Dear Hodgdon,

[Seedy Character]

Without knowing the condition of the plant, I would start by assuming that there were inherent and endemic safety / process issues that were simply not economical enough to remediate. Blowing up your employees sounds like a bad business model.

The explosion was a big ones and damage extension, from what I have read.

Add to that, it was the OLDEST plant they had.
From "other" plants, in have worked in, equipment is expensive. Upgrades and safety enhancements are done when forced (again, expensive)
Bean counters are running EVERYTHING.

They didn't blow up / shut down the. During a shortage. Same as Remington didn't file bankruptcy and close down their largest plant during a major shortage.
The closures were a major fracture in CAUSING the shortages.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Sounds like a lot of whining to me. Make your own manual next year. I bet the reloading world will just be so pleased with yours right? I bet your the type that would be surprised if you got one complaint right? lol

Easy there, Armydog. First off, I guess you don't get tongue-in-cheek sarcasm easily, eh? Second, whining it may be, but there's also a little constructive criticism mixed in there that corporate may want to hear, The customer is always right and however irritating that is, businesses that disregard their customers don't stay in business long.

 

[armydog]

Easy there, Armydog. First off, I guess you don't get tongue-in-cheek sarcasm easily, eh? Second, whining it may be, but there's also a little constructive criticism mixed in there that corporate may want to hear, The customer is always right and however irritating that is, businesses that disregard their customers don't stay in business long.

Trust me, they will be in business for a long time to come and won't be losing any sleep over your criticism. lol

 

[armydog]

I did not quote your whole rant because of what "armydog" states....



Hard to believe in the first place, at least to me, that one needs to buy a duplicate of the previous year's reloading manual every year.....unless one invests in new calibers every year. Unless the is a multitude of new and amazing powders introduced or new and amazing projectiles. Does this really happen every year? I still use decade old manuals because I still use the same powders, loading the same bullets, for the same calibers that I did last year. 'ell, even if I wanted to use new powders and projectiles, or even invest in a new caliber this year....where the 'ell do you find them, and find them at a reasonable cost? My loads are what I worked up so having a new recipe that calls for a few grains more or less doesn't really affect me. The "Gospel" of reloading manulas, the Lyman, has been 9X11 for a long as I have been reloading and it has always fit on the shelf with the others.

I'm thinking that Hodgdon has listened to and is focusing on the opinions of the "majority" of it's readers. I have my doubts they intentionally made their manual to offend the "majority" of it's intended users. $13 is not a lot to spend on a tool that has as much reliable information in it like a good reloading manual. It is a lot to those who use the online recipes that Hodgdon gives out for free on their website tho, or those that beg recipes off forums like this. If $3 is that much of a deal in today's world of unrealistically inflated reloading costs, I woulda waited at least another year or two before thinking I "just have to have it".

Sorry about the rant, but what's fair for the goose..........

If there is something I need to find out, I am going to find it. I may have to spend time on the internet, send emails or make phone calls, but I have always found the answer I am looking for. I never hit a dead end and I never hold a grudge against any publication that didn't have the answer. lol

 

[splattergun]

Just goes to show ya, never throw out your old manuals. They come in handy eventually.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’d be happy if they just friggin’ shipped in some H4895 and H322.

Keep an eye out for VV N135. Their powders have been available more during this unpleasantness than most others

 

[Howa 9700]

Does the 2022 version include data for Accurate and Ramshot powders?

 

[HowieG]

Without knowing the condition of the plant, I would start by assuming that there were inherent and endemic safety / process issues that were simply not economical enough to remediate. Blowing up your employees sounds like a bad business model.

No. This from Hodgdon: “Effectively, Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. decided to stop manufacturing operations at its Camp Minden, Louisiana location while evaluating strategic alternatives for the black powder business."

That is corporate speak for we aren't making enough money on the product, so we are looking to move the manufacturing of the product offshore. Basically, BP production in the U.S. is done.

There indeed was an explosion at the BP plant back in 2011, but production resumed. The same happened to the Pyrodex plant in 1977, but it is still being made today. If the money is there, explosions won't stop things for long.

The reality is that Hodgdon has way more control over propellants in the U.S. than is good for us, the American shooter.

 

[jmorris]

To heck with that. I want to know why they quit making black powder.

That might have been the only powder “they” made. That’s just because they bought GOEX in 2009.

They likely don’t have enough holdings to acquire Australian Defense Industries (ADI) or General Dynamics that make a large chunk of the smokeless powders Hodgdon sells.

 

[HowieG]

That might have been the only powder “they” made. That’s just because they bought GOEX in 2009.

They likely don’t have enough holdings to acquire Australian Defense Industries (ADI) or General Dynamics that make a large chunk of the smokeless powders Hodgdon sells.

They actually make Pyrodex, Triple Seven, and White Hots. They would not have to acquire General Dynamics, just St. Marks Powders, a subsidiary of GD. That of course isn't for sale, because St. Marks makes 95% the powder for the military. No need to acquire ADI because it is way more cost effective to just be a distributor.

 

[Gooseman69]

I don't reload to save money its not possible
Buisnesa have cost increaes they pass that cost onto us That's business 101 I have no problem with it

 

[Gooseman69]

Adi actually makes the powder for hogdon
Hogdon buys the powder from Adi and then has it bottled and labeled under the hogdon name if I understand correctly Hogdon doesn't actually manufacture their own powder

 

[HowieG]

Adi actually makes the powder for hogdon
Hogdon buys the powder from Adi and then has it bottled and labeled under the hogdon name if I understand correctly Hobson doesn't actually msnufacture their own powder

The smokeless powder is made for Hodgdon by ADI and St. Marks Powders (division of General Dynamics). Hodgdon actually produces Pyrodex, Triple Seven, and White Hots.

 

[Gooseman69]

The smokeless powder is made for Hodgdon by ADI and St. Marks Powders (division of General Dynamics). Hodgdon actually produces Pyrodex, Triple Seven, and White Hots.

I was, close, ty

 

[HowieG]

I was, close, ty

Yep, for government work, you would be close enough.