Which blackpowder is best deal for the money?

Andy Griffith · July 5, 2010, 07:13 PM

Well, I'm fix'n to have to order another 25 pounds of of holy black from Powder Inc. I've always ordered Goex in all varieties with a couple of pounds of Swiss mixed in case I want to try compete in a match at the range.

Anyway, I know we've talked about it before, but perhaps now more people have been able try some of the other powders such as Diamondback and Kik so as to better get a sampling of their quality and use.

As it stands now, I'm going to get:

8lb. Goex FFg
10lb. Goex FFFg
2lb. Goex FFFFg
2lb. Goex Express FFFg
2lb. Goex Express FFg
1lb. Swiss FFFFg

Just want to see if anyone else suggests anything...

Rifleman1776 · July 15, 2010, 04:31 PM

Unless you plan to spend many weekends at the range benchrest testing powders and loads, I recommend you don't screw around with a variety of powders. Use what works. Everyone has their favorite on everything. I used Goex, and others, for forty years. A few years ago I switched to Schuetzen because Goex had gotten hard to find and was very expensive in my area. I can buy Schuetzen from a distributor for a reasonable price. Last year I started stocking up on Swiss because so many shooters have come to favor it. Accurate, you need less, cleans well and is reasonably priced. Yes, per pound it costs more than others but based on shots per pound it is more economical.
Stick with one granulation that you like and/or works best for you. Standardize everything you do for consistency.
An exception in your order might be a pound or two of 4Fg for your flintlocks.

Jbar4Ranch · July 16, 2010, 08:52 AM

I've burned a lot of KIK, and there actually seems to be less fouling than Goex, and definitely higher velocities. I haven't tried Diamondback simply because they won't mix & match - ya gotta buy a whole case. I expect it would be just fine in C&B revolvers and shotshells. I just bought an old hammer SxS 10 gauge, so maybe I'll order a case...

Rifleman1776 · July 16, 2010, 10:03 AM

BTW, four pounds of 4Fg a/ka/ FFFFg is a lot of priming powder. I'm a flintlock shooter and my consumption of 4F per year is ounces. Unless you do an incredible amount of flint shooting, one pound will carry you for a long time. I have less than a pound and a half on hand, plus what is in my priming horns.
I will concede that, if you can afford it, stocking up on BP may be a good idea. We never know when/if new restrictions and shipping costs may make getting more impossible or nearly impossible.
At the big shoots I go to more and more guys are buying by the case.

Andy Griffith · July 16, 2010, 10:52 AM

The problem is, no one ever has any 4Fg, and I'm going to give away a couple of pounds of it to friends at the club that are nearly out- they've given me some over the year, so now it's my turn. Plus, I have a couple of .22 caliber muzzleloaders.

It works great it them.

I have tried the Swiss and it IS good powder. Perhaps the Goex Express will get me closer to it, but without the price- a couple of shots will tell.

I do target shoot quite a bit when I can with my smokepoles. A pound and a half is the most I've ever shot up in a weekend though, but I was really trying to with my revolvers.

The clean up though, wasn't pretty.

Too many cylinders- I was up nearly until the roosters started crowing!

ClemBert · July 16, 2010, 10:54 AM

I last bought 25lbs of GOEX from Jack's Powder Keg. I think next time I get the urge to increase my cache I'm going to go with either KIK or Diamondback....most likely Diamondback.

Owlhoot · July 21, 2010, 01:35 AM

I've gone through several cases of KIK and I have no complaints. I use it because it gets the job done just fine, and it is substantially less expensive than the other powders However, I use it for cowboy action shooting in cartridge guns, and therefore I haven't tested it for muzzleloader accuracy.

July 5, 2010, 07:13 PM	#1
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	Which blackpowder is best deal for the money? Well, I'm fix'n to have to order another 25 pounds of of holy black from Powder Inc. I've always ordered Goex in all varieties with a couple of pounds of Swiss mixed in case I want to try compete in a match at the range. Anyway, I know we've talked about it before, but perhaps now more people have been able try some of the other powders such as Diamondback and Kik so as to better get a sampling of their quality and use. As it stands now, I'm going to get: 8lb. Goex FFg 10lb. Goex FFFg 2lb. Goex FFFFg 2lb. Goex Express FFFg 2lb. Goex Express FFg 1lb. Swiss FFFFg Just want to see if anyone else suggests anything... __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

July 16, 2010, 08:52 AM	#3
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	I've burned a lot of KIK, and there actually seems to be less fouling than Goex, and definitely higher velocities. I haven't tried Diamondback simply because they won't mix & match - ya gotta buy a whole case. I expect it would be just fine in C&B revolvers and shotshells. I just bought an old hammer SxS 10 gauge, so maybe I'll order a case... __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

July 16, 2010, 10:52 AM	#5
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	The problem is, no one ever has any 4Fg, and I'm going to give away a couple of pounds of it to friends at the club that are nearly out- they've given me some over the year, so now it's my turn. Plus, I have a couple of .22 caliber muzzleloaders. It works great it them. I have tried the Swiss and it IS good powder. Perhaps the Goex Express will get me closer to it, but without the price- a couple of shots will tell. I do target shoot quite a bit when I can with my smokepoles. A pound and a half is the most I've ever shot up in a weekend though, but I was really trying to with my revolvers. The clean up though, wasn't pretty. Too many cylinders- I was up nearly until the roosters started crowing! __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...." Last edited by Andy Griffith; July 16, 2010 at 10:58 AM.

July 15, 2010, 04:31 PM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Unless you plan to spend many weekends at the range benchrest testing powders and loads, I recommend you don't screw around with a variety of powders. Use what works. Everyone has their favorite on everything. I used Goex, and others, for forty years. A few years ago I switched to Schuetzen because Goex had gotten hard to find and was very expensive in my area. I can buy Schuetzen from a distributor for a reasonable price. Last year I started stocking up on Swiss because so many shooters have come to favor it. Accurate, you need less, cleans well and is reasonably priced. Yes, per pound it costs more than others but based on shots per pound it is more economical. Stick with one granulation that you like and/or works best for you. Standardize everything you do for consistency. An exception in your order might be a pound or two of 4Fg for your flintlocks.

July 16, 2010, 10:03 AM	#4
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	BTW, four pounds of 4Fg a/ka/ FFFFg is a lot of priming powder. I'm a flintlock shooter and my consumption of 4F per year is ounces. Unless you do an incredible amount of flint shooting, one pound will carry you for a long time. I have less than a pound and a half on hand, plus what is in my priming horns. I will concede that, if you can afford it, stocking up on BP may be a good idea. We never know when/if new restrictions and shipping costs may make getting more impossible or nearly impossible. At the big shoots I go to more and more guys are buying by the case.

July 16, 2010, 10:54 AM	#6
ClemBert Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Orlando Posts: 936	I last bought 25lbs of GOEX from Jack's Powder Keg. I think next time I get the urge to increase my cache I'm going to go with either KIK or Diamondback....most likely Diamondback.

July 21, 2010, 01:35 AM	#7
Owlhoot Member Join Date: March 19, 2008 Posts: 22	I've gone through several cases of KIK and I have no complaints. I use it because it gets the job done just fine, and it is substantially less expensive than the other powders However, I use it for cowboy action shooting in cartridge guns, and therefore I haven't tested it for muzzleloader accuracy.