Ian, I know that the supplier the whole time has been St. Marks in Fla. They sold the same powder
to WW as 231 back when Winchester was actually in the powder business. They are pretty much
out (maybe entirely) and Hodgdon is at least handling the marketing, may have actually bought
the trademark for powder, not sure about that, though.
And Hodgdon bought different lots made to the same St. Marks spec and sold it as HP-38. Possibly St.
Marks has changed it, all the powder companies have been under EPA pressure for a long time to reduce
emissions. But Hodgdon has not changed suppliers. On many other powders, they have been forced to
change powder suppliers. The WW/Hodgdon twins have always been made by St. Marks, same plant for
basically as long as I have been loading since the middle 60s. I have known a number of the family
members as friends for almost 30 years, back when the old man was still around. If I remember, I
will ask about 231 changes next time I see one of them.
Most of the ones that have been changed were the original surplus powders when the original
literal RR hopper cars of WW2 powder were finally expended. They had to find a new source. I THINK,
that some was made in Belgium for a while but I am pretty sure that all the yellow-brownish ones
are made in Australia now. Some are specially made, others are Aussie cannister grades renamed
for Hodgdon sales. Also, when the last US IMR plant burned down a decade or two ago, the
only remaining original WW1/WW2 IMR plant was (is) in Canada. All the IMR rifle powders are still
made there by the old methods. BUT, they are under environmentalist pressures, too, so the new
powders like 4166 are made with different processes, cleaner. I have yet to try 4166, but I
have been "assured" personally by one of the top guys that it is "as good as 4064". I laughed
and expressed skepticism, and said I have a number of my very best loads with 4064 and they a
are scaring me with eventual talk of eliminating it. Couldn't get anything other than "not any
time soon, and we hear you, you are not the only person who is passionate about 4064". He
did say the prices of the old IMR powders were under price pressures as environmental costs
increase with the old mfg methods.
Bill