Black powder or Pyrodex

[OldNo7]

If you use the pyrodex, be sure to clean as soon as possible. To be safe, clean your gun twice, and check the gun every day to check for rust for a week or two.

It's interesting you say that, as I'd used Pyrodex for years on my Old Army and never had an issue -- only when I used real BP did I have to watch it closely as you say.

Sadly, I haven't shot much of either lately................. (Must remedy that...)

Old No7

 

[Sam squanch]

I’ve shot pyrodex that was powerful, I’ve shot pyrodex that barely pushed the ball out of the barrel. I have found NO consistency in it at all. And that’s with new unopened jars. A neighbor was complaining his new 44 Remington was underpowered. I gave him some 4f. He was using pyrodex, he drove 100 miles to get more real black!

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I have a box full of Goex cans just waiting to be used.
I have 2 cans of 777 for the revolver. In a pinch Id use it in the flinter.
Had bad luck with pyrodex a few decades ago, dont use it.

 

[LME]

I’ve shot pyrodex that was powerful, I’ve shot pyrodex that barely pushed the ball out of the barrel. I have found NO consistency in it at all. And that’s with new unopened jars. A neighbor was complaining his new 44 Remington was underpowered. I gave him some 4f. He was using pyrodex, he drove 100 miles to get more real black!

You must be doing something wrong? I have never had a problem with Pyrodex. I had to use it it was all the stores around hers carried. I took many deer using it and accuracy couldn't be better.

 

[Bad Karma]

You must be doing something wrong? I have never had a problem with Pyrodex. I had to use it it was all the stores around hers carried. I took many deer using it and accuracy couldn't be better.

I used it for a while too, one of my TC rifles loved the stuff. I didn’t have ignition trouble in warmer temperatures but when it got around to winter hunting I began to notice misfires or failure to fire. A buddy suggested that the nipple wasn't allowing enough heat through from the cap so I reamed one out to .030” and began to get better results. The old Uncle Mikes nipples were .032” from the factory if I recall correctly and they worked well with Pyrodex. It’s a good powder although, since Swiss is so readily available I seldom use it anymore. Same thing applies to Triple 7 although it’s more lively even than Swiss so if that’s something you want or need…

 

[Horizontal Hunter]

One thing I can add to your search for the real BP is to check with the ML crowd at your range.

Every range I have belonged to has a dedicated ML group that runs the ML shoots and such and they order BP in bulk as a group buy to save on the hazmat and shipping fees.

Bob

 

[IanH]

There's definitely economy if buying online in larger quantities. For the occasional shooter that just needs a pound, and only pyrodex available in a local shop, I would not hesitate to buy it for a percussion gun.

To be fair, I prefer real black powder, but i'll burn whatever works that I have on hand.

Oh, come on. You know that voices of reason and practicality should never prevail here. "Only black powder or you're a pinko commie transgender liberal treehugger and probably drive a Prius".

My vote would be for Triple Seven powder if I had a percussion rifle and only needed a pound for sight in and fall hunt.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

I was in the good luck bad luck crowd with Pyrodex. Discovered some years ago that it is highly hydroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). The key is to buy the freshest manufacture date you can find and when storing it, vac seal it. Will keep stable for years like that.
If your rifle will digest it 777 and musket caps is a good combo, but musket caps can be hard to find these days and you have the same ordering expense with them as any powder.

 

[tx_basser]

I switched to Pyro over 20 years ago due to BP availability. Shoots just fine and I think cleans easier than BP.

 

[Wisconsin Relic]

Always use Pyrodex. Much cleaner than Black Powder. Cheaper and easier to clean also. And you will have better performance especially in Flintlocks.

Hmmm. Sounds suspect to me.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Hmmm. Sounds suspect to me.

 

[Sam squanch]

You must be doing something wrong? I have never had a problem with Pyrodex. I had to use it it was all the stores around hers carried. I took many deer using it and accuracy couldn't be better.

Now the unopened jars that I bought locally sat on the store shelf for 5 years according to the store owner. Maybe a flaw in the lid? I don’t know. If you have to use it, ok. But it’s not for me.

 

[Sam squanch]

One thing I can add to your search for the real BP is to check with the ML crowd at your range.

Every range I have belonged to has a dedicated ML group that runs the ML shoots and such and they order BP in bulk as a group buy to save on the hazmat and shipping fees.

Bob

I do that with co -workers ,we all shoot black powder. We chip in, and the case goes to the only single guys house for delivery, so we don’t have to explain anything to the wife…..

 

[William Lincoln]

Quality Black Powder is the Gold Standard. It lasts for
decades and has great reliability. Substitutes, are there
because of lighter regulations. My experience is that
Pyrodex stores longer than other substitutes and preserves
its punch longer. 20 year old Pyrodex does its thing.
Triple 7 is less stable, in my experience and degrades faster.
Keep containers tight and out of heat. Keep your powder dry.

