I bought 5 pounds of potassium nitrate and 1 pound of sulfur for 34 dollars shipping included. I make my own charcoal from willow and make my own gunpowder. It is fast and works well in my .45 and .50 caliber rifles. I have to add about 10% more powder to match goex powder but I don't mind. The surprise to me was how clean it leaves the bore. It is gunpowder but I am able to load and fire at the range 12 to 15 rounds before I begin to have a hard time loading. It also gives me a feeling of self worth to create it myself.
TY RK!! I'm gonna remember that!! Back in 70'80's, I THEORIZED that using 3 parts (PYRODEX>30% stronger) substitute w/ 7 parts BP(FFg)> mix well, combatted the high humidity in my area, providing more consistent ignition. Dangerous?? Maybe. Reliable?? Seemed to work. Still use it 50 years later.
I am new shooter of blackpowder flintlock. Your are the easiest one to understand on flintlock period. Your description is clear and precise. Keep up the outstanding job.
If your're vigilant on safety and take the precautions its not hard to make your own black powder with a ball mill, its dirty and takes a bit of time but it can be made really cheap.
*fffg triple F or three F works well in 45 & 50 cal... at MODERATE charge rates... 82 grains of FFFg is a fairly good charge for 45 or 50 caliber with 20" to 25" barrel..... LONGER barrels such as 36" and 42" can burn a little more powder. SUPER HIGH CHARGES OF Fg & FFg ... excess powder blows out the end of shorter barrels , unburnt... or makes a huge flash... by burning outside of the barrel... *
Love the holy black. Have plenty of modern firearms but nothing is quite as satisfying as the smell and sight of that glorious plume of gray smoke. Great fun to visit a public range where folks are pew pewing and break out a smoke pole or black powder .45-70 / 45 Colt cartridges. I visit a friend in Missouri once a year that is about 30 minutes from Grafs so I stock up. I am down to under 6 lbs so I think it is time for another visit.
WANO established a stable supply chain of quality charcoal for Schuetzen Powder. The tests showed greater muzzle velocity and it's much more cleaner. Try out any Schuetzen batch from 2023 and upload some feedback.
I'm not new to black powder. I've always used Goex, but I'm running low and need to find something else. Any of the synthetics are out of the question. That's not why I got into black powder in the first place. I'm not a volume user, so buying two or three pounds at a time and paying the Hazmat fee is not a problem.
A great review for a beginner! Before watching your series, I learned a lot and put together what I know from other presenters like Uncle Sasquatch, Duelist1954, BlackPowder Maniac Shooter, etc. Your and their interest and enthusiasm for black powder are contagious.
In my Tennessee percussion 50 cal rifle I've been using Hodgdon Triple 7 2F with great success. Tight groups and very clean burning. I use 15% less per charge. It's not "Real" black powder and has no sulphur. I use Goex or Schutzen 2f in my ,62 cal smoothbore Fusil de Chase flinter.. Never tried Swiss powder yet and will steal, borrow or plunder some of my shooting buddy's to give that brand a try. In the whole scheme of things, I've never had an issue with any of these powders fouling the guns badly and 10-15 minutes of maintenance is all it takes to keep them clean and range ready. Once again another great video.
Only issue I have with my homebrew is I need to get some higher quality wood for charcoal. It seems like it's at about 80-90% of store bought BP in terms of power. I've been using pine that I charcoaled myself and milled the powder for almost a day, then pressed into a puck and ground down with a ceramic manual coffee grinder.
@@cetate93 I have a cemetary nearby that is home to a bunch of willow trees that I visit to collect fallen branches and the like. I've also read that either grape vine or willow are fast burners. I've also read that southern hardwoods are also great for BP. It all goes boom in the end though, right? =D
I like the FFG granulation across the manufacturing spectrum (except Swiss 1 1/2) as it seems to produce less Standard Deviation in my firearms. Oh, 1860 Army C&Bs, 1872 Open Tops in 44 Special, 1873 SAAs in 45 Colt, 20 Gauges, and Winchesters 1873 and 1866 in 45 Colt.
I use light loads of that 1F/reenactment powder in all of my pistols and rifles when I'm punching holes in paper at the range. I feel like it's a good, cheap alternative when plinking for all intents and purposes. Now, when hunting, or for competition and so forth, I can definitely understand using different grades of powder. I feel like when I'm blazing away for pure fun, I don't need to be spending extra cash on heavier loads or finer grade powders. What do you guys think?
Dave - you may find that Old Eynsford will be cheapest for plinking. For a given volume it is considerably more powereful than any black powder but Swiss, to which it is equivalent but costs less. For plinking velocity you will get more shots per dollar, as you need less powder per shot at a given velocity. You will find it burns extremely cleanly, I can shoot my cap and ball revolvers as long as I want before cleaning.
Completely off subject. I just want to brag about my grouping with my Lyman GPR 1:60 twist. I tried .490 ball and .018 patch without any success. Next, (luckily) I tried .498 ball, .015 patch (wet with water and dish soap method & mink oil for hunting), and 60 grains (volume) of 3f Goex and on top of that, I am using the primitive sites. I am shooting a 1 inch group @ 50 yards consistently. We all need to let people know how accurate these traditional guns can be. Maybe this will persuade others to try the sport for themselves.
Might try upping that powder charge to 70 grains to even 90 grains for hunting. That Lyman Great Plains rifle has a slower rifling twist for patch round balls, so it takes a little more velocity to spin that rouns ball to get the best accuracy and power for hunting. I use 65 grains to plink with with my 50 cal and 54 cal hawkens, but use 90 grains for hunting. I have been castibg and shooting these black powder gubs for over 45 years.
