Manual

All presently available Smokeless Powders are designed for use

with metallic cartridges and shotshells in strong modern breech loading

firearms. They should never be used in a muzzleloading firearm of any

type.

Some of these powders are “Black” in color making proper identifica-

tion extremely important. It is the characteristic of Smokeless Powders to

burn in a controlled manner within a given pressure range. Control of this

pressure range requires the proper application of the powder to the specif-

ic purpose and in the quantities for which it was designed to be used.

Never use smokeless powder of any type or in any quantity in a muz-

zleloading firearm, and never mix powders. The use of any smokeless

powder could result in a detonation or explosion WHICH COULD

CAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER OR BY-

STANDERS AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

Confine your use to Black Powder or Pyrodex and learn how to identi-

fy these powders and to use them correctly in your muzzleloading firearm.

Here we will deal first with Black Powder for certainly it is the oldest of our

propellant powders.

Black Powder is manufactured in four specific types or granulations for

use in firearms. Generally speaking, it is the granule size which determines

the appropriate use of Black Powder. Coarsest granulations are naturally

the slowest burning and, therefore, work best in large caliber rifles and shot-

guns. Pistols or small caliber rifles require a finer or faster burning powder.

The priming powder used in the pan of a flint lock is extremely fine and fast

burning. The accompanying chart will help you to recognize the various

granulations of Black Powder and to relate them to their proper use.