ORIGINAL: dmurphy317

I have been searching for info on this new powder from Western Powder and have come across a comparison of the cost per shot that looks interesting. Here is the spreadsheet.


Jim Triple
Jim Shokeys Shockeys Triple Seven Pyrodex
Granular Sticks Seven Pellets Pyrodex Pellets Blackhorn
Volume Units 100 2 sticks 100 2 pellets 100 2 pellets 100
Powder Cost 0.243 0.500 0.316 0.600 0.217 0.440 0.520
Saturated patches 0.011 0.011 0.056 0.056 0.056 0.056 0.003
Dry patches 0.007 0.007 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.033 0.002
Bore butter patch 0.044 0.044 0.220 0.220 0.220 0.220
Anti-seize breech plug 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.020
Win T7 primers 0.060 0.060
Win 209 primers 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.037 0.037
Powder and Incidentals 0.342 0.599 0.724 1.009 0.603 0.826 0.581
Bullet/Sabot 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500 0.500
Cost per Shot 0.84 1.10 1.22 1.51 1.10 1.33 1.08

Assumptions Cost Unit Cost/Ea.
Saturated patches $11.29 200 0.056 Blackhorn
Dry patches $3.29 1000.033 One saturated patch and one dry patch every 20 rounds
Bore butter patches $5.49 250.220 Hodgdon's
Anti-seize breech plug$7.99 200 0.040 One saturated patch, one bore butter patch and one dry patch
every round
Win T7 primers $30.00 5000.060 Jim Shockeys
Win 209 primers$37.00 1000 0.037 One saturated patch, one bore butter patch and one dry patch
every 5 rounds
Bullet / sabot $11.99 150.799 Anti Seize - Estimate 200 shots per tube for T7 and Pyrodex

Wgt grains
At 100
Volume Shots Cost
Cost/Bottle Units Can Shot
Jim Shokeys Gold 3Fg 19.99 85.00 82.35 0.2427
Triple 7 25.99 85.00 82.35 0.3156
Pyrodex 19.99 76.00 92.11 0.2170
Blackhorn 209 32.50 70.00 62.50 0.5200
Jim Shockys Stick 24.99 50.00 0.4998
Triple 7 Pellets 29.99 50.00 0.5998
Pyrodex Pellets 21.99 50.00 0.4398

While Blackhorn 209 is generally more expensive per shot than most other powders, according to this chart when combined with the other costs of shooting it does seem to offset a lot of the cost of the powder. I noticed the bullet/sabot used at the top is $.50 and the one listed in the assumptions is $.799 but that would change the totals equally and not affect the comparison results. Another thing I noticed is that 10 oz. of Blackhorn gives only 20 shots less than a pound of 777 powder, not bad considering the fact there's 60% more powder weightin the 777.

I also found some info that indicates they are doing testing with heavier bullets but have not released the results yet. We may yet be able to use this new powder with the heavy lead some of us like.