Hodgdon
Hodgdon US 869
A very slow spherical magnum powder for 50 BMG and heavy bullets in large overbore rifle cases, including long-range match use.
The slowest powder Hodgdon brands, and a very dense one — density is the point, because it lets you get a full charge column into a .50 BMG or a .30-378 without running out of case. It meters accurately and works well for long-range match loading in the biggest overbore cartridges. In anything short of RUM-class capacity it will not burn out, and there is no argument for trying. A specialist, and honest about it.
- 50 BMG
- 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
- 30-378 Weatherby Magnum
- heavy bullets in 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
Who has Hodgdon US 869 today
Checked October 10In stock at 3 stores — lowest in hand $45.76/lb (8 lb at Lohman Arms)
| Store | Size | Shelf | In hand /lb | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lohman ArmsHazmat charged, amount not published | 8 lb | $334.63 | $45.76 est. | In stock ↗ |
| Hodgdon (direct)Terms not published | 8 lb | $362.99 | $49.30 est. | In stock ↗ |
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 8 lb | $361.99 | $49.93 | In stock ↗ |
| Lohman ArmsHazmat charged, amount not published | 1 lb | $46.25 | $77.69 est. | In stock ↗ |
| Hodgdon (direct)Terms not published | 1 lb | $51.99 | $83.43 est. | In stock ↗ |
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 1 lb | $47.99 | $85.44 | In stock ↗ |
| Bruno Shooters Supply$26.95 hazmat + $19.95 ship | 8 lb | $313.99 | $45.11 | Out |
“In hand” is the shelf price plus that store’s hazmat fee and shipping, spread over one container. Stock is checked once a day — confirm on the store’s page before ordering. Compare all powders →
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Hodgdon |
|---|---|
| Product family | Hodgdon |
| Status | Currently produced |
| Application | rifle |
| Grain form | spherical |
| Lee VMD (bulk density) | 0.0651 cc per grain · 0.99 g/cc |
| Composition | double-base |
| Temperature stable | Not marketed as temperature-stable |
| Burn-rate position | 195 of 198 (fastest = 1) — what this means |
| Typical cartridges | 50 BMG, 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, 300 Remington Ultra Magnum, 30-378 Weatherby Magnum |
Grain shape
Dense spherical grains with a heavy deterrent coating — degressive, but slow enough that only a very large case and a heavy bullet will burn them completely. The density is what buys you a workable charge column in a case that is already full.
Why geometry decides burn rate more than chemistry does: Shape Is the Product.
Notably dense, which is the point: it lets the handloader get enough powder into a large case to reach full velocity. Spherical form meters accurately.
Burn rate
The slowest Hodgdon-branded powder on the current chart, just slower than H50BMG.
Chart agreement: consistent across charts - listed in the same relative neighbourhood by every publisher that carries it Ranked by: Hodgdon, Vihtavuori, Shooters World, Wolfe/LoadData.
Powders charted near it — neighbours on the chart are not substitutes, and adjacency tells you nothing about what charge either one takes:
- Alliant Reloder 33 (position 192)
- Vihtavuori 24N41 (position 193)
- Hodgdon H50BMG (position 194)
- Shooters World SW 50BMG (position 196)
- Alliant Reloder 50 (position 197)
- Vihtavuori 20N29 (position 198)
Sources
The specifications above come from Hodgdon's own published documentation, linked below. The two “RCM's read” sections are ours, not theirs — our assessment of what this powder is like to load, drawn from its published characteristics and from what handloaders consistently report. No manufacturer endorses them and no source below backs them. If you think we have one wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it.