. This is going to be a long post folks . Ill do my best to spell correctly so as to get my point across .
Ever one of these powder things is a gimmick and a play on words so as to make something legal that would other wise be illegal OR at the very least not appealing to those being marketed
Lets break this down into parts
the new powder is the first blackpowder replacement specifically designed for the flash pan in flintlock muzzleloaders
WOW that sounds great doesn’t it folks . However notice later on they contradict their words by stating the size is of 3F but it is not intended for use as a main charge .
The granulation size of "Flash," 40 to 50 microns in size, is comparable to FFFG blackpowder and is designed to optimize ignition in both old and new style flintlock flash pans with varying flash hole sizes. "Flash" is designed solely as a priming powder in flintlock muzzleloaders, and should not be used in the bore as a primary charge.
Now ask yourself just how that can be if it it’s a replacement ..
See what they are doing is playing a wording game . That word replacement is key . It has to be there
Lets go on
Like BlackMag XP, "Flash" is non-hygroscopic, is moisture resistant and is actually recoverable after exposure to moisture
Anyone else find this a contradiction ?
If the powder is “ non-hygroscopic” you should never have to worry about recovering it after exposure to Moisture . Also notice , they did not say WATER , but Moisture .
has a low ignition temperature to ensure faster, sure-fire ignitions and is non-fouling, is non corrosive, non-toxic and biodegradeable.
Why is it that BP is now classified as a class 1 explosive and these new synthetic powders are classified as propellants ? Mind you that classification is why for many folks BP is harder to get then any of the synthetics . It is also why you pay a hazemate fee . It is also why the Fed , as well as many States have place completely obscured restrictions .
Two real reasons
a) ignition temperature
b) rate of burn
So if the first part of their statement is actually true , then the powder has a lower ignition temp , equal to BP . And it also has a higher burn rate , equal to BP .
So now I ask you is it or is it not also then an explosive. Which will in turn make it just as hard and costly to get as BP . This classification is also what Goex was fighting not to long ago .
Simply put the re classification was for no other reason then fear or something people could make bombs with . But the simple mater of fact is that ANY of these synthetics when confined and ignited , will in turn produce the very same explosive result as BP
As to the non-fouling, non corrosive, non-toxic and biodegradable., part .
For the most part this again goes back to the first statement about being a replacement
. We have to understand a couple thing . BP by its nature is not that efficient . Basically when ignited , it converts around 50% of its weight , to gas thus producing pressure . The other 50% is just residue that’s either blow out of the barrel or stays in the barrel as fouling .
When these synthetic companies market their product . They have to say less fouling . The reason is , is that’s a major concern for a large % of the modern market . They simply don’t like cleaning .
But is the statement truthful ?
For the most part like with T7 and Pyro ,,,,, no its again a play on words .
Why because both those powders also only convert about 50% of there weight.
So how is it that they can claim they burn cleaner ?
Remember that “ replacement “ word . While they may be a close in the pressure the produce . Close in the fact that they can be measured by volume . They are not close in the actual weight of the powder . So in reality its cleaner because your using less powder by weight . Less powder means that even if the powder still only converts 50% of its weight . There is less to be left as fouling .
non corrosive, non-toxic and biodegradable
I have yet to see the non corrosive statements of any of these powders hold up . They simply are corrosive in a different way . Either by the chemical make up or by drawing moisture . Or by the break down of those chemicals as the powder ages .
Fi folks spend some time reading the modern folks experiences with many of these new powder . Something becomes apparent. The powders often times become less viable as they age . Sometimes producing nothing more then sparklers or a slow moving , burning marshmallow type of load .
This is why some of these products also carry an exasperation date .
Anyone ever seen an exasperation date on BP ?
This last part simply infuriates me
"We realize in today's muzzleloading market the number of flintlocks used is comparatively small," says Craig Sanborn, President and CEO of BlackMag Industries. "But it is an important and dedicated fraternity, and with blackpowder becoming increasingly difficult to find we wanted to provide a reliable and viable alternative."
Why ?
Because no company ,, again NO company is going to produce a product for a small section of their market base . If they do not feel they can get an adequate return on their investment.
It has NOTHING to do with being a important part of anything . It has to do with money .
