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directory/manufacturer
Hodgdon Powder Company
in Shawnee, KS
•Hodgdon Powder Company started in 1952 when Bruce Hodgdon bought 50,000 pounds of government surplus 4895 powder and stored it in an old boxcar on a rented farm. That single ad in American Rifleman launched what became America's largest smokeless powder manufacturer.
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Hodgdon Powder Company started in 1952 when Bruce Hodgdon bought 50,000 pounds of government surplus 4895 powder and stored it in an old boxcar on a rented farm. That single ad in American Rifleman launched what became America's largest smokeless powder manufacturer.
Hodgdon manufactures propellants under five major brand lines:
Smokeless Powders: - Hodgdon - The original lineup including H4895, still in production today - IMR - Acquired in 2003, legendary powders for nearly 100 years - Winchester - Licensed since 2006, duplicates factory ammunition performance - Accurate & Ramshot - Acquired in 2020, expanding rifle and pistol options
Black Powder Substitutes: - Pyrodex - Introduced 1976, produces 30% more shots per pound than black powder - Pyrodex Pellets - Patented preformed charges for quick, safe no-spill loading - Triple Seven - Water-soluble, no sulfur smell, introduced 2001 - Blackhorn 209 - Modern black powder substitute for serious hunters
Hodgdon ships smokeless powder efficiently thanks to 1.4C shipping classification approved in 2014. Nearly all canisters up to 8 lbs ship under this rating.
Hodgdon didn't just happen—they fought for reloaders. In 1963-1964, Bruce Hodgdon and others convinced the ICC to downgrade smokeless powder from "Class B explosives" to "4.1 Flammable Solid," making UPS and FedEx shipping possible. Before that change, getting powder was nearly impossible.
Innovation runs through the company DNA. Pyrodex Pellets, Triple Seven Magnums, and the Blackhorn 209 line all came from continuous R&D focused on safety, consistency, and cleaner shooting.
| Facility | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main Office | Shawnee, Kansas | Corporate headquarters |
| Manufacturing & Magazine | Herington, Kansas (140 mi SW) | Production and powder storage |
| Additional Magazine | Topeka, Kansas | Extra capacity |
Their shooting range and retail store at 6201 Robinson in Overland Park, Kansas (The Bullet Hole) was once billed as "the world's largest indoor shooting range" with 44 shooting positions at 25 yards. Though sold in 1982, it remains open to public visitors.
Bruce Hodgdon passed in 1997 after building the company from a boxcar operation. His sons J.B. and Bob grew up delivering powder shipments to train terminals before high school—they took over operations and drove decades of expansion. The company honored Bruce's contributions with the Shooting Academy Award of Excellence in 1995/1996.