Black Powder or Substitute

[JMN68]

I very new to black powder and have shot flintlock only a few but fell in love with the basic feel of loading the file to shoot. I am looking to buy a custom flintlock and would like to purchase other supplies and equipment to shoot flinklock. I have been looking on this forum for recommendation and past post on shooting black powder but there are so some personal preference on this subject.

The local shop who does not and cannot sell black powder told me that I can get by with a black powder substitute. Is that true? If the answer is yes, can I mail order black powder? and what variation do I need for flintlock?

Joe

 

[Rat Trapper]

You can get along real well with triple seven in a cap lock. With a flint lock you need Goex black powder. Black powder will burn at a lower temp than the subs. The hotter spark of caps will light the subs very well on a properly loaded rifle. You may want to start out with a cap lock as most people find them a little easier to operate. Also lots of people who start out with cap locks later pick up a flinter later on once they get more into the sport. There are places where you can order Goex and I am sure someone will be more than willing to add that info shortly.

 

[renovato]

The substitutes don't work in flintlocks. They don't seem to work as well as real black powder, even in percussion guns. Anyway, mail ordering black powder is easy, and it's also the cheapest way to buy. Unfortunately, there's a Hazmat fee attached to each order, so buying in bulk is the best way to get a good price. I buy 25 lbs at a time from powderinc.com and it works out to about $11 a pound. If you don't want or need that much, you can order less, but the per pound cost goes up because of the Hazmat fee. If you can get a couple of buddies together and split a case, it works out great.

 

[Zoar]

JMN--- regarding the local gun store guy that said you could use a substitute in a flintlock... that dude don't know poop. :rotf: Use Black Powder only. You can find the closest source and all sources in the US by going to the GOEX website. I ordered 25 pounds recently and am glad I did. Buying a pound or two with shipping costs and fees is tragic.

Just GOOGLE for the GOEX site. :grin:

 

[silverfox]

JMN68 Welcome to the fun game of Flintlock. To answer your questions Substitute powders do not work in flintlocks only BlackPowder will work properly. What cal. or size rifle are you planning on getting. Any thing up to 58 you can use 3F by using a reduced charge on anything over 45cal. The rule of thumb is 3f to 45 and 2F over 45 but most of us just use 3f even for our pan charges.
As Plink said you can order Black Powder delivered to your door. Maybe yes maybe no? We don't know where you live and there are someplaces they can't ship to but most of the country is not like NYC or DC. Now for cost The last Goex I got was $11.85 deliveed for 25 pounds. They sell as little as 5pounds and with the HazMat it still should run you about $16 per pound and at that price you can get 5pounds of the real stuff for what it would cost you for 3 pounds of the subtitutes. Can't go wrong.
Get as good a rifle as you can afford and it will last a lifetime and serve you well.
Fox :hatsoff:

 

[Grenadier1758]

Sure, you can use the substitutes in a flintlock. The problem is they don't work well at all. Ignition is unreliable, hangfires are common and you will nothing but frustration.

Since that is the myth of using a flintlock and your storekeeper didn't have any black powder in his store. Regulations have made that very difficult for many gun shops and the subtitues word good enough in caplocks.

Listen to us and get black powder. Get a good granulation for your gun. 3f if good for most rifles and 2f is good for most shotguns. Naturally your particular rifle may like a different grade of black powder than I like to use in my rifle. Oils or lubricants for your patches for a round ball have a significant effect on accuracy. You just have to try them out.

We may have our opinions, but most of us flint lock users will tell you to use black powder. I think Scheutzen brand powder burns a little cleaner than Goex.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I don't have a flinter but the fellas that I know that shoots 'em all use the real deal. usually Goex 3F. BP does better IMO in my caplocks also, but Pyro does well in my revolvers.

 

[roundball]

"...that I know that shoots 'em all use the real deal. usually Goex 3F. BP does better IMO in my caplocks also..."

No question about it...used Pyrodex RS in caplocks until I switched to Flintlocks and Goex...it was so fast, clean, and accurate I immediately rezeroed my caplocks with Goex too...

