• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Legal powder amount

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Dec 28, 2012
Messages
392
Reaction score
177
I believe that federal law allows us only 50 pounds of black powder to be stored in our homes.

Does that include substitutes? Can I have 50 pounds of bp and 30 pounds of substitutes?

Can I have more than 50 pounds of different sizes and brands? Can i have 50 pounds of FFg swiss and 50 pounds of FFFg Goex?
 
I believe that federal law allows us only 50 pounds of black powder to be stored in our homes.

Seems to be kind of a don’t ask, don’t tell topic, at least in my opinion. Draw attention to yourself and someone, no matter what is legal, you will have an issue. Local regulations and interpretation vary. Your profile doesn’t give a clue as to where you live, but for example, as a former New York State resident, I can tell you that transportation and storage laws regarding blackpowder in New York are not exactly user friendly to the muzzleloading enthusiast. If interested, follow this link. Can’t make this stuff up. KNOW and UNDERSTAND YOUR LOCAL LAWS. Section 39.12 - Special provisions relating to black powder, N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 12 § 39.12 | Casetext Search + Citator
 
I believe that federal law allows us only 50 pounds of black powder to be stored in our homes.
https://www.atf.gov/explosives/qa/black-powder-subject-regulation-under-federal-explosives-laws.

Does that include substitutes?
No. "substitutes" are "propellants" not "explosives". As an aside; Smokeless or nitro powders for hand loading are also "propellants".

Can I have 50 pounds of bp and 30 pounds of substitutes?
Honestly? The issue of "how much"? Is more closely regulated by an individuals local State, County and City laws and regulation.
Example; (Local for me);
1. I live in a City, they say I can have only 10 pounds (of BP) with no limit of "propellant"
2. A friend lives 1 mile down the road outside of the city, but same county,, he can have 20 pounds
3. Another friend lives 5 miles east, outside the City, different county,, he can have 50 pounds

Can I have more than 50 pounds of different sizes and brands? Can i have 50 pounds of FFg swiss and 50 pounds of FFFg Goex?
Uhm(?) no.

What they all worry about is local "Fire Department issues". Ya know(?) Are ya in an old part of town with houses 15 feet apart? Or are ya in Walden woods with 15 acres between houses? Rural? got a neighbor a 1/2 mile down the road?

A simple call to the local FD Chief will answer all of your questions, the true answer is, it's a local issue for each of us.

p.s.
Seems to be kind of a don’t ask, don’t tell topic, at least in my opinion. Draw attention to yourself and someone, no matter what is legal, you will have an issue.
😲 I suppose, so bob,, if you call the local FD? Use a burner and don't give'm your name!!
 
Last edited:
Under Federal Rules it is 50 Lbs. Blackpowder total. So any combination of granulations that add up to 50 lbs. is the max. As others have said state and local regulations may be more restrictive.
 
Fed law says 50#. Local laws are often more restrictive. Common sense rules the day here, don't draw attention to yourself and 'don't ask don't tell' if you get my drift.
 
You got the answer on the BP total under federal law 50lbs, substitutes are not included.
But my question would be unless you're a cannoneer why in the world would you need 50lbs of powder?
 
You got the answer on the BP total under federal law 50lbs, substitutes are not included.
But my question would be unless you're a cannoneer why in the world would you need 50lbs of powder?
As getting powder becomes more and more difficult many people are going into buying in bulk and splitting it among their friends. Someone has to receive the order. My family buys a 25 lb case and divides it among the five of us that shoot. As one case gets shot up we order another case,so I will often have between 5 and thirty lbs on hand.It is perfectly legal as long as you only split it among members of your group when you ordered. Our local club often buys for the members, but if a new person joins the club they can't get any of the powder until a new order has been received. Picky, picky.
 
But my question would be unless you're a cannoneer why in the world would you need 50lbs of powder?


I’m told this is a sport that rewards practice….

Shooting 70 grns of fffg out of my .54 , that’s around 100 shots per pound..

If one were too really practice shooting….burning a pound of powder per week would not be an un reasonable amount …

So in less than a year, your 50 # of powder is just a faint memory…
But your a lot better shot!
 
Federal law says that you can have as much black powder as you want. But if it is over 50 pounds you have to met certain requirements for licensing and storage. Goex and their distributors have very large amounts of black powder on hand. They are owned by private citizens that are no different than you. If you have 500 pounds of black powder at home you are not likely to get caught if you keep your mouth shut and stay out of trouble. But if you do get caught you get to spend a bit of time in prison. Best way to do it is to just do it the right way. Get a Federal Explosives License and build a powder magazine. Contact the ATF and they will walk you through the process. Risking prison so you can horde 75 pounds of powder is pretty silly. Better way to go is to get 1000 pounds of powder, do everything legal, and sell it to everyone in the area. Then your own private stash can be as large as you want with no legal trouble. Maybe make a bit of profit also. You CAN do that. There are people doing that right now.
 
I am able to keep 50 lbs on hand with no restrictions locally so that is what I do. I like to know that I can shoot any of my BP guns as much as I want to keep skills sharp especially when modern ammo is so hard to find. Since most of my BP Guns are 32 cal and only shoot 15 grains I can fire over 23,000 rounds without running out of powder and I like knowing that.
 
I believe that federal law allows us only 50 pounds of black powder to be stored in our homes.

Does that include substitutes? Can I have 50 pounds of bp and 30 pounds of substitutes?

Can I have more than 50 pounds of different sizes and brands? Can i have 50 pounds of FFg swiss and 50 pounds of FFFg Goex?
You are bound by Federal, State, and local laws when in the USA. Your fire marshall should be able to direct you to specifics in your area. I encourage all here to store powder safely and legal. A fireman's danger zone would increase 100 fold if black powder was not stored safe and within the local laws!
 
Back
Top