Gentle folks, A suggestion for Neophytes:
I have been around the forum for a generation or two. I generally do not post often.
Young and old folks are always asking about the various propellants used in Blackpowder arms especially about the storage of said material.
Most any genuine blackpowder (BP) and blackpowder substitutes are usable in most percussion arms but flintlocks are more peculiar because of the type of ignition. The main factor is proper cleaning is required for all forms of propellant post shooting.
There are many questions about storage and shelf life of these materials. If your inventory is mixed with a couple or more types of propellant, you might consider each materials’s shelf life for using them in rotation.
Past discussions have covered the long or short shelf lives of these materials. Research it.
For storage I suggest:
Use the substitutes first as you need powder. This reduces the Time to store them. Mark the Date on your containers and rotate them using the oldest first. Save any genuine BP for future use as it is known that genuine BP can be stored properly for 100’s of years. Not so much for the substitutes. .
Again, a proper cleaning is critical for all propellants regardless of type ( BP or substitutes).
As always, enjoy the journey!
DanL
I have been around the forum for a generation or two. I generally do not post often.
Young and old folks are always asking about the various propellants used in Blackpowder arms especially about the storage of said material.
Most any genuine blackpowder (BP) and blackpowder substitutes are usable in most percussion arms but flintlocks are more peculiar because of the type of ignition. The main factor is proper cleaning is required for all forms of propellant post shooting.
There are many questions about storage and shelf life of these materials. If your inventory is mixed with a couple or more types of propellant, you might consider each materials’s shelf life for using them in rotation.
Past discussions have covered the long or short shelf lives of these materials. Research it.
For storage I suggest:
Use the substitutes first as you need powder. This reduces the Time to store them. Mark the Date on your containers and rotate them using the oldest first. Save any genuine BP for future use as it is known that genuine BP can be stored properly for 100’s of years. Not so much for the substitutes. .
Again, a proper cleaning is critical for all propellants regardless of type ( BP or substitutes).
As always, enjoy the journey!
DanL
