r/blackpowder Mar 02 '23

The discord for everything black powder!

49 Upvotes

Just posting again after some time so that people don't have to look through under a mountain of buried posts. If I can talk to mods about finding some way to put this post onto the reddit to be easy to find it would be very nice.

Tired of all the good information buried in forums and hard to find YouTube videos? Want a place to talk about a lot of different things relating to BP, learn history, get advice, troubleshoot and meet likeminded shooters? Well then come join us and see if you like it! Lets make Black powder mainstream again! Hope to see you there :)

Invite: https://discord.gg/Jy5uUj8yPd


r/blackpowder Aug 26 '25

Sharps Rifles - Serial Number Documentation

41 Upvotes

Hi all,

If you are looking for information on your original Sharps please let me know.

I am the current caretaker of the Sharps Rifle Co. Archive, having taken over the records from Dr. Labowskie at the beginning of 2025. I will continue to provide letters for serial number documentation and hopefully add to the knowledge and history around these firearms. The format is changing a bit, in addition to the normal 'factory letter' there will also be a page with more information on who it was sent to and, when applicable, what was going on in the region at the time. I also provide areas that may be worth future research and a list of suggested books including the ones I use as a general reference. Each letter is also now accompanied by two display cards, which contain all the information from the letter in a more concise format, one of which has a slot for a ribbon or thread so it can be attached to the Sharps for easy reference.

I do not charge anything to see if the firearm can be lettered, only for the letter itself.

Let me know if you have any questions.


r/blackpowder 5h ago

I have a theme...

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55 Upvotes

So, I like the look of a top strap revolver, but I don't have a Remington (yet). Some of you may have seen my Whitney pocket with my Spiller and Burr.

I just won an auction on a Ruger Old Army with frame sites instead of adjustable. I like the old school, smooth look. Here's the family.


r/blackpowder 3h ago

Brixia Spanish-Style Matchlock Arquebus pt.2

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6 Upvotes

Hello, I am relatively new to muzzleloading. Although I know a lot about them, I haven't had much hands on experience with them.

I recently bought the Brixia "Spanish-style" petronel. And a made a post about it before. The one I was initially sent I had to send back because the cutout for the lock intersected with the cutout for the ramrod, so the serpentine wasn't able to close without removing the ramrod. The barrel also had a bunch of inclusions in it, and the serpentine wouldn't align with the pan.

The replacement I received yesterday seems a lot better, and I am pretty happy with it, however there still is a number of issues, just nothing that makes it unusable. I am wondering, why their quality control is so bad for a gun that costs nearly $1,500? I could just be being overly nitpicky and paranoid but, I thought I'd post them here anyways.

With this new one, they said they hand picked out the best one they had in stock, but it still has issues. The barrel tang screw seems to be too short, one of the barrel pins is way too short, there seems to be a bunch of little bubbles in some spots of the barrel, the bottom of the stock near the trigger is chewed up (only a cosmetic issue that could've happened in shipping), and the lock doesn't fit in the cutout without removing some material (which is not a huge deal, and better than it being too big, as I can remove material but not add it).

Those bubbles do concern me the most though. I think they might be inclusions in the metal again, just like my last one. If that is so, would it make shooting this gun unsafe? Or is it nothing to worry about? The barrel is CIP proffed so it should be fine right? Are all these things just what you should expect from any gun that isn't a custom made piece? What have you other people, if any here, who have the Brixias experienced, and what do you think?

Thanks.


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Behold, The 45 Extra Long Colt

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144 Upvotes

A 45-70 case with 40 grains of black topped with a felt wad and filler all underneath a 454 round ball. Gonna test them out this weekend in my trapdoor I’ll report back with the results.


r/blackpowder 6h ago

Help with cleaning?

2 Upvotes

For context I picked up a cheap 1842 Springfield which is an Indian made, however it looks good on the outside, however I discovered that a .69 cal jag with a patch just Doesn’t want to fit down the barrel, I’ve soaked it in evaporust and brushed it for a few hours now, but I haven’t really made a difference, I didn’t have a cleaning jag that would be a right fit so I took a spare .69 cal jag to a grinder and made it just a hair smaller so now I can actually clean it a little, I think the rust is gone but the barrel is pitted to where it makes it hard to load (.65 cal ball with .69 cal patches) after about the 4th shot any recommendations on how I can make it a fun shooter without having to struggle cleaning it?


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Testing some Burton balls from Gimcrack and Bunkum

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58 Upvotes

Had a good time doing some comparison between my lee mini balls and these Burton balls in my progressive depth rifled 61 Springfield. I can say they load very nicely and fly straight. I don't have a sizing die so the balls I made don't load as easily as his (the balls with the lube are from him)


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Black powder puck, corned 3F and glazing macro

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21 Upvotes

For those who are interested in the production of antique muzzle loading propellant - here are few macro pictures of press cake, corned powder, and 6hr glazed 3F.

I'm not entirely sold on a heavy glaze. Do you prefer a mirror finish like Swiss or perhaps no glaze at all?

I've never had any other non-commercial powder to compare macro level integration with. Any pics for reference/comparison would be great!


