Buying B.P. & Use of Blackpowder SUBSTITUTES:

 I have been around the SUN 811/2 times and when I terminally drop-off this sphere, to head 26,670 light years into Sagittarius A.Hole ..

- our galaxy's supermassive black hole - I don't expect that anything much I've learned about ballistics will be very useful. - but .. Triple Se7en is another carbon based life form ..

 HOGDON introduced their "Triple Seven" loose powder in 2002. Triple Seven is apparently a gluconic acid (sugar-based) propellant that is far more efficient than Blackpowder or Pyrodex, with corresponding increases in muzzle velocity and internal pressure.

- If used in a sensible manner, to fire lead downrange out of a modern made muzzleloading percussion gun, all will be well and diddly-poo. - Sensible means to be aware at all times that triple se7en is a more efficient propellant than real 'Blackpowder' - requiring the loads to be REDUCED by around 15-20%.

 

All will be well if you operate at internal pressures the gun is capable of handling AND - you refrain from injecting yourself with the stuff - as Zinc gluconate injections are used to NEUTER male dogs.

- Not an outcome many of us on range wish to observe.

zinc gluconate is used for the non-surgical castration of male animals, primarily dogs and cats, by injecting it into the testes to cause permanent sterility and testicular atrophy. Administered as Neutersol® or Zeuterin, this chemical castration method is a licensed alternative to surgical neutering, working by destroying the seminiferous tubules and halting sperm production. While generally safe and effective, it carries some risks of scrotal ulcers at the injection site in a small percentage of dogs.

MmHm - scrotal ulcers (with onion gravy) ..

The exact 777 recipe is no doubt hidden away, but carbon-based fuels need, err, carbon to burn. If not using charcoal, there are few more economical options than sugar. The problem has always been the caramelization process, where several previous attempts had failed to achieve consistency, but Hodgdon finally did it satisfactorally. 

When you caramalize sugars by heating them .. you get what appears to be BURNT TOFFEE coating the inside of your firearm. Not Good for ease of cleaning eh.

When contemplating shooting original OLD antique guns - you should make bloody sure that the important bits are not weakened by rust pitting, wear & tear, damage, and sheer old age. - And you should contain your enthusiasm by reducing the amount of propellant you load, to moderate charges.

AND if using 'triple se7en' substitute - a wise person would reduce the load further by 15-20 percent.

REAL Black Powder is close to hens teeth nowadays and bloody expensive as REGULATION has been applied to the carriage, storage and sale, by our wise and friendly authorities - Mostly I find it is OUT OF STOCK.

This stuff is made in WAIKATO New Zealand by www.pyroworks.co.nz

email:  martin@pyroworks.co.nz 

It's getting close to impossible to find your HOLYSMOKE Gunpowder with all the regulations being applied - Can licenced shooters BUY DIRECT from your works by arrangement as private citizens, with limited amounts for self carriage?

If so, - we should put the word out  ..  ..

Hi Martin,

 

Thank you for your enquiry and we are happy to supply direct. We have a wide range of Black Powder and other items available, see below list.

 

This is pick-up only as no freight companies will transport this. You are allowed 15kg on your Firearms Licence.

 

Holy Smoke - Sporting in Cannon, Fg, FFg, FFFg and FFFFg at $160 per kg.

Holy Smoke - Cartridge in 1.5Fg, 2Fg, 3Fg at $180 per kg.

Swiss in 1.5Fg, FFFg at $110 per lb.

Schuetzen in FFg, FFFg at $80 per lb

Percussion Caps CCI No.11 at $35 per tin of 100.

Percussion Caps CCI Magnum No.11 at $38 per tin of 100.

Percussion Caps Top Hat at $50 per tin of 100. (4 Wing Musket)

Cannon Fuse – green, 2mm, 10 meter roll at $60

Davide Pedersoli - accruements, funnels, top hat cappers, powder measures, etc

Parker Hale - jags, mops and brushes, 410/45cal, 12 gauge

Tin Alloy – 35% Tin 65% Lead Alloy ~2kg bars $90.

 

Open all hours with some notice. Live, work, play all at the same location.

Kind regards,

Martin

 Dr Martin Van Tiel, PhD Chem, BSc Chem & Physics, NZIC          

Van Tiel Pyrotechnics Ltd
37 Moss Road, R.D.2, Taupiri 3792, New Zealand
Ph/Fax +64 7 8246564
Mob +64 274 515575

www.pyroworks.co.nz

I suggest that ALL LICENCED FIREARMS OWNERS passing through WAIKATO call into these premises and pick-up some black powder for their mates or to help re-stock their nearest friendly FIREARMS DEALER

When under attack .. We need to HELP EACH OTHER .. NETWORK

Are You Fit and Proper?

