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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$41.99 – $202.99
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$41.99 – $202.99
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$22.99 – $104.99
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Herco 8lbs – Alliant Powder
Alliant Herco
8 LB
SPECIAL ORDER
Smokeless heavy shotshell and handgun powder
Since 1920, a proven powder for heavy shotshell loads, including 10-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauge target loads. The ultimate in 12 gauge, 1 1/4-ounce upland game loads.Cleaner burning and improved flow
Excellent high-base hunting loads
Great for magnum handgunsPrincipal Purpose: Heavy shotshell loads 10, 12, 16, 20 & 28 gauge
Secondary Uses: Heavy handgun loads
WARNING: this product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. for more information go to – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
$166.20Herco 8lbs – Alliant Powder
$166.20 -
Green Dot 8lbs – Alliant Powder
Alliant Green Dot
SPECIAL ORDER
8LBNow cleaner burning! It delivers precise burn rates for uniformly tight patterns, and you’ll appreciate the lower recoil. Versatile for target and field.
Lower felt recoil
Superior patterning
Versatile for target and fieldPrincipal Purpose: Handicap trap loads
Secondary Uses: Light 20 ga. target loadsWARNINGS: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the state of California to cause cancerand birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to- www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
$185.24Green Dot 8lbs – Alliant Powder
$185.24 -
Bullseye 8lbs – Alliant Powder
Alliant Bullseye
Smokeless pistol powder
SPECIAL ORDER
8 LB
Billions of rounds have been loaded with Bullseye since it was introduced in 1913.
Fast burning and consistent
Economical and accurate
WARNING: this product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm . for more information go to – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
$182.77Bullseye 8lbs – Alliant Powder
$182.77 -
BE-86 8 lbs – Alliant Powder
Alliant Powder BE-86
SPECIAL ORDER
8 LB
The special extruded flake formulation results in excellent ballistics in a wide array of centerfire pistol loads, with high energy, an ideal burn speed and less flash. It meters well and is available in 1- and 8-pound canisters. Like all Alliant Powder offerings, BE-86 provides superior lot-to-lot
consistency.
Improved flow
Contains flash suppressant
High energy
Lot-to-lot consistency
VersatileWARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. for more information go to…P65Warnings.ca.gov
$176.34BE-86 8 lbs – Alliant Powder
$176.34 -
Alliant Powder – Sport Pistol 1#
Aliant Sport Pistol
Precision and action shooters need consistent, clean-burning propellant that lets them perform to their peak when a competition is on the line. New Alliant Powder® Sport Pistol delivers on these demands with extremely reliable cycling, excellent charging and case fill, and ballistics that lend themselves to a range of popular loads. Sport Pistol’s low-muzzle-flash formulation is also optimized for polymer-coated bullets, whereas comparable powders can dissolve polymer coatings at the bullet base during ignition.
Clean-burning formulation
Extremely reliable cycling for competitive shootersOptimized for polymer-coated bullets
Versatile ballistics
Excellent charging and case fill
Low muzzle flash
Made in the U.S.A.
Principal Purpose: handgun loads1 lb
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects, or other reproductive harm. For more information go to -www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
$26.33 -
Alliant Powder – Re-22 1lb.
Alliant Powder Reloader 22
1LB
Smokeless magnum rifle powder
This top-performing powder for big game loads provides excellent metering, and is the powder of choice for .270, 7mm magnum and .300 Win Mag.Powder of choice for 7mm Mag & .300 Win Mag
Excellent metering
Accurate and consistentWARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects, or other reproductive harm. For more information go to -www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
$32.29Alliant Powder – Re-22 1lb.
$32.29 -
Alliant Powder – Re-33 8lb.
Alliant Powder Reloader 33
8LB
Smokeless magnum rifle powder
Specific cartridge loads need specific propellant to perform to their ballistic peak. That’s why Alliant Powder® put countless hours of research and development into creating Reloder® 33. The advanced powder is specifically formulated for the long-range .338 Lapua, although it is also ideal for a range of large magnum rifle cartridges.Specifically designed for the .338 Lapua
Also suited for a variety of large magnum rifle cartridges
Superior lot to lot consistency
Principal Purpose: .338 Lapua
Secondary Uses: Large Magnum CartridgesWARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects, or other reproductive harm. For more information go to -www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
$268.44Alliant Powder – Re-33 8lb.
$268.44 -
Alliant Powder – Pwr. Pist 4lb
Alliant Power Pistol
4LB
Designed for high performance in semi-automatic pistols and is the powder of choice for 9mm, .40 S&W and .357 SIG.
Fast burning and consistent
Economical and accuratePrincipal Purpose: High performance 9mm, .40 S&W and 10mm
Secondary Uses: Moderate pistol cartridgesWARNING:This product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer anbirth defects or other reproductive harm. for more in formation go to-wwwP65Warnings.ca.gov
$107.99Alliant Powder – Pwr. Pist 4lb
$107.99 -
Alliant Powder – Herco 1 LB
Alliant Herco Powder
1 LB
Smokeless heavy shotshell and handgun powder
Since 1920, a proven powder for heavy shotshell loads, including 10-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauge target loads. The ultimate in 12 gauge, 1 1/4-ounce upland game loads.Cleaner burning and improved flow
Excellent high-base hunting loads
Great for magnum handguns
Principal Purpose: Heavy shotshell loads 10, 12, 16, 20 & 28 gaugeSecondary Uses: Heavy handgun loads
WARNING: this product can expose you to chemicals which are known by the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. for more information go to – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
$27.99Alliant Powder – Herco 1 LB
$27.99