I think that's often the case. It often works great in long barreled smoothbores. I just picked up an original 1842 Harper's Ferry rifled musket and plan on doing some serious testing on 1f . Thanks for stopping by Wade!
the other vid on the amount of BP used in the "flash" Pan was the only point that was correct...the "flash" part. The amount of "flash" you need is the point. The amount matters, other wise you still would have a fuse pan with the pan half full or even piled up against the "flash" hole. Lord being that you would even figure on picking your "flash" hole ever. So much so that the "flash" would ignite the main...so filler up I suppose and flinch and wait huh
Another question: Is there a broad rule of thumb equating the volume measure of black powder to weight? Sure, you measure your charge by volume, but let's say you want to get a general idea of how many charges of a certain size you can get out of a pound?
jjohnston94 Since the weight and volume do not line up, when I want to calculate that I weigh the charge on my postal scale to translate the volume to weight. It’s the only way I know how to do that. I put a cup on the scale and zero it out, weight it. Thanks!
Black Powder TV so true. I love black powder weapons. I’ve liked them since I was a kid. I see that you and Mark (Black Powder Maniac) really like them fine old flints. I like my Hawkens because they’re dependable. I also own a new CVA Optima. Still, I prefer the Hawken. I really like bop revolvers.
saw your video, I personally have as yet not found black powder anywhere. I've owned a BP revolver since 1979 and have since added another, but no black powder. I've had to deal with pistol grade Pyrodex all this time. I have wanted a bp rifle but its price jumped from around $400 to well over $1100 bucks, hence I don't own a rifle yet.
Diamond back is horrible..just wanted to share my experience with all of u. Doesnt burn completely and leaves large un burned grains in the breech. I give them 5 out of 5 stars on the looks of the can tho lol
I'm wondering : do 4f better for a short barrel ? Sound logic : shorter barrel may work better with a faster burning powder... I'm thinking about my Remington 1858 sheriff edition, with shorter barrel than the normal edition. Do someone ever try to compare 4f vs 3f in this particular gun, with chronograph and maybe a slow motion camera ? Things that I didn't have in my arsenal 😢 Thanks you for answering, and for tolerating the weird English spoking from a frenchy guy 😅
Would it be insane to take your main charge powder, say, 2F and grind some up (like 2% of every pound) with a mortar and pestle to make your own fine priming powder? I'm told this works even better than buying it, because bought powder granules are covered with graphite, while crushed granules will have some clean powder exposed by the grinding.
I believe grinding a bit would be fine with sensible precautions eg safety glasses and leather gloves, done outdoors with small amounts of powder, wearing a heavy longsleevedshirt, etc.
hah, you should use whatever you can find in 2021.. Its nearly impossible to find black powder or even the substitutes today... and good luck even finding caps.. Luckily for my 1851 navies i found the german powders.
I prefer Schuetzen in all of my guns, but especially Swiss 3F powder in my percussion gun. Both powders cleans up very well. Keep up the great work my friend. Excellent review. I believe you'll have a VERY interesting channel before you know it!
I wouldn't do it for safety reasons. Some people use it successfully but the pressures generated by 4f are so high you can easily blow up your revolver. I wouldn't go any finer than 3f personally.
I have only used Goex FF in my .75 caliber musket, normally 100-120gr with a .69 caliber roundball. Do you think a 1.5F powder would work okay in comparison? That is pretty much all that is in stock at the moment sadly...
I’ve always used Goex. Thought because of the cost, that Schuetzen was of a poorer/ cheaper value/performance. Different sites I see, Schuetzen seems a little cheaper or at least comparable to Goex. How to choose? Is one more consistent? Is one cleaner?
Hey Gene, the best way to choose is to get one of each and check for accuracy and the amount of fouling you get. I've found one works better on humid summer days and the other in the dry Winter months. It's just a matter of how deep in the weeds you want to get on powder choice! I've found Scheutzen is a bit better in most of my smoothbore guns and Goex in better in rifles. Someone in a different climate may find just the opposite. Thanks!
Black powder chemistry is complex. A particular powder may be stronger at light loads than another brand, but weaker at heavy loads, better at one caliber than another, better awith one gun than another, etc. The only consistant thing is that Swiss and Old Eynsford are cleaner and more powerful per grain. Accuracy is yet more complex.
What is the point of the different granule sizes? I us 2F in my .54 like I should, but why not say, use priming powder on a reduced charge? Why the need for the different versions?
Hey Bill. It’s about the charges combined surface area. Any BP charge that has more surface area will burn faster. So a charge made of one big chunk of BP will burn the slowest and a charge made of the most tiny pieces will burn the fastest. It’s not just a matter of saying, “well, then the finest powder is the best” because faster burning means higher pressures on the barrel so the pressures of a fine 4f or Null B powder will give too high of a peak pressure and burn so fast that that high pressure will be focused on just the first few inching of barrel length after you fire the charge. Ideally you want your peak pressures to hit something like 6” to a foot down the barrel so there is more surface area of barrel to spread out the pressure. I hope that makes sense.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the storage of Pyrodex as it’s pretty stable but I would take precautions just as you would do with gunpowder or gasoline. 👍🏻
3F or 2F for 50 cal musket as mention for 45 cal to 50 use 2F and 3F for anything below 45 cal. So for my 50 cal musket I have been using 3F does this affects the accuracy or should I switch to 2F? Thanks
Not necessarily. Either is fine but one may perform better than the other in YOUR gun. The difference is pressure and velocity, and how much you need/want. This was meant as a guide to give you a place to start, the rest is up to you! Thanks Dantankun!