Are NZ Police 'FIT AND PROPER PERSONS'?

.. not many

FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE.

Marty K.

What a LOAD of BALLS:

Reported Raids & Recoveries ..

Angela Brazier of THE FIREARMS SAFETY AUTHORITY was recently quoted in The Bay Of PlentyTimes 29 August 2025 stating .. “It is particularly concerning that a firearms dealer is part of this investigation,” Brazier said.“Firearms dealers are subject to higher thresholds of conduct to be considered a fit and proper person to hold a dealer’s licence.

Link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/police-seize-firearms-in-east-coast-black-market-investigation/HP6HIRZRIZC3NHRKV35AFCOTEA/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMd3dZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFIek5QN0VpN2RETmxpNUtiAR7MFveLz-Mi5-dibFonbev4SiKN2ZjehrJJAmIpY2zUdEYFnSN3qC9lFE4Fqg_aem_mENU7UGT2pDxGNnP5wZO4w

May I, as an ex firearms dealer and longterm licence holder, point-out that POLICE - as the responsible authority and enforcement agency - should also be subject to higher thresholds of conduct .. and NOT be EXEMPTED FROM ALL REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN NEW ZEALAND FIREARMS LICENCES as "fit & proper persons".

Either you ARE 'FIT & PROPER' or you are NOT .. Nobody should be exempt from these requirements.

_________________

Regarding making 'caseless charged cartridges' or "HAZARD Bullets" for percussion firearms ..

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2024/09/hazard-caseless-boolits-4-blackpowder.html

These loads involve mixing the fff  black powder with the added adhesive of around 6 or 7 percent DEXTRINE or DEXTRIN - as the glue to hold the charge together when shaped & compressed. - The question has been asked "WHICH IS IT?" and my research indicates that this modified glucose-starch is a variable product with a variable spelling so don't worry about it. - Then there is the thought that this small amount of adhesive may reduce the propellant's power - which it might or might not .. those requiring the highest possible energy and velocity might compensate by INCREASING the charge volume/mass by a small percentage to compensate.

In the Olden Days - the gum on envelopes and postage stamps was dextrin.

My guess would be that any dextrin-adulteration power loss might well be fully compensated by the use of the nitrocellulose GLUE used to stick the charge to the BALL and to laquer seal the outer surface. - Use the right glue.

Here is a link to a gentleman making hand mixed 'Corned Powder' for fireworks .. He uses dextrin as an additive to produce larger granules:

https://www.skylighter.com/blogs/how-to-make-fireworks/hand-mixed-black-powder

- Such simple hand blended powders will be GUNPOWDER - better than crude dry-mix 'Serpentine Powder' but less powerful than proper optimum propellant from a Ball Mill.

_________________

Two of us were questioning what exactly was the difference between #10 and #11 Percussion Caps .. we couldn't agree - So I thought "My computor AI will know .."

"#11 Percussion Caps are slightly larger than #10s, with #11s being longer and having a slightly greater internal diameter, although the size difference varies significantly between brands. #10 caps are typically used for revolvers, offering a tighter fit on the nipples, while #11 caps are generally used for muzzleloading rifles. However, it is best to test both sizes on your specific firearm, as a #10 will be loose on a #11 nipple and a #11 can be too large for a #10 nipple." 

- So #11 is larger and longer .. maybe.

I'll go back to my ignorant uninformed earlier self - and use whichever I can get andadjust the nipples to fit.

It's all down to your nipples mate. 

ALL the percussion guns I've ever owned were "Pre-Loved" and the nipples had been hammered & mushroomed out of shape. As a guess I'd say that the longer cap might be more securely held on a nipple than a shorter one - BUT naturally not if it is a looser fit. These 'cones' are tapered.

If your caps keep dropping off - you can give them a squeeze to distort them and grip a bit tighter, - or you 

might consider a wee dab of Nail-Polish to seal them gently in place - or I've read that the flexible clear 

plastic petrol pipe sold in various sizes may be cut into short stubs and pushed over the capped nipples as

 retention sleeves

 

Are You Fit and Proper?

Are NZ Police 'FIT AND PROPER PERSONS'?

.. not many

FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE.

Marty K.