The Gunpowder People

The Gunpowder People is the story of Hodgdon Powder Company and the Hodgdon family. Born in 1910, founder Bruce “B.E” Hodgdon launched Hodgdon Powder Co. after serving in the military in World War II. Hearing how the U.S. government scrapped surplus gunpowder by the shipload after World War I, Hodgdon took out a loan against a life insurance policy in order to buy surplus 4895 gunpowder in 1947. With an ad in American Rifleman in January 1948, Hodgdon was selling powder to the handloading public.

Along with wife Amy and sons J.B. and Bob, Hodgdon built Hodgdon Powder Co. in Shawnee, Kansas into the quintessential American success story. Sons J.B. and Bob (and a long list of passionate Hodgdon employees) grew the company further, establishing Pyrodex in 1976, purchasing competitor IMR in 2003, licensing Winchester Powder in 2005 and purchasing Goex Blackpowder in 2009.

While the history of Hodgdon Powder Co. and the Hodgdon family is still being written, this book covers the first seventy years of the Hodgdon story and what the company and the family have accomplished. This quality “coffee table” hardback book features both color and black & white images and is nearly 200 pages.

Length: 199 pages

Dimensions: 8.75”High x 11.25” Wide

Publisher: Bang Printing (Brainerd, MN)

Publication Date: September 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-89103-2