All About Black Powder

by
posted on November 25, 2019
black-powder.jpg

After first using black powder to inspire wonder (pyrotechnic displays) and fear (guns), early adopters began employing the mixture to break rock. Many historians rank the harnessing of black powder as one of the discoveries that ended the Middle Ages, giving mankind access to large quantities of coal, iron ore and other minerals.

GOEX Black Powder
Goex black powder has been made in the U.S. for over 200 years.


Early developers named the combination of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal “gunpowder,” before the advent of smokeless powder. While our forefathers used “black” powder in their guns and cannon, they used many different gunpowder types, in the same way we use many different smokeless powders today. The charcoal-based powder we call black powder works because of the deflagration of a fuel (charcoal)–oxidizer (potassium nitrate) combination, assisted by an inflammable element (sulfur), that spreads combustion throughout the mixture. The reaction of black powder during combustion is not simple, as it produces at least 14 different gases and solids in a cloud of white corrosive smoke. The flame contains so many finely divided hot, solid particles that, even today, black powder is one of the best igniters of large charges of smokeless powder in military and naval cannons.

An interesting development at the height of the use of charcoal-based gunpowder was the introduction of “cocoa” or brown powder. Produced by partially burning straw or wood, brown powder allowed a much slower burn, enabling the use of large, long-range rifled cannon. Big guns using faster powders required massive chambers to withstand the propellant’s near-detonation, whereas slower brown powders allowed for less massive guns due to the slower build up of pressure. Unfortunately, brown powder also had greater friction-sensitivity than black powders. Brown powder use by U.S. naval ships in the Spanish-American War may have been the cause of the loss of the U.S. battleship Maine, a critical event in starting the war. At the time, the tragedy was attributed to the placement of a mine under the ship by the Spaniards. Later analysis showed the blast originated spontaneously in a coal or powder magazine (bunker) within the ship.


See more: Everything Handloaders Need To Know About Smokeless Powder

Latest

9Mm Revolver Issues 1
9Mm Revolver Issues 1

Our Guide To Correcting 9 mm Revolver Issues

Get your 9 mm revolver match-ready with these solutions.

Nate Guernsey Clinches Grand Aggregate Title At 2025 South African Open

Team Lapua’s Nate Guernsey put his abilities on full display at the 2025 South African Open.

Review: Langdon Tactical Beretta 92 Elite LTT 10th Anniversary

The combination of the Beretta 92’s locking-block action, solid trigger job and performance parts make the Beretta 92 Elite LTT 10th Anniversary pistol easy to control in rapid fire. 

Desirae Edmunds To Be Inducted Into National Sporting Clays Association Hall Of Fame

Desirae Edmunds earns a place in the NSCA Hall of Fame, honoring her championship titles, leadership and lasting impact on the sporting clays community.

Jessie Harrison Rejoins Taurus Shooting Team

Jessie Harrison is widely considered one of the most accomplished competition shooters in the world.

20 Great Photos From the 2025 NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Match At Camp Atterbury

Here are 20 of our favorite photos from the 2025 NRA America’s Rifle Challenge competition at Camp Atterbury, Ind., on Apr. 19.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.