I can’t find anything that definitively says it’s discontinued or not. It’s still listed for sale at Powder Valley and a couple others. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee it will continue to be available.

 

April 2024 - From Hodgdon
This powder ( 700-X ) is currently out of production with no eta.
Update June 2024 - All extruded shotshell powders ( 700-X ) are currently out of production but not discontinued.April 2024 - From Hodgdon
This powder ( 700-X ) is currently out of production with no eta.
Update June 2024 - All extruded shotshell powders ( 700-X ) are currently out of production but not discontinued.

 

which to me means......the assy line is not running for 700x, but they plan to in the future.
agree?

 

I'm not sure, what it does tell me is that it is not disconnected like many have said on YouTube. Same as the Clays line of products. My guess is it will be back, just not sure when. All you have to do is e-mail Hodgdon and they will respond.

 

if anyone has a lead on some on line or even privately....(reasonable $) lmk.
i need 16 lbs.

 

Hodgdon sources 700X from 2 production facilities. One in Canada and one in the US. The Canada facility is owned by General Dynamics and is the same place that makes Hodgdon's Clays line of powders. The US facility in Radford, VA is owned by the US Army, is managed by BAE Systems and leased to New River Energetics. The US plant is where Alliant gets its flake Dots, e3 and ExtraLite from. You can tell which plant made your 700X by looking at the country of manufacture on the container.

I'm guessing most of the recent 700X came from the US plant because if General Dynamics had any space in its production for something from Hodgdon, it likely would have been Clays.

As I understand it, most of the flake production from both places is going to production of artillery shells for the war in Ukraine. When that demand ends, we will begin to see more flake powders for reloaders.

 

Hodgdon sources 700X from 2 production facilities. One in Canada and one in the US. The Canada facility is owned by General Dynamics and is the same place that makes Hodgdon's Clays line of powders. The US facility in Radford, VA is owned by the US Army, is managed by BAE Systems and leased to New River Energetics. The US plant is where Alliant gets its flake Dots, e3 and ExtraLite from. You can tell which plant made your 700X by looking at the country of manufacture on the container.

I'm guessing most of the recent 700X came from the US plant because if General Dynamics had any space in its production for something from Hodgdon, it likely would have been Clays.

As I understand it, most of the flake production from both places is going to production of artillery shells for the war in Ukraine. When that demand ends, we will begin to see more flake powders for reloaders.

My remaining 4# jugs all say "Made in the USA" on the front lower left side.

 

Time to figure out what powder will replace 700X for your loading. I would guess Competition or Nitro100NF or Perfect Pattern might be great to replace it.

When Hodgdon replies to inquiries several months in a row that the powder is not being produced now, that it is NOT discontinued permanently, but that they don't have any ETA (estimated time of arrival) for it returning to production, I would look for something else! Especially if I were using, say, something like 16 pounds a year.

This is the time when we need to get real flexible and creative, instead of real mad. IMHO. We are not likely to change the war-time footing that we are on.
So, unless you want to pound the sidewalks looking for estate sales from old clay target shooters, and you are willing to deal with open-powder-bottle concerns, then you need to adapt.

good luck, garrisonjoe

 

I'm thinking of switching over to Winchester Super Handicap. Currently it seems to be in stock near me.

 

WSH is slower burning than 700X and much, much denser. The stack height will be considerably shorter, giving you dished crimps.

 

Depending on what you want to load. IMO the best available powders to replace 700X are Titewad/Nitro 100 NF, Ramshot competition, Winchester WST.

 

Red Dot has been available off and on. I've always found that to be an easy switch from 700X for my 7/8 1200fps loads.

 

Smokeless powder is not made on a "production line." It's made in batches, one batch at a time.

 

The powder companies can't produce all powders all the time. They don't have the capacity. The issue is the production lines are being used for other powders. Civilian reloading powders aren't a priority. Government and commercial contracts are. I see plenty of factory shot shell, pistol and rifle ammo on the retail shelves, especially with hunting season approaching.

 

by not demanding something, you send a message that you dont need it. if you show them you dont need it....they discontinue it.
i will keep demanding 700x. others should too.
i dont want coke....i want pepsi.

 

Civilian reloading powders aren't as lucrative as government and commercial demands and contracts. That's the issue.

