Sulfer in Blackpowder?

[Shane1858]

Just curious. I see posts about not putting sulfer in your blackpowder to cut down on fouling and buildup etc.

So why have sulfer in it at all? Is there something else that must replace it?

I appologize for my ignorance if this is a silly question. I just buy and shoot...

Thank you.

 

[arcticap]

I found this in one place:

Used as a fuel, usually in compositions with nitrate oxidizers; as a component of black powder (serving as both a binder and fuel); in rocket propellants as the oxidizer for zinc.

 

[Curator]

Sulphur lowers the ignition temperature of black powder significantly. When using sparks (as in flintlocks) or weak fulminate of mercury percussion caps it was essential. In fact you can make pretty good "black" powder using only high-grade Potassium nitrate and charcoal, its just difficult to ignite in an open system like a muzzle loader.

 

[unspellable]

Seems like no sulpher powder might have been good for BP cartridge loads where ignition is less of an issue.

 

[davecampperry]

That's the big selling point of (I believe) Triple 7--NO sulphur. But it is not recommended for Flint, which is basically all I shoot. As for capguns I would just as soon shoot a cartridge rifle.

 

[Seafarer12]

Are you talking about putting more sulfer in bp besides whats already in there?

 

[JCT]

I'd miss having sulfur in my BP, it smells so nice!!.....
I will say, I think there's something else going on in Goex powders... If I shoot Goex in my guns, they'll rust on the way home. If I shoot my homemade powder, I can and have left them for 2-3 days and not a trace of any rust. I think there's some corrosive impurities in Goex.

 

[mykeal]

Perhaps it's your air.

I don't have the same experience with Goex. I shoot Goex the majority of the time, and I notice no rust forming unless I go beyond one day before cleaning.

I don't go beyond 1 day without cleaning unless I can't help it, but rusting on the way home? Nope, doesn't happen to me.

 

[arcticap]

I agree.
Humidity really acts as a catalyst for the rust to form. In arid climates where the humidity is less than 30%, the rust won't form at all, or at least not for a very long extended period of time. But in contrast, the fouling will usually be rock hard & dry which can cause loading difficulty even between shots.