So companies put out wording like this so people will get that worm fuzzy feeling and say ; AHHHH look what they are doing for us , how nice of them
But as is the case with most all these powder . It shows in the price .
BH 209 is one of the newest , for lack of a better description “ god powder “ that’s hit the market .
For those of you who are paying 20+ a lb for true black . BH209 going to set you back 35-40 a lb .
Why so much
??
Same with this flash powder . If the companies above statement was true , why the high cost ?
Right now im paying 11.00 a lb for all grades of powder . That cannon ---4F. And I know for a fact that the person is still making 2.00 a lb on the powder
1 can of 4 F will last me around a year .
For the cost of 1 lb of this powder , I can buy 50 lbs of black powder .
But see folks despite that warm fuzzy feeling the company is trying to give you . The simple mater of fact is , this company is not marketing this product for you and I .
The are marketing for a modern market , who is willing to pay 25.00 for 12 conicals . 30-50 a lb for a lb of powder that will last them , sometimes times longer then they will own the rifle .
So while some of us may say “ its about time “ I have to ask , about time for what ? For the very same sickness of greed , that’s infected the modern muzzle loading sport , to effect the traditional side ?
Lets talk about that for a second here .
One of the greatest things about traditional muzzle loading is that like Archery. For the person who is willing , there is nothing that cannot be made with your own two hands .
From every last part of the gun , right down to the projectiles and POWDER ..
The knowledge and ability is what is really being lost here
Why , because of the loss of self reliance .
Case in point . The resent run on ammunition.. Based around a fear of lack of ability to obtain that ammunition . Suddenly both the anti’s and the pro gun world realized that; HA we don’t have to take away the guns , all we have to do is get rid of or make the ammunition so costly that people cant afford it .
After all if you cant get shells . If you can reload what you have . That gun is nothing but a nice looking club suited for nothing but looking at .
There is no long any self-reliance left . You simply have to BUY what you need .
doesn’t mater if you’re a reloaded or not . You , HAVE TO BUY.
You now rely on someone or something that can be taken away . Simply put the ability to adapt has been removed without people even knowing it
Modern muzzle loading is moving that same way . The numbers of folks who can cast their own bullets is far smaller then the numbers of traditional shooters who do the same thing .
Not to mention the numbers of rifles that can be shot with basic simple loads is growing smaller and smaller . If you doubt that .
How many of you traditional cap lock shooters here , know how to make a Cap ?
Many of us that have been around muzzle loading for most of our lives remember a time when you folks did that . Then came the kits . Dixie used to market a set of field pliers and all the components to produce your own caps . . Long gone now isn’t it fellas
How many modern rifles , now being sold . Use the #11 cap ?.
For that mater how many of the modern powders now marketed will consistently ignite, using that cap .
The number is getting fewer and fewer each year .
But then we also have the lead banns coming on hard . This also will force folks to rely on companies to provide an alternative for projectiles at a greatly increased cost ..
Thank for one second what would happen id for some reason the modern movement found they possibly could not get powder and modern bullets
?
See the ability to be self sufficient has been slowly , without much notice , taken away from most of them . Thus without the ability to BUY . They , find themselves in the very same boat as the center fire folks .
They have to have caps , they have to have powder , they have to have the modern bullets that many of their rifles are now being built around
So while it may seem fantastic that a company is trying to market an alternate powder of the flintlock shooter . Myself I see that as nothing but a way to increase the reliance on the BUY . While at the same time the ability to increase costs to the shooter . Which over time will reduce the ability of the public to be self reliant.
There simply is no justification for these costs other then . If you think you have no choice , you will pay the cost or be removed from the mathematical equation .
IMO what we all should be doing is say ; WAIT why is it that companies can produce a product like this . That is no different then and existing , long lasting product . Yet not have to comply with the same restrictions that has made the older product hard to get
We should be all standing up and saying LOOK eather define all these modern powders as also being explosives NOT propellants. OR reduce the classification of BP so that is once again can set right along side these modern powders , in the very same stores that sell them .
If we don’t demand that justification and support products such as this one .
Not only do we lose . But so do the generations of people yet to come .
Ok . Im don with my rant here . Sorry . I just had to get that off my chest
Be safe