Hey Jeff, you can often use Pyrodex in a percussion gun just fine. It takes more care in cleaning but it should work fine. It will not work correctly/consistently in a flintlock. Flint sparks will not ignite Pyrodex consistently. That’s my main problem with it as I shoot a lot of flintlocks. It has a bit of a long term corrosion reputation as well. I can’t speak to that as I haven’t used it. Also, if you are a traditionalist at all you can’t beat the smell and smoke of real BP. Thanks!
Absolutely not Pyrodex or Triple 7. Those for sure DO NOT use. American Pioneer Powder will work well in revolvers, I have not used it in rifles so i have no idea, Powder Inc. prices include hazmat shameless plug for them not a paid announcement.
Thanks for the comment. Not Yet Errol. I do have cartridge guns and I’ll get a playlist on those started soon. I decided to go the first year on mainly flintlocks and branch out from there. 👍🏻
General rule of thumb when starting that is begin with actual black powder loadings such as 44-40, 45-70, 45 Colt etc. The second number tells you how much power to use. Example 45-70 is 70 grains of powder by volume. Don't go any finer than 3f and be sure there is no air gap in the cartridge just like a muzzleloader.
Good info...I have Pyrodex RS for my inline and the bottle says I can use it in a Flintlock if you put 5grains of black powder in first and then reduce your load by 5gr..I never tried this..have you or would you recommend this?
James Sparhawk I will add that. Great idea. I use Graf’s sometimes but mostly Powder Inc. There are minimum orders and Powder Inc adds shipping and hazmat to the cost of the powder so don’t be thrown off on that.
I have a Traditions Kentucky rifle in 50 cal 1/66 twist and 33.5 in barrel. Im starting to work up the load for this gun. Any recommendations as starting with 2f or 3f?
Hey Kurt, you could go either way. Personally I prefer a larger charge of 2f for many of my .50s but have had several that shoot better with 3f most often if the barrel is a 1-66” and short. 3f burns faster so it’ll take a larger charge in a short barrel. Some folks like 2f for the lower recoil and some 3f for the higher velocity if they’re working up a hunting load. Up to you. 👍🏻
Sure you can. 3f just gives higher pressure per grain, translating to sharper recoil and higher fps, so I’d start by going from 100 2f to 70 or 65 3f and adjust up or down for accuracy at your preferred distance between charges of 3f and 2f. Penetration is basically the same for all practical purposes between 2f and 3f so go with what give the best recoil comfort and accuracy.
1f for cannon and huge bore guns, 2f for large bores, 3f for smaller bores and pistols, and 4f in the pan. Anything will work in the pan, but the finer (larger number of ‘f’s) the faster and hotter it is so better in the pan for faster discharge.
I read a press release that Goetx plant is closing at the end of 2021. Will it continued to be made elsewhere or by another manufacturer. I am brand new and all I have now is a can of Pyrodex.
You can try it if you can’t get real BP but the BP substitutes are hard to ignite in flintlocks. Should be fine in percussion. Clean it out very well when you’re done. They are pretty corrosive.
@@BlackPowderTV Hi, what can I do if for example the substitute powder failed to ignite because not enough ignition how can I now remove the ball-patch and powder inside the barrel? Thanks
For a .69 Springfield would 2f be fine to use or would you rather recommend 1f because I’ve heard from many people different accounts and just wanted to know more opinions
2f is fine as well. 1f is just historically accurate if that’s important to you. 3f would work too depending on the quality of your barrel but would kick like a mule without any added accuracy. 👍🏻
@@BlackPowderTV for hunting historical is not too important for me, but when doing reenactments I do care, would a four winged musket cap work good or would you recommend a #11 cap if it fits for igniting the powder
@@BlackPowderTV last question, what would be the best powder to use with the 4 wing musket caps to fire a .687 minne ball and would you recommend any other alternatives to swiss such as triple 7 or pyrodex
2f is best for that caliber. Goex and Swiss are easiest to get. Pyrodex and all those BP alternatives are really bad for your barrel and will ruin it over time. Stick to real BP if possible. If not, really clean and lube it very well. One missed day of cleaning correctly will absolutely pit your barrel.
i leaning toward using using a hodgdon triple 7 50/50 pellets with areolite 230 grain or lest but maybe around 200 grain made by powebelts bullet for my 50 cal inline cva wolf break open.it frist time out with muzzleloader my dad use triple 7 pellet for his never had problem plus easy clean after shots after sight it in with scope. what your take on this. i normal hunt during nov rifle season in my state i live in vt with 30 06 bolt action . but like i said frist time with muzzleloader for me
Hey Nixon, Triple 7 works just fine with percussion guns so your load sounds just fine. Just make sure to clean really well as any BP or BP sub will corrode more than modern powder. 👍🏻
I'd like to do more cap and ball shooting but the mess and cleaning of black powder is considerable. I'd like to find a black powder alternative but I'm in Australia and Blackhorn black powder replacement isn't available here. (as far as I can tell). Does anyone have a formula for Blachorn 209 (or something similarly "clean"?). (Pyrodex and 777 are almost as messy and fouling as real black powder). The guns I use are 1) Original Winchester 1873 rifle. 44/40 2) Deane Adams and Deane original revolver. 3) Repro Colt Walker revolver (Colt brand but probably made by Uberti or similar). 4) original 6 barrel pepperbox pistol. 5) Original Le Forcheux pinfire revolver. The original pistols _must_ have low pressures, or they'll get damaged. I think it'd be too risky to use smokeless powder. Any suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
You can always just make it very easy. I make my own shoots great much cleaner then shooting substitute powder and a hell of a lot cheaper I can make about 6 pounds for what a pound cost to buy. You can get set up to make it for around $150.00 Including ball mill and enough chemical to make several pounds
I get powder from Powder Inc. 5 pound minimum, can mix and match different brands and grades, and hazmat/shipping/tax is all included in the price so you know exactly how much money you have to spend.
