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Black powder substute

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Old 04-07-2009 | 04:27 AM
  #1  
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Fork Horn
 
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From: Georgia
Default Black powder substute

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.

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Old 04-07-2009 | 05:26 AM
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Nontypical Buck
 
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From: Camp Lejeune, NC
Default RE: Black powder substute

Good to know. Thanks for that info!
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Old 04-07-2009 | 06:41 AM
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Dominant Buck
 
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From: Wisconsin
Default RE: Black powder substute

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...
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Old 04-07-2009 | 06:48 AM
  #4  
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Boone & Crockett
 
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From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Default RE: Black powder substute

I'm waiting for a report on the results of a duplex flintlock load with GOEX/Blackhorn.
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Old 04-07-2009 | 07:02 AM
  #5  
Spike
 
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From: PA
Default RE: Black powder substute

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.
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Old 04-07-2009 | 08:56 AM
  #6  
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From: Eastern PA
Default RE: Black powder substute

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.
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Old 04-07-2009 | 10:46 AM
  #7  
Spike
 
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From: Ga
Default RE: Black powder substute

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
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Old 04-07-2009 | 03:51 PM
  #8  
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Default RE: Black powder substute

i think its still for sale. http://www.mdm-muzzleloaders.com/Mer...ry_Code=POWDER
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Old 04-08-2009 | 05:00 AM
  #9  
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Fork Horn
 
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From: 1st State, Delaware
Default RE: Black powder substute

That puts it in the same price range as Black Horn 209.
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Old 04-08-2009 | 07:18 AM
  #10  
Typical Buck
 
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From: Mesa, Arizona
Default RE: Black powder substute

ORIGINAL: Rock Fish

That puts it in the same price range as Black Horn 209.

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.
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