I have an old can of black powder. It was an old can when I was a kid in the 70s. I'm guessing it's 75-100 years old. I'm thinking about trying it in my Hawkens rifle. I figured I start out at around 50 grains and see how it goes. What do you think? I think it's FFg.
Black powder doesn't deteriorate. The can has collector value.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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- Wayne Dyer
Is the powder worth more than the gun ?.
Last edited by M-Tecs; 05-30-2019 at 07:08 PM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
What brand is the powder?
meaning what exactly?????Originally Posted by jednorris
It is "Dupont Superfine FFg Gunpowder Wilmington (I think - label is worn) Delaware" The can looks like a flask, about 6" tall and is red. Cool looking can.
Wilmington, Delaware - home of DuPont. DuPont was a very well known black powder producer. In fact that is how they got into
the chemical business.
There was a article years ago about a fella that found a flintlock pistol buried somewhere.
It was still loaded. He got the ball out, and the powder.
Then cleaned it up & reloaded with the same powder and it fired just fine.
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In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.
OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
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EVERYONE!
Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.
In case anyone is curious. This isn't it, but it looks just like this one.
Last edited by Pressman; 05-31-2019 at 09:40 PM. Reason: eBay link
Well, there ya go...
A gun in hand is worth two cops on the phone.
MOLON LABE
It would be far more interesting to me to load it in a cartridge rifle and develop a load for it to see how good that brand of old powder was. DuPont made any number of grades. I think this was a mid grade sporting powder. Anyone know for sure?
Chill Wills
Powder in it, or not. Powder good or not...
The container is very Cool!
2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
~~ WWG1WGA ~~
Restore the Republic!!!
For the Fudds > "Those who appease a tiger, do so in the hope that the tiger will eat them last." -Winston Churchill.
President Reagan tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6MwPgPK7WQ
Phil Robertson explains the Wall: https://youtu.be/f9d1Wof7S4o
I have seen that same can go for 125$ at gun shows. I wish I would of bought one. I reload for lever actions and Im a big fan of all the old 19th century looking stuff.
By the way, the can wasnt pristine for that price. The label was peeling with a few dings.
I've been looking at a powder can like that in an antique shop that's selling for around $125, and it's tempting. It doesn't have any powder in it, but if it did, and I bought the can, I'd dump the powder into another container and display the can empty. I'd probably try the powder in my Hawkins for the heck of it, but the powder isn't collectable - the can is. To me, the powder doesn't add value to the can. Others might disagree.
Whether you use the powder or not, treat that can well.
If it was me - I'd save the DuPont can of Sporting powder with the existing powder in it and buy a new can of Goex FFg
Regards
John
UPDATE: It shot fine! Shot 3 rounds of 60 grains at 50 yards and it shot fine. My group sucked (probably 8"), but this rifle has always been picky. This was my dad's powder. God only knows where he got it; maybe from his daddy. They're both gone now. Anyhow, I thought it would be pretty cool to take a deer with it this fall. Obviously, I have some load development to do first. I'm thinking maxi-balls. Wish me luck!
G'Luck!
2nd Amend./U.S. Const. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
~~ WWG1WGA ~~
Restore the Republic!!!
For the Fudds > "Those who appease a tiger, do so in the hope that the tiger will eat them last." -Winston Churchill.
President Reagan tells it like it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6MwPgPK7WQ
Phil Robertson explains the Wall: https://youtu.be/f9d1Wof7S4o
Keep us posted on load development and as much info as possible compression would be interesting to see how it compares to modern powders. Also the velocities achieved with given loads and incremental changes
In as much as he is shooting a muzzle loader, I don't know how much cartridge and compression info he can pass on. ?????
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