You need a binder too Pete. I was just talking to an old guy at a gun show last week and he uses corn starch for a binder.

I've never heard a powder maker doing that. Are you sure that wasn't his home brew remedy?

Old Eynsford is made by GOEX, not Hodgdon. It's real unadulterated black powder with a bit higher quality control than other GOEX offerings.

No I was looking into it also and every site/video I saw always referred to some type of binder. He's the first guy I heard using corn starch. Most use dextrin. The binder slows down the BP. I would guess its really not necessary.
Its a real simple recipe: 75% Pot. Nitrate, 10% Sulphur, 15% Charcoal, tumble for about 3 hours, dampen and form into a ball or compress into a puck. When dry, granulate using screening.

Semi......Hodgdon owns Goex.

How does quality control increase power?


To be honest I hope OE is a pure black powder. Swiss is getting pretty expensive. I wish some lab would test OE.

I watched a video showing Swiss making their powder. I wish I could find it again. It was 10 years ago. They use really old equipment, but it's obvious they put a lot of time into making their powder. Way more steps than you describe and much more time.

That is the reason Swiss is such a good and consistent powder. Their quality control and sizing is unmatched. You get what you pay for most of the time.

Yep! I doubt i'll switch from it. Even if it is expensive. It's still way cheaper than BH 209.

Quality control produces consistency Muley Hunter. The power comes from using the best products. They use Black Alder for the wood making charcoal. And from what I have been told as well as seen that is supposed to be the best charcoal, especially for firearms, that you can use to make black powder.

Yes, I used to preach that all the time when I was pushing Swiss powder.

I've heard that Goex claims to use Alder now in OE. I don't think it's the same quality as Swiss uses, but it's a step in the right direction.