Graf&sons clearly states their hazmat and shipping charges in powder descriptions. All vendors have this info usually under a 'shipping policy' menu. The information is very easy to find. For a 5 pound order PowderInc is more expensive than just about anyone else, though they offer a good deal on a full case.
A generation of Americans was cheated by Goex (Du pont) with an inferior,weak , adualtered product during the height of the muzzle loading resurgence of the 1960's-1980's. People like Sam Fadalla underestimaded the power of traditional firearms from those days due to this intentional adulateration. The fact the swiss powder (unchanged) is 25% or so hotter (grains per FPS) proves it. An entire generation was mislead to believe black powder fire arms were weak an ineffective due to this intentional misrepresentation....Goex knew all along their product was substantially inferior to traditional powders.Every muzzle loader should bear that in mind and seek an alterative propellant that doesn't enrich the lying Goex scammers.
No one really carries it in stores anymore because of the hazmat regulations but you can order it many places online. It’s just as legal as toothpaste. 👍🏻 Pick some up.
I'm in Texas also it is perfectly legal to buy there is some law on how much you can have I think. I just make my own much cleaner than shooting the substitute stuff and way cheaper about $6.00 a pound to make
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I bought 5 pounds of potassium nitrate and 1 pound of sulfur for 34 dollars shipping included. I make my own charcoal from willow and make my own gunpowder. It is fast and works well in my .45 and .50 caliber rifles. I have to add about 10% more powder to match goex powder but I don't mind. The surprise to me was how clean it leaves the bore. It is gunpowder but I am able to load and fire at the range 12 to 15 rounds before I begin to have a hard time loading. It also gives me a feeling of self worth to create it myself.
my country is blessed i can buy the same amount with less than 10$
Im sure the ATF loves that abahahahha
TY RK!! I'm gonna remember that!! Back in 70'80's, I THEORIZED that using 3 parts (PYRODEX>30% stronger) substitute w/ 7 parts BP(FFg)> mix well, combatted the high humidity in my area, providing more consistent ignition. Dangerous?? Maybe. Reliable?? Seemed to work. Still use it 50 years later.
I am new shooter of blackpowder flintlock. Your are the easiest one to understand on flintlock period. Your description is clear and precise. Keep up the outstanding job.
Been making my own for years. Same recipe, very consistent, costs about $6 per pound to make
Thanks for this explanation. I've never heard this breakdown of caliber to F size. It makes perfect sense.
If your're vigilant on safety and take the precautions its not hard to make your own black powder with a ball mill, its dirty and takes a bit of time but it can be made really cheap.
*fffg triple F or three F works well in 45 & 50 cal... at MODERATE charge rates... 82 grains of FFFg is a fairly good charge for 45 or 50 caliber with 20" to 25" barrel..... LONGER barrels such as 36" and 42" can burn a little more powder. SUPER HIGH CHARGES OF Fg & FFg ... excess powder blows out the end of shorter barrels , unburnt... or makes a huge flash... by burning outside of the barrel... *
Love the holy black. Have plenty of modern firearms but nothing is quite as satisfying as the smell and sight of that glorious plume of gray smoke. Great fun to visit a public range where folks are pew pewing and break out a smoke pole or black powder .45-70 / 45 Colt cartridges. I visit a friend in Missouri once a year that is about 30 minutes from Grafs so I stock up. I am down to under 6 lbs so I think it is time for another visit.
Doug Pillow I couldn’t agree more. Thanks!
Thanks uncle Bob. I've learned more from watching your videos than any other media form.
Great!
Great to see a new traditional black powder channel.
Thanks Paul!
WANO established a stable supply chain of quality charcoal for Schuetzen Powder. The tests showed greater muzzle velocity and it's much more cleaner. Try out any Schuetzen batch from 2023 and upload some feedback.
I'm not new to black powder. I've always used Goex, but I'm running low and need to find something else. Any of the synthetics are out of the question. That's not why I got into black powder in the first place. I'm not a volume user, so buying two or three pounds at a time and paying the Hazmat fee is not a problem.
A great review for a beginner! Before watching your series, I learned a lot and put together what I know from other presenters like Uncle Sasquatch, Duelist1954, BlackPowder Maniac Shooter, etc. Your and their interest and enthusiasm for black powder are contagious.
F Olday Thanks a lot! Those guys are great and I’ve watched all their stuff too. It always makes me want to get out there and shoot!
Great video. Side note: been using 3f in barrel and pan in mine ,works well, like ya said gotta find what works best in each gun
Great Channel! And, varrying dirt in the bores comes from using the different charcoal in the production, i.e. the Swiss use alder...
In my Tennessee percussion 50 cal rifle I've been using Hodgdon Triple 7 2F with great success. Tight groups and very clean burning. I use 15% less per charge. It's not "Real" black powder and has no sulphur. I use Goex or Schutzen 2f in my ,62 cal smoothbore Fusil de Chase flinter.. Never tried Swiss powder yet and will steal, borrow or plunder some of my shooting buddy's to give that brand a try. In the whole scheme of things, I've never had an issue with any of these powders fouling the guns badly and 10-15 minutes of maintenance is all it takes to keep them clean and range ready. Once again another great video.
