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Hodgdon to Close GOEX
- Thread starter Deltadart
- Start date
armoredman
New member
Why? I figured even black powder stuff is hard to find due to increased demand for anything that shoots a bullet, plus those of us making ammo stretch by spending more time with the smokepoles. I am glad I snagged some Olde Eynsford when I had the chance.
It's only a guess, but since military operations have stopped in Afghanistan, the government is probably cutting back on ammo purchases. Hodgdon may have had some sizeable contracts to supply powder that are now gone. The loss of income from those contracts will cause them to close any business that does not have a high ROI.
They're closing the black powder plant.It's only a guess, but since military operations have stopped in Afghanistan, the government is probably cutting back on ammo purchases. Hodgdon may have had some sizeable contracts to supply powder that are now gone. The loss of income from those contracts will cause them to close any business that does not have a high ROI.
I don't really know what I'm talking about...This s purely "blowing smoke"
Historically,black powder plants eventually have a catastrophic event.....sooner or later.
Dust and fines accumulate in nooks and crannies. Eventually.a spark finds it.
It might be its not so much about profit under normal conditions.
It might be more about the potential. The only thing that might cost more than people getting killed or injured is the hellfire and brimstone that agencies like OSHA,EPA.and I don't even know what else rain down.
It takes a lot of Buckskinner Squirrel Rifle Shoots to sell enough BP to pay a 20 million dollar fine.
Risk management might suggest "Quit while you are ahead"
Historically,black powder plants eventually have a catastrophic event.....sooner or later.
Dust and fines accumulate in nooks and crannies. Eventually.a spark finds it.
It might be its not so much about profit under normal conditions.
It might be more about the potential. The only thing that might cost more than people getting killed or injured is the hellfire and brimstone that agencies like OSHA,EPA.and I don't even know what else rain down.
It takes a lot of Buckskinner Squirrel Rifle Shoots to sell enough BP to pay a 20 million dollar fine.
Risk management might suggest "Quit while you are ahead"
Sigh... I guess it’s getting about time to order that saltpeter and sulphur stash I contemplated a couple years ago. Olde E was a really good powder for the price too. My Uberti NMA repro loves the stuff, and I can launch a 140 gn ball to 1100+ FPS with it. Fairly accurately too. The semi-decent availability of good BP has been the one thing that has kept me from stressing too much over the ammo crunch.
FWIW: On another website, it was posted that the U.S. Gov't is the largest consumer of black powder, as it's used as primer material in artillery ammo. Also, it was stated that the purchasing stipulations require that the black powder needed for that ammo be domestically produced (made here in the USA, I guess). Civilian shooter needs are but a small piece of the black powder sales after military considerations. Hopefully it might be possible that b.p. will be produced here again at some point down the trail. It was also predicted that a foreign supplier would pick up production to feed the demand; I would imagine that Scheutzen and Swiss powders will still be available. Again, just passing along a comment from another site regarding the GOEX/Hodgdon black powder concern.
www.schuetzenpowder.com (Hopefully we'll still have this powder available)
www.schuetzenpowder.com (Hopefully we'll still have this powder available)
BornFighting88
New member
Glad I picked up an extra can of 2f and 4f a few months ago in the slow season. I might touch off 5 shots a year, 10 if the dang elusive deer are everywhere to be seen. Still scares me that GOEX might be going away, even if it is a temporary shutdown.
My flintlocks LOVE the GOEX stuff. Might have to go find some more and stock up a little bit before this comes to pass. Heaven forbid it all goes away.
My flintlocks LOVE the GOEX stuff. Might have to go find some more and stock up a little bit before this comes to pass. Heaven forbid it all goes away.
armoredman
New member
I honestly had no idea the US military still used black powder for anything. Interesting. Since the GOEX facility will be up for sale, here's hoping someone with a brain buys it, refurbishes it and opens up again.
I recently watched a you tube video on the firing of naval guns. The turrets and magazines and elevators,etc.
Its not brass cased fixed ammo. The projectile is loaded, then "bags" (for lack of a better term) of propellant are loaded behind the projectile. The last thing loaded into the chamber is where the black powder comes in. Its a smaller bag of Black Powder used as an ignition charge to get everything else lit up.
