Blackpowder Information, Half 3: Gun Powder & Primers

Partially 2 of our information to blackpowder weapons, we lined one half of the accuracy equation: projectiles. The powder and primers you utilize to ship your rounds downrange matter simply as a lot. The best mixture will make sure you get applicable chamber pressures – not an excessive amount of, which might be catastrophic, and never too little, which ends up in poor efficiency – to supply optimum velocities and accuracy downrange.

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Choosing Blackpowder

Choosing the right powder in your muzzleloader means contemplating three key decisions:

1. Choosing powder or a powder substitute
2. Deciding on a granulation dimension of every grain
3. Deciding on loose-pour or pelletized powder

Blackpowder vs. Powder Substitute

Conventional blackpowder is extremely reactive. It ignites simply, making it the popular selection for conventional muzzleloaders utilizing exterior percussion caps or flintlocks for ignition. However conventional powder can also be excessive corrosive. In depth cleansing is required after every use, lest you undergo a severely pitted barrel and chamber. Blackpowder substitutes are most well-liked as a result of they’re much less corrosive.

In lots of circumstances, substitutes have grow to be extra fashionable than conventional powder. For those who choose much less cleansing and upkeep, it’s price giving a substitute propellant a attempt. However, in the event you discover you’re scuffling with ignition when firing a flintlock or conventional percussion rifle, common ole’ blackpowder would be the resolution.

Pyrodex

Pyrodex, the most typical and inexpensive substitute, makes use of a decrease proportion of sulfur and saltpeter, whereas incorporating over compounds, like potassium perchlorate, sodium benzoate, and dicyandiamide. Though flamable, these compounds are much less delicate to ignition sources, making them safer to move and deal with. When ignited, Pyrodex is, in reality, extra energetic per unit of mass than blackpowder – however, as a result of this powder substitute is decrease in density per cubic inch, its internet power launch means it may be simply substituted for blackpowder utilizing a 1:1 ratio. In different phrases, a rifle that requires 90 to 150 grains of black powder will also be stuffed with precisely 90 to 150 grains of substitute, and nonetheless obtain the identical degree of power. Pyrodex prices, on common, the identical per unit as blackpowder: About $19 to $23 per pound.

777 (“Triple 7,” or “T7”) Substitute

Triple 7 powder is taken into account a higher-quality propellant substitute to Pyrodex. Shooters declare Triple 7 leaves behind much less residue than Pyrodex and usually makes swabbing the bore and eradicating fouling a better process. However T7 propellant is costlier, too. Triple 7 is, on common, roughly 50% costlier than black powder an Pyrodex, averaging $33 to $35 per pound.

Blackhorn 209 Substitute

Blackhorn 209 is taken into account the best high quality, and costliest, propellant substitute. It’s considerably costlier than Triple 7, blackpowder, and Pyrodex. However these prepared to spend the cash – as much as $75 for half a pound – declare that it supplies noticeably higher accuracy and efficiency, with greater velocities pound-for-pound than another propellant, together with blackpowder. Blackhorn 209 can also be almost smokeless, offering a clear burn and forsaking little to no residue nor fouling.

However, like most matters regarding the perform of firearms, propellant choice and the ensuing efficiency is usually subjective, or at the least distinctive to the gun, the shooter, and the projectile. It’s finest to check numerous propellants to substantiate which supplies one of the best steadiness of price, efficiency, and cleanliness.

Blackpowder Grain Dimension

Grain dimension performs an necessary function in any powder’s combustibility: the smaller the grain dimension, the extra floor space there’s, relative to the full mass of the powder. Which means the smaller the grain dimension, the sooner the powder turns. Grain dimension is only one issue of the equation. There are just too many different components – grain form, density, graphite content material and powder purity, inclusions of creosotes, burn temperature – to rely solely on powder granule dimension to find out efficiency. However observe the final pointers beneath, and also you’ll have constant efficiency with out the danger of blowing up your barrel. For conventional black powder, grain dimension is measured by F’s: One “F” on the label denotes a rough grain. The extra F’s on the label, the finer the grain

• Fg: The coarsest grain. Utilized in hobbyist cannons, muskets, and rifles with a bore diameter of .75 or better. It’s additionally used for shotguns which can be 10-gauge or bigger.
• FFg: Medium grain. Used for rifles with bore diameters of .50 to .75. Additionally used for 20- to 12-gauge shotguns, and pistols with bores .50-cal or better.
• FFFg: Positive grain. Utilized in all blackpowder weapons with calibers beneath .50.
• FFFFg: Further-fine grain. Used as a primer powder for flintlock pans. Do not use FFFFg powder as a main cost — you’re prone to expertise a catastrophic failure.

Powder substitutes are even less complicated, and are marked by the next:

• RS: Used for rifles and shotguns. Equal to FFg powder.
• P: Used for pistols. Equal to FFFg powder.

Unfastened vs. Pelletized Powder

Pelletized powder affords one benefit: comfort. Particular person pellets are shaped to carry a specific variety of grains, which affords simpler measuring. They’re additionally faster to load and require no powder measure or flask. However pellets present no measurable profit over free powder on the subject of ignition, velocity, and accuracy. Pelletized powder can also be costlier than free powder.

Primers & Percussion Caps

The primer or cap used to ignite your powder cost is as necessary because the powder itself: a scorching, constant ignition temperature ensures a fast and constant cost burn, producing predictable velocities, which interprets into higher accuracy. Save for flintlocks, which depend on free pan powder, there are three varieties of igniters used for all muzzleloaders: The trendy 209 primer, giant rifle primers, and conventional percussion caps.

209 Primers

The 209 primer was adopted by the muzzleloading world to supply hotter burns and extra dependable ignition than conventional caps. They’re utilized in all inline muzzleloaders, and a few conventional muzzleloaders that might in any other case use a cap at the moment are being made to just accept 209 primers. The 209 is used because the primer for contemporary shotgun shells. This mass manufacturing makes it a cheap possibility for muzzleloader ignition. 209 primers are made as magnum primers and customary primers. The previous is appropriate for igniting much less reactive substitutes (like Blackhorn 209) and pelletized powder, which might be harder to ignite. Commonplace primers are appropriate for conventional blackpowder, Pyrodex, and Triple 7.

Massive Rifle Primers

The VariFlame conversion package is a comparatively new system that permits a muzzleloader to make use of a big centerfire rifle cartridge primer for ignition. These fashionable primers burn hotter and sooner than 209 primers and caps. At present, this method is designed for the Paramount Professional Collection Rifles from CVA. These rifles are made to burn giant powder prices to acquire extremely excessive muzzle velocities (as much as 2,200 FPS), affording sub-MOA accuracy at 300 yards or extra.

Percussion Caps

Percussion caps had been the unique primers used on conventional muzzleloaders, changing the flintlock motion within the early 1820s. They’re nonetheless used right now for conventional percussion handguns and lengthy weapons, together with copy rifles and muskets. There are three frequent percussion cap sizes: #10 caps, that are used primarily for pistols; #11 caps, that are used for rifles; and musket caps, that are, because the identify implies, are used on smoothbore weapons.

Travis Olander

Travis is a retired Joint Fires NCO, firearm collector, and long-range shooter with a penchant for outdated militaria. He opinions weapons, knives, tactical package, and tenting and mountain climbing gear.