Hodgdon purchases RCBS from Revelyst/Vista outdoors

[Supersubes]

Dated today

Hodgdon Powder Company Acquires RCBS Reloading – Hodgdon Powder Company

hodgdonpowderco.com

May 2, 2024

Hodgdon Powder Company Acquires RCBS Reloading

Hodgdon Powder Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of RCBS Reloading from Revelyst, a segment of Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO). This acquisition is effective May 2, 2024, with Hodgdon prepared to immediately continue shipping RCBS products to wholesale and retail customers.

“This acquisition of RCBS, the leading brand in metallic reloading tools, is a perfect complement to our portfolio of smokeless powder brands for our handloading customers,” said Steve Kehrwald, president and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company. With our world-class ballistics labs, we look forward to providing even more load data to our new RCBS customers.”

Hodgdon is thrilled to add the RCBS facility in Oroville, CA to our company-owned facilities in Shawnee, KS, Herington, KS and Miles City, MT. The addition of the RCBS team will more than double the headcount at the Hodgdon Powder Company and greatly expands the company’s manufacturing capabilities.

“For years, our friends have referred to the Hodgdon family and company as ‘The Gunpowder People’ and this acquisition further demonstrates our dedication to the handloader,” said J.B. Hodgdon, co-owner with his late brother Bob, of the Hodgdon Powder Company. “Our dad Bruce partnered with Fred Huntington from RCBS to conduct Reloading Roadshow events in the 1950s and 1960s. I believe they both are looking down today, proud to have our two great brands together in 2024.”

“For more than 80 years, RCBS has demonstrated their manufacturing, innovation and operational excellence,” Said Eric Nyman, Co-CEO of Vista Outdoor and CEO of Revelyst. “We are thrilled for RCBS and their new ownership with Hodgdon Powder. This transaction joins two iconic brands, and it ensures that RCBS is positioned for success in the next chapter of its history.”

About Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc.
Established in 1947 by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon, sons J.B and Bob grew Hodgdon Powder Company into the largest US supplier of smokeless and blackpowder substitute propellants and the top reloading tools brand in RCBS. The company distributes propellants under the Hodgdon®, IMR®, Winchester®, Ramshot®, Accurate®, Pyrodex®, Triple Seven®, Blackhorn 209® and RCBS® brands.

About RCBS
Established by Fred Huntington in 1943, RCBS is dedicated to the craft of handloading ammunition. Started with one simple bullet die, RCBS is now the leading manufacturer of reloading equipment and tools for rifles and pistols – everything from presses, dies, shell holders, powder measurers and priming products. All backed by RCBS’s industry-leading reputation to give our customers a premium handloading experience

 

[stello1001]

Haven't the hodgdon powders become less available and higher in price? Who knows if they'll be able to alleviate any of that by adding more plates to their table now.

 

[Haney]

Haven't the hodgdon powders become less available and higher in price? Who knows if they'll be able to alleviate any of that by adding more plates to their table now.

From the article...Hodgdon is thrilled to add the RCBS facility in Oroville, CA to our company-owned facilities in Shawnee, KS, Herington, KS and Miles City, MT. The addition of the RCBS team will more than double the headcount at the Hodgdon Powder Company and greatly expands the company’s manufacturing capabilities.

 

[Lightning8]

RCBS prices will double

 

[Rio Precision Gunworks]

Hodgdon doesn’t make any powder at all. They are a distributor that either has licenses or their own formulas made by actual powder manufacturers. Most of their powder is made in Australia.

Direct from Hodgdon several times over the past few years is that the powder issue is a demand issue and not supply. Technically it’s a supply issue, but the only solution to that is for manufacturers to build new plants which is an expense almost none of them feel worth it in the long run.

Which means when manufacturers are not willing to expand, the only answer to the problem is when demand falls.

Adding more employees won’t help the powder issues. The doubling of the workforce is more than likely referencing other things such as the RCBS brand. As it’s not just “Hodgon” that is doubling in size, RCBS is doubling by default as well.

 

[Supersubes]

From the article...Hodgdon is thrilled to add the RCBS facility in Oroville, CA to our company-owned facilities in Shawnee, KS, Herington, KS and Miles City, MT. The addition of the RCBS team will more than double the headcount at the Hodgdon Powder Company and greatly expands the company’s manufacturing capabilities.

I shoulda done that. Edited above.

 

[fpgt72]

Haven't the hodgdon powders become less available and higher in price? Who knows if they'll be able to alleviate any of that by adding more plates to their table now.

I have had no issues getting them here lately, now during the shortage yea, but now nope. But now the most close big town is Kansas City, and that is "basically" where hodgen is. The old range I visited in town was basically in the parking lot.

 

[Charmingmander]

I don't like how firearms related entities are all conglomerating lately.

 

[AllenOne1]

RCBS has 102 employees and $25M in revenue according to Datanyze.

Wonder if they are thinking about get out of CA and bringing that business to KS.

 

[Haney]

Adding more employees won’t help the powder issues. The doubling of the workforce is more than likely referencing other things such as the RCBS brand. As it’s not just “Hodgon” that is doubling in size, RCBS is doubling by default as well.

The word "likely" tells me you have no clue what is going to happen .

 

[chevy_man]

RCBS has 102 employees and $25M in revenue according to Datanyze.

Wonder if they are thinking about get out of CA and bringing that business to KS.

They're building more stuff in Montana. No idea on if they plan on moving, but they're putting up a building.

 

[7.62willdo]

They're building more stuff in Montana. No idea on if they plan on moving, but they're putting up a building.

Where?

 

[mosin46]

don't reload. did 25yr ago. moving out of kali must be in the plan. makes sense for sure. the more available reload stuff is the better for me. factory loads have to stay at least a little competitive. IMHO reload shortages made factory outfits able to raise prices way > 50% since 2016 with no fear of lost income.

 

[chevy_man]

Where?

Somewhere...

My buddy told me he got the bid on the electrical, that's as much as I know.

 

[Pbgt]

rcbs, never heard of her....all my shits blue.

 

[sneakypayload]

I figured something was up when I couldn't access the RCBS site and password reset doesn't work, at all.

I like Hodgdon, I live locally here and they support matches with stuff, and I belong to the range their family trust owns, but RCBS dies aren't worth full price, they are worth whatever the mil/leo discount is. I'll switch over to LE Wilson stuff and/or Whidden if I'm paying full price.