Goex plant closing

[Muley Gil]

Just read a press release from Hodgdon on the N-SSA site that they are closing their Louisiana plant that produces black powder.

This not a good thing for those of us that own and shoot front stuffers.

 

[DWalt]

BP plant to cease operations

This may be of interest to some who are black powder enthusiasts, but today, Hodgdon announced it is closing its GOEX Black Powder plant in Minden LA immediately. The door is left open concerning any interested purchasers of the facility.

The plant had a fire in June, but was supposed to re-start production by the end of this year. Guess that's not gonna happen now. I believe it is the only remaining BP manufacturer in the USA.

 

[ladder13]

If not already, I see a huge run on BP.

I was just thinking about dusting off my smoke pole the other day, the season starts in a few weeks here.

 

[jack the toad]

Not certain but wasnt this the last domestic BP manufacturing facility???

 

[steelslaver]

Go here and get enough stuff to make 10# for $52. You just need to supply some good alcohol and make a small disk press.
Make Black Powder - High Quality - With 10 Pound Chemical Kit — Skylighter, Inc.

or go here and buy the components cheaper
Chemical Kits

Potassium Nitrate pure and fine $3.50 per lb
Fine sulpur powder $2.95 per lb
1 LB. Pyro Grade Air Float Charcoal Powder $3.75 per lb
1Lb of 1Lb of Dextrin $3.75 lb (binder)

15# of potassium nitrate, 3# of fine high grade charcoal(NOT KINGSFORD) and 1# of sulpur and 1.5oz of Dextrin, enough pure alcohol to make it into a gooey mess, mix well, dry it out in the hot sun, screen it or press it into pucks too break down later to get almost 20# of black powder for a little over $60.
I got my sulfur free at a refinery as well as some almost pure powdered carbon. Willow makes excellent high grade charcoal as do many hard woods. BBQ charcoal is junk. You can actually gather natural salt peter from many sources too. But, high purity stuff is best.

They been making black powder for over 1000 years and it isn't hard. I will never run out, I know that

 

[DWalt]

One of the first things that popped into my mind was the effect of closure on domestic display fireworks manufacturers. Maybe they get their black powder from China. Another issue is BP for use in artillery propellant charges. Civil War and Revolutionary War battle reinactors also may have a tough time.

Yes, if you are into muzzle loaders, you can make your own black powder, the main item needed is Potassium Nitrate. If anyone has a copy of the military manual called "Improvised Munitions Handbook" (TM 31-210), a method for making BP is given. It also gives instructions on extracting Potassium Nitrate from natural sources. Regardless, no home made BP will come close to the quality of the commercial product. Incidentally, duPont was so successful in selling his BP because he was responsible for making many advances in BP manufacture in France. When he fled from the French Reign of Terror to the USA, he brought all of those BP manufacturing secrets with him, and duplicated the French powder plants in Delaware. His product was much better than any of the other domestic powder makers.


"screen it or press it into pucks too break down later to get almost 20# of black powder for a little over $60."

That operation is the one which is most dangerous and nearly always is responsible for fires and explosions in industrial BP manufacture, especially breaking up cakes into granules.

 

[steelslaver]

Potassium Nitrate is the white stuff that forms on chicken, rabbit manure, bat guano etc.

Cave Deposits

In the early part of the 19th century and throughout the Civil War, caves in many Southern states were rich sources of potassium nitrate. Usually found as huge crusts and growths on cave walls and ceilings, they formed when solutions containing alkali potassium and nitrate seeped into cavern cracks and crevices. For example, the DesertUSA website reports that miners extracted 200 tons of potassium nitrate from Mammoth Cave in Kentucky between 1811 and 1814, to use in the making of gunpowder.

But hey you can buy all you want. Just look around. Found this place that sells 5# for $10. Potassium Nitrate, 5 lb Bag [5pn] | DudaDiesel Biodiesel Supplies

You can make good charcoal from willows and other hard woods. and sulfur is also easy to come by. Most refineries have a big pile of it somewhere from when they remove it from crude. But once again sulfur | Duda Diesel Alternative Energy, Chemicals & Industrial Supply Store will sell you 5# for just $6.25

Have fun, no smoking and no sparks once you dry it. It isn't hard and is interesting to make your own powder.

 

[smoothshooter]

Not optimistic about the current administration giving whatever Federal approval is required to open a new plant anywhere.
BP shooting just got a whole lot more expensive.
Will also affect sales of traditional muzzleloaders big-time.
Looks like the percussion cap shortage just became a mostly moot point.

 

[The Norseman]

Black Gold

There will be Black Powder substitute.

I see reading several explosive news articles, that
Hodgdon is going to continue with smokeless
powder and muzzleloader (black powder substitute).

I did find Alliant Black MZ in my stuff.

 

[Greyman50]

Saw the notice this AM. Back in 8th grade I made BP as my science project, got an A too. Even had a small BP cannon for demo.

 

[smoothshooter]

There will be Black Powder substitute.

I see reading several explosive news articles, that
Hodgdon is going to continue with smokeless
powder and muzzleloader (black powder substitute).

I did find Alliant Black MZ in my stuff.

Substitutes do not work in flintlocks.
Also, the substitutes are said to be much more corrosive than black unless cleaned in just a few hours. They are also usually more expensive.

 

[DWalt]

Many of the true dyed-in-the-wool muzzle loader enthusiasts refuse to use the BP substitutes because it is not historically authentic. Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone did not use it. I know the people at the NMLRA are having a fit over this. They used to sell BP to shooters at their various NMLRA matches, but to conserve their inventories, they have stopped sales for the time being. I have a number of MLRs and C&B revolvers but I don't shoot them much these days. I have five or six pounds of BP and about as much Pyrodex. I usually mix a little BP (maybe 10%) in with the Pyrodex to get better ignition.

 

[xsexcess]

stump remover crystals are about 97% pure potassium nitrate. Same stuff used in bluing salts

 

[max503]

What's the shelf life of black powder? I'm asking for a friend.

 

[Greyman50]

Quite a few civil war cannon balls have exploded when an idiot tried drilling a hole in them.

 

[DWalt]

BP is immortal. So long as it is kept dry. A long story, but one time over 50 years ago I was charged with destroying several wooden kegs of BP from the Civil War. It burned just like it was supposed to. I could have kept the kegs but I foolishly didn't. I imagine they would have brought a good price today.

 

[Greyman50]

Before my Dad went overseas for WWII he dumped all his original civil war paper cartridges, brass cased ones and several containers of cw black powder in the river in Raleigh. Afraid his nephews would get in it and blow up parents house. Was sick when he told me in the 60’s, would not have had to make my own.

 

[vonn]

Just out of curiosity I checked all my reloading suppliers and no BP anywhere . Bet the scalpers have plenty. Glad I have enough for my revolver.

 

[Muley Gil]

There will be Black Powder substitute.

I see reading several explosive news articles, that
Hodgdon is going to continue with smokeless
powder and muzzleloader (black powder substitute).

I did find Alliant Black MZ in my stuff.

North-South skirmishers use real black powder; no substitutes are allowed in competition.

 

[Greyman50]

Have many old friends back in Va. that shoot in N/S skirmish events, wonder what they will do? Typical repro cannon uses at least half pound per shot.