Ok, THR members, where do you buy your real black powder?

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Gewehr98

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I've noticed a disturbing trend after I visited Cabela's in Richfield last weekend. Fewer and fewer stores are stocking genuine black powder, stocking Pyrodex and other substitutes instead. Obviously, insurance and fire department/zoning laws are putting a crimp on that. However, every now and then one finds a small gun shop out in the sticks that still stocks the holy black. Gary and Chris, I don't know if this warrants a sticky thread or not, but I'd like to see if we as THR members could create some sort of thread where folks could contribute their experience by listing the locations and stores where they managed to find stocking dealers of real black powder.

Why?

1. I'm down to my last couple pounds of Goex Cartridge since I moved to Wisconsin from Florida.

2. I can order more from Graf & Sons, but only if I pay the HazMat fee, making for a very expensive pound or two of powder.

3. I can't be the only person in these United States who'd rather not use Pyrodex or other substitutes in their black powder arms. ;)
 
Darin,

I have heard this from various folks - but have been lucky I guess that my local FFL has (at last look) still kept Goex. Haven't checked local Gander for a while.

I have experimented with Triple 7 and Cleanshot but like you still want the real deal, sometimes - tho heck, I shoot BP way less than you. Because of that I still have a pound or two of Goex on the shelf.

I wonder if it is regional too as in these here parts i get the feeling the problem is less than elsewhere. Of course WalMart is almost only Pyrodex!!

OK - will sticky for a while and see what other folks are finding.

(BTW - I am so behind on reloading it's unreal and so the ''monster pills'' you so kindly sent are still awaiting mating to some brass!). It'll happen, one day :rolleyes:
 
You need to talk to John Shirley sometime, too!

I sent him a batch of those same 485gr Whitworth pills, but he no longer has his big Marlin levergun. Maybe he still has the bullets...

I came up with a nice smokeless Alliant 2400 load for them, and they fairly zing out of my Sharps with a loud "Crack" and light recoil. It could be just the thing for your BFR or Ruger #1.

For the Wisconsinites, neither Gander Mountain in Madison, Janesville, or Baraboo stock the real thing - substitutes only.
 
I was going to go to Third Rail's house and steal his but changed my mind when I read about him planning to fill his entire gun barrel with black powder and touch 'er off just to see if anything notable comes of it.: eek:

Here in SW Buckeyeland my local store, such as it is:banghead: , has only Pyrodex, 777, and a wee dram of American whatchacallit rifle powder. But I recall seeing a vendor at the Dayton gun show who had a small amount of (I think) Goex and will look him up at the show in a couple weeks.
 
I like 2400 Darin - and may yet try that, tho the RL7 loads behind my 405's in BFR are real nice!

SR4759 is another one I mean to try with reduced loads - I have 8# of the stuff, which I got for playing with cast bullet rifle reloads. There are some published figures for it.
 
Shawnee - sometimes, it's fun to test things to destruction from a safe distance. :D
 
Ok, Third Rail, you're a regular on this forum...

Where do YOU get your real black powder? The more the merrier with respect to this thread title. ;)
 
Here is a good place to start, and for the love of all, don't buy Goex if you can afford Swiss. :)


Since I've decided to splurge here and there (in a controlled manner) I've purchased some Swiss to replace my Goex which replaced my Pyrodex. It should arrive not too long from now, actually.


But honestly, other than Graf's... I've not seen it since about 4 years ago in any stores.
 
The N-SSA,of which I'm a member, has National competition twice a year in May and October. A vendor there sells Goex,Swiss and Schuetzen along with caps just outside Fort Shenandoah[Winchester,VA] where we compete. There are always members of my unit going if I'm not so real blackpowder is not a problem.
 
Suundance44

The local sporting goods stores in my area have all but quit selling real Black Powder .. due to the regulations on their storage of the powder .. its a shame ...now Bass Pro here is the last to carry it and they are very proud of it ..$20.99 a can for Goex ...so i order 10 cans at a time from a company called Powder Inc . 136.00 delivered to my door ...thats hazmat shipping inculded they have a site www.PowderInc.com
not too bad i figure thats just 13.60 a can broken down . Bass Pro can keep theirs . My next order will include orders for 2 of my friends and will get it even at a better price per can ...the more ya buy in an order the cheaper it gets .
 
