I think GOEX uses Maple charcoal, not the best choice. Willow is among the best, along with Alder, Paulownia and dogwood. My BP is visibly quicker and cleaner than GOEX. I never tried Swiss, heard it's good though.
I make my own Willow charcoal, very simple and easy. Fill a small canister with dried, debarked willow, punch 4-6 small holes in top of can, place in wood stove or fire. Flames will ignite from the punched exhaust holes. When these flames stop, the charcoal is done. Remove and let cool before opening.
I bought KNO3 and Sulfur in the past from a couple sources. I'd stay away from sklighter, you can find it cheaper and better. Firefox pyro supply would be better, but still, there's better supplies.
Last I figured, BP cost me just under $3 a pound. That's because I bought 50lbs of KNO3 way back, real cheap and the charcoal doesn't cost me anything.
This all sounds involved, but I can weigh the 3 ingredients, load the mill jar and walk away in 5 minutes. It'll mill on it's own, 3-5 hrs is more than enough, it starts getting clumpy and "done" at about 2.5hrs.
Wetting and granulating is less than 5 minutes, then let air dry outside...pour into old Goex can.
I've been doing this for my BP revolvers for a couple years, but wouldn't of thought I'd be able to load .45 colt with this.
If I compact the powder in the case just a little, I get around 33 grains in there. That's 33 grains of super hot, clean BP. I felt more recoil and it seemed louder than the typical full case of GOEX I'm used to.
As far as the legality... One can make BP if only for personal, non business use. It can't be sold or transported. Since it's not FG grade sporting powder, you're supposed to keep it in a type 4 powder box ( Which I do have...) You can get them from Cabelas or Maine Powder house.
Household limit of any BP is 50 lbs. No permit is needed to make BP for personal use.
It's definitly more rewarding when you shoot a bullet you cast yourself, with a wad you punched, lube you made and powder you made yourself! I haven't yet made percussion caps, but it's possible with the tap-o-cap anyway.
The more I've read on substitute BP, I see that they're all Potassium perchlorate based, with charcoal and a sugar binder ( fructose, glucose or sucrose) I'd think there would be chlorine compounds from burning this stuff, that would explain why it's more corrosive!
BP fouling isn't initially as corrosive, but adding moisture to it make sulphuric acid. I've never had a problem, shoot then clean, same day.
