He mentioned the quantities of surplus smokeless powder the military had dumped at sea after the war; and speculated how useful that would have been to handloaders struggling through the Great Depression.

[3] In 1947, he began acquisition of 80 tons of spherical powder salvaged from disassembled .303 British military rifle cartridges manufactured in the United States.

This powder resembled IMR 4350 in appearance, and with a slower burning rate, was initially marketed as "4350 Data", and later as 4831.

[6] A common approach to product safety involved offering ammunition safe for use in the oldest or weakest firearm chambered for that cartridge.

Owners of stronger firearms found and experimented with Hodgdon's previously unknown powders to achieve ballistics superior to available factory ammunition for older cartridges like the 7.92×57mm Mauser.

[7] Long-range shooters found 4831 was superior to previously available powders for high-capacity bottle-necked cases.

[10] Hodgdon's product line includes Pyrodex and Triple Seven, which are modern substitutes for black powder and intended for use in muzzleloaders and certain antique firearms.

Consequences of black powder's easy ignition by sparks or static electricity make manufacture and storage hazardous.