I have between 5-10 Lbs of various brands of 3F with one being 4f..For plinking though I use my homemade..
I haven't tried homebrew yet but it's on my list!
Only issue I have with my homebrew is I need to get some higher quality wood for charcoal. It seems like it's at about 80-90% of store bought BP in terms of power. I've been using pine that I charcoaled myself and milled the powder for almost a day, then pressed into a puck and ground down with a ceramic manual coffee grinder.
@@cetate93 Last bunch of charcoal I made and used was from wild grape vines, suppose to be a better burn from what I read..
@@cetate93 I have a cemetary nearby that is home to a bunch of willow trees that I visit to collect fallen branches and the like. I've also read that either grape vine or willow are fast burners. I've also read that southern hardwoods are also great for BP. It all goes boom in the end though, right? =D
Good heads up on powders thanks.
Thanks, a well-done video, very helpful.
Great, to the point info! Very clearly presented!
I use Olde Eynsford that I bought from Graf's. I get good accuracy with a .50 Hawken.
The choice is simple 10/21. No BP available. Good vid.
It is getting simpler by the day…..
I like the FFG granulation across the manufacturing spectrum (except Swiss 1 1/2) as it seems to produce less Standard Deviation in my firearms.
Oh, 1860 Army C&Bs, 1872 Open Tops in 44 Special, 1873 SAAs in 45 Colt, 20 Gauges, and Winchesters 1873 and 1866 in 45 Colt.
👍 = es gibt nichts mehr zu sagen! Alles perfekt!
Thank you for such to the point, informative explanation. I learned from you.
I use light loads of that 1F/reenactment powder in all of my pistols and rifles when I'm punching holes in paper at the range. I feel like it's a good, cheap alternative when plinking for all intents and purposes. Now, when hunting, or for competition and so forth, I can definitely understand using different grades of powder. I feel like when I'm blazing away for pure fun, I don't need to be spending extra cash on heavier loads or finer grade powders. What do you guys think?
Hard to argue with that logic.
Dave - you may find that Old Eynsford will be cheapest for plinking. For a given volume it is considerably more powereful than any black powder but Swiss, to which it is equivalent but costs less. For plinking velocity you will get more shots per dollar, as you need less powder per shot at a given velocity. You will find it burns extremely cleanly, I can shoot my cap and ball revolvers as long as I want before cleaning.
3F works in everything. You're welcome.
Maybe a good visual aid on the grain sizes? I’ve never seen larger than a 2F grain..sadly. 🙄
I hope you will make more videos. I miss your videos .
Completely off subject. I just want to brag about my grouping with my Lyman GPR 1:60 twist. I tried .490 ball and .018 patch without any success. Next, (luckily) I tried .498 ball, .015 patch (wet with water and dish soap method & mink oil for hunting), and 60 grains (volume) of 3f Goex and on top of that, I am using the primitive sites. I am shooting a 1 inch group @ 50 yards consistently.
We all need to let people know how accurate these traditional guns can be. Maybe this will persuade others to try the sport for themselves.
James Sparhawk Excellent grouping. Most people will give up on finding the perfect load for their gun long before they discover it. Well done.
Might try upping that powder charge to 70 grains to even 90 grains for hunting. That Lyman Great Plains rifle has a slower rifling twist for patch round balls, so it takes a little more velocity to spin that rouns ball to get the best accuracy and power for hunting.
I use 65 grains to plink with with my 50 cal and 54 cal hawkens, but use 90 grains for hunting. I have been castibg and shooting these black powder gubs for over 45 years.
I'm no scattergunner but I consistently hear that 1F can be magic for making better shot patterns. My 54 likes 2F charge and in the pan.
I think that's often the case. It often works great in long barreled smoothbores. I just picked up an original 1842 Harper's Ferry rifled musket and plan on doing some serious testing on 1f . Thanks for stopping by Wade!
I’ve been getting my powder at Cabela’s out side of Sevierville Th. $30.00 a lb.
Good to know. Closest one to me is about 70 miles in Nashville. I'll check it out next time I'm by! Thanks!
the other vid on the amount of BP used in the "flash" Pan was the only point that was correct...the "flash" part. The amount of "flash" you need is the point. The amount matters, other wise you still would have a fuse pan with the pan half full or even piled up against the "flash" hole. Lord being that you would even figure on picking your "flash" hole ever. So much so that the "flash" would ignite the main...so filler up I suppose and flinch and wait huh
Another question: Is there a broad rule of thumb equating the volume measure of black powder to weight? Sure, you measure your charge by volume, but let's say you want to get a general idea of how many charges of a certain size you can get out of a pound?
jjohnston94 Since the weight and volume do not line up, when I want to calculate that I weigh the charge on my postal scale to translate the volume to weight. It’s the only way I know how to do that. I put a cup on the scale and zero it out, weight it. Thanks!
"All Fantasy" I this world. You get what you Get? and you don't throw a FIT!
Is there any difference between goex 3F and schuetzen 3F? I've read that the schuetzen is a little smaller granule size.
Goex is a big bigger but Sheutzen is a bit tougher and less uniform. Goex is much more consistent and a better powder overall but not by a whole lot.
Wow. Been a long time since I’ve used black powder. Nice channel.
Ralph Perez Thanks Ralph! I feel like somethings missing if I don’t get filthy with BP residue while shooting!
Black Powder TV so true. I love black powder weapons. I’ve liked them since I was a kid. I see that you and Mark (Black Powder Maniac) really like them fine old flints. I like my Hawkens because they’re dependable. I also own a new CVA Optima. Still, I prefer the Hawken. I really like bop revolvers.
