Yep, it almost seems to good to be true. I read a post from him one time saying that lots of people ask him about the Hazmat and that it is paid, but that they just pay it. I wonder what the cost on that powder is if you order it in the quantities he is. It's got to be super low if he is able to pay the hazmat and sell it for that shipped.

It does seem strange, A HazMat fee has to be paid on every order. Even it's just one bottle. How can they cover a $20-$25 fee plus shipping on such small orders?

I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm just baffled about how they do it.

Most powder houses will give you free shipping and HazMat if you buy a case of powder. That makes sense. There's enough profit in selling a case, but just 1 bottle?

I don't know how he does it. And it really does not matter to me. I bought two cannisters from him, and they were the price quoted. And I receivd them so that is good enough for me.

There is one thing we need to remember. The dealers and distributors charge us $15, $20. or even $25 for a Hazmat fee. Some even waive that fee for certain orders. Some allow primers and powder in the same box. Some do not. However we have no idea how much UPS actually charges the dealer or wholesaler for that fee. And what volume discounts they may receive. And the fact of whether they even pay it at all. We just simply don't know. Or at least I know I don't know.

All I know for sure is they charge me. And I know they rip me off all the time. So I would believe about anything. Tom.

That's true. We don't know who is charged what.

Except when it's me being charged. :(

Ya you are right. That is all we can know for sure. Tom.

What caused that to happen, simply due to the increased pressure of the Blackhorn powder?

It also appears that Blackhorn causes some additional erosion in a similar fashion to what happens to the vent liner of the Savage rifles due to firing smokeless powder.
I've read about the experimentation with vent liners due to using Blackhorn. But most folks don't have the equipment to create breech plugs with replaceable vent liners. That seems to mean that instead of simply replacing a nipple at a cost of a few dollars for conventional muzzle loaders, an entire breech plug would need to be replaced at a greater cost. Am I understanding that correctly that planning for breech plug replacement is necessary if using Blackhorn powder?

This doesn't seem to be the case with other substitute powders, or is it if heavy loads are fired with heavy bullets often enough with the other subs too?
Would it be fair to say that there's a trade off if using Blackhorn, that instead of swabbing between shots a person would need to regularly buy a replacement breech plug, or to make a new vent liner if they have the ability to make them?
I've heard of buying expensive platinum lined nipples for those who fire long range muzzle loaders in competition due to the heavy gas cutting associated with shooting black powder such as Swiss. But I can't recall as much talk about breech plug replacement or damage until Blackhorn appeared on the market, except for maybe when the smokeless Savage rifle was being discussed.

Are guys compressing BH 209 when they are loading it ?

This is only a guess mind you. The Knight Original Disc I shoot used the orange primer jackets. As some understand, the old orange primer jackets just sit up against the face of the breech plug. Unlike the red Knight primer jackets that almost attach to the shape of the breech plug. Here is what I suspect.. As the primer was ignited in the jacket, the spark ignited the main charge, as designed. This Blackhorn main charge then pushed backward into the now closed bolt of the Knight Disc. So all this back pressure hit the orange disc (which became destroyed by the way) and was basically held there between the primer jacket and the face of the breech plug.

It was funny because the first plug looked like someone took a small chisel and knocked little dents and chips out of the breech plug face. And I threw the first breech plug away, because it would not consistently fire the rifle. Well I am guessing the fire channel was carbon coated and not letting the fire through. Which might have even increased the damage to the the breech plug face.

As the second breech plug started to encounter the same problem, I ran out of the Blackhorn 209. Now remember, I was shooting Blackhorn 209 before most people even knew it existed. It was something really new. I tried the powder in a number of different rifles. And discovered the hard way which rifles would not shoot Blackhorn safely.

I recently ordered five more canisters of Blackhorn from Ed's Gun Shop and so when it arrives I am going to put it through a battery of side by side tests with other powders and see if it really is IMO a better powder.

A couple of things to remember.
#1 The pressure is 15% less with the same load as 777.
#2 The higher velocity is due to peak pressure being maintained longer.
#3 This is a progressive burning powder which makes it different than 777 Pyrodex
and black powder.
#4 Some of the effects noticed are from the pressure being maintained longer not from higher pressure, this includes blowing the cap off open breach guns which is why you are advised not to use Blackhorn in them you could end up with the cap stuck in your eye or forehead.
#5 Because the powder is coated with a sealant retardant which keeps out moisture and partly controls burning speed it is harder to ignite, and a sealed ignition works best.

If the Savage BP's wear out from using smokeless powder. It stands to reason BH 209 will wear out BPs to, since it's just a detuned smokeless powder.

The question is how fast? Jon says he has 2500 loads through a CVA BP and it's still fine. That should be more than a lifetime of hunting for the average guy.

A CVA BH209 BP cost $20. Deduct what you don't have to spend swabbing the loads, and it comes out to a non issue.

Lets not be crying wolf here.