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Old June 28, 2014, 02:46 PM   #26
4V50 Gary
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Dang, I was just at Harbor Freight the other day too.
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Old June 28, 2014, 05:59 PM   #27
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yep get the double tumbler , its stronger then the single . also as was said use one drum for makeing your powder . i save the other drum for tumbling round balls
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Old June 28, 2014, 09:18 PM   #28
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Never thought of that Captchee. I'd like to get one just for polishing brass.
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Old June 29, 2014, 06:29 AM   #29
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HF has a smaller single drum tumbler that works well for that tumbling brass .
while both the double drum and single drum are cheep , what i like is that the drums are very solid rubber. So when tumbling round balls I don’t even have to add any polishing medium . Just let the lead roll on themselves .
Draw back that I have found with mine is that both like to eat drive belts and every now and then I have to scuff up the outside of the drums so that they will turn without slipping .
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Old July 1, 2014, 08:50 AM   #30
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Whew. Last night I stopped by our local gun store, the only place in town that sells black powder, and bought 5 pounds of 3F Goex. $26 a pound. With tax it was almost $150.

I'm seriously thinking of giving this home-made stuff a go.

Steve
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Old July 1, 2014, 09:13 AM   #31
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You can have 5 lbs delivered to your door for 24.40 a lb, or have 10 lbs delivered
for 19.05 a lb. from Powder Inc. This includes shipping and haz-mat fee.
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Old July 1, 2014, 03:34 PM   #32
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you can make your own for under $5.
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Old July 1, 2014, 04:55 PM   #33
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.....$5???^^^^^^^ Guess not Better read this..
http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/vi...hp?f=2&t=22291







.
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Old July 1, 2014, 05:13 PM   #34
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Last time I bought 2-FF I paid $8.00 a can back then. And I thought at the time that price was excessively high. 24-25 ($) now. Uf Da!!!
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Old July 1, 2014, 06:33 PM   #35
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i would disagree i read that memorandum and I see nothing concerning the manufacturing unless you intent is to resell or distribute . In which case you have been required for some time to have an explosive license . A certified BTF inspected bunker ……………..

But on the other hand the fed can spin it any way they want . They make the laws and thus define the intent of the laws , the meaning of the wording.
But you can call your local field office and ask . I did that a couple years ago and was told that there were no laws against making BP for your own personal use . BUT if for some reason your got checked and was suspected of manufacturing with intent to resale , distribute or for the intent of manufacturing an explosive device , that’s when you crossed the line and then committed a crime . Also state laws my differ so. But past all that .
Locally most all of us get out powder from a licensed Goex distributor . The last order we got was 14.00lb in cans , 13.00 lb in bags .
Im very sure that’s not cost pricing either. So now I ask you all this . Why is it that you all back east are paying 25-30 lb and we are paying 14 after shipping it clear across the US to the distributor ? ?

Here is a list of distributors on the Goex web site . Find one near you and give them a call .
http://goexpowder.com/distributors.html
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Old July 1, 2014, 06:44 PM   #36
maillemaker
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Quote:
i would disagree i read that memorandum and I see nothing concerning the manufacturing unless you intent is to resell or distribute .
Well, it says:

Except for certain criminal offenses, Federal law, 18 U.S.C 845(a)(5), excepts the purchase and possession of black powder from the Federal explosives laws and regulations provided all of the following conditions are met:

(1) the black powder is commercially manufactured;
(2) the quantity of black powder does not exceed 50 pounds; and
(3) the black powder is intended to be used in antique firearms or antique devices soley for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes..

I underlined "possession".

So the way I read that, it must be commercially manufactured, otherwise you need an explosives permit.

Steve
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Old July 1, 2014, 07:05 PM   #37
tatartot
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Ha Ha beleave what you want, but if you do not sell it & it's
for your own use, then yes it is legal.Check the longest thread
on the net, on castboolits.
TT
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Old July 1, 2014, 07:42 PM   #38
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So the way I read that, it must be commercially manufactured, otherwise you need an explosives permit.
No because it says persons engaged in the business of manufacturing So if you're not manufacturing to sell you're ok.
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Old July 1, 2014, 07:44 PM   #39
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From the ATF Newsletter dated June 2011 -

Keep in mind that individuals do not need a manufacturer's license if they are manufacturing black powder for their own personal, non-business use.

http://www.atf.gov/files/publication...er-2011-06.pdf
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Old July 1, 2014, 08:09 PM   #40
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The first PDF did not provide an exception for possession.

The second PDF, however, does.

Steve
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Old July 1, 2014, 09:49 PM   #41
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I actually agree that when you have large quantities of powder (whether home made or not and for use in smokepoles), that it would be prudent to have some sort of storage outside of the home. No need to have a house fire go kaboom!
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Old May 9, 2016, 05:33 PM   #42
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I am making my own since some years ago and I got very good results wit homemade powder.

The main point is to let the ball mill running for at least 4-6 hours and thats all.
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Old May 9, 2016, 05:45 PM   #43
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My current granulation is some place between FFFG and FFFFG.

I know it could be a bit strong for cap and ball revolvers and in line rifles but is the one I'm using with very good results.

From my colt army 1860 is giving me about 900 fps with round balls and more than 1100 fps from my remington 1858 bison from pietta.
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Old May 9, 2016, 07:28 PM   #44
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Awesome. I've been making my own sifted black powder myself, following brush hippie on youtubes' method, what method do you use?

By the way, welcome to the forum!
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Old May 9, 2016, 09:39 PM   #45
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Here's my recipe:

75 % pure potassium nitrate

15 % soft wood charcoal

10 % sulfur

I convert all of it into very fine powder separately, then mix it into the ball mill and let it run for at least 4-6 hours at about 100 rpm.

After that time I moisten it with a mixture of 30/70 water and alcohol with 5% dextrine, molding a paste that at last I work thru a fine mesh to obtain the granulation.

Then I let it dry at a sunny place and in high humidity days I use my oven, hot but obviously not on.

I'll try to upload a video of some shots so you can appreciate the effects.

Please note I always work small quantities, no more than a half pound by lot, in my homemade ball mill with lead balls.
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Old May 10, 2016, 06:42 AM   #46
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBgA...&feature=share
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Old May 10, 2016, 08:42 AM   #47
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This is the piece at the video.
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Old May 10, 2016, 10:44 AM   #48
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I make mine almost exactly the same way you do. Now I'm working on compressing the wet powder into pucks and then grinding it in a coffee bean grinder so it can be measured by volume rather than weight.
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Old May 10, 2016, 11:08 AM   #49
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Excellent!

I use to measure mine by volume since the very first time I manufactured it.
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Old May 10, 2016, 01:23 PM   #50
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Not to rain on anyone's parade but BOY it sure seems that some law some where is probably violated in making your own. A lot less hassle just to buy the stuff.
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