Now that I need to resupply I see that Swiss is $23, Goex is $16, KIK is $14, and Schutzen is $16. What is the current powder of choice and besides Powderinc to buy in bulk (I lost my past supplier contact info because it was attached to the boxes they stole)?

Primarily I load 45-70 followed by a mix of 40-82, 40-90, 45-90, 50-70, 38-55, various muzzle loaders from 40 to 54 caliber, and just bought a Ruger old army for my son to shoot). Hints on preferred granulation would also help.

Thank you,
Charles

  I have used Swiss since getting into black powder. But after getting some great feedback from friends had decided to try the GOEX Old Eynsford. I picked up a supply at the Quigley and compared it against the load I normally use with Swiss loading it exactly the same. I can see no difference in fouling or accuracy so I will stick with it. The price is certainly lower than Swiss and I appreciate that and the fact that it is from an American company.

SSS

I use Goex Express 2F.  Not sure if it's available still, I am working on the last two cases I bought.  Express seems to burn nearly as hot as the swiss, without the dry weather fouling that requires a lot of swiss shooters to wipe between shots.  (I blow tube).  I've had great luck with it in .45-70, .45-90, and .38-72.

dave

2F Swiss works well for my 40-65 and 1 1/2F Swiss for the 38-56. Have shot 3# of 2F OE and agree that it shots as well as Swiss for considerably less $$ and found the fouling to be a bit softer, but the last is quite subjective. I order from the Maine Powder House as they are the closest to me and give free shipping & no hazmat fee when purchasing 25#. Generally can find someone to split an order with as I only shoot about 20# a year. I'm thinking I'll want to get some 3F for the 38-40 and 25-20. You will have to experiment. Each rifle likes what it likes. If you are lucky, they will all like the same powder. 

For our 200m silhouette and gong matches I use 2F Goex as it is as accurate and cheap for 200m shooting.

Went back and looked at the results from the BPCR & BPTR nationals this year. Of the top 20 shooters in BPCR, 19 used Swiss and the 20th did not fill out an answer. Of the 72 BPTR shooters, 66 reported using Swiss.

There is what I would like to shoot and what I can buy easy. 

Drive to pick it up 2 F Goex for my Single Shots. Keep some 1 & 3 F on hand too.  He has bulk paper bags 5 # of 2 F the re-enactors buy. Use it in a Minne Ball Rifle and 10 & 12 G Shotguns, Not telling what it is but seems to be pretty good powder. Never put it in my cartridge rifles.

Boats

I'm using Goex 2F Olde Eynsford in .45-70/90 and .40-70 SS

Terry

    BP is BP, pretty much.   The quality factors are the purity of the ingredients, the physical properties of the charcoal, the fineness of incorporation, and the uniformity of grain size.    
    I like the Swiss powder because of the latter.  It seems to be easier to get the low SD's of velocity that are required for shooting longer distances.
    That said, a LOT of matches are still being won with other powders.
    Fouling is not much of a consideration, as most serious shooters now wipe between shots.   Seldom see a blow tube on the line anymore.   

CHRIS
RGChristensen

I've ordered from Powder Inc and from Crater Fireworks.  Powder Inc includes the shipping charges in the prices posted while Crater posts the "raw" prices and adds the shipping after you have made up the order.  The final costs are identical, from what I can see.

Powder Inc might be quicker on delivery, but only by a day or so.  Probably a function of my location more than anything else.  Crater gives you a nice drinking glass cozy and a decal with your order.

Both are excellent to deal with as far as I've experienced.  I've just ordered current production stuff (Swiss, Olde Eynsford and KIK) so I didn't pay attention to see if either carried a product that the other didn't.