I DO! I shoot BP in all of my old lever guns. I may shoot some smokeless in my Eye-talian guns. I really like the boom and the smell, just like old days.
I DO! I shoot BP in all of my old lever guns. I may shoot some smokeless in my Eye-talian guns. I really like the boom and the smell, just like old days.
I like it, but my .45 Colt rifle does not like it. The bore fouls up way to quickly.
BP works well in some of its original loadings. I think it's a great choice for the 45-70.
It depends on the application. In some applications I find real BP provides the most fun. In other application real BP's disadvantages cannot be overlooked.
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
I have never and will never shoot BP. They could stop selling smokeless powder tomorrow and I could get by with the smokeless powder I have in inventory for a very long time. The only calibers I have that could use BP are my 12 ga shotguns or .38/.357's.
Cleaning guns and making smoke are not on my fun list.
Don Verna
I enjoy using BP in my Marlin 45/70. Especially, if I have a friend who has never shot before (there are a lot of people here who would like to try shooting but haven’t been able to) I figure I should give them the full experience.
Black powder is an experience that once felt isn't forgotten. I prefer Black powder as well. The correct lube is paramount to continued shooting.
I like both but prefer BP. I dont enjoy flintlocks as much right now but my sharps rifles, colt SAA, lever action in 45 colt and 45-90 get alot of attention these days. With the homemade BP thread i make own powder and also make my primer so a big 45-110 costs me about 16 cents a round these days, and that's because of the 540 grain lead bullet.
Its not a big deal to clean at all If your powder is good.
“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”
― Winston S. Churchill
Any more I am using black powder in everything that it is appropriate for which is most of my shooting. I'll stick to smokeless for the 30-06 and modern cartridges though.
I find myself shooting more BP than smokeless nowadays . I have plenty of modern guns, from 22 to 458 Win Mag, as well as a couple dozen pistols. Lately the muzzle loaders have been getting most of the attention. Different pace, slower shooting, makes you focus.
Cleaning has never bothered me. Have a system that makes it easy.
Don
With most lever guns my accuracy with black powder starts to fall off after 4 to five shots, so I wipe with a damp patch then go another 5. As was said above, depends on how much lube your bullet holds and the length of the barrel too.
Fouling? With real black powder? Not that fake crap everyone pretends gives them the legit experience?
Nope, not me. I shot black powder in muzzle loaders for years and I don't miss the mess nor the smell. (my wife even more) I was glad when the substitutes came out and I went to Shockeys' Gold.
It's somehow an awful lot of fun to load up duplex cartridges with a little pile of 4227 covered by black powder. Cleaning up after duplex loads hasn't been bad. I've read multiple places that lots of people think duplex is for more power—but that it's actually for clean shooting.
This is the truth.
I like black powder for my single shot projects. There's a built in safety feature so to speak.
Yes, there are velocity restrictions and fouling is heavier. Never found it to be a problem with single shots.
I'd rather shoot small volumes and have fun than large volumes and spend a bunch of $$$ making noise.
To each their own.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |