Alliant MZ Powder

[OverMax]

Making one's own Black is truly a Art. These days being a curmudgeon of sorts I typically don't advocate others to even try. Although I quietly sit here with a smile & a wink for those whom are persistent in their quest to not be dependent on powder producers. Last time I purchased a lb of 2-FFg its over the counter selling price was $5.50_"A price to high in my neck of the woods."

[TheOutlawKid]

I too make my own black powdet but black mz was my favorite sub and only sub id ever use. Its really good stuff

[dondiego]

Making one's own Black is truly a Art. These days being a curmudgeon of sorts I typically don't advocate others to even try. Although I quietly sit here with a smile & a wink for those whom are persistent in their quest to not be dependent on powder producers. Last time I purchased a lb of 2-FFg its over the counter selling price was $5.50_"A price to high in my neck of the woods."

It's not an art any more than boolit casting is. It requires following directions.

[Markopolo]

don, I think what he meant was, that anybody can make powder that goes bang, just like anybody can cast a boolit. the difference is making what you want, how you want it to preform, burn rate granule size, and so forth.. like casting a boolit, there is a far cry from a wrinkled, out of round boolit and a beautiful wellformed, and accurate boolit that is repeatable.. making powder is an art, just as making great boolits is an art, or building a beautiful table is an art.. to be an art, it takes an artist! then it takes somebody to appreciate it... perhaps just yourself to appreciate it... its the effort that makes it art.

marko

[LAGS]

The Ditchman took a trip to Arizona like he said earlier in the thread.
He had put the Black MZ on Will Call at Sportsman's and was able to pick it up while he was here.
He also got to swing by and meet up with me twice while he was in the state.
It is great to meet other members from the Forum and share our common interests.
We already are working on something that will benifit both of us.
It will allow him to get some of his rifles up and running to showcase the work he does , as well as showcase some of my work to others.
I will be letting him post the pictures when the guns are finished since they are his rifles..
But now he has plenty of powder to fire the rifles when he is finished.

[TheOutlawKid]

Ah marko my good friend! You were right about the art comment. Making powder is quite the art form. I experimented with so many different chatcoal types before i settled on a couple i truely felt were the best (red alder and paulownia wood make my powder beat swiss performance and are a little cleaner). Everyone has their own technique or art form...and the end product truely is a work of art....that is if you have an eye for that sort of thing. Ive caught myself saying "wow...look at that grain size..so even and such rounded smooth edges...a work of art!"

[dondiego]

don, I think what he meant was, that anybody can make powder that goes bang, just like anybody can cast a boolit. the difference is making what you want, how you want it to preform, burn rate granule size, and so forth.. like casting a boolit, there is a far cry from a wrinkled, out of round boolit and a beautiful wellformed, and accurate boolit that is repeatable.. making powder is an art, just as making great boolits is an art, or building a beautiful table is an art.. to be an art, it takes an artist! then it takes somebody to appreciate it... perhaps just yourself to appreciate it... its the effort that makes it art.

marko

OK, I'll buy that. I guess having great skill is considered an art.

[n.h.schmidt]

I may be the only one to have had a problem with Black MZ. In shooting patched round ball from two of my sidelocks ,I get hard spots in the barrel. I can ram past the spots but accuracy is gone. Maybe a patch lube change will help. I currently use Mr flintlock patch lube. It's a lot like Lehigh of days gone by. Works fine with pyrodex p and I can shoot the whole outing or match with no problems. What do you guys use?
n.h.schmidt

[Theditchman]

I too get hard spots...I get it with everything..sabots...ball...REAL..Maxi ball..Ect. and I have found a quick swab every 5 shots and a wire brush every 10 shots takes care of that issue