Ralph Perez I love them all. Have a Hawken, and several other cap guns. Love em!
saw your video, I personally have as yet not found black powder anywhere. I've owned a BP revolver since 1979 and have since added another, but no black powder. I've had to deal with pistol grade Pyrodex all this time. I have wanted a bp rifle but its price jumped from around $400 to well over $1100 bucks, hence I don't own a rifle yet.
Thanks!
Powder is a bit problematic to get now. Hopefully, once Goex production and distribution ramps up, it will be more available.
Diamond back is horrible..just wanted to share my experience with all of u. Doesnt burn completely and leaves large un burned grains in the breech. I give them 5 out of 5 stars on the looks of the can tho lol
Thanks for sharing. Good info!
I'm wondering : do 4f better for a short barrel ? Sound logic : shorter barrel may work better with a faster burning powder...
I'm thinking about my Remington 1858 sheriff edition, with shorter barrel than the normal edition.
Do someone ever try to compare 4f vs 3f in this particular gun, with chronograph and maybe a slow motion camera ? Things that I didn't have in my arsenal 😢
Thanks you for answering, and for tolerating the weird English spoking from a frenchy guy 😅
Would it be insane to take your main charge powder, say, 2F and grind some up (like 2% of every pound) with a mortar and pestle to make your own fine priming powder? I'm told this works even better than buying it, because bought powder granules are covered with graphite, while crushed granules will have some clean powder exposed by the grinding.
I would buy Swiss Null B, which is not coated and very fine. I’ve been burned by BP so I stay away from messing with it much. 👍🏻
I believe grinding a bit would be fine with sensible precautions eg safety glasses and leather gloves, done outdoors with small amounts of powder, wearing a heavy longsleevedshirt, etc.
I use 3F and pretty much everything and it still goes Bang.
hah, you should use whatever you can find in 2021.. Its nearly impossible to find black powder or even the substitutes today... and good luck even finding caps.. Luckily for my 1851 navies i found the german powders.
I use Goex, its all my stoee sales in real black powder
I actually using wano ex FFG for a 45 caliber look good
I prefer Schuetzen in all of my guns, but especially Swiss 3F powder in my percussion gun. Both powders cleans up very well. Keep up the great work my friend. Excellent review. I believe you'll have a VERY interesting channel before you know it!
Thanks Mark! I'm a Schuetzen and Swiss man myself!
@@BlackPowderTV Yeah - boy........I'm with you brother.
@@BlackPowderTV Hey were do you find Schuetzen and Swiss? Any help would be great.
James kirby I normally buy it every spring and fall at the Friendship, IN shoot but in between I go to powderinc.com. 👍🏻
@@BlackPowderTV Thank You.
How can something that is not alive, like a gun, like a certain powder, bullet,or patch???? Some combinations just function better,,ok?
Because of the chemical composition of one vs the other.
Hi,
What about Swiss No1 (4Fg) in percusion revolver (Pieta 1860 Army,. 44)?
I have it, but is it too fine for revolver?
Miki
mirorabren I would prefer to use 3f due to the peak pressures of 4f, but I do understand many people use 4f with great results. 👍🏻
Uvalili ti u balkan hanteru? 😊
I wouldn't do it for safety reasons. Some people use it successfully but the pressures generated by 4f are so high you can easily blow up your revolver. I wouldn't go any finer than 3f personally.
Great video!
Crooked Creek Shooting Thanks!
I want to fire 308Win 150gr with the black powder I made. Will fine powder shred my rifle?
I have only used Goex FF in my .75 caliber musket, normally 100-120gr with a .69 caliber roundball. Do you think a 1.5F powder would work okay in comparison? That is pretty much all that is in stock at the moment sadly...
I do. It’ll give a bit less recoil and MV is all. 👍🏻
I’ve always used Goex. Thought because of the cost, that Schuetzen was of a poorer/ cheaper value/performance. Different sites I see, Schuetzen seems a little cheaper or at least comparable to Goex. How to choose? Is one more consistent? Is one cleaner?
Hey Gene, the best way to choose is to get one of each and check for accuracy and the amount of fouling you get. I've found one works better on humid summer days and the other in the dry Winter months. It's just a matter of how deep in the weeds you want to get on powder choice! I've found Scheutzen is a bit better in most of my smoothbore guns and Goex in better in rifles. Someone in a different climate may find just the opposite. Thanks!
Black powder chemistry is complex. A particular powder may be stronger at light loads than another brand, but weaker at heavy loads, better at one caliber than another, better awith one gun than another, etc. The only consistant thing is that Swiss and Old Eynsford are cleaner and more powerful per grain. Accuracy is yet more complex.
What is the point of the different granule sizes? I us 2F in my .54 like I should, but why not say, use priming powder on a reduced charge? Why the need for the different versions?
Hey Bill. It’s about the charges combined surface area. Any BP charge that has more surface area will burn faster. So a charge made of one big chunk of BP will burn the slowest and a charge made of the most tiny pieces will burn the fastest. It’s not just a matter of saying, “well, then the finest powder is the best” because faster burning means higher pressures on the barrel so the pressures of a fine 4f or Null B powder will give too high of a peak pressure and burn so fast that that high pressure will be focused on just the first few inching of barrel length after you fire the charge. Ideally you want your peak pressures to hit something like 6” to a foot down the barrel so there is more surface area of barrel to spread out the pressure. I hope that makes sense.
