Hodgdon Powder Company

Hodgdon Powder Company traces its roots back to 1800, when E.I. duPont arrived in America determined to improve gunpowder manufacturing. By 1802, duPont was producing powder along the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware—the same location that eventually became the GOEX black powder brand.

DuPont became a major military supplier long before serving handloaders. The company supplied over 80% of Allied powder needs in World War I and manufactured 2.5 billion pounds of smokeless propellants for the Allied Forces in World War II.

IMR stands for Improved Military Rifle. The brand launched in the 1930s under DuPont and introduced iconic powders that remain popular today:

• •IMR 3031 (1934) – Medium burn speed, trusted by 308 Match shooters and varmint cartridge users
• •IMR 4064 (1935) – Versatile rifle powder
• •IMR 4350 (1940) – Magnum rifle standard

In 2003, Hodgdon Powder Company acquired IMR, consolidating it with their other brands: Hodgdon, Winchester, Accurate, Ramshot, and Blackhorn 209.

Smokeless Powders for: - Rifle cartridges - Pistol/handgun loads - Shotshell reloading

Specialty Products: - Muzzleloader powders - Pelletized charges (White Hots) - Enduron line – newer formulations with improved temperature stability and copper-fouling reduction additive

Sizes: 1lb and 8lb containers available

Resources: - Reloading manuals and education - Safety data sheets - Reference data - Dealer locator - Online ordering with Hazmat shipping

Even in the early days, DuPont's philosophy was "any quantity of powder as good or better than any available." That commitment carries forward. IMR expanded from rifle-only to include pistol, shotshell, and muzzleloader powders. The newer Enduron sub-brand represents the latest technology—combining temperature stability with an additive that removes copper jacket fouling during shooting.

Powder availability continues to normalize after record-high demand in recent years. Hodgdon anticipates pre-COVID conditions with powders readily available through dealer shelves and direct website sales.