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What the difference between ammo labeled "black powder" ammunition and ammunition lacking that label? I get the feeling I mistakenly thought black powder == gun powder == stuff in ammunition.

I got some .44 spl Goex black dawge cartridges for no better reason than i thought the box looked cool and am wanting to try a variety of ammo in my new marlin 1864. However I wanted to make sure it's not somehow different or would be unsafe to fire from my rifle.

Black powder is a mixture of sulphur, carbon (charcoal), and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). The Chinese invented it about 1,000 years ago, and it was used into the 20th century.

Black powder generates a cloud of smoke and is corrosive. It is mostly used in re-enactments because of these inconveniences. You probably got some Cowboy Action Shooting ammunition.

Modern smokeless powder is nitrocellulose. It is much more powerful by weight than black powder. It produces little smoke. Most formulations that you can buy in the U.S. today are non-corrosive.

GIYF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokeless_powder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trivia tidbit: The .38 Special cartridge was developed at the end of the black powder era. Its case size is much larger than would be required for smokeless powder. That's why 9 mm, with nearly the same caliber and energy, has a much shorter case.

The .357 Magnum was developed in the smokeless era, but its case was made longer than the .38 Special so that it could not be chambered in a revolver that it would likely blow up.

- Jim

Black powder and smokeless gunpowder are very very different animals.

Smokeless powder is a propellant; black powder is an explosive.

Goex is actually a modern black powder substitute.

seamusTX wrote:You probably got some Cowboy Action Shooting ammunition.

Funny you mention that. The other box I grabbed was Magtech with the label "Cowboy action loads" -- although no mention of black powder anywhere. Is Cowboy Action synonymous with black powder as far as ammunition labeling goes?

I don't know. I don't think Cowboy Action Shooting requires black powder. I don't participate it and I'm not all that familiar with the rules.

Cowboy Action Shooting is short-distance target shooting, so they use downloaded ammunition for less recoil.

- Jim

Shooting the black powder cartridges in your carbine will involve a different cleaning procedure. The solvents made for smokeless are not as effective with black powder.

Black powder is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs moisture. If not cleaned diligently, you will quickly have rust where you would not with smokeless cartridges.

On a simpler firearm, the best method of cleaning black powder is hot, soapy water. The effort required to clean the carbine would not be worth the fun of shooting black powder cartridges. The smoke is impressive, though.

And Kevin, although Goex does make a substitute, they still offer actual black powder and if that is what the box is labeled, I would think that the loads would contain real black powder.

So I went and tried out these various cartridges I got at the range today. I started out with the 44 spl's lacking a black powder label but called themselves "cowboy action shots". I think it's clear the CBA by itself means a lite load. The box didn't have any specific numbers but after I fired the first shot I kept it pointed down range for 30 seconds b/c I thought it must have been a slow fire or something. Nope, just turns out they feel pretty equivalent to dry firing.

Then I did 5 round trial of the black powder ammo. I don't think I'll be buying that again. I guess it was kind of cool to have a "smoking gun" but it smelled nasty, did make a good amount of smoke, and I didn't want to bother the rest of the people at the range since it was indoors. The range master even came up to me after that and asked "what the heck are you shooting?". Told him it was just some black powder rounds. He didn't say I couldn't continue but figured I'd just be polite instead of having all eyes on me.

I also had a jamming FTL w/ the BP ammo. Going to make sure I give that carbine a good cleaning in the next day or so.

The Single Action Shooting Society does have separate categories for those who want to shoot black powder and "contend with smoke obscured targets" (the last phrase from the SASS Shooters Handbook).

atxgun wrote:Going to make sure I give that carbine a good cleaning in the next day or so.

If you wait, you may regret it.

Pick up some black powder solvent and get after it.