Powder choice

[pinemarten]

Hello,
My only source (short of at least a 5 hour drive) is Gander Mountain for powder. I am going to be getting my first flintlock (more exciting news to come on that later...!!) I am preparing for the .50 caliber gun and getting an order together for supplies. Orders of real black powder from TOTW are 25 lbs!...so, cant do that. Here at Gander I went in to peek at their offerings. Found a single can of Pyrodex P (FFFG equiv) on the shelf (bought it since it was the only one left). They also had available American Pioneer Powder in FFFG and Triple Se7en in FFG. Any thoughts on those powders for charge and priming?

Thank you for any help and I will keep looking back through the archives to learn what I can...

Daniel

 

[jethro224]

With a flintlock ANY substitute powder is a poor choice. They just won't work very well, if they work at all. You need real blackpowder in the pan and at least some real blackpowder in the bore.
I doubt they will let you return what you bought but you can use it up if you put 10 or so grains of real black down your bore first and then top it off with the substitute powder.
You can order powder online... http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/3501

 

[Crewdawg445]

Don't mess with fake BP in a flinter... Do your gun and yourself a favor, suck it up and purchase the real deal. There are plenty of good powder suppliers that sell in 5, 10 and 25lb lots. Worth every penny over any BP substitute. The fake stuff can work... however it's not advised nor preferred at all in a flinter.

 

[MSW]

I have never used American Pioneer, so I can't comment on its adequacy ... perhaps others can chime in with some first- hand knowledge.

I did tinker with using pyrodex in flintlocks, but was unable to get it to ignite reliably without about ten or fifteen grains of black powder put in first as a 'kicker.' This was in a Thompson Center Renegade, which has a patent breech ... I would guess that fifteen grains would fill the narrower chamber to well past the flash hole.

I found this to be a big pain in the neck, so I lost interest in it and never did get around to working up a load for it.

I did have to use black powder in the pan: Pyrodex just won't ignite reliably, even when sparks fall right on it.

On balance, I would probably go ahead and buy a pound of the real black powder. at FFFg, you can probably use it for both main charge and prime. if you are forced to go with a substitute, you'll need it anyway for prime and kicker charge.

good luck with your project!

 

[Billnpatti]

Flintlock and any substitute = lots of frustration. :td:
Flintlock and real black powder = lots of fun. :thumbsup:

If you can't get real black powder, don't buy a flintlock. :shake: None of the substitutes will work in a flintlock.

And that's a fact!!

 

[azmntman]

I used to use 10 gr black and 60 pyrodex and had no issues at all. But it is a PIA so if yer gonna get enough black to "prime" for pyrodex just get more black!

 

[Crewdawg445]

Flintlock and any substitute = lots of frustration. :td:
Flintlock and real black powder = lots of fun. :thumbsup:

If you can't get real black powder, don't buy a flintlock. :shake: None of the substitutes will work in a flintlock.

And that's a fact!!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

Well said, and this topic is the exact reason so many people think flinters are renowned for their unreliability... WRONG!

 

[pinemarten]

....ugh...shoot! Ok...first places I looked required orders of a case (25 cans) as min order. Sounds like other places offer lower volume shipments. I will take sound advise and now I will always know what I didn't a half hour ago!

Thanks for all your help!

Dan

 

[Jim C]

No need to sell yourself short using fake BP. Jethro above gave you a link to the best online BP dealer out there, imo.....No minimum purchase limit, cheaper than most retailers, by far as opposed to some, and it's the same price no matter whether you buy one lb or the legal limit of 50 lbs. Order some up and make GOOD smoke.

 

[pinemarten]

...and, from what I seem to be picking up from doing a search, the Goex real stuff has a long shelf life making a big order a money saver in the long run.

Dan

 

[Jim C]

BP will last virtually forever as long as it's stored in a cool dry place.

 

[jethro224]

Order more than one pound. There is a Hazmat fee you will have to pay that is the same for one pound or 50 pounds.
I'm gonna guess you'll be shooting somewhere around 70 grains in your .50 flintlock. 1 pound equals 100 shots at 70 grains.

 

[pinemarten]

...got 5 lbs ordered! Hope i'll be around the house for the signature they require (wife is traveling for few days) since I work long days during the week. But, I am excited to have the real stuff! Thank you all for setting me straight...now what to do with this Pyrodex....

Daniel

 

[Kansas Jake]

Hang on to the Pyrodex because you have now been bitten by the BP bug and will probably end up with a cap & ball revolver or something else that you can use to burn it up.

 

[wpjson]

I found simply asking if they carry real black powder works. Often it is kept out of sight, in the back, locked in a safe, under a tarp. Sometimes the clerks are not aware of its existence.

 

[MSW]

I've never used Graf's, but I've never heard a bad word about them ... another thing you have probably already run across is the HazMat fee (insert anti- government tirade here ... hit "ctrl" + "B" for bad language... hit "ctrl" and "C" for cusswords)

 

[BigAl52]

Another place one might try is Powder Inc. They sell it also by smaller lots. Just FYI......Al

 

[SgtErv]

The real stuff is a different world. I found some near me by asking the manager of an archery shop that had limited firearms gear. It was in a safe as per regulation. It cost me about $22 for a pound, which is still fair to me considering I don't have to pay the whole hazmat fee. Pyrodex is nearly the same price but in no way similar. I had problems in percussion guns even with that stuff

 

[SgtErv]

Also, keep the Pyrodex you do have air tight. It goes bad if you don't, sucks moisture right into the granules and smells funky

 

[jethro224]

...now what to do with this Pyrodex....

Toss it on the blanket for a prize when you go to your first blanket shoot. Them capslappers will grab it up. :stir: