Black Powder Substitute Questions

**IamOzzy** · July 15th, 2014, 02:21 PM

Hi all.

I am curious about the use of black powder substitutes in cartridges.
Does the black powder substitute emit the same amount of smoke as "real" black powder? Is there the same sulfur scent to a substitute mix even though no sulfur is present?

**PennStateCarry** · July 15th, 2014, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by IamOzzy

Hi all.

I am curious about the use of black powder substitutes in cartridges.
Does the black powder substitute emit the same amount of smoke as "real" black powder? Is there the same sulfur scent to a substitute mix even though no sulfur is present?

I only use Triple Se7en as a substitute, but there is definitely no sulfur scent at all. Smoke-wise I can't really tell the difference between my Goex and TS.

**PennStateCarry** · July 15th, 2014, 02:55 PM

If you're thinking about starting to use a substitute they are generally cheaper, you can get them in pellets, and it cleans a hell of a lot easier than black powder in addition to being not nearly as corrosive.

**IamOzzy** · July 15th, 2014, 03:08 PM

Thank you. I like some antique guns from circa 1900 for display, but am curious how they may target shoot.

Is taking a small caliber pistol with a BP Substitute to an indoor range a bad idea due to the smoke it gives off?

**DavidTM** · July 15th, 2014, 03:14 PM

I use Blackhorn 209 and it doesn't have the sulfur smell to it. If you go to this web site http://www.blackhorn209.com/load-data/ you can obtain load data for metallic handguns.

FWIW

Dave

**PennStateCarry** · July 15th, 2014, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by IamOzzy

Thank you. I like some antique guns from circa 1900 for display, but am curious how they may target shoot.

Is taking a small caliber pistol with a BP Substitute to an indoor range a bad idea due to the smoke it gives off?

I don't know of any indoor ranges that will let you shoot any type of black powder firearm. I don't know where you are in Bucks County, but not far from Warrington there is a nice outdoor range called Wicen's if you wanted to shoot at a pistol range.

**tsafa** · July 21st, 2014, 05:36 PM

Even the cleanest blackpowder substitutes are going to require that you clean the gun when you are done. You might be able to get off 100 rds of Tripple Seven in a revolver before the fouling starts inhibiting the action. You will notice that the cylinder rotation gets harder as the fouling builds up. A semi-auto is going to jam up a lot sooner. Semi-auto's were not practical until the invention of Smokeless Gunpowder.