Black powder substute
#1
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
In certain areasaround the country black powder has become hard to find because dealers don't want the hassle of dealing with the special regulations involved with selling it. I used to have to drive 70 miles to the nearest retailer.
I tried shooting triple 7 in my flintlock and it shot but hangfired. Sometime later I put a 10 grain booster charge of black powder down the barrel andon top of it I dumped an 80 grain charge of triple 7. My normal charge for that particular rifle is 90 grains of black powder. The rifle shot normal with no hangfire.
Mypoint is, If you shoot a flintlock and live in an area where triple 7 is plentiful but black powder is scarce, this is a great way to make your precious can of black powder last much longer.
There are 700 ten grain charges to a pound of black powder.
_____________________________
Hunting with a flintlock is more fun that peeing off the back porch.
I tried shooting triple 7 in my flintlock and it shot but hangfired. Sometime later I put a 10 grain booster charge of black powder down the barrel andon top of it I dumped an 80 grain charge of triple 7. My normal charge for that particular rifle is 90 grains of black powder. The rifle shot normal with no hangfire.
Mypoint is, If you shoot a flintlock and live in an area where triple 7 is plentiful but black powder is scarce, this is a great way to make your precious can of black powder last much longer.
There are 700 ten grain charges to a pound of black powder.
_____________________________
Hunting with a flintlock is more fun that peeing off the back porch.
#3
Duplexing a load has been going on a long time. When I was testing the different substitute powders that "claimed" they worked in flintlocks.. I discovered basically the same thing as you. Sure they will fire. Just not consistently.
Pinnacle was a really strange substitute powder. If that flint was extra sharp, the touch hole very clean, a little banked in there,and the sparks exta long, I could get it to ignite pretty good. I started duplexing it with two dumps of 4f from my pan primer (6 grains) and it fired like black powder.
I had the same results as you with Triple Seven. I have no idea how people get pyrodex RS to ignite with a flintlock. My rifles hated that.
But I am fortunate in, since I shoot black powder 90% of the time out of my rifles, I keep a large supply on hand and always have some for my flintlocks as well...
Pinnacle was a really strange substitute powder. If that flint was extra sharp, the touch hole very clean, a little banked in there,and the sparks exta long, I could get it to ignite pretty good. I started duplexing it with two dumps of 4f from my pan primer (6 grains) and it fired like black powder.
I had the same results as you with Triple Seven. I have no idea how people get pyrodex RS to ignite with a flintlock. My rifles hated that.
But I am fortunate in, since I shoot black powder 90% of the time out of my rifles, I keep a large supply on hand and always have some for my flintlocks as well...
#5
Spike
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: PA
In my .50 cal TC Hawkins Flintlock I have done pretty well over the past two seasons using APP. Their granules seem to run large so I have been using their FFFg down the barrel. I use FFFFg black powder for the pan. As long as I pick the flash hole and don't overfill the pan, I have had no problems with it firing well.
#6
Well I guess I'm fortunate - my gun shop always has BP on hand. Only right now I can't get any. Been trying for 3 weeks. Seems his license expired. The ATF has cashed his check but hasn't sent him a replacement. He's always on the up and up so he won't sell it until he get the license.
#7
Spike
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Ga
BlackMag3 is good to use in a Flintlock,I have seen it use in the Flash Pans of many Flintlocks without any problems.Now i know BlackMag3 is no longer being made.But the company is makeing a newer/improve Version,that i know nothing about,But if it is half as good as BlackMag3 was.Then it is Great
#8
i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Mer...ry_Code=POWDER
#9
ORIGINAL: liquidorange
i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Cate gory_Code=POWDER
i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Cate gory_Code=POWDER
#10
Typical Buck
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 986
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, Arizona
ORIGINAL: Rock Fish
That puts it in the same price range as Black Horn 209.
ORIGINAL: liquidorange
i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Cate gory_Code=POWDER
i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Cate gory_Code=POWDER
That is true; however, the ignition temperature is much lower than most other substitute powders which makes it usable in sidelocks and apparently in some flintlocks. Magkor was not recommending it for flintlocks but the sidelocks work excellent.


