Cat is on the correct path, in regards to lot variations and such.
Hodgdon DOES NOT make ANY smokless powder, Winchester DOES NOT make any smokeless powder, Ramshot, Hornady..... you get the idea.
THE ONLY smokless propellant currently manufactured in the USA is ball powder. The plant is in St. Marks, Florida. It is owned and operated by General Dynamics; a defense contractor.
The Winchester "branded" powders and Hodgdon's ball powders(at least most) come from there.
The folks you "think" are selling you gunpowder/ammo, are only middle-men. Which do you think is going to get more "attention" to batch consistency, etc. A military contract for train-loads of powder, or a ton or two for the private sector?
