Yeah, I hear ya Joe. I'm not fearful of that smoky stuff, just dislike cleaning up after it and again, the smell is not to my taste.
Even the old guys were mostly delighted to use smokeless when it became available, and theirs wasn't near as good as what we now use. Oh, I just remembered that I don't need wads added to the loading either-I don't think I'll ever figure those out!

calledflyer wrote on Jul 13^th, 2015 at 8:37pm:



I really enjoy BP. A lot of fun and surprisingly accurate at times. My highest score ever was using BP.  Clean up in a breech loader, about the same as smokeless. Might be easier at times. BP stinks for sure and for curtain, no getting around that. Acquired smell?

       Joe.

I'd use diesel if could figure out how to do it. 


          Joe. 

Well, if we used diesel it would completely remove the possibility of "gas" cutting. 

calledflyer wrote on Jul 13^th, 2015 at 11:23pm:

No question that cleaning would be more involved with your 1886 & 1895, but lots of flexible plastic cleaning rods out there (check Arizona Sharpshooters, for instance) that make the job easier for lever-guns, BP or smokeless. 
BP cleans up quickly and easily compared to smokeless if you use a couple of wet patches. I use a 6-1 mix of water soluble cutting oil and water to wet my patches. Wet, not damp. Then a couple of patches with a proper lead/BP solvent (again, Arizona Sharpshooters has a good solvent, but there any number of them that work well), with the last one being 'tight' to insure any lead is pushed out. Final patch is oiled and you are good. Wipe down the outside with a gun-oil as you would with any rifle/pistol and you're done. Takes no longer or any bigger deal then cleaning after smokeless. BP fouling is soft, so easier to remove. And, shooting only lead bullets means that there is no copper to remove.
I shoot BP as I am a traditionalist. My rifles (1879s & 1885s) were designed and built for BP. BP works well and is very accurate so that is what I use. Plus, I shoot BPCR & BPTR, as well.
BP is no more dangerous to store and use than is smokeless unless you are talking commercial volumes.  I am not aware of any "BP" accidents that would not have happened had it been smokeless powder. Stupid actions result in stupid accidents, BP or smokeless. 
Most folks shoot Swiss BP as it is more consistent. However, Goex and the new Olde Eynsford are good powders. All are quality powders. They range in price from $17-24/#, which is a few dollars less then smokeless. A rather dated book to get one started with BP is Steve Garbe's Blackpowder Primer. You can order directly from him off his SPG website. BP is really "no big deal". It is just different and human nature is to stick with what they know. 

When I mentioned the safety of black I made it a qualified statement. I only implied that it was possible that danger was present due to the easy ignition. I haven't any knowledge of trouble there either. Sorry if it sounded like an indictment of the stuff on those grounds. I'm all for safety in whatever we do. 
In terms of cost, I stand firm. Here, it's more valuable than you get it for. In addition, it doesn't go as far per pound- say using 40 grains of it versus 13-14 in a .32-40, to quote a popular recipe. Plus the added things that go with it like wads and even more junk for cleaning. (I already have too much of that)
I know some use it due to rules of their game, and good for them to do so if it brings them pleasure. I'm for that too.My purpose here isn't to offend bp shooters, just to air my reasons for using smokeless alone. It's a good conversation, like the campfire arguments about hunting rifles or women. 
Now, if you could only make it stop stinking, maybe I'd join ya now and then.

Sure was, but they made it hellforstout and, like the 1886,  it transitioned just fine into smokless powder loadings.  I think probably the hottest cartridge originally offered was the 30-40 Krag, but many HiWalls were converted to 50,000PSI rounds later on with no problems.   But, if you want to use smokless powder, use it in a case that was designed for it.

George