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Hodgdon acquires a bunch of other powder companies

Dogtown

Ke = (mv^2)/2
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Minuteman
  • Jun 21, 2007
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    This is interesting news...



    Hodgdon Powder Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Ramshot and Accurate smokeless powder brands and the Blackhorn 209 muzzleloader brand from Western Powders. This acquisition is effective October 1, 2020, with the company set to immediately begin shipping these new products to wholesale and retail customers.

    “This acquisition of the Ramshot and Accurate brands further solidifies our portfolio of smokeless brands and products for our handloading end users,” said Steve Kehrwald, president and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company. “And the addition of Blackhorn 209 to our world-class muzzleloading brands like Pyrodex and Triple Seven uniquely positions us to serve the muzzleloading consumer. With these brands, we also add the capabilities of an additional ballistics lab to continue developing the data our customers demand from our Reloading Data Center tool and publications like our Annual and Basic Manuals.”

    “Hodgdon has always been a strong competitor in the reloading powders industry,” said Doug Phair of Western Powders. “The Hodgdon family has built a robust company. Ramshot, Accurate and Blackhorn 209 will make excellent additions to the Hodgdon family of powders.”

    “For years, our friends have referred to the Hodgdon family and company as ‘The Gunpowder People’ and this acquisition is another example of our dedication to the handloader and muzzleloader hunter,” said J.B. and Bob Hodgdon, co-owners and sons of the founder of the Hodgdon Powder Company. “We have experience in acquiring the IMR Powder brand in 2003, the Winchester Powder license in 2005 and the GOEX brand in 2009 and we plan to put this experience to use in expanding the reach and customer base of the Ramshot, Accurate and Blackhorn 209brands.”
     
    +1 for TAC - a very versatile powder.

    Earlier this year I had a very difficult time feeding my big magnums because N570, RL33, Retumbo etc were so scarce. But there was no shortage of the new LRT from Ramshot. I'm now using it in .338LM and it's fantastic!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: RickyRacer87
    +1 for TAC - a very versatile powder.

    Earlier this year I had a very difficult time feeding my big magnums because N570, RL33, Retumbo etc were so scarce. But there was no shortage of the new LRT from Ramshot. I'm now using it in .338LM and it's fantastic!
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    Oh. So THAT's what they've been focused on all this time. Maybe now they can get back to actually making powder!
     
    Hodgdon doesn't make the regular rifle & Pistol powders. They source it from the actual powder manufacturers. They make the Pyrodex black powder substitute.
     
    The fact there was no anti-trust difficulties is rather troublesome. Like if some government entity wanted to shut component suppliers down.
     
    This is NOT good. A monopoly on powders means any poor planning (on production and distribution) is always bad for consumers (election years, national tragedy, etc.).
     
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    Reactions: wh20crazy
    Don’t conflate manufacturers with brand marketers and distributors...
     
    Don’t conflate manufacturers with brand marketers and distributors...
    I think many of us know that Hodgdon doesn't MAKE powder (except one, AFAIK)… but the fact is that they, given their acquisition will control how and when such powders are distributed and made. Which makes ONE company controlling all the variables always a bad thing. Especially when all it takes is the swipe of [legal] pen to put shooting to a stop.
     
    Are any of the Accurate or Ramshot powders manufactured domestically in the USA? Is any of it made at St. Marks or NRE? Or is it all imported?

    I'm not sure that shifting or consolidating importers makes much difference. It would be good news if another powder plant came up within US borders, but I just don't foresee that happening.
     
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    Reactions: wh20crazy
    Are these guys nearing an anti trust threshold now? LOL

    While I think you're joking here, I don't like the consolidation of an industry that's already way behind the 8 ball in keeping products in stock.

    The fact there was no anti-trust difficulties is rather troublesome. Like if some government entity wanted to shut component suppliers down.

    This doesn't approach anti-trust levels (yet). My father was an expert witness for plaintiffs in anti-trust. He would talk through a lot of the cases with us. You really need to have a substantial market share and engage in behavior that puts the minority positions at a competitive disadvantage (like lowering prices to below profitable to force them out).

    Issues may never materialize here, but with such a concentration, if it does then we will all pay a hefty price... literally.
     
    I don't like the consolidation of an industry that's already way behind the 8 ball in keeping products in stock.

    Ownership consolidation and literal asset consolidation/rationalization usually follow one another. Let's hope the Hodgdon brothers aren't stupid about it.

    In fact now would be the time to take advantage of underutilized assets from a former competitor to add capacity at a rate that can't be matched by adding physical infrastructure, if there are any.
     
    Are any of the Accurate or Ramshot powders manufactured domestically in the USA? Is any of it made at St. Marks or NRE? Or is it all imported?

    I'm not sure that shifting or consolidating importers makes much difference. It would be good news if another powder plant came up within US borders, but I just don't foresee that happening.

    Many of the Accurate powders, spherical double base are St Marks powders from Florida. The single base extruded are typically from Canada, and similar to the IMR powders. I think they have used some European powders in the past. I am not sure about the pistol powders.