[Elderberry]

What are the characteristics of this ancient propellant? First, it is considered an explosive as opposed to a propellant such as smokeless powders

That has always struck me as odd, as smokeless powder can be detonated much easier than black powder. Though black powder has long been used as a low explosive blasting powder. When it explodes, it only deflagrates.

[SJSAMPLE]

I’ve thrown a match into a FULL 1 lb container of Hercules Red Dot. All I got was a rocket exhaust 10 feet high. Do that with black powder and you’re in for a world of hurt.