As a gun or hunting enthusiast, knowing how to make gun powder guarantees you a constant supply of this propellant. Moreover, you get to save a ton of money anytime you need an explosive for your mining needs.
RELATED: How To Turn Urine Into Gunpowder
A Detailed Step by Step Guide on How to Make Gun Powder
Caution: Before starting any project, make sure to wear safety gears and know the safety protocols.
What You'll Need:
- Safety Glasses
- Gloves
- Sleeves
- Breathing mask
- Hat
- Fire Extinguisher
- Pestle and motor
- Container
- Sieve
- Wooden Spoon
- Glass jar
Ingredients You'll Need:
- Saltpetre: It is commonly known as potassium nitrate. You can find it in garden stores as it is mostly used as a stump remover and nitrogen added to the soil.
- Sulphur: It is naturally occurring and can be bought from garden stores.
- Fine Charcoal: Buy from online stores as activated charcoal, which is already fine powder. But it can be manually prepared by buying regular charcoal for grilling by crushing it.
Step 1. Weigh the Ingredients and Place them in a Jar
Using the right amount of ingredients is vital if you want to make a gun powder that serves its purpose. Therefore, you will have to use a deductive approach.
That is, start by figuring out how much gun powder you want to make. This will be dictated by the size of the container you have.
Once you have figured out your desired total weight, calculate 75% of it to determine how much potassium nitrate you should use. Next, calculate 15% of the same total weight to know the exact amount of charcoal you will need. Lastly, find the amount of sulfur needed by calculating 10% of the same total weight.
Step 2. Mix the Ingredients
Thoroughly mix the ingredients. Remember that the quality of the mixture will define the quality of the gunpowder. Grind all the measured ingredients together in pestles for about 10 to 15 minutes.
If you are using a ball mill, grind sulphur and charcoal for four hours before adding saltpetre and milling for another 24 hours.
Reminder: Moistening the mixture with rubbing alcohol or water guarantees safety and improves the powder's quality and performance. Leave outside to dry after adding either.
Step 3. Sift the Powder
Here, take a small amount of mix at a time, pass it through a sieve until you obtain a smooth mixture. Crush the leftover clumps in the sieve with the wooden spoon until they are broken and have passed through.
Tip: Sifting the powder several times will yield a high-quality and better-performing gun powder
RELATED: How to Use a Bore Snake | Gun Care
Step 4. Mix the Sifted Ingredients Again
Once all the powder is sifted, and the lumps have been broken down, use a wooden spoon to mix and stir the fine powder thoroughly until well blended. At this point, the powder mix should be uniformly black and consistent in texture.
Step 5. Sift the Mixture Again
Repeating steps three and four is a crucial part of making gun powder as each sift adds to the quality of the mixture, resulting in better quality gunpowder. Therefore, consider sifting the mixture at least two more times.
Step 6. Test Your Gun Powder
Next, test your handy work before storage. Take a small sample and a piece of paper. Pour out a line of gunpowder and light out the edge of the paper. Keep a safe distance when doing this procedure. The result should create a serious flame and a bubbling release of heat.
Step 7. Store the Gun Powder
Lastly, store the product in gunpowder special containers, which you can put in larger fireproof boxes. The goal is to store the gunpowder in a stable environment away from any form of heat exposure.
Tips:
- You can also use cold packs to make potassium nitrate if you cannot find it in stores. Alternatively, make it from scratch using stale urine.
- Similarly, you can also buy or make charcoal from scratch by charring willow in a metal drum. Any other type of wood will work too.
- Do not light flames or even smoke around gunpowder as it is highly potent.
- Adding about 8% water to the gunpowder improves its burning capacity. However, you will have to corn, sieve and dry it if you choose to add that much water.
- Contact relevant authorities to inquire about storing explosive material in residential areas since it is prohibited in some areas.
Are you looking or various ways to make gun powder at home? Check out this video on how to make white gun powder at home:
There you go, making gun powder has never been easier. All you have to do is get the most high-quality ingredients, and you can bet that your gun powder will be as good if not better than the store-bought one. Remember to keep all the precautionary measures in mind during and after production to avoid explosions.
Do you have experience in making gun powder? What pointer would you like to share with beginners? Let us know in the comment section below!
Up Next:
- Online Gun and Ammunition Sales Ban is a Fixture in Biden’s Gun Control Agenda
- Hunting Season Begins As Gun & Ammunition Shortage Intensifies
- How To Make Homemade Survival Cement
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer here.
