Very Un-happy

[xbowman]

I started with my first flintlock in Mar 05 and then did the 45 cal York Kit in 06. Since starting I have shot 5,500 rounds between both rifles. In these last 6 months I haven't shot much because of a Tendon problem in my right elbow. When I first started I figured it cost me about 28 cents a shot with my 50 cal. Now just over two years later the cost of powder, lead have jumped way up. It now cost me about 42 cents a shot. Here in New Jersey a new law prohibits buying more than 5 lbs and storage is a issue. To add to things my gun shop may stop purchasing Black Powder because of the insurance cost and permits. It looks like I'll have to :surrender:

 

[J.D.]

Grafs and Sons is only one of a few of BP suppliers who will ship in small quantities of 5#, so it is still available. As to storage, do you have a yard?

An acquaitence stores his excess BP in a sealed plastic 5 gal bucket buried next to the dog house, where nosey neighbor kids won't find it.

 

[Robert Egler]

No one in my area carries actual black powder, only the substitute stuff, which I haven't had good experience with in my flintlock, so I know what a pain it can be if your local shop stops carrying bp. :cursing:

I'd recommend buying a big supply, you can get 50 pounds under 1 hazardous materials fee as long as it's all in one shipment I think, so the cost per pound isn't outrageous, except you say you can't store more than 5 pounds. What is the actual restriction, 5 pounds per person? Can you store 5 pounds and your spouse (or someone else in your house) also store up to 5 pounds? Or is it 5 pounds per house? Then maybe you could get some relatives to store some at their house?

Shooting used to be a lot cheaper, that's for sure! At $22 for 20 rounds I'm afraid my 30-30 doesn't get the use it once did. But that's ok, flintlocks are more fun anyway! I haven't figured out the cost per shot in my flinter, but then I cast my own round balls out of 100 pounds of lead bricks I got for free from someone, so I guess my cost would be artificially low. In any case, I don't really want to know what it costs per shot! :wink:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I pour my own lead slugs and balls but shoot a capper and caps have jumped in price lately. I haven't bought any powder for 3 years but checking prices it has gone up. haven't figured cost per shot yet.

 

[billk]

How long can you store black powder without getting any negative performance?
Billk

 

[Stumpkiller]

In unopened cans stored relatively dry and temperature steady maybe 20 or 25 years or more.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

If kept dry and reasonably cool, no limited shelf life that I am aware of.

 

[TDW]

I'm currently burning up some Dupont that I bought in the early '70s ($3.90 a pound). I have 2 25lb kegs of about the same vintage Dupont, that I expect to be shooting until I drop in the traces. All were, or are, factory sealed.
Tom

 

If kept dry black powder will still fire after 200 years. I don't think there is a shelf life on BP if kept dry.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I agree with Cooner. I have not shot 200 year old powder, but we came across some that was at least 60 years old, and it fired just fine. The key is to store it somewhere dry. If moisture does get into Black Powder, all you have to do is take the cap off the can, and put the can on a warm surface, like a stove top, in a safe place away from open flame. When the can heats up the moisture will be evaporated out of the can. I would not heat the can any hotter than I could comfortably hold the can in my bare hand, however, for safety sakes. Its would not be necessary to dry the powder. Probably no more than 10 minutes on the stove top, with the oven on at a low setting, or set out in the sunlight on a cement patio, or stairs, or even on the hood of your car, would get the powder dried. If it clumps a little, just gently shake the powder in the can and it will break up the clumps. Powder is run through a process that coats the grains with graphite, to reduce the change of static electricity ignition. Generally when moisture gets into powder, its the graphite that is sticking together, and not the actually powder. If you have a clump that will not break apart from gentle shaking, its probaly safest to throw away the clump. pour water on it, and when you have made a black tea, our it on your garden. The nitrates are good for the soil, as is the sulfur. The carbon will break down in the ground, easily, over time, and be used by the plants to make new cells.

