bp substitute tests

Many people on other sites complain that bp is getting so hard to buy
and are scared or cannot make it themselves. The question I will be
answering : Is there a black powder substitute "not smokelesss powder"
but muzzle loading powder that in small quantaties can be used in
pyrotechnics. The answer is yes, but nothing is better for lift, burst
or non whistle/flash salutes than real black powder.

atmospheric open air burn rates outside of a chamber/barrel


powder tests in open air 1 gram pile lit with visco in foil

goex ffg- fastest puff gone: number 1/11
pyrodex ffg- slowest pfffffff long burn rate number 11/11
pyrodex p- slow pfffff long burn rate 10/11
triple seven ffg slow unconnfines fast in barrel 9/11
Triple seven fffg same as above 8/11
original golden powder texas patent ( not jim shokeys app gold
propellent) on par with clean shot 4/11
American pioneer ffg irratic burn rate woosh 7/11
American  pioneer fffg same as above 6/11
clean shot "old bottle no longer manufactured" pretty fast 5/11
Goex pinnacle ffg hotter than app powders lower ignition slower puff
but 3/11
Goex pinnacle fffg burns hot fast  moderate puff and clean on par ffa/
fffa 2/11

in 3 gram salute " in 2.5 inch strongly crimped paper tube about size
of a clothes hanger tube

pyrodex- pop not loud
triple seven same as above
app 2fg light bang
app 3fg moderate bang
clean shot lower louder bang 38 special
golden powder- like clean shot hotter loaded 38 special/9mm lower bang
goex ffg pinnacle- . 45 acp shot outdoors
goex fffg pinnacle-. . 50 caliber muzzle loader flash boom lots of
white smoke
goex ffg black powder . lower louder boom than fffg pinnacle, hot
loaded .50 cal muzzle loader, not as much smoke as pinnacle fffg

lifting 1.75 to 3 inch shells and bursting them

worst to best, not included are non functional powders above for this
purpose all are absorbic acid based non corrosive based off golden
powder some hotter some not

app fffg
clean shot
pinnacle ffg
golden powder
goex pinnacle fffg
real goex ffg fffg

real bp needs low confinement to make lift or burst

pyrodex and triple seven} *app ffg(bc of erratic grain size) need high
confinement and can be useless dangerous

real golden powder/absorbic acid based propellents need only moderate
confinement can be used as expensive lift burst and salutes

APP fffg
golden powder
old clean shot
goex pinnacle bp substitute


bp is always best but if you are a small amateur artist and cant get
bp for some reason a couple pounds of the above 4 powders will work
for small shells and salutes