American Pioneer Powder

[Electric Miner]

A coworker went up hunting in Utah last week and he was supposed to be buying me some black powder. What he brought back was American Pioneer.

 

[David W.]

Did he think he was doing you a favor? Maybe the sales person was an "expert"?

 

[Electric Miner]

I have no idea.

 

[AZbpBurner]

I got some APP at Thunderstick Trading down in Tucson last year. Intended on using it for a particular cap & ball revolver. Says to keep it away from ball lubes, which may have accounted for erratic performance. It did burn pretty clean, but seemed to have noticeably less power than either BP or even Pyrodex P.

I've got the rest of the can in the closet and sometime when I'm out of things to do (likely never :idunno: ) I'll try it out with one of the rifles to see if it's impressive or a waste of effort.

 

[necchi]

A coworker went up hunting in Utah last week and he was supposed to be buying me some black powder. What he brought back was American Pioneer.

And then,,,? :idunno:

 

[AZbpBurner]

A coworker went up hunting in Utah last week and he was supposed to be buying me some black powder. What he brought back was American Pioneer.

And then,,,? :idunno:

How about a Poll?

[] Hugged the co-worker, patted him on the head, and told him he done good.

[] Cancelled lunch, but didn't say why

[] Sat the co-worker down and told him all about how some folks don't like APP

[] Invited him to the range to try that APP vs Genuine Black Powder

What's that old saying about fiddling with a Gift Horse's Mouth - gonna get bit or kicked, or sumpthin' ?

It's up to you to refute what others have said that APP works OK in a flintlock :grin:

 

[necchi]

After the Honeymoon, things fall of real quick.

Think of it as a New Years 4:30 AM Saturday morning Las Vegas drive up window wedding.

Because nothing has changed with APP since it started as Clean Shot except a law suit, the name and square pellets instead of round.

App has nothing new, besides the guy that tries it. The stuff has history,,

 

[Wes/Tex]

Think of it as a New Years 4:30 AM Saturday morning Las Vegas drive up window wedding.

Wearing matching red T-shirts...I say this because a friend and his wife did!

 

[Electric Miner]

I'm not going to say anything to the coworker. He was nice enough to make the offer, after all. I won't ask him to do it again, though.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Well sounds like you are stuck with it. Shoot it up at the range in a cap lock. I wouldn't hunt with it. But it is good enough to use up plinking. Shoot it in the biggest bore rifle you have with big charges so it will be gone sooner.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Shoot it up at the range in a cap lock ...

Ditto! I used to use it in my cap guns, as we can't buy/find real BP in Mass, so for range work it was cheap and available. I found it quite accurate too! But like others said, for pure dependability ... go with black when hunting or for others uses that justify it.

Maybe take your friends out and get them hooked on shootin' BP without the rotten egg smell :hatsoff:

 

[Roguedog]

I actually love the rotten' egg smell!! Reminds me of blackpowder shooting.

Jeff

 

[strato50]

What surprises me a little bit is the relative lack of reviews on the stuff, and the ones that exist vary from 'this stuff is great!' to 'DONT BOTHER!! Three thumbs down!".

I have a small tripod on order for my digital camera and plan to have a decent sized video of my experience firing APP from a Bess & Kentucky .50

Hopefully that will shed some light on the subject!

 

[Sawyer]

I had some APP and used it in my 1860 San Marco Revolver and my .32 flintlock with 4f BP primer, seemed to work o.k. but I like the performance of Triple 7 better, used it in my .50 flintlock with 4f primer, worked great but I am going to switch to BP for my flintlocks and see if the ignition time picks up

 

[123.DieselBenz]

I got some APP at Thunderstick Trading down in Tucson last year. Intended on using it for a particular cap & ball revolver. Says to keep it away from ball lubes, which may have accounted for erratic performance. It did burn pretty clean, but seemed to have noticeably less power than either BP or even Pyrodex P.

I've got the rest of the can in the closet and sometime when I'm out of things to do (likely never :idunno: ) I'll try it out with one of the rifles to see if it's impressive or a waste of effort.

Thunderstick use to carry real black powder ... Schuetzen IIRC ...I now ordered cases of KIK from Powder Inc

Thunderstick contact info:

1125 N Jefferson Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-290-8599

Near Craycroft & Speedway

 

[Patocazador]

I ordered 3FG black powder through a local gun shop. He called and said that it was in. I got there an he hands me 3F Triple Se7en.

He didn't even know what black powder was .. and he owned the gun shop. :youcrazy:

 

[Dean2]

I read all the stuff about APP being no good. Got some real cheap so tried it in my 50 caliber Cap lock. Worked fine, good accuracy, no fouling and easy to clean. It apparently goes down in power as it sits so I am going to try the second half of the 3F later this year.

Run a chrono on it if you have one. I am going to next time I try it. The first time I shot it I didn't have a chronograph with me but I think it shoots a bit slower than real black, on a volume to volume basis.

There are a couple of threads from guys say 3F works fine in flintlocks as long as they prime with real Black so I may try that too.

 

[stude 283]

I have been using the sugar based subs since the Black Canyon powder days.While APP might be a little weaker than black it also weighs less per volume and lower pressure so just use a little more.I think most of the people who knock it either didn't give it a chance or follow directions.Lubes can cause problems and believe it or not a dry patch works great after the first shot.It does work in a properly working flintlock,but of course black is better.Super easy cleanup.TRY IT WITH AN OPEN MIND! You will be surprised.But you may need to change your routine a little.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Had a table at a local gun show last week end. Sold the bottle of American Pioneer 2F for $10 and was happy to be rid of it. Good profit in selling items I got for free! The 3F was usable, but the 2F was like kitty litter nasty stuff. Would not pour through my flask. Trying to shoot it up would have been just wasting lead.

 

[Spikebuck]

It apparently goes down in power as it sits so I am going to try the second half of the 3F later this year.

Run a chrono on it if you have one.

My chono results....54 caliber Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken, .530 round ball, wonderlube pre-lubed .015 cotton patch. 90 grains by volume 2F. 5-shot average.

APP - 1015 fps high of 1028 fps
777 - 1862 fps high of 1933 fps

I approached APP with a completely open mind. I loved the "slippery" aspect of it in that loading was a breeze. In my larger bores I did not have ignition issues with cap lock. I did have issues with consistent ignition with the 3F in my 32 and 36 caplocks.

In all, I consider it a VERY poor synthetic powder compared to both Pyrodex and 777. I still have a couple pounds of it sitting around. Won't even use it because, as Rat Trapper so aptly stated, it's a waste of good lead. :td: to APP.