Making blackpowder

[bezoar]

In shooting accessories, stumpkiller said it is illegal to make good oldfashioned blackpowder, yet several companies sell ball mills and other equipment to ANYONE to make blackpowder and other simple explosive compounds, and no liscensing is needed in order to purchase from them.
Sure they say its for "making fireworks" but a gun is the original firework,
just saying tho.

 

[Claude Mathis]

That's true. I can also order a switch-blade knife "kit" and have it shipped to California. It's only illegal if I assemble it.

The components aren't illegal, but the finished product is.

 

[jtmattison]

True you can order everything you need to make your own black powder on the internet.
I don't think you'll find anyone on here who would recommend doing it :imo:
I sure wouldn't do it :m2c:

Huntin

 

That's true. I can also order a switch-blade knife "kit" and have it shipped to California. It's only illegal if I assemble it.

The components aren't illegal, but the finished product is.

:agree: Same thing applys to a still but I won't mention a thing if a lil steam is blowing off it :shake: :nono: :haha:

Woody

 

[Gary]

Never researched it, but during the American Civil War and especially during the American Revolution, lotsa folks made BP.

 

[musketman]

In shooting accessories, stumpkiller said it is illegal to make good oldfashioned blackpowder,

Besides the reasons Stumpkiller stated, there is another aspect to contend with, if you made black powder from advise, recommendations and a formula listed from this forum and got hurt or killed, could the Muzzleloading Forum be held liable?

That would be a field day for an lawyer...

 

[Stumpkiller]

I said it was illegal. But more importantly the BATF said it is illegal.

It is not illegal if you obtain the license to manufacture explosives (which includes agreeing to submit to surprise inspections).

And if you distribute the powder there are a whole lot more restrictions, licenses and fees involved. (Giving it away is just as illegal as "selling" it, as in any controlled substance, without the proper permits).

You don't need a driver's license to buy a car, either.

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

I was corresponding with someone a couple of years ago who said he made his own powder for something like 20 years, but it was a major undertaking. He had to get a manufacturing permit from the Feds, and he had a large piece of land on which he had to build a mill just for this purpose (the design requirements were almost like a military bunker), a certain distance from any other buildings, etc. It was a huge investment for him.

I know of some websites that sell small-scale equipment for making your own powder, and some books with recipes. But it's too dangerous (and probably expensive) for anyone with with an I.Q. higher than 12 to try it.

 

[robinghewitt]

I think it really comes down to future restrictions on shipping hazardous materials. If it became impossible to get ready made powder, I would almost certainly have a pestle and mortar, maybe even a small edge runner mill ready to roll before I ran out.

 

Grasshopper,

There are certain things every man should know and no man should admit knowing.

Not in the perilious times we are living through.

:imo:

 

[montanadan]

BEZOAR- Some guys in our club made some last year. The worst black powder you have ever shot,fouls terribly,really was not very powerful. Besides they said it was a giant pain in the rear to make. Like Stumpkiller said it is ILLEGAL, from what I have read the dust from making the powder is more explosive than the the powder. I personally would not do it even if it was legal. Might want to read the fine print in your home owner insurance policy...Respectfully Montanadan

 

[shmrck1]

:agree: :RO:
snake-eyes eace: :thumbsup:

 

Speaking of stills, you are allowed to own and operate one in the Land Down Under. Why they even have taste testing contest like we do here in the states for pickles at the county fairs. :thumbsup:

Woody

 

[2172]

As a 10 year old in the 1940's, I had the makings in my Gilbert chemistry set, and found the formula in Webster's Dictionary under the word "gunpowder". I made some...as described here in, it was terrible...almost worthless...now, I didn't know about wetting it, and re-grinding it, which is just as well...the chemistry set was confiscated when I set fire to the yard building...Hank

 

Speaking of stills, you are allowed to own and operate one in the Land Down Under. Why they even have taste testing contest like we do here in the states for pickles at the county fairs. :thumbsup:

Woody

You can buy the equipment here
http://www.moonshine.co.nz/

There's no law against owning a still (in Canada) only a law against useing it.

 

[Gary]

You can brew your own here in the US, but you can't brew for commerical purposes. Thar's revenewers out dar!

 

[RussB]

Even if Blackpowder was legal, safe, and easy to make, I have to wonder what kind of consistency one would get, from batch to batch, using homemade methods?

I would think this would be the biggest challenge in making your own powder....if you think working up a load now is tough, how would you like to do that every couple hundred shots.
I don't P&M near as much about the prices of powder, when I think what if I had to make that stuff myself.

Russ

 

[Claude Mathis]

You can brew your own here in the US, but you can't brew for commerical purposes. Thar's revenewers out dar!

I believe you can "ferment" beer and wine, but you can not distill hard liquor in the US, even for private us. Is that correct?

 

You can brew your own here in the US, but you can't brew for commerical purposes. Thar's revenewers out dar!

I believe you can "ferment" beer and wine, but you can not distill hard liquor in the US, even for private us. Is that correct?

You are exactly correct Claude.
You can make wine and beer but no hard liquor.
If you freeze wine or beer and then syphon off the alchole it is considered freeze distillling and you can get a fine/ jail sentence for doing so.
Like you have said about other situation.
It is not against the law to own and have a still. it is against the law to operate it,

Woody

 

[Gary]

Revenooer homepage on "Say No to brewski" Beer (the type that doesn't have claws & teeth) is OK and so is w(h)ine. As for the hard stuff, Durn it! Dar's revenooers out thar! :cry: Oh well, I'm glad I'm a teetotaler. Make mine a coke (Coca-cola that is) :blah: