Backwoods Gunpowder Making.

I have dabbled a bit with this, really need more experience.

 

Without a source of salt peter, and sulfur, the process goes from easy to impossible.
If I'm going to store tbe chemicals, I'm might as well store smokeless powder.
Just another confirmation of why black powder is not a viable strategy.

 

Exactly.
Most would find it hard to go out and buy what they need.

It's far fetched to think the ingredients could be found in a real crisis, outside of extremely limited locations.

Most people throughout history have never made their own.

 

It "can be done" if you have all the ingredients.
Finding them is without buying them is next to impossible .

It's not about "being bothered to do it".
It's more about having what is needed.

 

I must respectfully disagree with these statements because even saltpeter can be made from common and easily accessible natural sources. I know of people who have done it, and made good gunpowder. Storebought ingredients are nice, but NOT necessary! It ain't rocket science either.

Here are just a few of many sites that describe the processes for making backwoods saltpeter, etc.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sal...1.69i57j0l5.7058j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The part I would be most concerned about when making gunpowder is reducing the end-stage coarse product to a fine powder by rubbing it through a screen. Oh boy. That could be spectacularly bad if you are not careful. (I forget now which type of screen is safest for this part of the process...I think it might be the non-metal kind of window screen material?) <---Edited to add correction: later in this thread Keith said the non-metal will cause problems. Use metal mesh.

Edited to add...for truly backwoods gunpowder making...if no screen material is available, I would probably resort to making my own "screen" material by weaving thin strands of dried and hardened willow (inner bark), or something of that nature to make a serviceable screen.




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In the old days, the soil around outhouses was used as well.


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I think that most members here agree with the importance of carrying a light wt weapon, suited for hunting and personal defense, in the event we have to travel and survive long term in the wilderness. I have noticed a long string of threads here suggesting that a black powder flintlock is that weapon. I find that the flintlock is slow to load and fire, not terrible effective, and fragile. It is about the last weapon I would choose.

Many of us live in different places, with different skills, different laws, and different resources. But we all face the same challenges. The total wt of our weapons/ammo, the rate of fire, number of rounds carried, and the destructive affect of the environment, should guide us in our choices.

If I was only planning on living in the bush for a week or So, I would carry a semi auto battle rifle in 308 win, and ten loaded 20 rd mags. My M1a is vastly superior for hunting or defense, right up to the point where I run out of bullets. Plus, the rifle, and the ammo are waterproof and have survived combat on nearly every terrain on earth. Rather than waste time trying to manufacture powder, or even reload while living in the bush, I chose to cache food, ammo, and other needed items at four locations.

Another option would be a modern hunting rifle. Again they are reliable, relatively light wt, and very effective at all ranges, until you run out of ammo.

One long term solution is a modern hunting bow. Still very effective, decent rate of fire, and the ability to produce effective arrows while living in the wilderness.

But the very best option in my opinion, is a modern repeating rifle, chambered in a cartridge suited for both smokeless, and blackpowder, behind a cast lead bullet. This combination retains the accuracy and rate of fire of the modern rifle, while allowing you the option of loading black powder if ever required. An example of this type is my Marlin 1894 chambered in 44 mag.

I may one day run out of smokeless powder, primers. But since I started out buying my primers by the 5,000 rd flat, and powder in 8 lb kegs, I won't be running this decade, or the next.

 

The best value of this thread is that blackpowder rifles are also great backups for when all other options are used up.

I am a huge proponent of going beyond the Ideal Plan A, B, and even C. I won't be rolling over and giving up if and when other, more ideal options are exhausted.

But first, Plan F options are best explored now, while the opportunity exists, along with the skills to implement them.

SHTF situations may not the best times to get the bugs worked out of my skill sets.


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What method did you use to powder it? Please give details. (Taking notes here!)


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how big a batch at a time do you make?

 

I am learning, still, so forgive me for asking...what is to keep the gunpowder from igniting from the friction during the powdering process? Is this a possibility?


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Thank you for the info, and I added a note to my earlier post to point out my wrong understanding of the screen/mesh type to use.

(I had mentioned in that post that I wasn't sure which type to use, and hoped someone would come along with more info (thanks, Keith!), but for safety's sake, I went back to add the correct info.)
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my local hardware has brass screen available

 

I was curious, I imagine that due to slight inconsistencies between batches, the batch should be fair size. There is a devise similar to a small pistol for testing the strength of black powder. If memory serves there is a scale and pointer built in to that device.

 

I'm sure "people have done it", but I'm talking about what most people can do with resources they can find.

Making Saltpeter doesn't help much if you don't have a source for Sulfur.