 

[Le Grand]

Black Powder! There really is no substitute...

 

[Mountainman56]

Black Powder! There really is no substitute...

:thumbsup:

 

[RC]

yes ....black powder..goex shipped to your door AND...if you tell us where yer at..location wise..we may have someone near you,jus lookin fer a bp buyin partner.... :thumbsup: and WELCOME! :wink:

 

JMN,
The only time i ever used a sub., it was pyrodex, rifle grade, and it completely failed on me. I couldnt get it to go off in my T/C.54 with it's L&R replacement lock - a good rig. Had to pull the ball and go home.

If youre shooting a FL, buy real BP. :thumbsup: There's no reason not to have it. They will deliver to your door. :v

 

[JMN68]

I reside in California, a state that is banning anything and everything good or bad for you. The state is slowly choking law abiding gun omners' constitutional right to bear arm and giving criminals more and more legal measures to stay out of jail. We pay tax to support the lifers sitting in their aircondition cell, enjoying three meals a day and not having to break sweat and work for a living. What is going on with our society? :shake:

Let me get off my soap box. Anyway, I am planning to pick up a pre-revolutionary war period flintlock .50 cal rifle by the end of this month and then pistol later on down the line. I will be shooting it at a local range. They have black powder day once a month, so I will be spending one day out of a month shooting (steel and card board) with the locals. As for black powder, can I use 3f to load and prime or 2f to load and 3f to prime?

Joe

 

Joe,

If youre within 100 mi. of Sacramento, i have 3F and 4F that i can give you. and i'll split the cost on a powder buy if you want. :v
Dirk

 

[RC]

OKIE! we got yer location...sorta.. :hmm: (you in witness protection program? or just shy?) if yer with 100 miles of sacremento you got a powder partner... as far as

As for black powder, can I use 3f to load and prime or 2f to load and 3f to prime?

yes.. to either..all depends what your gun likes.. you get to play..! seen some prime with 2 some 3 some 4..load with 2 0r 3...lotta guys from cal. on here...even the boss! :thumbsup:

 

[renovato]

As for black powder, can I use 3f to load and prime or 2f to load and 3f to prime?

You can prime with whatever you load with. Generally, flinters aren't very picky about their prime. For a .50, 3F will probably be the best choice. It burns a little cleaner and hotter than 2F. Occasionally a gun will prefer 2F for accuracy, but not often. I have quite a few and only one, a .54 Investarm Hawken, insists on 2F. I use 3F in everything else and prime with it too most of the time.

 

[JMN68]

OKIE! we got yer location...sorta.. :hmm: (you in witness protection program? or just shy?) if yer with 100 miles of sacremento you got a powder partner... as far as

As for black powder, can I use 3f to load and prime or 2f to load and 3f to prime?

yes.. to either..all depends what your gun likes.. you get to play..! seen some prime with 2 some 3 some 4..load with 2 0r 3...lotta guys from cal. on here...even the boss! :thumbsup:

RC,

I am in Castro Valley, CA. The range is only 15 minutes from the house. This can be a good and bad (cost of ammo, the better half want some quality time and more gun cleaning supplies).


Dirk,

I will PM you for details.

Joe

 

[RC]

Okie JMN,I got it figured out! :grin: :grin: :grin:

the better half want some quality time

BUY her a gun! :thumbsup: then you both can have quality time and you an her can split a case a powder! :grin: :grin: :grin: we is all about helpin here! :hatsoff: keep us updated...! :wink:

 

[Deadeye]

speaking of powders, I just read an ad for a new substitute called Blackhorn 209, $30 for 10 oz.
that's $48 a lb.! :youcrazy: and real black will still be better at $12.

 

[longcruise]

speaking of powders, I just read an ad for a new substitute called Blackhorn 209, $30 for 10 oz.
that's $48 a lb.! and real black will still be better at $12.

Hey deadeye, that stuff is all aimed at the in-line crowd and they will pop the $48 a pound cause they only shoot 8 or 10 shots per year anyway. :haha: