Goex Plant closing??? Future of Black Powder and alternatives.

[@thomasboylan3751]

Great video

[@bkauffman0390]

Oh boy just what I need, another hobby... Making my own powder. I think I'll be doing it

[@HoffmanReproductions]

It works great and is fun to boot!

[@bkauffman0390]

@@HoffmanReproductions I bought the ball mill, and a 50 lb sack of potassium nitrate from the fertilizer/ag store. Got the sulfur flour locally. Now I just need to make my charcoal. Your right... Everyone I've mentioned this to you me I'm crazy. I am not concerned about it, obviously it will be done with common sense and precautions.... I'd like to know what screen wire size to get 3F.. Guess it'll take some trial and error

[@HoffmanReproductions]

@@bkauffman0390 Hey sounds like your on your way! Yes, most people think its insane. I feel it is dangerous but no more than driving a car, running a chain saw or climbing up a latter. Use caution and safety first and you'll be fine. Not sure on the size, as its a section of porch screen. I sift it through 2 smaller mesh screens after drying that give me my 2/3 F. Not sure on the size of screen as I just went for grains that matched my commercial powder I had.

[@Navyuncle]

I just bought 2 pounds of black powder today for $19.15 / lb today 2/28/22. Graffs and sons, Mexico, MO

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Wow! That is a great deal.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Great video Ben, thank you! I'm optimistic for the future, and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Thank you!

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

Let my Aim be True and My Hand Faster Than Those Who Would Seek to Destroy Me. Grant Me Victory Over My Foes And Those Who Wish to Do Harm to Me and Mine. Let Not My Last Thought Be IF ONLY I HAD MY FLINTLOCK . . .' And Lord if This Day is Truly The Day That You Call Me Home, LET ME DIE IN A CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE ! ! !

[@dallasholland3696]

Beautifully well-said, sir!

[@davefellhoelter1343]

can't wait for you to be back in the market with your product! I am on my 4th carbon type and second sulfur type recipe a 16 ton pucking press Still not CLOSE to how fast yours is!! I give UP, not really, but I will purchase yours when you are up again! Keep those Smike trains SMOKING!!

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Dave, give your email a check. Thanks!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Thanks for the video Ben. Hopefully someone will buy Goex and keep it running but in the meantime, make your own powder.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

I hope so too!

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Thank you!

[@KB4QAA]

No. 1 Tip: Never use STYROFOAM cups around black powder. Just handling or holding a styrofoam cup can create static electric charges of 10,000 to 30,000 volts. No, the current is very low and won't injure you, but can be enough to ignite fine powder. Ask any electronics technician about Electrostatic Discharge precautions.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

I only use them to measure raw ingredients pre milling.

[@briansherrillruralliving9708]

Looks like I got into BP just in time. I'm fishing a tournament this weekend but after that I'm relatively free to make a small batch. To be honest, the fact that you can pretty go off grid with a flintlock is what attracted me to this hobby in the first place.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

For sure! About the only thing out there where you can just about make all you need for shooting.

[@tinfoilhatter]

hey how'd that tournament go then? oh hey everyone, we sure miss the LTR livestreams, [on the-you-tube] don't we~ hey everyone! i'm still block'd from that 'discord' bit, but that's ah-ite, we don't 'discord', we 'concur'!

[@briansherrillruralliving9708]

@@tinfoilhatter we got 3rd with 16.72 lbs

[@tinfoilhatter]

@@briansherrillruralliving9708 excellent!

[@308dad8]

Been threatening to buy a flintlock myself because they took away percussion caps for a couple years then put them back on the shelf at $15/100. I make my own percussion caps now with a punch, a hammer and a piece of 1/4” scrap with 2 holes drilled in it to let me swage the cap in 2 steps. It gives better results than trying to form the cap from a disk in 1 step.

[@seymourpro6097]

If the market is profitable then some other company will take over, if it's not profitable then no-one will buy it. In the US there are so many suppliers of the ingredients and tools that it's highly possible to make good DIY powder. All the info is online on so many sites and forums. However check your local and federal systems first. The milling is easy but quality powder comes from good ingredients and good pressing and corning.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

The Company has sold since this time and they are planning to keep it going here in the USA which is good. Yes indeed, totally possible to make your own high quality powder.