Only one store local to me sells real black powder anymore, and they want $18 a lb. for Goex. When I run low, I end up shooting that cursed Pyrodex garbage until I can make a bulk order. My last order came from Powder Inc. and I'm happy with their service. If you can't find it locally and don't want to buy a bulk order, maybe you can split an order with some friends? I couldn't find anyone local to split an order with, so I have 25 lbs. to shoot up. Which makes me giggle like a schoolgirl every time I think about it!
 
Geez, I almost feel guilty.... almost.

My local "True Value" hardware store has a nice little firearms counter and has Goex in stock year round. This is Gay's True Value in Tunkhannock, for anyone in northeast PA.

Just across the bridge from Gay's is Brady & Caveny's sporting goods. they also stock Goex. I try to buy all my reloading supplies there. The owner is a real class act.
 
I mail ordered a case from http://www.trackofthewolf.com. Rather cheap if you buy it by the case and split if five ways. They allow you to mix & match your f's. http://www.Mainepowderhouse.com will also do the same for you.

By the case (25 pounds), it's about $12 a pound. Call your buddies and do a group buy! Stock up now in case the British come back for Round III. I've got over 250 spare flints, and several 12 ounce water bottles filled with casted lead balls so if they do, I'm ready. We're going to have ourselves a militia drill (check Rambling Anecdotes for some entries on the antebellum militia drills). Some of them were strangely like our pie eating contests at the Rendezvous. ;)
 
I get it at Dixon's Muzzleloading Shop in Kempton, PA (Berks County). I don't think they ship, but hopefully this'll help some fellow PA THR members.

I picked up a pound of 3Fg GOEX about a month ago for $16.
 
the only way to get it here is to order it. Google Grafs' or Clarksville Rod and Gun- same town as Blackpowder inc. I believe. clarksville arkansas.
 
I order from Graf's. I get enough at a time that I can eat the hazmat fee.
This is strange, because I'm fairly close to Coonie's in Hobbs, NM.
Sounds like I may have to point the Goldwing east and take a road trip.

Dave
 
Clark Brothers in Warrenton, VA

I buy mine at Clark Brothers in Warrenton, VA. It's about the only place in Northern VA that you can shoot outside (unless you belong to a club). As long as you buy your ammo there, you can shoot at Clark Brothers' range.

Nice folks and good selection of blackpowder supplies, including minnie balls, blackpowder and cleaning supplies.

It's a 40 minute drive from my house, but well worth it.

Not sure if they deliver.
 
Don't count out the local general store out in the country. The only place I can find Goex Pinnacle anymore is a little general store outside Alexandria, MN...Nice selection of MilSurp as well.
 
The N-SSA,of which I'm a member, has National competition twice a year in May and October. A vendor there sells Goex,Swiss and Schuetzen along with caps just outside Fort Shenandoah[Winchester,VA] where we compete. There are always members of my unit going if I'm not so real blackpowder is not a problem.
I believe that's Mr. Venskoske of back creek gunshop.


http://www.blackpowderva.com/

He and his wife are excellent folks,and have good prices. Local gunshops charge a lot more in my area since so few of them have it. Accordingly I never buy from them.

Personally I recommend the following unless you want BP that costs more than Pyrodex:
A. Reenactors-these guys are usually buying in bulk. Hook up with the local group and see if you can get in on a buy.
B. Buy in bulk with friends from your range. Folks at our range have split up 25# orders from Goex and distributors (I think that's the minimum for 1 Hazmat charge). It saves a bundle anyway.
 
How far are you from Richfield the is bill's sport shop just north of there that sells real black powder . phone # 920-269-4414
sundowner
 
TnRebel, I miss that store!

Buffalo Bill's is where I got my 1874 Sharps Business Rifle, and 8 pounds of Goex FFg and Cartridge. I should've bought more there and just stuffed the extra cans in my truck when I moved North. I will get back to that store again someday, though. ;)
 
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