I recently ran out of Winchester 231 Ball Powder, which is my main powder for loading mild to medium pistol loads. I started looking around for some to buy and it was impossible to find. I even looked at all the Internet sites to buy some, but they all listed it as "Out of Stock".
I had heard that Hodgdon Powder Company was making and packaging Winchester Powders, so I called their Customer Help Line to try to find some. We found out two interesting facts:
Fact 1: I spoke to a very helpful gentleman who told me that they did indeed load WW-231 powder. I told him of the difficulty I had experienced in trying to find some to buy. He said that they had been out since January and had just started making it again, due to military contracts taking all their line time. He said the retailers ought to start getting at again as of last week. He gave me the number of a site where they had just sent a shipment and after I hung up with him, I called them and sure enough, they had some. I ordered an 8 pound can.
Fact 2: My friend Ted talked to him later and asked if the rumors that WW-231 and Hodgdon HP-38 were "very similar" were true. He said that they are
exactly the same. He said they make up a large container and start loading WW-231 canisters for a while, and then switch to HP-38 containers. It is the same powder.
He also said if I needed some, I had better buy it, as there was going to be a shortage for a while, due to military contracts.
I thought I'd share the news with you guys.