[@Wm.Havens]

I'm glad that I subscribed. I learned a few things today.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Thank you!

[@chickensandwich1589]

Good stuff, always best to stay optimistic! Luckily for me I ordered nine pounds of Goex FF, ten pounds of Old Eynsford FF, ten pounds of Swiss FF, five pounds of Schutzen FFF, and one pound of Goex FFFF about a month ago. Having trouble finding roundball molds though...

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Wow! Yes you should be well stocked!

[@tomcurran1538]

Oh, you're the one who has it all, lol.

[@chickensandwich1589]

@@tomcurran1538 I bought before they announced they were selling.

[@darrellgoodman9585]

@@chickensandwich1589 Have you checked on E bay . I been finding them there.

[@jontee3437]

@@darrellgoodman9585 yeah I second this. Ebay is pretty much my go to for bullet molds at this point

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I remember the consternation when DuPont ceased manufacture of black power back in the early 1970's, it didn't take long for others to fill the gap. Let me tell you IF there's money to be made someone will step into Goex's shoes PDQ, so I wouldn't hit the panic button just yet. Also, if you've got a stockpile of black powder and you store it right (Keep the cans closed until you need it, keep it in a place with steady temperatures) it will stay good for a long, long time.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Indeed. I'm sure we'll see a new owner or brand pop up before long. Yes Sir, keeps very well over time.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@@HoffmanReproductions Keeps well indeed! Several years ago a man was killed here in VA who was trying to deactivate a Civil War mortar shell. He wasn't as good at it as he thought he was, the poor man blew himself up. And that shell was in the ground for 140 years!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

I just remembered, there was a Scottish company making black powder back around 1970 when DuPont quit, that Scottish powder was imported to take up the slack. For the life of me I can't remember the name! It was good stuff too!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

@Jason Bored THAT was the name! Thanks! And you're right, it was good stuff, I remember using it when DuPont wasn't available.

[@blueeyephil]

Have you used Tree of Heaven or black willow for your charcoal.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

No Sir.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I'd love to hear your recommendation for a ball mill, thanks Ben!

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Harbor Freight sells the one I use for $52.00. Works great!

[@kurtbatman8062]

The harbor freight one surprisingly works well. I mix a pound at a time and use 20 .490" musket balls as an agitator. Relatively pure potassium nitrate is easily obtained from Spectracide brand stump remover (~98%)

[@davidno1minton997]

Dam,dam

[@rickyburton4642]

That’s a crying shame! 🤢😰

[@nakoawarrior3186]

In ohio a lot of places sell registered ammunition. Then there are no stores in Ohio that sell black powder or Black Powder components off the shelf. When you buy on line it's the same as registered ammunition,......they get your name and what you purchase and then the wrong people know what you bought so you will be put on a list.. 4thh amendment violation and infringement. Name, address, Phone Number, Drivers License then they ram a Hazmat fee up your ass.

[@oliviaschuller3781]

Anyone ever use hybrid poplar? Super fast growing, wondering if it’s worth the try. Thanks, great video!!!

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Have never tried it. All charcoal will work. Its just that some works far better than others. Might be worth a try. Thanks for watching!

[@jeremiahembs5343]

Can we crowdsource the purchase of the factory and brandname? That would be a share I'd like to own.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Would be nice!

[@gunsnwater2668]

Count me in.

[@rihenry7364]

I would get in on that.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

I'm IN if I can apply for review as an employee?

[@308dad8]

I would be in on that too. Maybe get together with the employees and create a group like they did to get ownership of Smith & Wesson.

[@perturabo5246]

ok what about percussion caps though, whats the explanation for that shortage?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

I've heard that the companies the produce them, are more focused on modern ammunition since that is where the bulk of their money is made.

[@tomcurran1538]

And I thought I would be safe going BP, as I can't get any hunting ammo. Well, bring out the bow, atatls, tomahawks, and swords!

[@HoffmanReproductions]

For sure!

[@stevenjohnson2273]

Have you checked the price of wood and steel lately?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Yes Sir, they are up like most other goods.

[@jimking9411]

Very much enjoy all of your videos, just wondering what do you use for clean up on your rifles and thank you for the useful videos.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Thank you! Will do a video on it!

