Hello Folks,

Does anyone here know the logic behind the prohibition on using smokeless powder in black-powder muzzleloaders? We hear it all the time, but nobody ever really says why. If smokeless powder can be substituted for black in black powder cartridge arms, including those from the 19th century, why can’t the same be done with black powder muzzleloaders?

I suspect I know the answer to my own question. It probably has nothing to do with the powder per se, but is a precaution against a person loading it in ignorance. Sooner or later, someone will pick up his powder measure and scoop up 100 gr by volume of whatever powder is at hand, and blow up a gun.

This summer an interesting project might be to obtain an inexpensive side-lock rifle, build a plywood fixture to hold it within a plywood box, with a remote firing device (a string), and develop some loads.

Before anybody asks me why I would do such a hare-brained thing, the answer is, because I want to know. But if any of you already know, please tell me.

Take care, Tom