I was looking at my hand guns and shotguns and my MP200, MS200 and I wondered, will it ever be just normal stock on shelves again?
My local gun shops have S335 and S365 in stock right now. Those were the first 2 powders to get on line after the big bang.
I would guess the other powders will also get back into production eventually?
While production has been an issue, another big bottleneck is the distribution of the S- powders. Our dealers here in the North need to go fetch their stock in Potch. When the Pta depot (at the PMP factory) was still operational, this was much easier and less costly. We can only hope that someone can get the needed paperwork arranged to open another powder depot closer to the normal logistical routes.
Quote from: Shotofrank on Jan 02, 2023, 02:42 PMI was looking at my hand guns and shotguns and my MP200, MS200 and I wondered, will it ever be just normal stock on shelves again?
No, at least not soon.
The political influence in the work place does not allow for the best people to be employed. Somhem might be German owned, they still have to obey employment laws.
Look at the rest of southern Africa to see what we should expect.
Somhem might be German owned, they still have to obey employment laws.
Therein lies the problem.
I was told by someone that was recently, i.e November 2022, in Austria on a hunting trip that there were a range of Somchem powders in both of the gunshops he visited and that the proprietors told him that that supply was good.
He's not a shotgun or pistol shooter so didn't ask about the quick powders. I'm pretty sure that Rheinmetall would have walked away from Denel if they didn't think they could make a go of it but sadly sporting purpose powders for retail sale in SA are neither a focus nor likely a major revenue line item considering what else they do and the currencies they sell it in.
Quote from: oafpatroll on Jan 06, 2023, 03:29 PMI was told by someone that was recently, i.e November 2022, in Austria on a hunting trip that there were a range of Somchem powders in both of the gunshops he visited and that the proprietors told him that that supply was good.
He's not a shotgun or pistol shooter so didn't ask about the quick powders. I'm pretty sure that Rheinmetall would have walked away from Denel if they didn't think they could make a go of it but sadly sporting purpose powders for retail sale in SA are neither a focus nor likely a major revenue line item considering what else they do and the currencies they sell it in.
Rheinmetall owned Somchem since before 2006/7. That was when I started in Potchefstroom. There was a Denell plant. I knew one of the workers there and he said they had a supply of eleven of twelve years' stock, and only released it in smaller, restricted quantities.
Quote from: oafpatroll on Jan 06, 2023, 03:29 PMI was told by someone that was recently, i.e November 2022, in Austria on a hunting trip that there were a range of Somchem powders in both of the gunshops he visited and that the proprietors told him that that supply was good.
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bit crazy
Rheinmetall owned Somchem since before 2006/7. That was when I started in Potchefstroom. There was a Denell plant. I knew one of the workers there and he said they had a supply of eleven of twelve years' stock, and only released it in smaller, restricted quantities.
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sounds urban legend stuff. Run out of stock while having stock.
12 Years stock pile - eish, really do not want to live near that mountain of bang powder.
Quote from: Treeman on Jan 08, 2023, 06:22 PMRheinmetall owned Somchem since before 2006/7. That was when I started in Potchefstroom. There was a Denell plant. I knew one of the workers there and he said they had a supply of eleven of twelve years' stock, and only released it in smaller, restricted quantities.
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sounds urban legend stuff. Run out of stock while having stock.
12 Years stock pile - eish, really do not want to live near that mountain of bang powder.
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Available in Austria and not available in SA.
Limited supply in SA for powders.
It makes sense if one takes into account that the powers that be prefer to have most/all firearms handed in.
Selling to a hard currency buyer if you are in a soft currency country makes sense. It also makes sense that the investor that is almost certainly keeping the boat afloat would reserve production capacity for their own market. It makes no sense to me that a company scraping the bones of its arse would keep stock on hand that it could turn into cash if it needed cash.
I am starting to see S365 again ?
S365 seems to be more available now.
Somchem as we knew it is a bygone era.
It's not a competitive business entity in the global economy, so it will not be around for long.
Quote from: 414gates on Jan 21, 2023, 06:33 PMSomchem as we knew it is a bygone era.
It's not a competitive business entity in the global economy, so it will not be around for long.
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Not good to hear.
Quote from: 414gates on Jan 21, 2023, 06:33 PMSomchem as we knew it is a bygone era.
It's not a competitive business entity in the global economy, so it will not be around for long.
I don't know what you know that makes you say that.
Quote from: janfred on Jan 22, 2023, 07:47 PMI don't know what you know that makes you say that.
I know what you know.
Unless they send German technicians to operate the plant, and lay an extension cord from Europe.
Most of our fellow countrymen perceive work to be a perpetual right, not a cultivated skill. They demand jobs, they demand good wages, and they demand to not be told how to do the jobs you give them.
Quality assurance is not achievable under those conditions. Profitable business is not possible with a dud labour force.
How do the rolling blackouts affect production ? You can't stop and start the equipment in ammunition manufacture several times a day. That means underproduction, increased equipment breakage, unplanned maintenance, increased operating costs.
Under those conditions, a company cuts the loss making products. If the number of profitable products gets below a certain threshold, the investors close the plant.
The question is only if it will be mothballed, or dismantled and shipped to China.
Sadly there's not much arguing with that. I have no idea how one could justify investing in SA given our trajectory. Contrary to commie lore our labour is actually very expensive when measured against productivity, we have an onerous regulatory environment and a diminishing and intermittent electricity supply. None of those things individually are strong attractions for investment, together they are investment kryptonite.
investment kryptonite.
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well expressed.
5 Months later and S365 seems to be available everywhere.
Some MP200 hit the dealers shelves and was quickly bought by everyone who could.
S335 is hens teeth again. A new batch of decent proportions would be most welcome.
All of us who changed to the imported powders, now seem to appreciate the better prices and not-too-shabby quality of the old Somchem powders.
I have communicated with the folks at - "RELOAD SWISS" ( an excellent powder used by World champions ) also a part of Rheinmetal
Last I heard they were prepared to send powder to SA IF they could find someone with the correct storage facilities and licenses and who could buy in bulk.
I have NO idea why this cannot be done via the Rheinmetal that is currently in SA and part of the SA armaments industry ?
Perhaps someone could ask them ?
Here are the links
Reload Swiss (https://www.reload-swiss.com/en/reload_swiss/index.php)
RHeinmetall NitroChemie (https://www.nitrochemie.com/en/nitrochemie_group/produkte/reload_swiss/index.php)
RHEINMETALL (https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/media/news-watch/news/2019/2019-03-08_reload-swiss-rs76-the-new-universal-powder-for-rifle-ammunition-hits-the-market)
These guys in the UK are able to import
ReloadingUK (https://www.reloading.co.uk/brands/reloadswiss)