Firecracker powder in BP guns?

S

steelbird

New member
Stumbled across this thought, and wondered if anyone knew about this-
Is it possible to use the black powder in fireworks in BP guns? It would seem that it could be done - we all know what firecracker powders can do in terms of bomb making. I know that there may be extreme inconsistencies with this kind of powder, but could it work? Wondering if anyone's tried it.
 
The problem is, you probably have no idea exactly what kind of "powder" is in any given firework you happen to crack open. Unless you are some kind of fireworks pyrotechnician and/or have direct access to the manufacturer who will tell you. I believe that the colors that are produced are made by adding chemicals to the mix, for example.

Experimenting with unknown powders sounds like a risky idea to me.

Steve
 
I'd rather not risk it. I've got a good supply of both BP and good replicant powders, so I have no reason to try. I'd say don't do it.
 
Very valid point, maillemaker. I wasn't thinking about the ones that are display types, though. Just the straight out noise maker firecrackers.
 
Firecrackers are made with flash powder, not gun powder (magnesium, aluminum, and potassium perchlorate, for instance.) It's totally different and much higher energy than black powder -- actually close to what they used to put in corrosive primers.

It might be okay for filling hand grenades... :eek:
 
If you aren't sure of what the powder is - whether Black or Smokeless. . . . . . it has one name - FERTILIZER.

Use common sense . . . black powder or substitutes specifically made to use as black powder are to be used in black powder firearms.

Smokeless powders are to be used in firearms that are specifically made for the high pressure of smokeless powder.

Fireworks and the powder in them are to be used for one thing - fireworks. :rolleyes:
 
I'm not to sure about this comment. I think Flash powder as told years ago was far and away more unstable verses Black. Probably even rated differently under Hazmat rules Flash is.
 
Having dissected numerous firecrackers as a kid I can tell you that those which had black powder in them were rather weak in their report even the 3" ones. Those with flash powder (Zebras were the best) would really BOOM. The flash powder was a silvery (metallic) grey. There was about 1/8"X1" of powder in a good cracker. I figured that a full chamber of that stuff would surely blow a BP gun to bits. One decent firecracker could propel a soup can about 50 feet into the air (standing the open ended soup can in about 3" of water in a coffee can to make the chamber of the soup can smaller and leaving about 1/8" of the firecracker sticking out of the small hole in the top of the soup can so we could light the fuse). A full 44 chamber would have been like a cherry bomb or M-80.
 
Maybe this is why those Boston Bombers went to the trouble to disassemble fireworks to get their powder. I wondered why they didn't just go to a sporting goods store and buy black or smokeless powder.
 
Having dissected numerous firecrackers as a kid I can tell you that those which had black powder in them were rather weak in their report even the 3" ones. Those with flash powder (Zebras were the best) would really BOOM. The flash powder was a silvery (metallic) grey.
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This.

Firecracker powder, as I recall, was VERY fine, silvery in color, and had the texture of greasy powdered graphite .....
 
Alright fellas, I have fooled with this a little bit on my farm and I will drop a couple comments.

1. We are talking about pyrotechnic powder. Black powder, same sulfur, potassium nitrate charcoal mix as black powder for firearms.

2. Not sorted in the same set of screens as the FF, FFF and FFFF system shooters use. Similar, but not samey-same.

3. There are a host of coatings and minor ingredients that can be added to pyrotechnic powder while it is being made to make pretty colors. None of them are good for gun barrels.

4. Black powder, whether pyrotechnic powder or FFg for your .45 Colt is a low explosive. Potentially stricter state laws aside, the federal limit is/was you may posess up to 50# of black powder for personal use at any one time. In many instances (roman candles, rockets that fly) the entire weight of the finished pyrotechnic device counts as black powder. Thus an amatuer pyrotechnician might have 25 pounds of actual black powder tied up in "pyrotechnic devices" that weigh 50 pounds in aggregate, and be at the federal legal possession limit. I do not know the applicable laws in your state.

5. Actual flash powder is a high explosive. It can only be produced, posessed and discharged by ATFE licensees. Period. No exceptions. See #3 above.

6. In practice making homemade pyrotechnic powder that sends bullets out of 45 Colt cases over a choronograph at speeds readily achievable by Goex and Elephant and Swiss is a significant undertaking. Pyrotechnicians need consistent powder, but they aren't racing bullets with each other.
 
Why Flash isn't used for B/P weapons. Its known to exhibit a violent and intense burn. Flash powder's energy develops almost instantly. Where as a black powder burn tends to string itself out over so many inches of barrel length when under reasonable compression. If one were to use flash in a weapon designed for B/ P use. No doubt there would be a very good chance of its shooter experiencing a cataclysmic event. {the total destruction the weapons breech plug.} Even a small amount of Flash could show undesirable results in such a circumstance. Flash powder itself is easy to make. Easier than Black even. But because it has a reputation of being violent in nature. One should be very leery in its mixing. You just don't get your fingers burnt with Flash. You loose them.
 
Maybe this is why those Boston Bombers went to the trouble to disassemble fireworks to get their powder. I wondered why they didn't just go to a sporting goods store and buy black or smokeless powder.
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They crossed the state line to New Hampshire and bought fireworks from a fireworks dealer. Fireworks are illegal in Mass, they are legal and unregulated in NH.
 
somebody who seems to know what he is talking about said that black power in fireworks is basically Lifting powder - like for rockets and salutes. He called the flash power used in crackers and other explosive poppers 'High Explosive" and guaranteed that it would shatter a black powder or modern firearm. Perchlorate and powdered metals are nasty.
 
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