 

[PastorB]

Been using Pyrodex in my percussion guns since 1977, my barrels look factory new. I do prefer Swiss Black Powder nowadays as I can readily obtain it. However, my preference is not based on logic or performance, as Pyrodex has never failed me, shoots as accurately and consistently, and in MY guns is cleaner on the range, and easier to clean back home. I got a bunch of 30+ year old jugs of Pyrodex that shoot very well every time I crack open a new one. I shoot extensively over a chronograph, and Pyro is more energetic than Goex, slightly more so than Swiss, and just as consistent as either. I have never understood the vitriol for Pyrodex.

 

[LME]

Been using Pyrodex in my percussion guns since 1977, my barrels look factory new. I do prefer Swiss Black Powder nowadays as I can readily obtain it. However, my preference is not based on logic or performance, as Pyrodex has never failed me, shoots as accurately and consistently, and in MY guns is cleaner on the range, and easier to clean back home. I got a bunch of 30+ year old jugs of Pyrodex that shoot very well every time I crack open a new one. I shoot extensively over a chronograph, and Pyro is more energetic than Goex, slightly more so than Swiss, and just as consistent as either. I have never understood the vitriol for Pyrodex.

I have had a similar experience. I had some in a powder horn that had been in there for ages . I am not sure how long but 10 or more years. I shot some of it last year and wasn't expecting much but it fired in my M.L. like it aways had? I also don't know why people say it will rust your barrel. cause you to miss what you aim at and all your children will be borne naked! LOL!

 

[Howard Pippin]

Hello All,
I‘ve learned black powder is unavailable here in the Green Bay Area of Wisconsin. Retailers only carry Pyrodex and a few have Triple 7. I have less than 1/2 lb. of Goex powder left and was hoping to buy a can for deer season. I do have a pound of unopened Pyrodex that was given to me, but I’ve never shot the stuff. If I resort to using it, what recommendations does anyone have that I should keep in mind? I’ve heard rumors about accuracy. Thanks for any help you can give.

Hi. Don't let them mess with your mind too much, pyrodex works good enough in a percussion not so good in black. Observe the same clean up as you would with black, there's no shortcuts, so when you get done shooting, go home, use lots of water, use some kind of oil and maybe reclean in about 3 days. You can cut off your nose to spite your face and spend $150 or try what you have and not worry about it. That's all we could buy when I started out back in the 60s with a friend, and we never had any trouble, you just have to remember to clean. If you are using R,s it's loads about the same as 2F black. P grade loads about the same as 3F black. As far as accuracy, you might wanna experiment a little, five grains up or five grains down, but it works just as good in what percussions I've been around.
Squint

 

[coupe]

Wisconsin Relic, last time I bought real black in Wis. was at a hardware store in Burlington. Quite a drive for you but if you know anybody down there they might pick some up as they pass through on the way north. (Burlington true value hardware). Went there before covid visiting people in Kenosha, have not been there lately so can’t tell if they still do. Look em up and give a call.
coupe

 

[LME]

Hi. Don't let them mess with your mind too much, pyrodex works good enough in a percussion not so good in black. Observe the same clean up as you would with black, there's no shortcuts, so when you get done shooting, go home, use lots of water, use some kind of oil and maybe reclean in about 3 days. You can cut off your nose to spite your face and spend $150 or try what you have and not worry about it. That's all we could buy when I started out back in the 60s with a friend, and we never had any trouble, you just have to remember to clean. If you are using R,s it's loads about the same as 2F black. P grade loads about the same as 3F black. As far as accuracy, you might wanna experiment a little, five grains up or five grains down, but it works just as good in what percussions I've been around.
Squint

I had the same problem as you in getting Black powder so I used Pyrodex RS. in my rifle. Black powder and Pyrodex needs cleaning out after shooting the rifle one time or a thousand. That said it cleans up just like black powder. As far as accuracy is concerned it is deadly accurate. As I have mention in past post I shot a three shot one oval hole at 100 yards using 80 grains of pyrodex and a .530 lead ball.This was with buck horns sights. I do believe some people put Pyrodex down because someone said it is no good. They are wrong. I have read a lot of your post on this forum and can tell you are well versed on the subject of M.L. rifles. The fact that you asked this question tells me how cautious you are. I have no reason to steer anyone wtong. I just stated fact.

 

[French Colonial]

Okay, I will say this one more time and then done.

Buy real black powder by the case (I bought two cases last time) and you can forget this silly nonsense. Black powder muzzleloading guns are meant for......wait for it......black powder!

I have never shot, in what, 50 years, any BP substitute or owned any.

I bought two cases of primers back many years ago and since I almost never shoot my one percussion rifle and only use them in the occasional shotgun (use flintlock smoothbores) they should last me the rest of my life.

I bought flints in bulk several years back as well but will occasionally pick up a couple more at shows etc. if I like the shape and the price is right.

If you are serious about this sport the price of the components is the cost of admission, bite the bullet and then you will not have to keep crying about you can not find this or that and the price went up.