I have a black powder pistol I put together several years ago from a kit. I only shoot it at New Years and the Fourth of July. Using real black powder in the gun(no ball ammo) I can get a loud BANG. However, using Pyrodex, all I get is a loud SWOOSH.
My question is: Where can I purchase a pound or so of real black Powder? I use the FFF size.
Tom Cowles, Inverness, FL
tcowl@earthlink.net

Basically, you can't anymore. There are VERY few sporting goods stores that sell real black powder. They have to have more explosives permits. And, with the minimal market for real powder, they simply see no need to carry it.

Depending upon where you live, you may be able get some. Dixie Gun Works in Union City, Tenn. will be glad to sell you black powder by the pound (in person). Go to some of the cowboy action shooter boards and ask around to see if there's somebody in your area. One of the best is www.cascity.com . Also ask on the muzzleloading boards like www.muzzleloadingforum.com

Otherwise, you can order it in 25 lb cases direct to your door from any number of dealers.

Check with your local sporting goods store or on-line to see when a SASS cowboy shoot will be going on. A fair number of the competitors shoot real black powder and may be able to help you out with a source.

I gotta couple of leads for you. Jerry's Pawn and Guns in Ocala, Fla. (352) 622-3780

and Buffalo Bill's Shooting Sports in Orlando. Don't have a number for them.

Thanks for the tip. I called Jerry;s Pawn and Gun. They do have black powder for sale. I will make a trip to Ocala next week.
Tom Cowles

Howdy

I'm trying to understand this. You are not loading a ball, is that correct? You are basically trying to get a bang by loading powder and no ball?

If I understand you correctly, the reason you are getting a SWOOSH and no BANG is that Pyrodex performs like smokeless powder and does not explode. If it is not confined by a ball, or a bullet, it burns like Smokeless powder with a SWOOSH.

I just want to caution you when you go to buy your powder, call and confirm that they are selling you REAL Black Powder, and not one of the other Black Powder Substitutes, like American Pioneer Powder, or Hodgdon's Triple Seven. Those will also go SWOOSH.

Just so you know, we have a lot of Revolutionary War re-enactors in these parts. Most of them load a charge of real Black Powder into their flintlock muskets, followed by some paper wadding. Even using real Black Powder, they don't get much of a BANG that way. If you really want to get a good bang, you need to confine the powder when it burns, and the best way to do that is with a ball.

Which you may or may not want to do.

I've fired a few blank loads from a smoothbore gun. Regular powder charge, like 75 grains, and I just rammed down a wad of linen on top. "Banged" just fine. I haven't messed with Pyrodex in a long time.

They say it doesn't work well in flintlocks, besides, it smells bad....not like real black powder!
www.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Fatdutchman/Flintlocks

Black Powder is still around but getting harder to find.

I have shot my fair share of Black Powder Blanks over the year. Never cared for Pyrodex at all. American Pioneer Powder is great stuff. No matter what type you are using the secret to a good loud blank is simply packing your powder good and tight. This is a lot easy for cartridge loads. In cap & ball pistols and muzzle loading rifles you have to use a good sized wad or patch and pack it in good.