 

[arquebus]

Powder Inc. will also sell BP in 5lb lots. Their prices are good & they have excellent service, too. They carry a range of BP brands (GoEx, Swiss, Skirmish, etc.), so there's a variety of price ranges, too. Give them a try[url] http://www.powderinc.com[/url]/

 

[J.D.]

I have dried very damp powder by warming the oven at the lowest setting, spread a thin layer of powder on aluminum foil on a cookie sheet,turn the oven OFF and place the cookie sheet in the warm oven with the door cracked an inch or so.

Powder dried this way has worked as well as new powder.

An acquainted tried drying some powder in the microwave. He quickly found that it was a very bad idea. :nono:

That said, sealed containers stored in mild temps should remain viable for hudreds of years.

Another acquaintence stores his excess powder in a sealed 5 gal plastic bucket burried next to the dog house. It's out of the house, out of sight of nosey neighbors, and dry as a bone.
J.D.

 

[rabbit03]

Move south!

:thumbsup:

Not the only solution, but an idea!

rabbit03

 

[wildeagle]

Billk, I'm not sure how much oommff it had left, but after putting a flame to a couple small samples of BP it still flashed and smoked. What I found interesting about the powder was that it was original BP removed from the base of .58 cal Gardiners. These bullets were recovered while relic hunting and dug between 6 and 8 inches in the ground.These bullets had been in the ground app. 140 yrs. All that remained was powder in the base cavity not the linnen wrapped charge. After being in the ground that long and still flash, I would have to agree with other's statements about a very long shelf life, even very,very,very long if properly cared for.

 

[old gunsmith]

About 10 years ago there was a problem with an antique cannon barrel recovered from one of the rivers in Maine. The article I saw in "Down East" magazine said the barrel was colonial period and had been under water for a very long time. It had been out of the water a couple of years outside in the air when some kids were playing with it and it went off. Nobody was injured but I'll bet some folks needed to change their underwear... Anyhow, black powder is a mechanical rather than a chemical composition as is smokeless powder, so it theoretically should last forever if kept dry as in a sealed can. Regards, Old Gunsmith

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

There are lots of BP shooters & clubs that shoot BP leagues here in NJ. I travel the state and could deliver a can or two to you. Or you could show-up at one of the shoots that I and my son attend.

Give me a PM with your email in it and I'll make arrangements to get you REAL BLACK!

Hope that your elbow joint feels better!

Let me know if you want to go to Dixons' Fair this Sunday...they sell BP and you'll have a real good time!

Dave

 

[mrbortlein]

Xbowman,
I don't know what part of NJ you're in, but they are building a Cabelas in North Jersey. [url] http://www.cabelas.com/cabela..._stores/eastrutherford/erutherford_press.html[/url]
I know from experience that you can travel from the southern most point in NJ to NY in less than 2 hrs (good trafic). But the tolls will cost almost as much as the BP.
mrbortlein

 

[xbowman]

I am replying to my own post titled Very Un-happy. I would like to thank all of you that responded.
As for Cabela's, I have been wanting to visit a Cabela's that is 109 miles from here. I called last week and they only had a few pounds of Goex. I was told to call before making the drive. The new one that is supposed to be built in North Jersey....don't know about it yet.
I think obtaining black powder in the future will be a issue for all.
One more thing.......a few days after posting Very Un-happy I was visiting a website and found this whole post, posted in it. Looks like a search engine grabbed up on it.

 

[Zonie]

"...Looks like a search engine grabbed up on it. "
-----------------------
Sounds like somebody stole it to me.

I hope they had your permission. I know they did not have Claudes.
zonie

 

[paulvallandigham]

Xbowman: Why not simply order your powder from Powder, Inc, or Graf and Sons? You can find their addresses under the member resources here, and contact them by phone. It is worth while to place a large order, simply because you pay the same $20.00 Haz Mat fee surcharge regardless of how much powder you buy. But, with powder still available at under $15.00 per lb. shipping and fee included, it doesn't make sense to burn up a lot of gas going to and from a store you are not sure will have what you want when you get there. As close as you are to Pennsylvania, driving over to Dixons, outside Allentown would make more sense. At least you know you are going to a black powder gunstore, and they will have what you need.