Welcome to the TMA - the Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The TMA is always free to access: totally non-profit and therefore no nagging for your money, no sponsors means no endless array of ads to wade through, and no "membership fees" ever required. Brought to you by traditional muzzleloaders with decades of wisdom in weaponry, accoutrements, and along with 18th and 19th century history knowledge of those times during the birth our nation, the United States of America.

Recent Posts

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91
I still think you need a left handed gun  :bigsmile:
Kevin

That would be nice, however, at my stage in life, I'm not willing to sell all my flinters in hope of finding replacement LH guns.
LH guns are harder to find and too expensive.

Besides, Kibler doesn't offer LH guns and probably never will.

I really don't have any problems shooting RH guns from the LH side because I found out in recent years I hit more targets using that crazy combination. Thanks for watching my friend.

The forth coming Kibler Barn Gun will be offered in left hand, flint or percussion, up to .50 bore and he might do it both rifle and smoothie!

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=87124.msg848753#msg848753
92
I still think you need a left handed gun  :bigsmile:
Kevin

That would be nice, however, at my stage in life, I'm not willing to sell all my flinters in hope of finding replacement LH guns.
LH guns are harder to find and too expensive.

Besides, Kibler doesn't offer LH guns and probably never will.

I really don't have any problems shooting RH guns from the LH side because I found out in recent years I hit more targets using that crazy combination. Thanks for watching my friend. 

93
Been thinking about that video a lot Mark. And although you were doing a fine job, I think if you were to use something like those 4 & 8 bores that Bigsmoke uses, you could increase your odds of splitting the ball.

I would LOVE trying one of those 4 or 8 bore beast on splitting the ball on an axe. That would be cool....
94
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by dmarsh on February 23, 2026, 03:32:39 PM »
Thanks guys.  Appreciate it. :hairy
95
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by KDubs on February 23, 2026, 03:02:20 PM »
Smokehouse All Natural Alder Wood Smoking Chips 242 cu in Mfr# FK71 - Ace Hardware https://share.google/1Hn0tw3kpC52vFuxj
 
 I use this and Make my own charcoal, easy enough.
Kevin
96
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 23, 2026, 02:41:06 PM »
97
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by dmarsh on February 23, 2026, 01:51:38 PM »
So will this work for the charcoal part?

Hmmm--not working right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7XPNDQ6/?coliid=I2NEZ3U730S0GR&colid=1DWGN8KA1YJ8C&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Tried to post a picture of it but could not.  The link works.




98
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by KDubs on February 23, 2026, 10:06:57 AM »
Watch the video in my last post on Jake's new pressing recommendation and watch some of his ( everything black powder) or terry ( times gone tech ) videos on the proper mix ratios and you should be fine.
 And follow what Rob says too, good luck and post your progress.
 We're here to help, just like the government  :bigsmile:
Kevin
99
People of the Times / Re: 2/22/2026 A Two Fer!
« Last post by Craig Tx on February 23, 2026, 09:45:53 AM »
You're welcome!  It's my pleasure!
100
Making the Holy Black Powder / Re: Making 18th and 19th Century Gun Powder
« Last post by Rob DiStefano on February 23, 2026, 07:47:34 AM »
Do a search for firework chemicals.  I use Skylighter but there are others.

YES, the finer the 3 three powders the better.

Charcoal is THE key ingredient.

The 3 powders are hygroscopic and they MUST be kept as DRY as possible.  I run each chemical for a few hours in a food dehydrator and then Mason jar each separately.

A basic way to make black powder is ...

Get good chemicals that are "air loft" fine and dry.
There are a few different formulas for potassium nitrate (KNO3)/charcoal/sulfur, 75/15/10 is the original, some use 77/13/10, all by weight.
Tumble the 3 chemicals with lead or brass ball media for 12 or 24 or 48 hours - the Harbor Freight rock tumbler is what most use, tumbling 1/2lb (making 1/2lb of black powder).
Mix the results with a small amount of water, 4%-10%, to form a dough-like ball.
There are 2 ways to create powder granules using that dough ball - scrape the ball through a 20 mesh screen and allow the kernels to dry or compress the granules into pucks.
When thoroughly DRY, the 20 mesh screened powder will be about 2F or a bit coarser, What's left can be 50 mesh screened for 3F or finer.
When the pucks are are thoroughly dry they're put into a grain grater that will produce granules that can be screened for size.
Any and all kernels produced by screening can now be "glazed" - take that dry powder and tumble it without media for a few hours - glazing will greatly improve powder "flow".

Religiously review the videos in this thread!



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