Black Powder ... Rifle..... Pistol... BPC... making/ shooting/ whatever

[Stickman]

I'm not sure why we don't have a black powder section on the board, or why we don't at least have a thread going in this section.

Is anyone making their own black powder?

Anyone casting their own bullets?

I'm sitting on 10+lbs of Black MZ which I picked up awhile back pretty cheap. I've also got a bit of Goex (FF) and some other stuff on the shelf. The Black MZ is supposedly no longer being made, and with BP prices currently, I can't help but wonder if the time involved with making my own BP is worth it. Then again, it does sound like an incredibly fun project.


I'll post a few pics.

This first one is a reproduction Remington 1858 being fired.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/32fc8205de7e32835f8c6482d8fd66bc/tumblr_oienyrDqDL1rrcg2fo1_1280.jpg

[Stickman]

This one is our black powder Lymans muzzle loader (cap and ball).

https://66.media.tumblr.com/bb523665247950ddd70e44705521a672/tumblr_oj3b3uU6IM1rrcg2fo1_1280.jpg

[rodinal220]

Yes, unfortunately BP shooting is not as cheap as it used to be. I only shoot real BP ,If the price keeps going up per pound, I may have to look into making my own "Schwarzpulver" . I do cast my own balls and projos, sometimes its necessary due to shooting oddball stuff.

[Stickman]

Yes, unfortunately BP shooting is not as cheap as it used to be. I only shoot real BP ,If the price keeps going up per pound, I may have to look into making my own "Schwarzpulver" . I do cast my own balls and projos, sometimes its necessary do to shooting oddball stuff.

You aren't kidding. The price of real black powder used to be dirt cheap. Now, prices are up high, and online pricing means you have to eat hazmat fees. I'm picking up my own supplies to make BP via stuff available locally. Once I get it down, I may be going that route instead of store bought.

Now I need to get into casting my own round ball and projectiles.

[gunnerblue]

I’m lucky enough to live very close to Buffalo Arms which is a major online retailer specializing in black powder supplies. No hazmat as I can pick up powder at the door- Swiss for BPCR’s and muzzleloaders, Goex or Triple 7 for revolvers

[Stickman]

I’m lucky enough to live very close to Buffalo Arms which is a major online retailer specializing in black powder supplies. No hazmat as I can pick up powder at the door- Swiss for BPCR’s and muzzleloaders, Goex or Triple 7 for revolvers

What sort of price are you seeing for Swiss and Triple 7?

[gunnerblue]

What sort of price are you seeing for Swiss and Triple 7?


Swiss and Triple 7 are each about $30/lb. The Triple 7 goes a long way as I only use it in my ROA but the Swiss I tend to hoard. I picked up a pound of Goex Old Enysford a while back but haven’t done much testing with it to see how it compares to Swiss. It’s a 1.F and is marketed as being designed for BPCR’s so there’s hope. Oh, and it about ten dollars cheaper per pound

[Stickman]

$30 a pound.... ��

[rodinal220]

The price of percussion caps has gone way up, shooting cap and ball revolvers used to be as cheap as shooting 22RF, not anymore, hasn't for a awhile now. The price of patches, wads, lubes all adds to the per shot cost.

I will give you a for instance, I use Gatofeo's #1 lube for a bullet lube, its an old formula, pre-WW2, that a guy by the screen name Gatofeo (ugly cat) repopularzied. It is made with mutton tallow, bees wax and paraffin. The mutton tallow has always been an ingredient that is hard to source nowadays. It is also good for lubing felt wads and even a patch lube, I leave out the paraffin for the patch lube type.


Dixie Gun Works (DGW) had mutton tallow for some years, always with long dry spells in availability. They have been out of it for like three years, it was $5.75 a pound last time I bought it. Now they have Lambs tallow for $17.50 a pound!!

[flenna]

I had to really search to find Goex fff for my son's 1853 Enfield and ended up paying $30/pound. I did find caps at Bass Pro for $10/100.

[Gunnar da Wolf]

I found a semi-local guy that runs a fireworks company. He also makes pull fuses for muzzle loading cannon. It’s a 45 minute drive but I believe I paid $28 per pound of Goex FF last year, and took a nice six point using it and a home cast REAL bullet in my TC Thunderhawk.

I can’t stand the chemical fire smell of the BP subs, give me good old sulphur, charcoal and salt peter every time.

[Stickman]

I found a semi-local guy that runs a fireworks company. He also makes pull fuses for muzzle loading cannon. It’s a 45 minute drive but I believe I paid $28 per pound of Goex FF last year, and took a nice six point using it and a home cast REAL bullet in my TC Thunderhawk.

I can’t stand the chemical fire smell of the BP subs, give me good old sulphur, charcoal and salt peter every time.

That is just a crazy high price in my mind still. I wonder if pellets have taken a chunk of the market...

[gunnerblue]

Around here most types of powder sell for at least $25/lb. I usually just wait until an online seller is having a free shipping/no hazmat sale and buy eight pound jugs

[Gunnar da Wolf]

That is just a crazy high price in my mind still. I wonder if pellets have taken a chunk of the market...

I think ATF has regulated the Holy Black to the point almost no one will stock it. The substitute powders are easier to store commercially, have a reputation as easier to clean and more accurate. Most new front stuffer shooters buy the synthetic stuff. I’d bet sales of real black powder are way down from thirty years ago.