Swiss Black Powder

[bingo1952]

You are correct in that "carbon is not carbon". The temperature and time cooked is what controls the ratio of carbon to creosote. The old 'brown' powders of the late 19th century were more powerful, less smoky, and less dirty than anything on the market today including Swiss powder.

 

[poordevil]

Black powder is not like Nitro powders, so you will not have a blown up barrel by switching from one brand to another.

Drop the powder charge if you want for recoil or just because, but it is not a safty issue.

P

 

[bingo1952]

The brown powder was not a nitro powder. It still used the same components that standard black used but utilized under-cooked charcoal and was formed into hexagonal grains to maximize the surface area to increase the burn rate.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

The brown powder was not a nitro powder. It still used the same components that standard black used but utilized under-cooked charcoal and was formed into hexagonal grains to maximize the surface area to increase the burn rate.

In addition, the sulfur was reduced to anywhere from 5% to none. I've found the composition of Dupont's given as 79% KNO3, 18% charcoal, 3% S. A German version was 80% KNO3 and 20% charcoal, with no S. A web search for came up with a bunch of references.

Regards,
Joel

 

[Dphar]

You are correct in that "carbon is not carbon". The temperature and time cooked is what controls the ratio of carbon to creosote. The old 'brown' powders of the late 19th century were more powerful, less smoky, and less dirty than anything on the market today including Swiss powder.

This "probably" correct. But shooters new to Swiss comment on the reduction in smoke.
But Swiss is much like C&H Diamond Grain, though its made with different wood, and this was a very popular powder with "discriminating shooters".
I had not put any thought into the brown powders lately. Will have to do some reading if I can get that motivated.
Its very difficult to compare 19th century powders since they are virtually all gone."Mad Monk" has done research, destructive testing if you will, to see particle sizes ect, on old powders found in partly used cans and powder horns.
But all in all the formula, charcoal, mill time and density of Swiss is ball park for the old premium powders. My comments on this are based on Mad Monk's not inconsiderable research, my own experience and that of others.

Lots of folks see claims that Swiss is better than Goex etc. as meaning GOEX is garbage it seems.
This is not the case. In fact GOEX is better now than 10-20 years ago IMO.
I use Swiss for most of my shooting. This does not mean I do not have and use Goex.

Dan