RCBS Sold

[HamGunner]

Hodgdon just announced that it has purchased RCBS. The company will remain in California keeping the present skilled workers and should remain a top rated company.

[Winger Ed.]

Considering the alternatives,,, that's not a bad thing.

[HamGunner]

Yes, American owned is a good thing.

[ddeck22]

A press release from Hodgdon:

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/news/hodgdon-powder-company-acquires-rcbs-reloading/

[country gent]

With Hodgdons reputation I think RCBS will be as good as if not even better. I think its a good "fit" for the 2

[deces]

I just hope they don't GOEX RCBS.

[ebb]

You really think that the company that has more than doubled the price of gunpowder in the past 2 years and seldom has any in stock, now has control of the most popular reloading tool company in the world is a good thing? All of the primer, gunpowder, and component problems are being caused by American corporations, the same corporations that have caused the demise of Remington, Marlin, DPMS and Dakota arms, the same corporations that have created one corporation that owns 75% of a primer production in America. The America that you and I love and believe in is gone. American citizens are marching and occupying colleges to protect terrorist. These companies were owned and founded by shooters, they are now run by thieves.

[GWS]

Don't think they will.....can't think of a friendlier take over........RCBS now has Kent Sakamoto back (works at Hodgdon) just promoted to RCBS National Sales Manager:) He quit RCBS because Vista would not let him do his job (Product Manager).....and RCBS suffered.

As a 50 year RCBS customer, I'm extremely happy.......finally, they shed their worthless taskmasters. Check the similar thread at THR.

[TNsailorman]

Guys the old days of reloading companies being owned and run by shooters and reloaders is gone forever. Vernon Speer, Fred Huntington SR, Len Brownell and others like them are not the modern cooperate owners. The reloading business, like the medical industry, the entertainment industry, are now owned by huge conglomerates whose only interest is the return on the dollar and pleasing the stockholders. Conscious and Compassion went out the window with the older generation. The company I worked for at one time no longer employes very many workers. Instead, they contract and sub-contract out most of the labor. Only the offices and company management is company. Why, because they do not have to provide medical benefits, workers comp., retirement, or life insurance, on those employees--it is up to the contractor and sub-contractor, who most of the time does not provide those benefits. Few even have vacation as a benefit. We are fast heading for a society that is controlled by and for the rich. And the government is in their corner (read that - hip pocket). my .02 anyway, james

[GWS]

Guys the old days of reloading companies being owned and run by shooters and reloaders is gone forever. Vernon Speer, Fred Huntington SR, Len Brownell and others like them are not the modern cooperate owners. The reloading business, like the medical industry, the entertainment industry, are now owned by huge conglomerates whose only interest is the return on the dollar and pleasing the stockholders. Conscious and Compassion went out the window with the older generation. The company I worked for at one time no longer employes very many workers. Instead, they contract and sub-contract out most of the labor. Only the offices and company management is company. Why, because they do not have to provide medical benefits, workers comp., retirement, or life insurance, on those employees--it is up to the contractor and sub-contractor, who most of the time does not provide those benefits. Few even have vacation as a benefit. We are fast heading for a society that is controlled by and for the rich. And the government is in their corner (read that - hip pocket). my .02 anyway, james

I agree that may be true too often in our country, but this new adventure for RCBS is way more positive....Hodgdon is still controlled by the Hodgdon family. They are shooters and they support shooters. Some of their other acquisitions in the last few years shows that they are not a non-hobby conglomerate as was Vista and the others since Huntington sold the company.

I think this is interesting:

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/news/hodgdon-powder-company-acquires-rcbs-reloading/

[TNsailorman]

I sincerely hope you are right GWS, for everyone's sake. james

[GWS]

I emailed and got a reply from an RCBS engineer I know yesterday.....congratulating him. He said it's the best thing to happen at RCBS for a long while. Another good sign.......

[Bazoo]

I hope it'll be great for RCBS and Hodgdon both.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?468480-Hodgdon-Purchases-RCBS!

[jmorris]

I was wondering if they were going to finally produce a great progressive, looks more like a carry on as usual deal.

[ebb]

I hope it will be great for RCBS, Hodgdon, and most of all shooters!

[GWS]

I was wondering if they were going to finally produce a great progressive, looks more like a carry on as usual deal.

The difference is a non-gun conglomerate no longer calls the shots. They had to beg and plead for every dollar spent. And none was received for R&D if not on new products.....so upgrading and improving existing products, was practically non-existent, especially if it cost money, and cut into Vista's bottom line. Vista has no vision. Could not see the value of developing feeders, since the ones they made for the Pro 2000 weren't instant hits......and they were so close....just a little more development needed. But no....no vision at Vista.

Hoping Hodgdon has some......vision.;)

[oldhenry]

Prior to the Green Machine I was a RCBS guy. I had so much confidence in them that I believed the BS in the gun mags (even the IHMSA gave it a glowing report). That was an important lesson for me. Obviously no one @ RCBS ever tried to load ammo on it & I'm having a hard time forgiving them.

However, I wish the new owner well. Maybe they'll trash the new Pro Melt & go back to the original design.

I'll probably regret these remarks later.

Henry

[Rapier]

I am just glad it was not the Belgian/French conglomerate bunch the went around the world buying everything in sight and screwed it all up with their woke and communist crap.
Anyone that has delt with the French, know how bad they can screw up a one man picnic. The FFL is a great outfit because they are NOT French, except the offices can be French.

[Rapier]

At least is was not the French / Belgian conglomerate.

[John Wayne]

Sadly, hopefully I'm wrong but "ebb" and "TNsailorman" most likely have it right.
JW

[GWS]

Have a little faith........this passage quoted from the Hodgdon Web Site sounds pretty upbeat......


“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.”

That European Conglomerate didn't get them......thank goodness for that.

[country gent]

H380 was named that because it was the load in Bruce Hodgdons wildcat 22-250 The hodgdon family are shooters.

[NObamain2012]

You really think that the company that has more than doubled the price of gunpowder in the past 2 years and seldom has any in stock, now has control of the most popular reloading tool company in the world is a good thing? All of the primer, gunpowder, and component problems are being caused by American corporations, the same corporations that have caused the demise of Remington, Marlin, DPMS and Dakota arms, the same corporations that have created one corporation that owns 75% of a primer production in America. The America that you and I love and believe in is gone. American citizens are marching and occupying colleges to protect terrorist. These companies were owned and founded by shooters, they are now run by thieves.

Unfortunately, I predict Ebb is right, instant replay of IMR.

[Juhosaphat]

To this day I run a Pro 2000 and will not switch until I absolutely have to. Hopefully this is a great transition for the reloading community.

[maxreloader]

To this day I run a Pro 2000 and will not switch until I absolutely have to. Hopefully this is a great transition for the reloading community.

Holy Lurker! 15 years... it took RCBS being bought. WELCOME to the forum!

[Juhosaphat]

Yeah, it's been a little while �� Thank you though! Just started loading again after a few year hiatus so figured it'd be a good time to get active on the forums again.