I guess I just can't fathom why anyone would want to shoot anything but real BP in 19th century style weapons. ANYONE can order BP from http://www.powderinc.com/ in as small an order as a mere five lbs. No excuse there.
In that statement you assume much about other folks' circumstances.
BP is far easier to clean then "smokeyless" powder. No need for mind altering chemicals. The biggest problem I see is ignorance. By ignorance I do not mean stupidity. Far from it. Simply that many people fear what they do not understand. "It stinks". "It fouls". Well, yeah. That's the point. To experience the ENTIRE concept of history and experience what our forefathers knew.
Have you heard anyone discussing the subject consider the this. It is not the topic of discussion. Ignorance? You presume to know much about me. Perhaps you are my daddy and know more about me than I myself might know.
In fact BP is neither easier or more difficult to clean after, it is simply different. Some folks think some smokeless powders are "dirty". The consideration in either case is not germane to the discussion.
That
your primary focus is on experiencing what your forefathers knew isn't a consideration for
me.
Shooting smokeless in these type weapons is like making a horse eat rocket fuel.
This is indicative of a prejudice. Not everyone in this group or in an even broader range of shooters using these guns are living history fanatics. There is a broader appeal for these guns. That broader appeal might just attract more folks to the living history experience.
I'll share a story with you. I saw a fella tell a guy at an NCOWS shoot once "well, if you hate BP then maybe you need to get back up there behind the line with the women and children."
That is simply condescending and likely out of context. It certainly doesn't apply to this conversation.
I will say it again, we are trying to expand the knowledge base in order to avoid what you so desperately fear, that others will use inappropriate loadings of smokeless powders in these firearms. We know that not all BP subs or smokeless powders are inappropriate for shooting these reproductions and we seek to provide empirical evidence that certain loads are safe. I know that your desired lab data will be available as soon as it can be compiled. Perhaps that will mollify you.
Perhaps you don't intend to do so but your constant belittling of content without contribution of actual knowledge other than that you have assumed several of us don't know is not a constructive use of time. Let's move on from fighting the use of other than holy black to the safe and sane use of smokeless powders...