powder?

[Blizzard of '93]

I haven't had much luck with Pyro in my cap lock rifles, but it does well in my revolvers. seems it's more difficult to clean im rifles also. leaves a bad crud ring near the breech area. I've used Graf's BP lately, does well.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Ah Mike, you seem to have struck a nerve with all of us. The real truth is all of the powders, black and substitute are corrosive. The difference between them is fouling and there the substitutes have a slight advantage. The advantage to black powder is more reliable ignition. The substitutes can give even percussion rifles hangfires and reliability issues. Substitute powders simply do not work in a flint lock. You can however find combinations of black powders and lubricants that minimize the fouling. You can also wipe the bore between shots with a damp patch. In all cases you have to spend that half hour to 45 minutes to clean and lubricate your gun.

 

[Wink]

If it were not for Goex Black Powder I might have given up on using a muzzleloder as a hunting weapon. When using pyrodex I continually faced igniton problems in one way shape or form. Now with Goex FFF Black powder I have the confidence that when I pull the trigger it will go off.

 

[J.D.]

Go to the "Articles - Charts - Links" section of the fourum. Click on "links," then "powder" for a pretty comprehensive list of blackpowder suppliers and suppliers of the subs.

I tried pyrodex shortly after is first came out, years ago. My groups went from about a coupla inches at 50 yards, off the bench, to barely staying on the paper. I could never get any accuracy with Pyrodex, so I went back to black and never looked back.

Some folks get decent accuracy with the subs, and ya gotta shoot what is available, however, I would try real black powder for a comparison to whatever is readily available in your area.

There are several suppliers who will ship less than five pounds of powder, so read through their sites, listed in the links section, to see what they offer.

IMHO, all of the black powders offered today are good. And you may find the price of black less expenisve than the subs...or may not, depending on what quantity you buy.

Good luck
J.D.

 

[Poor Private]

In my pistols I use 777, It seems to not gum up as bad. When using "real" Bp the cylinder gets hard to turn after a couple of full cylinder loads, and will stay free for a long period of time using the 777. Now in my long arms I stick with the real deal.

 

[jethro224]

Black is corrosive and dirty. So are the subs.
The clerk was just reciting what he read in the literature from the companies who make the subs.

My personal experience with Pyro was unreliable ignition in 2 different caplocks and every bit as dirty and corrosive as black.
Elephant black was more dirty than Pyro but ignition was better.
Goex black is my choice now. Lights up almost every time. Have had a few missfires in my flintlock, but not many and probly more my fault than the gun or powder... Clean up is easy, fouling is not too bad.
I have a pound of Swiss that I mean to try out soon.

Graf's will ship 4 pounds of black to your door. They pay the shipping but you pay the Haz-Mat fee. (Unless things have changed...)

Try some. You'll like it.

 

[bart_anastasi]

Thanks alot. Hey Bart is thier a store by you that sells black powder?

yes but not to close.

I would give them a call and get their price before I took the trip
Nice store nice folks

Fur Fin and Feather 845 439 4476
DeBruce Road, Livingston Manor NY 12758