Black powder substitutes have been around for more than 150 years. During the civil war the South sometimes used a BP substitute. There was a white powder called; of all things, white powder, and a red powder. Brown powder used charcoal from straw: The sulfur content of brown powder was drastically reduced.

At the time of the Spanish American war the US Navy used a very powerful brown powder. Unfortunately the stuff was dangerous and had a limited shelf life. After the war all stocks were destroyed. All those early BP substitutes went away when black powder became obsolete in the late 1800s-early 1900s.

Pyrodex and 777 are among the most modern propellants. Pyrodex pellets, 777 pellets and White Hot pellets are a type of rocket fuel technology adapted to muzzleloading.

Black powder substitutes have their place in world history and they also have their place in shooting and hunting today. Maybe "holy black" wasn't so holy after all.