Source of real Black Powder in Iowa

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wmgeorge

wmgeorge

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I have a Traditions BP pistol kit ordered and its coming as a percussion. But I would really like to shoot as a Flint. I understand or think anyway I can order the hammer and pan to convert over the Flintlock I wanted but the hang up is you need "real" blackpowder. Is anyone living in or near Des Moines have a source for it? I know Sportsmans Warehouse does not carry.
 
WMG, I live Durham, NC. My local sources dried up to the point where I found I was driving extra miles and paying a fortune for a pound of mediocre Holy Black. I ordered 2lbs of powder online from Graf Bros, one lb. Goex for general use and 1 lb Premium Old Eynesford for serious accuracy work with the 1860, and really cranking up the Walker (60 gr., giant fireball, .357 performance, almost no unburned powder, easy to clean).

Yeah, you gotta pay hazmat, but I got enough to last a year for my cap 'n' ball needs. Look into it, 15 mins online or on the phone and you'll be shooting next week.

Have fun!
 
I can not believe they would allow black powder to be shipped, it must cost a fortune? So Goex is good enough or do I need to look for the Swiss?
 
There are often sales, but $25 hazmat per shipment is typical. So the more you get per shipment, the lower the per pound cost. Yes, they will ship to your front door (depending on local laws). And yes, once I hit 2 to 3 lbs, I am competitive with any LGS I can take the time and gas to drive to. Post 9/11 regs about bp storage and liability make it wildly unprofitable for your LGS, or Calbelas, or Wally World to stock.
Last 2 lbs ordered, including 1 lb of the top of the line Eynseford, was around $65 with all costs, on sale. I can't do better without a 60 mile drive.
 
I think I looked into it one time but decided not. But times have changed.
 
I may not properly understand the reason for the black powder, but as far as I know Traditions guns are not made to be easily switched from percussion to flint.
Their flint rifles have a touch hole that is a bushing that is specially press fit at the factory.
I can only assume that their pistols are built the same way.
I've heard that Pedersoli guns can be switched back and forth from percussion to flint, but I haven't heard about any Traditions guns that are made to be switched for duel use.

As far as mail order black powder, Graf's may have the lowest hazmat fees for small amounts.
I've also heard that most Bass Pro Shops stock black powder if you ask the dept. manager for it since it's kept under lock and key.
Iowa has a couple of Bass Pro Shops that you can check to see if they stock it.
Just make sure to ask a dept. supervisor to make sure that you get the right answer.--->>> https://stores.basspro.com/?_ga=2.2...MI3Mn8lY7v4wIVAhgMCh1abAzmEAAYASAAEgK5SvD_BwE
 
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One of the advantages of shooting a lot is the excuse to order black in bulk. My typical yearly order is 15 to 20 pounds, I think Graf will ship up to 25 lbs in one package, and with that amount the hazmat fee amounts to pennies. Federal law, no quotes please, is 50 lbs for personal use stored on premises.
I also use Grafs in house brand, cheaper than Goex, a lot cheaper than Swiss and for making smoke and punching holes in paper, well you get the picture. Dirtier, a fired gun has to be cleaned regardless. Fouled barrel, swab it after so many shots.
 
Well I sent an email to Traditions and looking again at the drawings it may Not be possible to switch over to flint. I do have a machine shop and a CNC machine but wonder if its worth the bother.
 
Anything may be possible if you did a custom fit.
But even with a Pedersoli if the flint lock were a perfect fit, a person may need to buy a 2nd flint barrel unless they were going to make a permanent change.
I don't know how easy it is to remove a Traditions drum and then install a touch hole, or if the flint lock would be a direct fit and line up properly.
It may be possible but I don't know if it could be switched back & forth very easily.

Maybe you can send the percussion pistol back and swap it for a flinter?

Just so you know, many folks are able to shoot flinters with duplex loads using only a small 5-10 grain booster charge of black powder in the breech, and by putting BP in the pan.
And there was a video of an India musket where they fired many shots in a row without any misfires using only American Pioneer 3F powder in the breech and in the pan.
However, not every flinter would be able to do that successfully and the India musket may have had a large touch hole and produced a huge amount of sparks.
Most folks would not expect that kind of performance using a substitute powder with just any flinter even though it's possible with the right flint and set up.
But it goes to show that you never know.
Someone else said that he believed that French amber flints work the best with the Traditions flintlock mountain rifle by producing the best ignition.

