Who has tried Blackhorn?

[1886]

Anyone give this powder a whirl? If so what are the pros and cons? Any tips for loading Blackhorn? I would like to try a B.P. substitute. Thanks for your thoughts. 1886.

[Grizzly Adams]

Blackhorn is not really a BP substitute, it is a smokeless powder that smokes. Go figure...

If you want to try a substitute, you might consider Goex Pinnacle or American Pioneer Powder. Pretty much the same products, but the Pinnacle has better handling properties - less dust. Both clean up in snap with tap water. Oh, and both make lots of smoke! Load as you would the real stuff.

[Duff L Bagg]

I have a jug of Blackhorn on the bench right now waiting to be loaded and tested. Another good black powder substitute is Black Mag 3. I am told that it is the same power that was used in the Navy's big guns. I have used it in my .54 Lyman great plains and my .50 T/C Hawkins with great success. You can shoot all day long without ever having to swab the bore.

http://www.magkor.com/index.html

[piller]

Haven't tried Blackhorn, but the American Pioneer stuff is easy to clean up. 86er has had problems with American Pioneer giving erratic velocity. I have not used it a lot, but I do think that I will give whatever I settle on several times at the range to make sure accuracy is as good as I can get.

[Ysabel Kid]

Our very own Don Tomas wrote up a nice review of the stuff in early September!

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =blackhorn

[Last Spike]

I'll be trying it after hunting season is up.

[L8agin]

Haven't tried it, but like 777 for loading from the front. 777 gives more power than goex-pyrodex or the am pioneer which is the old clean shot. The old clean shot I tried seriously attracted moisture and didn't seem to be any hotter than goex. Used goex 3f for my 50 cal hunting loads for a while, then went to 777 3f-dropped from 90 gr with 240 gr sabot to 80 using the 777 and still had more velocity. It has to be noted I like short handy muzzel loaders and after setting fire to an old rug used for a cover on the pick up hood using 2 f goex and seeing all the powder left out there, I tried 3f and got what I wanted. so when I went to 777 I bought 3 f. but the 90 gr by vol load kicked like a mule, so dropped back to 80, but still faster than the other 3f powders I tried. Can't remember if they recomend 777 3f in the 50 cal so read and follow instructions-other wise you are on your own
There's still something about old goex I like. It fowels plenty but manages and cleans easy if you get used to it, and 3f did the job
L8