Available Smokeless Powder

Hodgdon, Alliant, and the remaining companies import a large percentage of materials from Australia, Canada, and several European countries. With that in mind, many external factors can disrupt the supply chain like UN treaties, global pandemics, and war which consumes large quantities of powder. Ranking in the industry for priority military contracts rank on top while the reloading market is on the bottom and what is available to us is generally considered surplus inventory by the producers. That, in a nutshell, outlines the facts and defines why there is or is not powder found on the shelves ready to buy.

Since raw materials are basically rationed, the ‘powers to be’ pick winners and losers regarding which powders will be imported and in what quantities. Priority is generally 1-pound cans first, then if supplies remain, then you can expect to size larger containers offered up for sale. Below is an outline of powders probably still not expected to be imported.

From Alliant basically the whole line-up if there is something can bet is not a popular powder, sorry, it is the way they roll. Hodgdon (which is also IMR and Winchester) shotgun powders in general so this will be 700X, Universal, Clays, International Clays, Titewad and we can add Trail Boss, H-4198, and H-4227 into this mix. Other types not seen in several years are Accurate 5744, IMR-4064.IMR-4198.

Next is powder types that I will label as “Somewhat Imported and Very Restricted in Quantities”. This is a longer list and nearly impossible to keep current but here is an attempt. H-322, H-4895, H4831, H-1000, RETUMBO,Varget, IMR-7828. Good advice but sometimes I am not popular when I state my opinion is to remove Vihtavouri and Norma from your vocabulary. Face it, they followed a very sporadic schedule on pricing and availability before all the events outlined earlier took place so moving backward was not a huge step to take.

If your favorite powder is mentioned above reference a burn rate chart to find a good substitute is a option to consider since at the time of this article IF and WHEN your chosen powder will make an appearance is unknown. Click here for the chart.

All the types not mentioned above SHOULD be able to be purchased in theory, I am aware that different regions can have different end results. If I were in the powder shipping business I could stock my shelves with something. Here is what as a dealer I could choose from on a March 2025 supply list:

Hodgdon: Perfect Pattern, Tite Group, High Gun, HP38, HS6, CFE’s (all three), Longshot, H380, Superformance, H110, H335, H4350

IMR3031

Winchester: 231,296,572,748, StaBall 6.5, StaBall Match, WSF

Accurate: NO2,7,9,1680,2230,2460,2520,2700,Magpro

Ramshot: Grand, Magnum, Silhouette, TAC, X-Terminator

Current inventory of powder and primers at Duck Creek (no shipping services offered on HAZ)