[@chazsnubs6157]

Hey Hoffman have you ever thought of pucking and then corning to get that 20% power back

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Yes Sir, I know it works better when done that way I'm just to lazy to do it lol!

[@chazsnubs6157]

@@HoffmanReproductions I ordered my first kit in .45 and im waiting for it. So I got to look for powder and low and behold there is none. So I have everything on the way to make commercial grade powder instead.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Sounds like your set to go! Thank Chaz!

[@OdoyleRules24]

Where do you get the bark you use at the end? And Is there an alternative?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Folks sell it on etsy . I've been told red gum powder works to but have not tried it.

[@OdoyleRules24]

@@HoffmanReproductions Thank you!

[@johnnottahcal5725]

NOooooo!!!!

[@TheIntermont]

With the atf regs making it so difficult for dealers to stock and ship the stuff it’s no wonder that Goex is going out of business. Nobody within a several hour drive here sells the stuff.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

For sure. Getting hard to find and most places are out right now do to the "Panic buying" brought on by the closing of Goex. Never a better time to get set up to run your own is my thinking.

[@darrellgoodman9585]

Well that sucks . Will be another sad day in America but it will make the Rabid Anti Gunners Happy .

[@JohnTBlock]

Okay, you can produce high quality black powder at home... how about percussion caps, kinda needful for we revolver shooters.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Yes Sir they can be made! Going to do a video on them soon.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

They can be made.. but its a tedious process... honestly not even worth it.. i have 2300 caps now and i got them in just a months time randomly finding em in cabelas or the local shooting range.. ranging from 8$ for 100 to 13$... even at 13 for 100$ the process and time it takes to make caps is just meh

[@rickythomas226]

Have you tired this in a black powder cartridge?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

I have not Ricky, but I know others that have and they said it worked very well.

[@RR-zq3mk]

I was able to get goex 1F….can I safely turn that into 3F since it’s finer granules?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Not sure RR. Never tried it. Be carful!

[@myfavoritemartian1]

It is risky. wintertime has lots of static electricity. Dust gets everywhere. it is never done in your home. I saw a miner grind cannon grade into fine blasting powder. He did it 1 TSP at a time. Grounded and It took forever. I have seen FG used in 50 cal and larger.

[@jonerdmann6512]

Where can that bark that you use for a thickening agent be gotten at?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Try doing a search on etsy. Lots of folks sell it there in powder form.

[@flintlock2588]

So no company in the USA will be making black powder? It will all be imported from now on? Not sure i like the sound of that..

[@HoffmanReproductions]

They are really hoping to sell the business to someone but it will make for shortages till it gets worked out.

[@Chris-2-of-3]

What is the name of your secret ingredient again? Did not quit understand what you said.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Hi Chris, its called quebracho bark. 3rd video talks about it more. Thanks!

[@olskool3967]

i saw it coming a year ago, i have a life time supply,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@benrowley4195]

I also make my own powder but I have not found a source for potassium nitrate locally. Could you share what fertilizer you're using? I have been using technical grade potassium nitrate that I order online.

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Stump remover sold at lowes or home depot works great! Spectracide brand. I buy bulk PN in 5 lbs bags from a place called the seed barn out of FL. They sell online.

[@desandbonville9254]

What screen mesh size do you use to make priming powder?

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Used a car sun shade screen The very small mesh worked great.. Made it just a hair smaller than commercial stuff. Best I've ever used as far as priming.

[@inglwud5625]

When I sift mine for size there's always fine powder left over and I save it for priming

[@HoffmanReproductions]

@@inglwud5625 Me too! Good stuff!

[@myfavoritemartian1]

The stack I saw had a 112 on top, a120 second, a 150 third, a 1100 on the bottom and they all sit in a grounded 5 Gal paint bucket.The top stuff needs regrind, the second is FFG, the third is FFFG, the fourth is FFFFG and the fall through in the bucket is dust. It is extremely fast! BTW: the classifier screens are from Amazon.....

[@freedom-vc9wi]

They are still going to sale the company to some one who is willing to invest in it

[@HoffmanReproductions]

Yes I have heard that as well. Hope they find someone to keep it going.