so im thinking about geting into black powder hunting. if i get one it would more than likely be a tc. i was just lookin at the state regulations, and it says hunters must use a muzzleloader rifle with open or peep sights and wear fluorecent orange, and may not use smokeless powder. so my question is, what the heck is smokeless powder? and i wouldnt have a problem with that would i?
i know probably a stupid question but i just got me wondering a little bit and i figured what better place to ask than here. thank you for you help

Smokeless powder is what is used in modern centerfire and rimfire cartridges. There are some muzzleloaders out there that are capable of shooting smokeless powder, but most can only shoot black powder or substitutes, ie; Pyrodex, Cleanshot, Triple 7, etc.

If you're worried about accidentally mistaking smokeless powder for black powder or its substitutes, don't get too worked up. Nitrocellulose based smokeless powder is ALWAYS clearly labeled as such. As long as you stick with black powder or an acceptable substitute like Pyrodex, Triple Seven, etc... you won't have a problem. Now, where you may get confused is that the DOT classifies most black powder substitutes as "smokeless propellants" rather than as a "low explosive" like black powder, and the DOT label on the container will say smokeless powder, but the label will also say that the powder is for use in muzzleloading firearms. Nitrocellulose based smokeless powders (which are the smokeless powders that actually produce little if any smoke) will all have a warning on the label that says it is NOT for use in muzzleloading arms.

The only production muzzleloader that can safely shoot smokeless powder is the Savage 10ML and 10ML-II, which you don't have so don't worry about it.

When you go to buy powder for your muzzleloader, and you're not sure what's safe to get, please make sure you find one of the guys from the gun department and ask them. They should know exactly where you need to look (unless you're at Wal-Mart, but the great thing there is that Wal-Mart doesn't sell smokeless powder, at least not in my area).

Mike

1st recommendation would be Goex BP, 2nd would be Pyrodex RS BP substitute.
Used them both for years in TC Hawkens

It's funny how Wal*Marts vary. The ones down here sell dies,bullets and smokeless powder. I don't think they sell the primers though.I noticed in the WM in GA by the BP section they had Winchester 209 primers in a special package of 100.Special package meaning the same primers in the regular sleeve but packaged in another plastic container.

Young_gun there are no stupid questions.If you don't know something it's best to ask instead of making a stupid mistake.Driftrider explained it well.The powder containers are well marked,You won't have any problems if you take your time and watch what you're doing


Ruger Redhawk

Smokeless is not allowed in Arizona in a muzzleloader either. I did not look at the Savage for that reason as it is the only available production muzzleloader that allows the use of smokeless powder and that comes with some additional problems anyway. Bottom line for a beginner is be real sure you have a muzzleloading powder and it says so on the can. Some think any powder that is black is black powder which cannot be more far from the truth. If you can find it another very good black powder synthetic substitute is Black Mag3. If you are mostly planning on hunting you might look at this one as it is a lot cleaner than most of the rest and performs very well in my T/C Omega. Good luck and welcome to a really great variation in the shooting sports.

Are the Savages totally banned in Arizona, or just the use of smokeless powder? To be honest, even if I couldn't hunt with smokeless powder I'd still use my Savage exclusively as it is more than capable of shooting black powder subs. It's the finest ML rifle I've seen in terms of design and features as a result of being expressly designed to shoot smokeless powder. I own the 10ML-II BSS version with in stainless with the laminate stock and it's also a fine looking and feeling rifle. Very accurate too. Like I said, smokeless or not, I'd take the Savage over a Knight or T/C any day.

Forgive the digression.

Mike

Not banned just can't use smokeless powder. Arizona says must load from the muzzle must use black or synthetic black, must have single barrel and other than that almost anything goes. 209 OK, sealed breech OK, scope OK, any projectile OK. I only decided not to pursue the Savage for the initial reason that we are not able to use smokeless then another thing was the idea that I had to keep replacing some small thing in the chamber which turned me off just like the Knight use of a plastic throw away thing does. I also didn't want to give up the barrel length due to the bolt action. All of these things are my impressions but obviously the Savage is a great rifle and I would be the first to say so. Just didn't seem to fit my requirements.