What kind of hat is that I like it
Bob, I shoot Pyrodex in my revolvers. Do you see any special considerations in storing this ? Thank you
I wouldn’t worry too much about the storage of Pyrodex as it’s pretty stable but I would take precautions just as you would do with gunpowder or gasoline. 👍🏻
@@BlackPowderTV Thanks
3F or 2F for 50 cal musket as mention for 45 cal to 50 use 2F and 3F for anything below 45 cal. So for my 50 cal musket I have been using 3F does this affects the accuracy or should I switch to 2F? Thanks
Not necessarily. Either is fine but one may perform better than the other in YOUR gun. The difference is pressure and velocity, and how much you need/want. This was meant as a guide to give you a place to start, the rest is up to you! Thanks Dantankun!
What would be a light 1F load for a .69 musket? I shoot a .60 ball
Goex is now 45$ a pound.
I recently purchased a 54 call. TC Scout pistol. What would be your advice on powder, FF or FFF? Thank you for your time.
I’d go FFg personally but you could try a smaller charge of FFFg just to see how you like it. 👍🏻
Why should I not use pyrodex? What makes black powder better?
Hey Jeff, you can often use Pyrodex in a percussion gun just fine. It takes more care in cleaning but it should work fine. It will not work correctly/consistently in a flintlock. Flint sparks will not ignite Pyrodex consistently. That’s my main problem with it as I shoot a lot of flintlocks. It has a bit of a long term corrosion reputation as well. I can’t speak to that as I haven’t used it. Also, if you are a traditionalist at all you can’t beat the smell and smoke of real BP. Thanks!
Hammer McKim hi to 😊
Absolutely not Pyrodex or Triple 7. Those for sure DO NOT use. American Pioneer Powder will work well in revolvers, I have not used it in rifles so i have no idea, Powder Inc. prices include hazmat shameless plug for them not a paid announcement.
Bunk Stagner I use Powder Inc myself or I buy at the Friendship shoots. Absolutely right. No BP replacements! Thanks!
I am new to the channel. I'm wondering do you have any vids about black powder catridges ?
Thanks for the comment. Not Yet Errol. I do have cartridge guns and I’ll get a playlist on those started soon. I decided to go the first year on mainly flintlocks and branch out from there. 👍🏻
General rule of thumb when starting that is begin with actual black powder loadings such as 44-40, 45-70, 45 Colt etc. The second number tells you how much power to use. Example 45-70 is 70 grains of powder by volume. Don't go any finer than 3f and be sure there is no air gap in the cartridge just like a muzzleloader.
I’m using wano 3f here in Australia it seems ok have you tested it thoughts ? Do you know if it’s made by shutzen
Good info...I have Pyrodex RS for my inline and the bottle says I can use it in a Flintlock if you put 5grains of black powder in first and then reduce your load by 5gr..I never tried this..have you or would you recommend this?
I’ve heard that but haven’t tried it. Worth a try I suppose. 👍🏻
Can you post some links on the best places to get black powder??
James Sparhawk I will add that. Great idea. I use Graf’s sometimes but mostly Powder Inc. There are minimum orders and Powder Inc adds shipping and hazmat to the cost of the powder so don’t be thrown off on that.
I have a Traditions Kentucky rifle in 50 cal 1/66 twist and 33.5 in barrel. Im starting to work up the load for this gun. Any recommendations as starting with 2f or 3f?
Hey Kurt, you could go either way. Personally I prefer a larger charge of 2f for many of my .50s but have had several that shoot better with 3f most often if the barrel is a 1-66” and short. 3f burns faster so it’ll take a larger charge in a short barrel. Some folks like 2f for the lower recoil and some 3f for the higher velocity if they’re working up a hunting load. Up to you. 👍🏻
@@BlackPowderTV Thanks Bob.... Super helpful.
Hi there , please help me choose which powder for a short 6 inch 12 gauge diablo double barrel pistol
2f or 1f powder is perfect. Goex or Schuetzen. 👍🏻
The Chinese who supposedly invented BP, had to use bamboo charcoal because of its abundance. Ever thought about trying bamboo charcoal?
Can one use 3F powder in place of 2F in a 50 Cal Modern TC Hawken w Caps and if so what conversion from 100gr FF to us vs FFF, Please.
Sure you can. 3f just gives higher pressure per grain, translating to sharper recoil and higher fps, so I’d start by going from 100 2f to 70 or 65 3f and adjust up or down for accuracy at your preferred distance between charges of 3f and 2f. Penetration is basically the same for all practical purposes between 2f and 3f so go with what give the best recoil comfort and accuracy.
@@BlackPowderTV Thanks
right now what ever yiu can get.
What size powder do YOU recommend for the pan?
I use 4f.
I’m not an expert but was taught to use 2F in my pan and 3 F in the gun... now your telling me just the opposite.... I’m officially confused 😐.
1f for cannon and huge bore guns, 2f for large bores, 3f for smaller bores and pistols, and 4f in the pan. Anything will work in the pan, but the finer (larger number of ‘f’s) the faster and hotter it is so better in the pan for faster discharge.
I read a press release that Goetx plant is closing at the end of 2021. Will it continued to be made elsewhere or by another manufacturer. I am brand new and all I have now is a can of Pyrodex.
There is no buyer so far so it might be Swiss powder that we have to use. It’s great stuff but more expensive.
Estes Energetics bought GOEX, but we probably won’t see it back into production until sometime next year.
What companies sell powder on line?
You need powder to shootzen the gunzen.
Does anyone know where one could find a replacement brand for GOEX in Canada? Maybe Swiss or Schuetzen?
rusty wood in mission bc
I've been using ffffg goex in my 1958 44 for about 2 years, never an issue yet, is it unsafe?
