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A question about pyrodex

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I think the best solution for the OP is to just make his own black powder at home. It's not that difficult and ingredients readily available. Multiple YouTube videos detail how-to. One guy I met at the range a couple weeks ago was shooting his Pedersoli Frontier with homemade black powder. He let me load and shoot a round. I thought the powder was a bit more "sticky" than factory power, but it ignited and shot just fine.
 
Let’s see….. shoot my flintlock, or spend 20 years in prison…..but let’s get the OP to check his countries laws on manufacturing explosives!
 
Sheesh. With that kind of an attitude there would never have been an American Revolution. :rolleyes:

Onerous and/or illogical regulatory restrictions that have no practical purposes are to be circumvented wherever possible.

Obviously black-powder shooting is legal in his jurisdiction. Is the source of the black powder a legal problem?
 
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In 1776, the British and us were mostly armed the same. Now the government has helicopters, full auto weapons, and absolutely NO scruples or respect for you or your loved ones lives. Oh yeah- the government can also snoop on your phones and computers! So I will tread carefully. And I don’t want the OP to get in serious trouble with his government.
 
" The agent of corrosion of both black powder and Pyrodex is sulfur.


Pyrodex has a perchlorate component that will attack the bore on a near microscopic level.
One of my muzzleloaders has fired over 3,500 rounds using Pyrodex: The bore looks new. Clean the rifle after firing and there is no corrosion problem with Pyrodex. .

All the black powder substitutes, including BH 209, contain potassium perchlorate.
 
One of my muzzleloaders has fired over 3,500 rounds using Pyrodex: The bore looks new. Clean the rifle after firing and there is no corrosion problem with Pyrodex. .

All the black powder substitutes, including BH 209, contain potassium perchlorate.
Hmmm.. not sure where you came up with quoting me in reference to sulfur. ???????
 
One of my muzzleloaders has fired over 3,500 rounds using Pyrodex: The bore looks new. Clean the rifle after firing and there is no corrosion problem with Pyrodex. .

All the black powder substitutes, including BH 209, contain potassium perchlorate.
I find it interesting that books and articles from the 1980's talk up Pyrodex as being a cleaner burning powder with less fouling and less corrosive than BP. I think this led to a lot of people thinking they didn't have to clean their rifles as well or as soon after shooting. This then led to alot of rusted bores and gave Pyrodex a bad name.

I prefer real BP and that mostly what I shoot, but I do have 1/2 lbs of Pyrodex I use in a inline that was given to me. I have used it in my side lock when BP shortages hit after 2020. Cleaned right after shooting ( barrel still warm) with warm soapy water and was more meticulous with my cleaning. No issues.
 
@French Colonial: 'I think he is talking about putting a pinch of BP down the bore first and then some Pyrodex on top of that just to get the Pyrodex to ignite reliably.' Yes, exactly. Or conversely, making up a cartridge of similar proportions. My BP guns are all percussion (apart from my Snider - Enfield breech loader. But we don't talk about those!)
Pyrodex will run fine in your percussion guns. No need to use any black powder.
 
Performance with Pyrodex will be better if using a nipple and cap designed to deliver more heat to the powder charge. RWS 1075, RWS 1075 Plus or Magnum caps with a Knight Red Hot nipple will get more heat to the Pyrodex. Of course, while there is less apparent fouling than with black powder, the fouling is there and is very corrosive. It can be cleaned with water and soap but needs to be done soon after shooting and much more thorough than with black powder.
 
Ive shot Triple 7 with 10 grains of 3F BP under it, went off without a hitch. If Pyrodex is easily found, I d recommend buying the 3F variety. A friend of mine shot it for years. Whenever he won a match, he’d exclaim “P powder !”
 
Currently BP is difficult to get in France. I still have plenty, but I like to have several pounds at my disposal. To this effect. I have bought myself 2 canisters of Pyrodex. I have heard that this propellant is slightly more difficult to ignite than normal BP. So, my question is: would it be alright to 'prime' my pyrodex load with a pinch of BP? is this neccessary? Or, is it somehow dangerous or just plain ineffective?
I shoot my .69 caliber 1795 Springfield musket with a 110 grain charge, I use 50 grains of black powder, then 60 grains of pyrodex. It works just fine. The ignition is fast, and the boom is loud. Since I am not fighting a battle, or shooting in an event, the few seconds longer to load, are of little concern.
 
I'm confused about what the OP means by "priming" his Pyrodex load "with a pinch of BP". Does he mean using Pyrodex as the main charge and BP in the flash pan of a flintlock? No problem. Does he mean mixing in a little "pinch" of BP into his Pyrodex load? I don't think that's supposed to be done, but don't recall exactly what the consequences could be.
I add black powder to the barrel first, then pyrodex, in a 40 grain 60 grain sequence, in my 69 caliber musket, and it works just fine.
 
Sheesh. With that kind of an attitude there would never have been an American Revolution. :rolleyes:

Onerous and/or illogical regulatory restrictions that have no practical purposes are to be circumvented wherever possible.

Obviously black-powder shooting is legal in his jurisdiction. Is the source of the black powder a legal problem?
Yes it is the source. Black powder shooting is fine, and you can even buy BP guns over the counter on production of ID.
 
Currently BP is difficult to get in France. I still have plenty, but I like to have several pounds at my disposal. To this effect. I have bought myself 2 canisters of Pyrodex. I have heard that this propellant is slightly more difficult to ignite than normal BP. So, my question is: would it be alright to 'prime' my pyrodex load with a pinch of BP? is this neccessary? Or, is it somehow dangerous or just plain ineffective?

WOW France, I love the place . Sad about Brexit. I thought pyrodex was banned in France it’s now on police certificate in uk as it’s been upgraded to an explosive Never saw any hogs in miles to the med. still struggling with this permit to carry , seems French police are not too bothered about BP guns though I won’t push my luck !!!!! We are in Esher west of London . We have a french pal on the forum , but no news from him lately “ do come to France but don’t steal our lead and BP”
Love from
Uk
 

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WOW France, I love the place . Sad about Brexit. I thought pyrodex was banned in France it’s now on police certificate in uk as it’s been upgraded to an explosive Never saw any hogs in miles to the med. still struggling with this permit to carry , seems French police are not too bothered about BP guns though I won’t push my luck !!!!! We are in Esher west of London . We have a french pal on the forum , but no news from him lately “ do come to France but don’t steal our lead and BP”
Love from
Uk


All the wrong photos. France:
WOW France, I love the place . Sad about Brexit. I thought pyrodex was banned in France it’s now on police certificate in uk as it’s been upgraded to an explosive Never saw any hogs in miles to the med. still struggling with this permit to carry , seems French police are not too bothered about BP guns though I won’t push my luck !!!!! We are in Esher west of London . We have a french pal on the forum , but no news from him lately “ do come to France but don’t steal our lead and BP”
Love from
Uk

Sorry wrong photos. This is France. See Dune d Plat on west coast
 

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