IMR Load Data

The IMR® (Improved Military Rifle) brand traces its origins to the early 19th century under the DuPont Corporation, a name synonymous with the development of high-performance gunpowder. E.I. du Pont, having arrived in America in 1800, established a gunpowder manufacturing facility by 1802 along the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware. This site eventually evolved into the modern GOEX brand, now known for producing black powder. DuPont quickly became a major supplier of military propellants, first seeing combat use in 1805 by U.S. naval forces during engagements off the coast of Algiers. By the time of World War I, DuPont was producing over 80% of the smokeless powder used by Allied forces. During World War II, demand for propellants soared—leading to the production of an astonishing 2.5 billion pounds of smokeless powder for Allied forces, reflecting the scale and importance of DuPont's role in global military supply. The IMR brand itself was launched in the 1930s as part of DuPont’s push to provide more refined and consistent rifle powders for both military and civilian applications. Among the first powders introduced were IMR3031 (1934), IMR4064 (1935), and IMR4350 (1940)—formulations that remain staples in the handloading community to this day. IMR powders quickly earned a reputation for delivering the performance and consistency necessary to optimize rifle ballistics, becoming a go-to choice for generations of precision shooters and reloaders. In 2003, the Hodgdon Powder Company acquired the IMR brand, uniting it with other prominent names such as Hodgdon®, Winchester®, and GOEX® under one umbrella. Today, the IMR product line continues to offer a wide selection of powders engineered for handloaders, maintaining its status as a legendary name in reloading history.