Some say yes but I wouldn’t think so. Goex is not nearly as hot as Swiss. I wouldn’t use 4f Swiss.
Hi Bob, what do you think of Black horn 209 powder is it okay to use on traditional muskets be it percussion cap or flintlock rifles? Thanks
You can try it if you can’t get real BP but the BP substitutes are hard to ignite in flintlocks. Should be fine in percussion. Clean it out very well when you’re done. They are pretty corrosive.
@@BlackPowderTV Hi, what can I do if for example the substitute powder failed to ignite because not enough ignition how can I now remove the ball-patch and powder inside the barrel? Thanks
Everytime I shoot schutzen my ramrod almost gets stuck in my barrel when cleaning between shots why is this? Is Swiss cleaner-burning?
Way cleaner. 👍🏻
Ohh ok
For a .69 Springfield would 2f be fine to use or would you rather recommend 1f because I’ve heard from many people different accounts and just wanted to know more opinions
2f is fine as well. 1f is just historically accurate if that’s important to you. 3f would work too depending on the quality of your barrel but would kick like a mule without any added accuracy. 👍🏻
@@BlackPowderTV for hunting historical is not too important for me, but when doing reenactments I do care, would a four winged musket cap work good or would you recommend a #11 cap if it fits for igniting the powder
Any large cap is more historically accurate.
@@BlackPowderTV last question, what would be the best powder to use with the 4 wing musket caps to fire a .687 minne ball and would you recommend any other alternatives to swiss such as triple 7 or pyrodex
2f is best for that caliber. Goex and Swiss are easiest to get. Pyrodex and all those BP alternatives are really bad for your barrel and will ruin it over time. Stick to real BP if possible. If not, really clean and lube it very well. One missed day of cleaning correctly will absolutely pit your barrel.
I miss Goex :'(
THese days, it’s more a question of what you can find.
i leaning toward using using a hodgdon triple 7 50/50 pellets with areolite 230 grain or lest but maybe around 200 grain made by powebelts bullet for my 50 cal inline cva wolf break open.it frist time out with muzzleloader my dad use triple 7 pellet for his never had problem plus easy clean after shots after sight it in with scope. what your take on this. i normal hunt during nov rifle season in my state i live in vt with 30 06 bolt action . but like i said frist time with muzzleloader for me
Hey Nixon, Triple 7 works just fine with percussion guns so your load sounds just fine. Just make sure to clean really well as any BP or BP sub will corrode more than modern powder. 👍🏻
I'd like to do more cap and ball shooting but the mess and cleaning of black powder is considerable. I'd like to find a black powder alternative but I'm in Australia and Blackhorn black powder replacement isn't available here. (as far as I can tell).
Does anyone have a formula for Blachorn 209 (or something similarly "clean"?). (Pyrodex and 777 are almost as messy and fouling as real black powder). The guns I use are
1) Original Winchester 1873 rifle. 44/40
2) Deane Adams and Deane original revolver.
3) Repro Colt Walker revolver (Colt brand but probably made by Uberti or similar).
4) original 6 barrel pepperbox pistol.
5) Original Le Forcheux pinfire revolver.
The original pistols _must_ have low pressures, or they'll get damaged. I think it'd be too risky to use smokeless powder.
Any suggestions or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Hazmat fees make people order larger quantities which increases the danger. Typical regulation.
I can’t find powder
You can always just make it very easy. I make my own shoots great much cleaner then shooting substitute powder and a hell of a lot cheaper I can make about 6 pounds for what a pound cost to buy. You can get set up to make it for around $150.00 Including ball mill and enough chemical to make several pounds
I get powder from Powder Inc. 5 pound minimum, can mix and match different brands and grades, and hazmat/shipping/tax is all included in the price so you know exactly how much money you have to spend.
The last 4-5 online powder orders I've placed have been from powderinc.com as well. Great source. Thanks for the great comment!
Graf&sons clearly states their hazmat and shipping charges in powder descriptions. All vendors have this info usually under a 'shipping policy' menu. The information is very easy to find. For a 5 pound order PowderInc is more expensive than just about anyone else, though they offer a good deal on a full case.
A generation of Americans was cheated by Goex (Du pont) with an inferior,weak , adualtered product during the height of the muzzle loading resurgence of the 1960's-1980's. People like Sam Fadalla underestimaded the power of traditional firearms from those days due to this intentional adulateration. The fact the swiss powder (unchanged) is 25% or so hotter (grains per FPS) proves it. An entire generation was mislead to believe black powder fire arms were weak an ineffective due to this intentional misrepresentation....Goex knew all along their product was substantially inferior to traditional powders.Every muzzle loader should bear that in mind and seek an alterative propellant that doesn't enrich the lying Goex scammers.
No today in this age it is what black powder I can find
I thought black powder was illegal or very difficult to buy im in texas
Perfectly legal and available online many places. I get it from powderinc.com
@@BlackPowderTV wow that is crazy I was always told it was illegal and the only option was Pyrodex
No one really carries it in stores anymore because of the hazmat regulations but you can order it many places online. It’s just as legal as toothpaste. 👍🏻 Pick some up.
I'm in Texas also it is perfectly legal to buy there is some law on how much you can have I think. I just make my own much cleaner than shooting the substitute stuff and way cheaper about $6.00 a pound to make
Rip goex
For whatever reason, everyone has pyrodex, nobody ever has just black powder
You have to order it online these days. I always use Powderinc.
Can I use pyrodex rs ffg in a 1851 44cal revolver?
Nowadays you shoot whatever you can find. Especially in Alaska. No black powder up here to be found just pyrodex