 

ive been saying it for years and many mocked me but......the gun industry is NOT your friend.
profit is, and they will roll over you to get it in a heartbeat.
they can care less about your little reloading benches.

 

graf is out.
anyone ever deal with a co. called sportsmansgunshop?

 

Do they take credit cards?

 

Reloading is a dying hobby. The powder companies know this. FWIW I reload about half of my ammo. Look around at the average age of the majority of people who reload. Around me its 65 and above.

 

I started hand loading shot shells when I was 12 on my dads old CH loader .Me and my brother would load up two ammo cans every August getting ready for dove and squirrel season, ten years ago I through the old press away it was wore slap out. We loaded AA HULLS with Red Dot and 7 1/2 shot. They would reach out....Been hand loading rifle and pistol for about 40 years.63 now I am getting back into loading shot shells on an old PACIFIC DL-105 Press. I have an old can of HI-Skor-700 DUPONT POWDER Trying to find load data for it.

 

no they dont take cards. only paypal. thuswhy im curious if anyone has used them. they seem big....makes one pause if they dont do credit cards.

 

It is scam site.

 

Take a look at this thread and then check to see what you find.

https://www.shotgunworld.com/posts/4770845/

 

Whining to Hodgdon isn't going to do anything. Hodgdon doesn't make 700-X, they have zero - nil -no say so about when 700-X will be made next. Think real hard about this......do you REALLY think that Hodgdon doesn't want to sell powder? If they had their way, they would have all their powders either in stock or being made 100% of the time. Hodgdon doesn't make money until they sell powder. Hodgdon isn't the problem when it comes to supplying powder. The folks that manufacture powder are being told what they have to supply to the military and that is the bottom line.

We have to understand that no powder manufacturer EVER made powder only for the folks that reload at home. If they did they would have gone out of business long ago.

 

Hodgdon isn't the problem when it comes to supplying powder.

No, the root problem is a couple of major wars. Hodgdon's business plans / lack of backup production facilities for a situation like today are only a secondary contribution to the mess.

BUT - they are the company responsible for having 700X made by the subcontractor(s). The subs most likely won't respond to public (customer) pressure. The Hodgdon family business just might. Perhaps only with promises for future production. But that may all we get right now.

THAT disconnect between demand and supply is why the OP needs to seek out a different powder, no matter how badly he WANTS to continue using 700X. As vigorously stated above.

when you are in high demand, you increase production.

I would bet a ton that with the long lead time for a new smokeless powder factory, the environmental and workplace permitting, and the capital investment needed for a company which will only be a SUB to the company who will make the profits - all chill any interest in additional investments. Along with markets that can be disrupted on war-time production demands. "Pure capitalism" is not what we are operating within.

good luck, garrisonjoe

 

Ah yes, if only Hodgdon had Universal and Alliant had Green Dot my world would be a better place. At this point Titewad and Titegroup being available when needed would help immensely

 

And UNIQUE !!!!!! Pleeeeeese ! My Fav....You can load about anything w/that stuff!!

 

funny....when you are in high demand, you increase production.
basic business 101.
build more plants. whats so hard about that.

 

funny....when you are in high demand, you increase production.
basic business 101.
build more plants. whats so hard about that.

That's only true when the company can see a continuing demand to justify the capital investment. Maybe the powder manufacturers don't see that continued demand.

 

I believe if we look at the product and how it is made and the legal red tape to build a munitions plant in current day USA, if we were investors and owners we wouldn't build more plants for smokeless powder either. We as reloaders don't really use enough of this stuff to make it profitable. Especially in this case, as once the two wars have subsided we will be able to buy the powders we want again.

 

I would not look for 700x to be regularly available anytime soon. If you are out of 700X and you want to continue reloading, I suggest looking for a reasonable substitute that is available. This is the lesson many learned during the last powder shortage.

 

i have plenty of sub's.
most people i know in the know are telling me the plant forecasts mid 2025 to begin making it again.
thanks to all.

 

This thread amazes me. We are adults correct? Do we actually believe that the folks that actually make smokeless powder are blind and don't know what the supply and demand of the market is? Do we actually believe that we here at SGW know more than they do about what it takes to make smokeless powder and then understand what the market demand is? Do you really think that companies such as General Dynamics have their heads in their shorts?

Wake up and understand the subject and just how insignificant we as reloaders are when the crap hits the fan.