The kind of powder that can cause serious injury if used in a muzzleloader is modern smokeless powder. Muzzleloaders are designed specifically for black powder or approved black powder substitutes (such as Pyrodex). Using smokeless powder in a muzzleloader, especially one labeled "Black Powder Only," can cause catastrophic failures, including the barrel blowing apart, which can lead to severe injury or death
. Key points:
- Black powder and approved substitutes are safe for muzzleloaders.
- Smokeless powder burns differently and at higher pressures, which muzzleloaders are not designed to handle.
- Using smokeless powder in a muzzleloader can turn the firearm into a pipe bomb, resulting in the gun exploding and causing serious injury to the shooter
- Safety warnings on muzzleloaders explicitly prohibit the use of smokeless powder to prevent such accidents
In summary, only black powder or approved black powder substitutes should be used in muzzleloaders; smokeless powder is dangerous and can cause serious injury if used in these firearms.
