Nitro for Black: which available powders?

[analog_peninsula]

Why not just use real black powder, its available and what the rifle was designed to use.

It seems that modern black powder varies in intensity, and some brands aren’t powerful enough for regulation. 4198 matches the pressure curve of black powder and peak pressure with appropriate loads is virtually identical. The cleaning convenience is also a big plus. See Sherman Bell’s article referenced earlier for more information.

 

[grand veneur]

Why not just use real black powder, its available and what the rifle was designed to use.Theoretically, it is certainly easier to load all these cartridges with Black Powder, as long as the suitable Black Powder is available.

Theoretically it is certainly easier to load all these cartridges with Black Powder, as long as the suitable Black Powder is available. But anyone who has ever shot with black powder knows all of its side effects during shooting and also afterward when it comes to cleaning the rifle. The Nitro for Black loads were certainly developed to provide hunters in Africa and India better shooting conditions after some advantages of shooting with NC Powder were clearly established. Black Powder rifles were still regularly in use in India until the twenties, especially double rifles caliber 500 Express.

 

[Rafiki]

Just guessing but I would imagine Blackhorn 209 would work. I used that with my 500 Sharps, compressed loads, it worked quite well. With a 3 1/4 case it may work quite nicely.

 

[grand veneur]

Just guessing but I would imagine Blackhorn 209 would work. I used that with my 500 Sharps, compressed loads, it worked quite well. With a 3 1/4 case it may work quite nicely.

A lot will work well, but it also depends on what you want to do with your Black Powder rifle, especially whether you want to hunt with it. I think the smoke, in particular, caused in the past a number of problems, especially when hunting dangerous game. This is probably why Black Powder rifles were quickly exchanged in Africa for rifles that fired NC loaded cartridges. In India, Black Powder rifles were longer used, but one must consider that hunting was not conducted in the same way, and the hunter in Africa alone without backup was exposed to different dangers than the hunter in India who shot in many cases dangerous game from the back of an elephant or from a Machan.

 

[Finprof]

Just guessing but I would imagine Blackhorn 209 would work. I used that with my 500 Sharps, compressed loads, it worked quite well. With a 3 1/4 case it may work quite nicely.

Blackhorn 209 does not exchange exactly with black powder. 100 grains of FFG is equivalent to 82 grains of Blackhorn, which is why many of us Blackhorn users weigh charges rather than use a volume measurement.
Blackhorn also produces a lot less smoke than Black Powder and cleans up much easier. I use Hoppes 9 instead of a bucket of hot soapy water that is needed on my flintlocks or percussion guns.
That is why I am willing to pay $85 for a half pound of Blackhorn.

 

[Rafiki]

A lot will work well, but it also depends on what you want to do with your Black Powder rifle, especially whether you want to hunt with it. I think the smoke, in particular, caused in the past a number of problems, especially when hunting dangerous game. This is probably why Black Powder rifles were quickly exchanged in Africa for rifles that fired NC loaded cartridges. In India, Black Powder rifles were longer used, but one must consider that hunting was not conducted in the same way, and the hunter in Africa alone without backup was exposed to different dangers than the hunter in India who shot in many cases dangerous game from the back of an elephant or from a Machan.

True enough however Blackhorn 209 is a modern nitrocellulose based noncorrosive smokeless powder that is supposed to be 15% livelier than black. I used it on bison in Idaho a few years back. I can't remember what the exact velocity I achieved but it was in excess if 1800fps with a 620gr bullet. One shot and the bison literally collapsed in its tracks.