production of ammunition and its precursors, including most of Europe and the U.S.

The primary production bottleneck seems to be nitrocellulose. Nitrocellulose for propellants can be obtained from various plant fibers, including forest products. However, the preferred source is cotton. The bottleneck is in the plant’s capacity to convert cotton into what is called “defense-grade” nitrocellulose.

Alliant is owned by Vista Outdoor, which also owns several other companies that produce loaded ammunition, including CCI, Federal, and Remington. Alliant sources its propellants from Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the Radford Army Arsenal in Virginia.

Because the ammunition manufacturers under the Vista umbrella are stressed in obtaining the propellants they need for their production, Vista appears to have made the business decision to commit all of the Alliant propellant capacity to Vista ammunition manufacturers. Thus, Alliant withdrew from shipment and sold propellants for reloading.

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