Alliant Black MZ

by
posted on December 4, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
201212481132-alliantblackmz_f.jpg

12/4/2012

Manufactured in the United States, Black MZ is Alliant Powder’s recent entry into the blackpowder-substitute market, and is suitable for muzzleloaders and cartridge loads. According to the company, the FFg-size substitute is formulated to ignite easily (by No. 11 percussion caps, musket caps and 209 shotshell primers), provide excellent shot-to-shot consistency with regard to velocity, offer high velocities at lower pressures, be moisture-and humidity-resistant, be cleaner-burning and “virtually non-corrosive.”

To test Alliant’s claims, I employed two .50-cal. Thompson/Center muzzleloaders: a 209-ignited Impact and the NorthWest Explorer, which uses No. 11 percussion caps as the ignition source. The Impact, using 300-grain Fusion Sabots and 90 grain/volume Black MZ, and the NorthWest Explorer with 348-grain PowerBelt Copper Aerotip bullets and 80-grain/volume, both exhibited easy loading, flawless ignition and noteworthy accuracy. Cleanup was simple, too; it required a single moist cotton patch-with both sides being used-followed by single dry one with two caps or primers being fired to clear the breechplug and dry the bore.

The “virtually non-corrosive” assertion was tested by firing several shots from both rifles, then relegating the uncleaned muzzleloaders to a gun safe for several months. After 90 days, cleaning the Impact revealed a pristine bore; however, the NorthWest Explorer, ignored a full month longer, exhibited ever-so-slight bore damage. So, provided a firearm is cleaned within a reasonable timeframe, Black MZ is indeed “virtually non-corrosive.” From what I’ve witnessed Black MZ lives up to Alliant’s claims, and is an excellent choice for muzzleloading and blackpowder enthusiasts. Alliant Black MZ is sold in 1-pound canisters for $24.

Contact: Alliant Powder; (800) 276-9337; www.alliantpowder.com.

Latest

Remembering Frank Brownell F
Remembering Frank Brownell F

The Keefe Report: Remembering Frank Brownell

Frank Brownell, the patriarch of the Brownells family and a longtime leader in the firearm industry, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, at the age of 85.

The Armed Citizen® June 20, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Lone Wolf Arms Timberwolf 19X

In its Timberwolf 19X, Lone Wolf Arms focused on incremental updates and tweaks to the seminal Glock design, resulting in a versatile "crossover" handgun design capable of fulfilling a variety of roles.

May NICS Numbers Show Possible Improvement In Gun Sales

Despite the 1.6 percent year-over-year decline in firearm sales for the month of May, the 31-day period marks the 70th month in a row with more than 1 million gun sales.

2025 Shotgun Of The Year: SDS Arms MAC 1014

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson Model 1854

Smith & Wesson entered an entirely new market segment in 2024 with its Model 1854, and the lever-action has a few notable features that allow it to stand out in what's becoming a crowded market of modernized lever guns.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.