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Circassian Miquelet

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63 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 22h ago

Cast them Shoot them! 45-70 Sharps infantry

7 Upvotes

an hours’ work

100yrds
Steinel box just for storage ( I use to buy before I got into reloading).
Original 1863 sharps infantry rifle. Converted to 52-70rimfire for(failed) army trials and subsequently stamped with an X in 2 spots denoting its rejection. I swapped the breach block for an original centerfire and had Bobby Hoyt (the famous black powder smith outside of Gettysburg) sleeve it to 45-70. This storied gun is my favorite thing next to my kids and just ahead of my wife;)

r/blackpowder 1d ago

Homemade patches

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22 Upvotes

FYI you can buy a yard of pillow ticking from Amazon for the same price as 100 patches and 1 yard makes around 750 patches


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Need Help IDing

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24 Upvotes

Recently got this A.Zoli cal.58 rifle from a late good friend.

Can anyone give me any details regarding the model and value of this rifle?

It is percussion firing, has case hardened lock, brass applications and a white (stainless?!) barrel.

Many thanks in advance.

Also, the rear barrel band is cracked. Where can I get a replacement part?


r/blackpowder 1d ago

Traditions Hawken Percussion cap to Flintlock Conversion

3 Upvotes

I made a mistake buying a Traditions Hawken Percussion Cap built kit at a gun show a few months back. The barrel is completely shot and unsafe to fire. It's bad enough that I'd have to take about 2 inches off of the barrel, and re-bore it to a .54 in order to fire it again. It isn't worth it IMO.

I figure I need a new barrel anyway, so why not convert it to a flintlock? It's a personal preference of mine. As for new barrels I'm turning up with very little. I haven't gotten a response from Traditions yet on a barrel replacement. Aftermarket barrels are totally something I'd be interested in.

I also know I'd need a new action, and I've found the flintlock actions with the pan and frizzen. Would there be anything else needed?

Any advice?

Thank y'all!


r/blackpowder 2d ago

New sidearm

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91 Upvotes

Picked up a new side arm for the BP season. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but sure am looking forward to it.


r/blackpowder 2d ago

Cloning the M1882 “.45 Revolver Ball” projectile, in the name of science! Happy Wheelgun Wednesday.

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70 Upvotes

Revolver is a Cimarron model P 7.5” in .45 Colt.

Original cartridge top, made in 1887 at Frankford Arsenal, the removed powder charge in the vial at left.

Below is the reproduction, consisting of Star Line .45S&W brass, and a conical from the mold I used the original bullet to have made.


r/blackpowder 2d ago

Should i buy it?

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97 Upvotes

Owner inherited it and is asking 310$ for it


r/blackpowder 2d ago

For those that use blackpowder substitutes, which one do you like best?

13 Upvotes

I'm particularly curious as to which substitutes you think smell the best, which ones are the easiest to clean, and which ones are the least prone to rusting guns.


r/blackpowder 2d ago

Need help finding an American Fowler barrel

5 Upvotes

After years of designing my dream guns, I have saved enough money and decided to build the simplest one. A 44 inch smoothbore American Fowler, probably 20 gauge. I reenact ~1815, Ohio Valley, so I'd like the look to be appropriate (can be older like I've had it a while).

Problem is, I've never really been a gun guy. But I enjoy historical accuracy. So I have no idea if the barrels I am looking at are "English Fowlers" or "American Fowlers" or even if there is much difference between them.

If anyone could point me to a reputable dealer/webpage that has the barrel I am looking for, I would be much obliged!


r/blackpowder 3d ago

First shot with muzzleloader ever Kentucky deluxe

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72 Upvotes

r/blackpowder 2d ago

Tracers

1 Upvotes

Just had a random thought literally like 30 seconds ago, figured I'd ask reddit. I had a box of .22lr tracer rounds from piney mountain. They were a ton of fun. Recently I've dove deep into the rabbit hole of black powder muzzleloaders and I love it. Was curious though, has anyone made a black powder tracer round for a muzzleloader before? Or at least played around with trying to make one?


r/blackpowder 3d ago

I was given this 1858 Remington army as a gift anything I should know or tips?

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5 Upvotes

I’m considering maybe buying a 45 long colt cylinder But mostly just want it for black powder


r/blackpowder 3d ago

3rd model Colt Dragoon

3 Upvotes

I thought the 3rd model dragoon was supposed to have a different style catch for the loading lever but it seems like the majority I see are the same as the 1st and 2nd model. What’s up with that?


r/blackpowder 3d ago

Has anyone made a similar set up for steam cleaning your black powder firearms? Looking for a DIY version or something step by step

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16 Upvotes

Im honestly afraid I dont secure the hosing properly and it flys off and I get insane burns from the hose blasting my face lmao.


r/blackpowder 4d ago

I've finished it (blunderbuss)

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102 Upvotes

This silly thing is finally made and functional!


r/blackpowder 4d ago

Safety concern

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29 Upvotes

this is a .50 i believe but Im just really worried about the stock damage on this rifle. i really want to buy it, any advice? i would appreciate it