The below was received from ADI World Class Powders and Ammunition in the form of an update on their progress for an AP70N replacement.

ADI STATEMENT:
We’re happy to say we’ve got some good news to share with you all, however there is still some disappointing news as well.

APS950
We have reloading data sorted for the most popular cartridges, which we will continue to add to as new data becomes available.
We now have transport approvals for all States/Territories.
As a result, this product has been released and is already on its way out to the dealer network via our distributors.
Please be aware that market demand for all our propellants the past 6+ months has outstripped our ability to supply, and access to APS950 is likely to be no different. It is also important to note that the resurgence of COVID-19 in a number of places, including Victoria where both of our distribution partners are located, may affect the movement of propellant around the country.

APS650
While we had been hoping for a May release of this product we were fighting an uphill battle coming into the colder, wetter months of the year. What some of you may not realise is that propellant manufacture can be and is affected by environmental conditions, with the propellant grains effectively absorbing moisture that needs to be expelled to achieve the correct burn rate.

Sadly, we were unable to complete the required development in the timeline we had, and have now been forced to delay the completion of the project until Q4 this year.
We understand this is not the news any of you wanted to here, and we ask for your understanding through these frustrating times. As the only domestic manufacturer of these products we would much prefer to have a finished product available, so we could continue to support the Australian sports shooting community.

APS650 / AP70N Frequently Asked Questions

• Why don’t you just make more AP70N?
  The Mulwala facility is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia and has a long-term management plan. The old WWII era propellant plant had an agreed date of closure that occurred a number of years ago now, with the decommissioning process starting shortly after that.

• Why didn’t you make more AP70N to ensure you could continue to supply the market while the APS650 replacement was finalised? 

• I’ve heard AP70N is made and supplied to the US market, why don’t you just buy AP70N from there and bring it back to Australia?
  This is something we looked at in great detail when it became apparent we were going to run out of stock before the replacement was ready to go. Discussions were held with our US distribution partner (Hodgdon Powder Company) as well as General Dynamics – Ordnance & Tactical Systems in Canada (who manufacture AP70N under licence).

Summary
We understand how frustrating it is to be unable to access a particular propellant when it plays such a critical role in what we all love doing.

We’re also only too aware that without access to propellant, the costs involved in pistol shooting may not be easily covered by a lot of our customers if they have to revert to buying factory ammunition.

It is not a cheap sport after all, with licence and club fees, compulsory ancillary fees such as SSAA or IPSC membership, range fees, equipment, travel and of course the all-important ammunition which adds up very quickly in pistol sports. 

We would like to ask for your patience during these trying times, and rest assured we are doing everything in our power to deliver this propellant as soon as possible.”

END STATEMENT

At On Target Sporting Arms, we stock the full range of ADI World Class Powders. 

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