What kind of pistol kit did you order that wasn't available in flint?
Maybe we can help you find one somewhere else, or you may be able to buy it direct from Traditions.
Personally I think you should have a lot of fun with the percussion with less worry about misfires but if you really want a flint then maybe you can find one along with a local source of black powder.
 
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I have had and used percussion BP off and on for years, just thought being a flinter would be more fun. I am just wondering if a flint lock plate would fit? It was the cheap kit the Kentucky Pistol Kit. It looks like all three use the same PN and the Trapper one has a flintlock option?

Ok found what I needed the PN for the flintlock assy and the touchhole bushing, will see they cost.!
 
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As someone who remembers $3 a pound DuPont powder it hurts big time to pay $18 for Goex. But that’s the way it is.
Not that many years ago three shops in my little town sold real black powder. Only one shop is left and the owner told be he quit carrying it because he wasn’t selling enough. Everyone shoots inlines and substitute powder or pellets. Now the closest source is an eighty mile round trip. Even with hazmat fees ordering it and having it delivered to my door is the only sensible solution.
Graf and Son is the easiest to deal with. Other suppliers will require you to download a form, print it, sign it, and either fax or mail it to them. Graf and some of the others will allow mixing different granulations and brands in a shipment. Others will not, and at least one will only ship a full 25 pound case. It pays to shop.
As far as the conversion is concerned, just buy a made as a flint pistol. It will be easier and cheaper in the long run.
 
Yup. Traditions got back to me the flintlock lock is like $120 and out of stock. I guess I will try to return and buy a real flintlock. I was told by Traditions they have not made that model in flint for a long time?

But MidwayUSA has it as a Trapper Pistol for $289 on sale and its flintlock.
 
Question, I know you need real BP, 4F in the pan to make it work with the flint spark, but can you use Pyrodex P as the load?
 
wmgeorge said:
Question, I know you need real BP, 4F in the pan to make it work with the flint spark, but can you use Pyrodex P as the load?
Click to expand...
Actually 3f or even 2f work fine for priming. A lot of guys have quit using 4f because it is more sensitive to dampness than the courser sizes. Remember that part of the service charge of course powder was used to charge military muskets.
I will admit to some prejudice because I have only bought one can of subsitute powder in my life. I got a pound of Pyrodex when it first came out to try in a paper cartridge Sharps and wasn’t happy with it at all.
Buy black powder online for cheaper prices than you are likely to find in a store and be happy with shooting what the gun was intended for.
 
So which is it guys? I am about to order and everyone has told me so far I need 4F for the pan?
 
I buy 5 lbs at a time from Graf's. I use mainly their house brand which is repackaged Schuetzen, a high-quality product. It is comparable to Goex but seems to be a bit more uniform as to granule size.

wmgeorge said:
I am about to order and everyone has told me so far I need 4F for the pan?
Click to expand...
If you want it to fire consistently, you will be better off using 4F in the pan. I use 3F in my .45 long rifle and 4F in the pan. In .54 and up I use 2F. One pound of 4F will last a long time.
 
I just ordered from Graf's, 2 lbs of each 3F & 4F, its starting to add up! Got flints and .490 balls at Sportsmans Warehouse and the gun coming from MidwayUSA Friday.
 
Here is a link to cowboy action shooting clubs, state by state. Click on the state to bring up a list of clubs. Contact the club secretary and find out if they have any blackpowder competitors. If you go to a club’s annual match or a state championship match there are probably vendors selling black powder at the match. Or you may be able to split an order with one or more competitors. We often buy a case at a time and split the case among ourselves to minimize shipping and hazmat expenses.

Link:

https://www.sassnet.com/clubs/index.php
 
I found that the best way for me to get real BP was to order 25 pounds at a time from powderinc. The hazmat is included in the price. I get a couple of others to go in with me when buying powder. We did a 25 pound order many years ago and I still have a lot left. Plus I had about 10 pounds on hand before the order. I'm glad to have it. And you can mix the grades in the order.

https://powderinc.com/
 
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