Black powder, Brands

[jmaubin]

I shoot Black powder and black powder only. I would like to know what brands yawl have had better luck with; goex or swiss?

 

[PRM]

No experience with the Swiss, but I have been shooting GOEX for close to 30 years. It was the first powder I bought. I have always had great shooting with this brand (caplock and flint) and just never used anything else. Back when I started shooting black powder, that was all our local stores stocked.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I've had the same experience as RPM. I can on longer get black on my local market, mail order only. Some times I'm forced to shoot subs.

 

[Jim Watson]

Around 2000 there was some very sad Goex turned out. I watched a couple of guys from here struggle with it in BPCR and did not want the aggravation. They changed to Swiss and business picked right up so I joined in. I have seldom shot anything but Swiss 1 1/2Fg in my .38-55 except for a recent test of Goex when that was all I could find when I wanted to try FFFg for higher velocity. It did OK and I think you would be safe to consider fresh Goex. They also have Express grade with longer milling to try to compete with Swiss for the high end market.

Schuetzen brand did not do well for me.
The friend who got me into BPCR said he shot Wano while in Germany.
I have heard and read of people shooting Kik and Elephant but see no point in fooling with them.

 

[Acorn Mush]

I've shot Goex for years, and DuPont prior to Goex. Both performed well. Have also had some experience with Schuetzen, which is made by Wano in Germany, and it worked as well as Goex for me. I tried Elephant when it was still being manufactured and was not pleased at all - very dirty and 20% lower velocity than Goex per my chronograph. I have not tried Kik because it is unavailable where I live.
By the way, if you buy powder from Graf and Sons, their Graf branded black powder is, or was last year, made by Wano per the information on the label. A fellow club member bought several pounds of it and was pleased with its performance.

 

[trickshot]

I shoot a flintlock fowler and C&B revolver. I used Goex for a few years and it worked okay, no complaints. Then I tried Swiss. As long as I can get Swiss I will never shoot anything else. The main reason I like Swiss so much is that it burns a lot cleaner and leaves very little fouling. It also burns a little hotter.

 

[moonax]

I shoot Goex mostly and I have shot some Schuetzen.i like the Schuetzen and thought it burned a little cleaner that Goex.Seems to have the same point of impact as Goex.
I have some Swiss and tried it in a few rifles . I thought it was O.K and it did burn cleaner but not worth the extra cost.

 

[Hellgate]

I've shot Dupont/Goex, elephant, & Curtis & Harvey.
The Curtis&Harvey was cleaner but lower powered, elephant was OK but dirtier, I like Goex for my C&Bs & rifled muskets.

 

[bonza]

I too shoot mostly GoEx, but I do use some Swiss as well. I shoot with the USIMLT, so it's important to have loads worked up with Swiss powder for when we travel overseas to compete. Swiss is pretty much available worldwide, whereas we often have a hard time sourcing GoEx overseas.

 

[English Bob]

I use Swiss No.4 in my 45-90's, I find it a very clean burning powder.

Gonna use it in my Gibbs too when I get around to shooting it.

 

[Afy]

We dont get Goex in France. So swiss or a version from vectan.

 

[RugerBob]

having only read your post, and not the replies.... I have been wanting to reload bp in catridge and have the new bp loading book 5th edition. (there are many) I recommend you get it. What may work for others, may not work for you and or your rifle. I understand wanting to get opinions, but I highly recommend getting the book., Bob

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Since you are in LA you might want to check out Jacks. http://www.jackspowderkeg.com/ They are a Goex distributor and also sell the house powder brand which is Goex in the own cans for $9.50 a 1lb can. I doubt if you find bp any cheaper. If I lived nearby I know where I would be buying my powder.

 

[BHP FAN]

Goex 2f seems to be what my Trapdoors like best.

 

[Jefferson Herb]

Like BHP,I use Goex in my trapdoor ,Martini and percussion guns. I get powder from club member,only one place that sells it and the last time I was there they wanted 22.00 lb.They can keep it,I'll make my own before I pay that kind of price.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I'm using a mix...Goex for musket and carbine, Swiss for the pistols. Same reason as Bonza.

 

[Chawbaccer]

When I started I was told to go to the hardware store and ask for a can of DuPont. That is what I was given too and one day he came back out front with a can of GO and then one day it was Goex and that is mostly what I use now.

 

[scrat]

Goex never used Swiss but then i cant find it out here so i think i will stick to Goex

 

[nw_hunter]

KIK

Goex is now handling KIK, and I have been using it for some time now! I purchase it from Powder Inc. online. There is no significant difference in it and Goex as far as I can tell.

It's cheaper, so I'll prob. be using it often. Buy in the bulk to cut down on shipping fees, and if you know others in your area that shoot ML's , you can go together and split the order.