billnpatti
Member
There are several chemical differences. The substitutes are essentially modern powders made to mimic the properties of black powder. Actually, they are a bit hotter than black powder. An equivalent load for substitutes such as Pyrodex is about 10% less than for black powder.
Because it is a modern propellent with the burning properties of modern smokeless powder, it can be shipped, stored and handled in the same manner as smokeless powder. Black powder, on the other hand, is classified as an explosive and requires special shipping, handling and storage requirements. That is why the substitutes are more readily available on the dealers shelves.
As for how it works in a muzzleloader, it is fine for in-line guns. They have a direct ignition path and use the hotter shotgun primers. Caplock rifles will work pretty reliably with the substitutes as well as with black powder. But as I said previously, you need to reduce the volume equivalent load by about 10% when shooting any of the substitutes. So, if you are shooting 100 grains of black powder, you will need to reset your powder measure for 90 grains for the substitute powder.
When you take up shooting a flintlock, you immediately leave behind your substitute powder and must use only real black powder. Substitute powders have a much higher ignition temperature than real black powder and will simply not ignite reliably in a flintlock. If you try to use a substitute powder in a flintlock, you will become very frustrated very quickly trying it to get it to go off. I have no problem with what anyone else chooses to pour down the barrel of their smoke pole but as for me, I use only the Holy Black. Just my opinion. It's free and worth every damn penny of it.
Because it is a modern propellent with the burning properties of modern smokeless powder, it can be shipped, stored and handled in the same manner as smokeless powder. Black powder, on the other hand, is classified as an explosive and requires special shipping, handling and storage requirements. That is why the substitutes are more readily available on the dealers shelves.
As for how it works in a muzzleloader, it is fine for in-line guns. They have a direct ignition path and use the hotter shotgun primers. Caplock rifles will work pretty reliably with the substitutes as well as with black powder. But as I said previously, you need to reduce the volume equivalent load by about 10% when shooting any of the substitutes. So, if you are shooting 100 grains of black powder, you will need to reset your powder measure for 90 grains for the substitute powder.
When you take up shooting a flintlock, you immediately leave behind your substitute powder and must use only real black powder. Substitute powders have a much higher ignition temperature than real black powder and will simply not ignite reliably in a flintlock. If you try to use a substitute powder in a flintlock, you will become very frustrated very quickly trying it to get it to go off. I have no problem with what anyone else chooses to pour down the barrel of their smoke pole but as for me, I use only the Holy Black. Just my opinion. It's free and worth every damn penny of it.
Lots of fresh coffee beans is a GOOD thing in that weather !
