Gun Powder is also known as Black Powder. Black Powder
is produced commercially, and sold in gunshops,
mainly for use in antique Black Powder guns or their modern reproduction
counterparts (many antiques are too fragile to shoot, and others are
too expensive and historically valuable). It is also normally sold in
different granulations. Coarse granulations are called "FG or FFG".
Finer granulations are "FFFg and "FFFFg". The more "F's",
the finer the Black Powder is, and the faster it burns.
Black Powder varies in quality. The best quality pistol powder is Swiss #1 and is available from the helpful and knowledgeable Peter Starley. Click on the image below to visit his website.
Small (fine) granulations burn faster and are used in
small bore guns like pistols, whereas larger (coarser) granulations, are
used for larger bore guns & cannons. Using a fine granulation in
a canon puts too much strain on the gun because the powder burns much
faster and creates a fast pressure increase that could damage the gun
itself.
Smokeless Powder is
not to be confused with Black Powder. It is actually Nitrocellulose,
and cannot be used in place of Black Powder. Black Powder is a low explosive,
a heaving explosive. It converts to gas much more slowly than smokeless
powder. Smokeless powder is so much faster than even fine grain black
powder that the rapid pressure rise will damage most guns originally
designed for black powder. Only guns which are proofed for
nitrocellulose (nitro proofed) may use smokeless nitro powder.
The formula for Black Powder is 75% Potassium Nitrate, 15% Charcoal,
and 10% Sulphur measured by weight.
The mixing process for Black Powder is just as important as the formula.
Black Powder MUST be made in a Ball Mill to work properly. A Ball Mill
is a rotating drum with dozens of lead balls inside. The 3 chemicals
are loaded into the Ball Mill, along with the lead balls, sealed shut
and allowed to rotate for anywhere between 1 hour and 24 hours. As the
Ball Mill rotates, the lead balls will crush the chemicals together,
forcing some of the Potassium Nitrate into the pores of the Charcoal
and Sulfur. At the same time, the entire mass will be reduced to a super
fine powder. The longer the Ball Mill runs, the stronger the Black Powder
will be. Water is added and the mixture is pressed into cake, then broken
into tiny pieces, sorted for size and glazed.
Black powder, once fired, leaves corrosive residues. After it has been
shot a muzzle loader needs cleaning (intentional pun, the person and
the gun will both be very messy!) Normally this involves dismantling
the gun and immersing the metal parts in boiling water to which detergent
has been added. The parts are then scrubbed vigorously with nylon bristle
brushes to remove all the fouling. This may need several changes of water. Cleaning black powder guns is a slightly distasteful messy
process with sulphurous eggy smells! Not to be done in the kitchen sink
unless you happen to be the lady of the house, otherwise you may be sleeping
in the garage! (One guy I know
puts his stainless steel repro through the dishwasher!) The parts are
then dried and lubricated to prevent rusting in storage. The wooden parts
should be kept free from water and oil.
Cleaning a muzzle loader is on a par with changing a baby's nappy,
unpleasant, smelly, necessary and done out of love! Ted.
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