FWIW, BP often gives remarkably uniform velocities through a chronograph.
A uniform ignition might be a good thing when you are shooting 20 miles.
Its not brass cased fixed ammo. The projectile is loaded, then "bags" (for lack of a better term) of propellant are loaded behind the projectile. The last thing loaded into the chamber is where the black powder comes in. Its a smaller bag of Black Powder used as an ignition charge to get everything else lit up.
FWIW, BP often gives remarkably uniform velocities through a chronograph.
A uniform ignition might be a good thing when you are shooting 20 miles.
Seedy Character
New member
Those 20 mile shots are made with precision, too.I recently watched a you tube video on the firing of naval guns. The turrets and magazines and elevators,etc.
Its not brass cased fixed ammo. The projectile is loaded, then "bags" (for lack of a better term) of propellant are loaded behind the projectile. The last thing loaded into the chamber is where the black powder comes in. Its a smaller bag of Black Powder used as an ignition charge to get everything else lit up.
FWIW, BP often gives remarkably uniform velocities through a chronograph.
A uniform ignition might be a good thing when you are shooting 20 miles.
They consistently hit a building at 20 miles. So, a 100' target at 20 miles. Equivalent to a 5' target at 1 mile (1760 yards). Equivalent to 12" target at 400 yards.
3" 100 yard groups. .30-30 accuracy at 20 miles. Pretty dang good, but from what I have read; it's not a 100' building, more like a 30' house; compares to 1" or less precision. A bit more impressive
deerslayer303
New member
Well THAT stinks. KIK is gone right now too. I don't know who made it. I guess I'll have to spring for the Swiss and see what all the fuss is about. I never bought the high end stuff as The deer didn't know the difference. But now I guess I have no other choice.
That Goex plant has experienced seven explosions/fires since 1997 when it became operational.
TIMELINE
June 2011: About 1,000 pounds of black powder explode in the
Goex corning mill plant. One worker is slightly injured when he
slips and falls during the evacuation. Temporary evacuations are
ordered in the immediate vicinity.
July 15, 2006: A fire and a "small explosion" cause no injuries at
the Goex black powder facility.
Nov. 3, 2004: Goex explosion; no injuries.
Oct. 31, 2001: An explosion at Goex injures two employees and
causes $2.5 million in damage.
Jan. 25, 2000: A flash fire and explosion at Goex burn one
employee.
Nov. 5, 1998: A worker dies in an explosion at Goex.
The 2011 explosion in the corning mill building was caused by a piece of quartz. In the accident report it was noted that floor sweepings should not be thrown into the batch.
TIMELINE
June 2011: About 1,000 pounds of black powder explode in the
Goex corning mill plant. One worker is slightly injured when he
slips and falls during the evacuation. Temporary evacuations are
ordered in the immediate vicinity.
July 15, 2006: A fire and a "small explosion" cause no injuries at
the Goex black powder facility.
Nov. 3, 2004: Goex explosion; no injuries.
Oct. 31, 2001: An explosion at Goex injures two employees and
causes $2.5 million in damage.
Jan. 25, 2000: A flash fire and explosion at Goex burn one
employee.
Nov. 5, 1998: A worker dies in an explosion at Goex.
The 2011 explosion in the corning mill building was caused by a piece of quartz. In the accident report it was noted that floor sweepings should not be thrown into the batch.
Last edited:
bamaranger
New member
options?
With no Goex, what are the remaining options? BP, real BP, is hard enough to find over the counter at present anyhow!
With no Goex, what are the remaining options? BP, real BP, is hard enough to find over the counter at present anyhow!
armoredman
New member
HiBC....we haven't used that type of ammo in naval vessels in a very long time. The 16" 50sd are long retired. 5"54 and 3"50 are fixed rounds, not semi fixed, giant rifle shells. We also never ever used black powder, not since we developed smokeless powder. The only serving US naval vessel with black powder guns is the USS Constitution. The silk bags of propellant in the 16"50s are actually smokeless powder. BIG smokeless, but definitely not black.
Former US Navy Gunners Mate, Guns, BTW.
Former US Navy Gunners Mate, Guns, BTW.