Originally Posted by
Whiterabbit
What are the ramifications of not compressing? Is there a modern equivalence? 3F? 2F?
For us muzzleloaders, can we skip compression and just adjust the volume of the charge till we get the same bullet speed as we developed for accuracy with commercial powder?
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My goal is to simplify the process as much as possible. If I can buy the $45 kit from skylighter and a ball mill from harbor freight, add my own hardcast roundballs, a kitchen screen, and have enough material and tooling to make 1/4 or 1/3 lb batches of Holy Black for my muzzleloader, I'll be on cloud 9. skipping compression, especially if it makes "corning" difficult, is something I wouldn't mind simplifying/eliminating.
But only if a viable option.
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Looks like the skylighter method uses dextrin as a binder, I just add hot water and go. Great! But it means I need screens, I suppose. They are expensive from skylighter! Any source for less expensive 20 and 40 or 50 mesh screens? (3F)
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And since I am asking 20 questions, I may as well do this one: IF I consider the precipitation method via hot water, so I can avoid ball milling the KNO3, is the "ball milling" portion considered "safe"? In other words, can I run large batches in the ball mill, or mill many batches of the pre-KNO3 mix and store that, ready to be mixed with the KNO3 in water? Allowing me to focus on safety only once I start involving the KNO3?
in other words again, if I ball mill without KNO3, can I ball mill in my garage?