"Red or White Powder" Propellant by the Jolly Roger

"Red or White Powder" Propellant may be prepared in a simple,

safe manner. The formulation described below will result in

approximately 2 1/2 pounds of powder. This is a small arms

propellant and should only be used in weapons with 1/2 in.

diameter or less (but not pistols!).

Material Required:

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Heat Source (Kitchen Stove or open fire)

2 gallon metal bucket

Measuring cup (8 ounces)

Wooden spoon or rubber spatula

Metal sheet or aluminum foil (at least 18 in. sq.)

Flat window screen (at least 1 foot square)

Potassium Nitrate (granulated) 2-1/3 cups

White sugar (granulated) 2 cups

Powdered ferric oxide (rust) 1/8 cup (if available)

Clear water, 1-1/2 cups

Procedure:

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1) Place the sugar, potassium nitrate, and water in the bucket.

Heat with a low flame, stirring occasionally until the sugar and

potassium nitrate dissolve.

2) If available, add the ferric oxide (rust) to the solution.

Increase the flame under the mixture until it boils gently.

NOTE: The mixture will retain the rust coloration.

3) Stir and scrape the bucket sides occasionally until the mixture

is reduced to one quarter of its original volume, then stir

continuously.

4) As the water evaporates, the mixture will become thicker until

it reaches the consistency of cooked breakfast cereal or homemade

fudge. At this stage of thickness, remove the bucket from the heat

source, and spread the mass on the metal sheet.

5) While the material cools, score it with a spoon or spatula in

crisscrossed furrows about 1 inch apart.

6) Allow the material to dry, preferably in the sun. As it dries,

resore it accordingly (about every 20 minutes) to aid drying.

7) When the material has dried to a point where it is moist and

soft but not sticky to the touch, place a small spoonful on the

screen. Rub the material back and forth against the screen mesh

with spoon or other flat object until the material is granulated

into small worm-like particles.

8) After granulation, return the material to the sun to allow to

dry completely.

See later powder filez........ -= Exodus =-