Even if you have all the ingredients it's a dangerous process that can be avoided by simply stockpiling real gunpowder and ammunition.

 

Ammo can be purchased in many places also.

If I have to purchase something, I choose the ready to use item that comes in it's own sealed "container".

The topic seems to keep changing though.

It started out as "Backwoods gunpowder making".
It's hard enough to make it at home with purchased ingredients.

Making it in the woods and starting from scratch remains impossible for most people.

 

Use a bronze screen and wooden tools for less chance of sparks when screening.

The commercial method uses lead balls in a "ball mill" for blending and crushing prior to screening.

It's not hard to fabricate a makeshift one of those either.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_mill

 

everyone has to do what they think is best for themselves, whatever it may be.

I would think that if the ancient Chinese could make black powder with their resources, a clever modern person could do the same. I have heard of recipes not requiring sulfur, Keith mentions one, Another is made by using rust. I dabbled with making black powder years ago. I may look back into, it sounds like a challenge.

 

I suppose you are right, but fortunately we are not “most people” who would probably just roll over and give up after all their supplies are gone. Most people are also pitifully dependent on grocery stores every week. Anyone visiting sites like this one is likely seeking to become more self-reliant.

This thread evolved pretty much like most threads on the internet, much like normal conversations would. I think it is pure gold!!



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It is pretty much a given that everyone here already has a stash. This thread is useful for anyone who embraces a more self-reliant lifestyle and who wants to prepare for the possibility of depleted stockpiles.

And yes, backwoods gunpowder is dangerous but not as much as being caught off-guard when the last bullet is gone.

Although I am well-experienced in primitive skills including bowhunting, flintknapping, atlatls, etc. I believe in backup plans for my backups, including backwoods gunpowder.

I think there are more than a few here like me, who dabble in advanced preparations?

The needed resources are not all that rare, lol.

Of course, a forward thinker would plan ahead and at least make a mental note of where supplies of poop and pee rich soils are... for example, chicken coops, outhouses, barnyards, etc. Or, make their OWN.


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Mary Patton; well known powder-maker from my area of Tennessee; made gunpowder by the hundreds of pounds during latter 1700 century. Been up Powder Branch road several times to meet folk, have reunions and such.

http://appalachiantreks.blogspot.com/2009/08/mary-patton.html

I just learned that she and Andrew Taylor were friends! Didn't know that she lived next to him. I wonder if that was temporary? I thought she lived up Powder Branch road. There's caves up in there, but there's no shortage of caves and bats in the region.
https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/mary-mckeehan-patton/

Great photographs:
http://www.tndar.org/~marypatton/
In this link go down to mid-page; this is where her history begins. There's a photo of her tribute carved in stone.

 

Speaking of resources, that last post reminded me that bat poop can also be found in attics of some old houses. A realtor friend of mine told me that it is more common than most folks think...


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Might want to check and double check all that info and compare it with known experts now, while you can. Otherwise, you may not know fact from fiction. There is a LOT of misinformation that is being repeated among Youtubers and websites. (May the fleas of a thousand camels invade their armpits.)


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That is a good cautionary tale! Bats carry all kinds of airborne juju that is harmful to humans.


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I'm going to revisit the process and do it until I own the knowledge.

 

They could make delicate porcelain too, but that doesn't mean the average person could wander out in the woods and get the same results.

They had the advantage of slave labor and warlords who controlled resources to make powder for their militaries.

Where I live you can't even find a rock, much less a piece of flint.

There are no caves to gather saltpeter and there are no volcanoes with sulfur deposits.

Being clever only helps if you can get the ingredients.

 

See my post above.
The nearest "rocks" are over 100 miles away.
The nearest caves about 3 times that far.

When all the gunpowder is gone I'll revert to my bows instead of trying to make gunpowder.

(Unless I can raid a store that has stockpiles Sulfur and Saltpeter, or Saltpeter and Sugar.)

 

This might interest you (and everyone):
http://www.gunfreezone.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/improvised-munitions-handbook.pdf

 

Yes indeed, bows are perfect backups, but! BUT! Gunpowder and explosives have their place too.
But to each his own... I love my hunting and fishing bows, and my flintknapped knives and arrowheads, and my atlatls and slingshots, but boy howdy, I love things that go BOOM. (Hopefully, not on me, lol.)

Caves are not the only source for old poop. Not sure what "rocks" are you referring to? And as has been mentioned in this thread a few times, NO SULFER is needed with some recipes.

Knowledge is power. Practicing it is, well, the most practical thing I can do. You do you, and we will do us. Not a thing wrong with that. All during this thread, I and others have been ample with warnings of potential danger, so it's not like we are encouraging young kids or complete fools to dabble in explosives, lol.




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