reloading powder
Smokeless powder may be the most important component for any shooter who is reloading ammo and it’s probably the most complicated as well. With different characteristics and a ton of variables, gunpowder needs to be fully understood before you attempt to reload ammunition.
This guide will take you through the basics of smokeless gunpowder, show how all smokeless powder is not the same and demonstrate how the different characteristics of powder can make your reloads more effective depending upon your intended purpose. Don’t want to read the whole thing? No problem, use the quick links below to jump to whatever section you like.
When you start looking for gunpowder, one of the first things you’ll probably notice is that there are three companies who distribute the majority of powder throughout the country. There are other distributors and brands operating under different names, but if you purchase powder, there is a very strong chance it came through one of the following three companies.
ALLIANT POWDER
The history of Alliant Powder dates back to 1872, when they were known as Laflin & Rand. They later became the Hercules Powder Company, which was one of the most respected and trusted names in ammunition at the time. Their products included items for rifle, shotgun, and handgun cartridges as well as muzzleloading applications.
Today, Alliant provides many different powders that can be used for different purposes. They are a member of Vista Outdoor Inc., a global company that oversees numerous brands including Federal Premium Ammunition, Blazer, Bushnell, and Speer.
Hodgdon Powder
Hodgdon Powder is arguably the most successful powder company in the U.S.A. Founder Bruce Hodgdon purchased 50,000 pounds of surplus gunpowder after World War II and began selling to other gunowners who were interested in reloading. The Hodgdon company now provides a wide
Western Powders
Focusing primarily on powders for outdoor sports, especially big-game hunting, Western Powders is a brand that provides excellent products as well as reloading data, shooting accessories, and gun care supplies. Based out of Montana, it has been a leading powder distributor since 1972.
Their powder brands include Ramshot, which offers a full range of powders for hunting and marksmanship, Accurate, which is focused on shooting precision, and Blackhorn 209, which creates low-residue powder for muzzleloading. Range of smokeless and muzzleloading powders. Even the product that started the company, known as H4895, is still produced and sold. Based in Kansas, Hodgdon regularly creates innovative and technologically-advanced powders that meet the needs of many different shooters and reloaders.
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Winchester 296 Powder – 4 Lb
Special Order
4LB
Winchester Smokeless Powders have been around since the late 1800s. Customers that have shot Winchester factory loaded ammunition know that quality of propellant they’re receiving as soon as the first shot is fired. Bring that quality home to the reloading bench with the Winchester family of powders.
The 296 powder was developed for the 357 Magnum and 44 Remington Magnum cartridges. Winchester also recommends this propellant for use in 410 Bore AA loads..
Other Important Information:
Do not exceed the loads displayed in the reloaders guide.
Never mix any two powders regardless of type, brand, or source.
Never substitute any smokeless powder for Black Powder or any Black Powder substitute.$110.99Winchester 296 Powder – 4 Lb
$110.99 -
Winchester AutoComp Powder 8lb
Winchester #AutoComp
#WSAC88LB
$206.95Winchester AutoComp Powder 8lb
$206.95 -
Hodgdon Powder – H-4350 8lb
HODGDON #H4350
(8 LBS.)H4350 is ideal in the WSM family of calibers (270, 7mm, 30, 325) and is also the standard in such cartridges as the 243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 270 Winchester, 338 Winchester Magnum and many more. For magnums with light- to moderate-weight bullets, it can’t be beat
8lb Hodgdon H4350
$274.42Hodgdon Powder – H-4350 8lb
$274.42 -
Hodgdon Powder – H1000 8lb
HODGDON #H1000 #8
This extruded powder is a member of Hodgdon’s Extreme series of powder with slow-burning characteristics, perfect for highly-overbored magnums like the 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm STW and the 30-378 Weatherby. In addition, with heavy bullets, H1000 gives top velocity and performance in such cartridges as the 6mm-284, 257 Weatherby, 270 Winchester, and 300 Winchester Magnum.
8lb Hodgdon H1000
$274.22Hodgdon Powder – H1000 8lb
$274.22 -
Hodgdon Powder – H-4350 1Lb.
HODGDON #H4350
H4350 is ideal in the WSM family of calibers (270, 7mm, 30, 325) and is also the standard in such cartridges as the 243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, 270 Winchester, 338 Winchester Magnum and many more. For magnums with light- to moderate-weight bullets, it can’t be beat
1lb Hodgdon H4350
$35.43Hodgdon Powder – H-4350 1Lb.
$35.43 -
Hodgdon BLC2 Powder 8lb
BLC-2 8#
When it was first introduced to the handloader, benchrest shooters and other target shooters made it an instant success. BL-C(2) works extremely well in the 204 Ruger, 223 Remington, 17 Remington, 22 PPC and many more.
8lb Hodgdon BL-C (2)
$225.77Hodgdon BLC2 Powder 8lb
$225.77 -
Hodgdon Powder Int.Clays 14oz
HODGDON #INT’L CLAYS
International is the second in the Clays gunpowder series of powders, bringing this technology to the 20-gauge reloader. It also works in 12-gauge, 2-3/4-inch light, medium and heavy 1-1/8-oz. loads, and high-velocity 1-oz.
14 oz Hodgdon Int’l Clays
$18.99 -
H380 8lbs – Hodgdon Powder
SPECIAL ORDER
H380 is a superb performer in the 220 Swift, 243, 257 Roberts and other fine varmint cartridges.
8lb Hodgdon H380
$209.73H380 8lbs – Hodgdon Powder
$209.73 -
Hodgdon #800X 8 Lb. Keg
HODGDON #BENCHMARK
It is ideally suited for benchrest and small varmint cartridges like the 6mm PPC, 22 PPC, 6mm BR, 223 Rem. and 222 Rem. Additionally, it performs superbly in the 204 Ruger and with light match bullets in 308 Winchester. With small, easy metering granules, competitive-shooting reloaders will love how it flows through progressive presses.
8lb Hodgdon Benchmark
$258.97Hodgdon #800X 8 Lb. Keg
$258.97 -