Powder brands :

[raa-7]

I got into the black powder shooting at the begining of the year and I'm totally,and happily,hooked this has probably been asked many a time but I just wanted to know what your favorite black powder is to use,out of what revolver/rifle/musket and why.thank you for any replies. ron

 

[MCgunner]

I can't easily get BP. I shoot subs, Pyrodex because it works best in my two sidelocks (Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine and CVA Plainsman) and smells like the real stuff and 777 in my inline (CVA Wolf). Pyrodex in the revolvers, mostly, but 777 works in 'em. Pyrodex is cheaper to shoot.

Last can of BP I bought was right before the shipping and storage laws pretty much banned the stuff anywhere near me. IIRC, it was DuPont. They used to keep DuPont on the shelf at my favorite LGS in Bryan. Only gun I had back then was a brass frame .44 cal '51 Navy. I'm going to dabble in making my own, eventually, when I get settled and have the time.

 

[raa-7]

Yeah all I've used so far is pyrodex.I think it's good but I havent tryed anything else yet.I was lucky to get some of the RS the other day without ordering and paying a fee.Oh I have also made my own but have the mill somewhere hiding in the barn.I'll probably make some up here soon.

 

[Patocazador]

The only black powder I've used is Goex in 2FG, 3FG, and 4FG. It always works well if it doesn't get wet (or damp). I had poor results with both Pyrodex P and RS because of ignition problems in sidelocks. Some of the problem was me and some was the percussion caps but some was the Pyrodex.

I only tried 777 three times and it gummed up my gun so bad I had to swab it before I could load a second shot. I sold the remainder to a guy who loved the stuff. I now use Blackhorn 209 in my inline and LOVE this stuff.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Believe it or not, different powders leave behind different amounts of fouling.

I used Goex for years, both FFg and FFFg. Then I discovered Schuetzen. Schuetzen is made with a superior grade of charcoal, the same type that is used in Swiss. But Schutezen costs much less than Swiss. This makes Schuetzen cleaner burning than Goex for almost the same cost as Goex. These days I only use Schuetzen. It is made in Germany by Wano. At the end of a day of shooting, it only takes a few wet patches down the bore to clean my guns, cleaning with Goex always required more. Graff bottles their own brand of powder, but it is really Schuetzen in their own bottle.

I load Schuetzen in 45 Colt, 45 Schofield, 44 Russian, 44-40, 45-70 and 12 gauge shotgun. I am not so particular about the shotgun, I use any powder I have on hand for it. Recently a pal sold me a few cans of Goex FFFg. I used it up in shotshells.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah all I've used so far is pyrodex.I think it's good but I havent tryed anything else yet.I was lucky to get some of the RS the other day without ordering and paying a fee.Oh I have also made my own but have the mill somewhere hiding in the barn.I'll probably make some up here soon.

Well, if you can find real black, ignition is MUCH better especially in side locks.

 

[Fingers McGee]

I used Goex almost exclusively for years in just about all their granulations doing rendezvous/mountainman/muzzleloading, reenacting, and CAS. In that time, I tried Elephant, Dragon, Lidu, Swiss, Scheutzen, and Grafs powders. The Swiss and Lidu were probably the cleanest and most consistent powders; but, Lidu isn't made anymore and Swiss is too expensve for my purposes. This past couple years, I've been using Scheutzen and Grafs powder (both made by Wano) and find they both perform well and are cleaner burning than Goex.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have tried the imported powders, and currently am trying out Diamondback, which is made in Brazil. It seems to work just fine. As I am not shooting a speed match, nor am I loading cartridges for a CAS match, so I am not so concerned with fouling. I don't mind swabbing the bore when target shooting, and I do so every other shot to preserve accuracy. I don't shoot more than once when hunting deer, and I have to swab after every shot with my .40 when going for small game. IF I was very concerned with fouling then I suppose I'd go for Scheutzen, but I use GOEX, and even if I found what I considered a better powder for the price I'd still buy a couple of pounds of GOEX each year.... because lads it's made in America. Now who can foretell what will happen to the importation of black powder in the future, but it would be trouble indeed if importation was suddenly curtailed and GOEX had gone away for lack of customers.

Please think on this.

LD

 

[rodinal220]

Goex,Swiss,Scheutzen.I shoot mostly Goex,have some Swiss Nul B for priming and have tried Scheutzen(good stuff).I still have some Elephant 3f,it was too spotty on QC when it was available.

 

[raa-7]

Thanks for all of your replies and I'll probably try out everything mentioned here eventually and the real black powder of my own recipe.I used to make good fireworks grade powder for shells/rockets but its been a while since i've made any and I might just get that mill going again one of these days.

 

[Foto Joe]

Fouling is less of an issue for me. I use Goex for my front stuffing Colts pattern revolvers mainly because it less expensive and easy to get my hands on. For cartridges I do use Swiss although I can't confirm or deny that it's cleaner.

 

[loose noose]

I've used Goex in 2f, 3f, and 4f, I've also used KIK in 2f, and Dragon in 3f, using the patching material I use, I haven't had a problem with one being dirtier than the the other. They all shoot very well provided I do my part. I've tried Swiss also and couldn't justify the additional cost as the additional accuracy was nill. I haven't tried any Elephant BP and don't even know where I could get it.

 

[J-Bar]

Schuetzen even smells better than the rest!

Schuetzen in percussion revolvers, anything in cartridges and shotshells. Why? Schuetzen ignites more reliably with a cap than anything else. Anything goes bang when lighted by a primer.

 

[scrat]

I have used Goex, Pyrodex and Triple 7 and my own BP Home Made

I Just never really like pyrodex just never worked well. Triple 7 I LIKE use it when i cant get Goex or rrrrr...

Goex is just awesome stuff.

As for my own. Well for those of you who know we all were messing around with making our own. There is a thread in BP Essentials. I made small batches a bunch of different ways experimenting on how good they came out. Finally got it right and well my own stuff works pretty darn good as well.

 

[Pete D.]

Brands

I use both Goex and Swiss powders.
The Swiss is FFFg and is used in my pistols.
For rifles and shotguns, I use Goex FFg for the main charge and FFFFg for priming.
A note about differences. Different brands of powder, in the same granulation, may have different weights for the same volume. It is useful to know the difference. Swiss powders, for instance, have a reputation for being "hotter" than other powders. At least part of that is because Swiss is denser than other powders. One lot of Swiss that I used was more than 10% heavier than Goex for the same volume. I normally shoot 70 grains of Goex FFg in my shotguns. If I left the measure set at 70 grains and loaded Swiss FFg, I was getting 77 grains or so.
It is worth checking.
Pete

 

[raa-7]

I found my screens and got the mill working and made up 2 lbs of my own secret recipe I made it into 3F and tryed it out this morning.It kicks butt ! I'm real pleased the way it came out and tested it against the Pyrodex P.All I did was measured the same load,shot after shot,one load Pyrodex and then a load with my home made and what a difference ! My powder does good.Now after using my powder,I dont even want to use Pyrodex any more ! ! It's been a few years since I've made any and this was my very first batch for using to shoot with so I'm happier than a slinky on an escalator I want to get a pound or two of that Schutzen powder to give it a try,it sounds like it works pretty good too so I'll check that out soon .