French black powder

[DUNKS]

Hi, I have been gifted here in the Uk a 500gram flask of French black powder. The plastic flask is blue in colour and sealed . It appears to be quite old.
Can anyone tell me what grade of powder it might contain please? Printed on the flask is
NSPE
POUDRE NOIRE
DE CHASSE
No other information. apart from DES POUDRES ET EXPLOSIFS

 

[Jaeger]

Hi, I have been gifted here in the Uk a 500gram flask of French black powder. The plastic flask is blue in colour and sealed . It appears to be quite old.
Can anyone tell me what grade of powder it might contain please? Printed on the flask is
NSPE
POUDRE NOIRE
DE CHASSE
No other information. apart from DES POUDRES ET EXPLOSIFS

If it's in a plastic bottle, it probably isn't that old.

 

[SDSmlf]

A photograph may help. And by chance, does the container look like this one?

 

[DUNKS]

NO

 

[brownac1983]

Is it this can?

 

[TDM]

DUNKS, how bout posting a photo of what you have?

 

[DUNKS]

A photograph may help. And by chance, does the container look like this one?
View attachment 171498

 

[DUNKS]

Is it this can? Yes exactly thanks.

View attachment 171612

 

[brownac1983]

That's an older can of Vectan powder. The "Powder Noire de Chasse" translates to "Blackpowder for Hunting". As far as I've been able to tell, the French grade on a different scale then I'm used to. "Chasse" is the powder grade, and is apparently a mix of 5Fg-1.5Fg. At what proportions I have no idea, so I'd start low and work up a load from there.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/GRANULOMETRIE_PN1.jpg

 

[DUNKS]

Thanks. Due to the Uk powder storage requirements I have had to open the bottle and decant into a suitable one for storage. I found the powder to be extremely coarse. and granular. Tried a couple of low power loads in my 1835 double 16 gauge percussion. 60 grains and 25gram of shot. Works a treat and breaks clays with authority which is all I need. I was expecting it to be a very fine powder.