Blackpowder

Has any one made there own black powder for hunting and target practice?

I see on forums where some guys do this, but unless a guy really shoots a lot of it....I doubt it would amount to a great savings. Seems to me like a lot of work ( and some danger) for the small end result.

A friend of mine made it once years ago. He said it wasn't worth the hassle or the worry.

I'm making some for myself, made my own ball mill that will double as a brass tumbler, I got the cost of mading my powder down to about $5.00 a pound not including time.

I recently bought a cap and ball revolver ... a Pietta made Colt 1851 Navy. It's a blast to shoot but probably wouldn't work for hunting. I definitely intend to purchase a percussion rifle later this year to hunt with. Yes, you have to be a lot more fastidious about cleaning but it's a fun alternative. If I can handle percussion then perhaps down the road there's a flintlock in my future.

Yes they are fun to shoot, have a H&R Huntsman that I hunt with but plan on getting a flintlock soon.

Most people that shoot black powder buy it and split the cost with a couple other friends, because the hazmat fee is what runs up the cost.
there are black powder substitutes that are cheap and pretty much available on line and in some gun shops.
I've been using Triple 7 with good results.
Unlike the in-lines that people buy to take advantage of the muzzle loader seasons, they sight in, and then put the rifle away till next year. They shoot the sabots, and powder pellet charges.
A traditional muzzle loader takes more dedication in that you need to clean it after shooting it, or end up with a rusted out and pitted bore.
Both black powder and the substitutes are corrosive, and require attention as soon as possible.

Check out Grafs, Jimbo. $7.95 flat rating shipping and only a $10.00 hazmat fee per 50 lbs package. That's not bad.

Grafs

I used to make fireworks and therefore made my own BP. The quality was better than Goex and cost was MUCH less. What are you using to get your Pot. Nit?

If anyone needs GOEX let me know. I have some FF that I'll give away.

The NRA had a reloading book printed years ago that described making black powder. It is a lot of work and in many instances the quality isn't great. I understand the interest in doing things for yourself but this is one time that just buying something might be best.
I like history and old diaries of mountain men, etc. They often complained about poor quality powder.

I can assure you the BP I have made was better than what you can buy. I tested mine against Goex, Goex is inferior. If you know what you are doing, better BP can be made. The only reason one should buy it is to avoid work.

I was talking about years ago, do you save much money on making your own? I prefer black powder to the substitutes but it is getting more difficult to find.

Dave Scott, For what I was doing with it, yes, it saved me hundreds of dollars making my own. For BP firearms, you'd have to shoot quite a bit to make it efficient. Might not be worth the hassle for the occasional nostalgic shoot. I can say the quality is better though, if that matters.

Thanks- I didn't know that. If the black ever gets off the market I can now have a back up plan.

I got my potassium nitrate at Atwoods,
(stump remover) sulfur too. Purified the sulfur and redried it

I never purified my sulfur. The HI Yield stuff was good enough.