Hodgdon Celebrates 70th Anniversary

Hodgdon Powder Company is turning 70 in 2017. In 1947, Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, along with their sons JB and Bob, launched Hodgdon, with the first surplus powder offering after World War II.

In the 70 years since, Hodgdon has grown into one of the industry's most recognized suppliers of gunpowder and blackpowder. It has also acquired the IMR and Goex brands in the process. 

“Our father Bruce was drafted into the service during World War II, where he served as an aerial gunnery instructor for the Navy,” said JB Hodgdon, Hodgdon co-founder. “He used skeet to teach his students about the lead required to hit targets. He couldn’t get enough ammunition to teach skeet but could get components, so brother Bob and I would help him most nights loading shotshells so he could teach class the next day.”

“After the war, Dad was instrumental in convincing the government to sell him surplus 4895 and he brought it to market in 1947 as Hodgdon H4895,” said Bob Hodgdon, Hodgdon co-founder. “Our first ad selling surplus powder appeared in American Rifleman magazine in November, 1947. Although we’ve grown over the last 70 years and our company has a lot of accomplishments to celebrate, in our hearts, we’re still a group of proud handloading shooters and hunters from Kansas. We are grateful to our employees who manufacture, package and ship the product and for our handloading and muzzleloading customers who appreciate what we do.”

For more information, go to Hodgdon.com.