Black Powder Shortage - After 220 years, America's last black powder manufacturer will close. For tens of thousands of muzzleloader hunters, stock shooters and black box enthusiasts, the GOEX shutdown means reduced supply and higher prices for years.
GOEX owner Hodgdon Powder Company announced the immediate closure of its Camp Minden, Louisiana, facility in a statement in September. 28.
Black Powder Shortage
Black powder is the first powder. It was invented by the Chinese in BC. 850, a mixture of salt, sulfur and coal. When smokeless powders appeared at the end of the last century, black powder was slowly phased out of most military and sporting applications. But there is still a dedicated blacksmith fan base, mostly made up of muzzleloaders, stock shooters, and hobbyists.
Black Powder Cartridges
"Immediately, Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. has decided to suspend operations at Camp Minden, Louisiana while evaluating strategic options for the black powder business," Hodgdon said in a release. "The company is suspending operations while a review is carried out into the future of the black powder business."
There are also new black powder options. Arriving on the scene, most were immediately struck by ignition and accuracy problems. Others, such as Pyrodex, are made with additives that make the boat safer.
GOEX has made a name for itself in the shooting industry, currently being the only manufacturer of black powder in the United States.
"Strategic options for the black powder GOEX and Olde Eynsford brands, including production equipment, have a fair market share in the industry," the release said. "All affected employees will remain employed until December 31, 2021 to assist with the closure of the facility and receive severance pay commensurate with their years of employment with the company."
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The exact reasons behind Hodgdon's GOEX shutdown are unclear, but several key events lead to the shutdown:
In 1802, DuPont opened its US black factory on the Brandywine River in Delaware. In 1912, the need for black powder increased and DuPont opened a new manufacturing plant in Berlin, Pennsylvania.
The Berlin plant has supplied black powder to the US military since World War I in Vietnam. Fireless powder was the main powder in those years, but black powder was used in the ignition systems of many guns and aerial bombs. The US Army sold over 8 million pounds of black powder in 1967-68.
In 1970, the Berlin plant became part of GOEX. Efforts to support the sports industry began with the start of the Vietnam War.
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In 1997, GOEX production was transferred to a military facility in Minden, Louisiana. Camp Minden has a long history of military service from 1942-1994.
Hodgdon Powder Company purchased GOEX on January 1, 2009 and invested in improving the black-and-white process, improving worker safety, and improving product quality.
Black powder is traditionally produced and imported into the United States in small quantities. The most common black powder derivative on American shelves is Swiss Black Powder, manufactured by Schuetzen Powder Energetics, Inc.
It's not the end of the world for muzzleloaders. There are many black powders available in the market. Hodgdon regularly uses Pyrodex, Triple Seven and Blackhorn 209, which are available in powder and pellet form. The company said the closure of GOEX will not affect the operation of its other product lines, including black shutters.
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If the manufacturer follows the loading specifications, these black muzzleloaders can be used in standard muzzleloaders.
When it comes to cowboys and black powder shotguns, that may be a different story. Many black powder competitions have strict rules regarding the use of black powder. This may need to be changed.
While it's unclear what this means for the future of black powder in America, buyers are rumored to be interested in acquiring GOEX. Black activists patiently wait for good news, cigarette caps at the ready.
Kurt Martonik is a real estate agent, gunsmith and outdoor enthusiast. She grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in the great state of Montana. He is a worldwide Air Force veteran with nearly 2,500 hours as a boom operator refueling jet aircraft in flight. He works full-time as a salesman for C. Sharps Arms and spends all of his free time gun trading and hunting on the plains and mountains of Montana. His technical writings on gunsmithing can be found at kurtthegunsmith.com.
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