Priming powder for flintlock

[Celt5494]

In my opinion you are just setting yourself up for trouble using Pyrodex in your Flintlock. Besides further complicating things with figuring out what black to prime with. It will probably become very tiring and frustrating quickly. If it were me just stick to black for the main charge and the prime charge. 2f or 3f will work just fine and unless you are really putting some serious work in with that flintlock you probably will never notice the difference between the two.

 

[Flint1]

Back in 1991 when I bought my first flintlock I had been using Pyrodex P in my revolver and RS in my cap rifle. I called Hodgdon and talked with the guy who developed Pyrodex and asked him if I could use P as a priming powder in a flintlock (I believe he was later killed in an explosion at their plant). He told me not only could I not use the P as a priming powder, but I could not use RS as the main charge unless I used a small amount of real black powder as a starting charge with Pyrodex loaded on top. He said some people were trying that and it would burn a little cleaner. The reason he gave was that the Pyrodex had a higher flash point than real black and the flintlock generally was not hot enough to reliably ignite Pyrodex. That was from the guy who invented Pyrodex.

 

[J.D.]

IMHO, pyrodex is not good for any BP gun. Several friends experience with Pyrodex resulted in bad rust in the bores, even though they cleaned thoroughly and were maintained between shooting sessions. The rust went away shortly after switching to black powder.

 

[formernuke]

I've decided to use 2f powder instead of pyrodex, still wondering to use for the priming pan though.

 

[Bearkiller]

2f will work just fine in the pan. Just don't use a lot! It may take a little experimentation for the amount needed. Start small.

 

[kyron4]

I've decided to use 2f powder instead of pyrodex, still wondering to use for the priming pan though.

Any black powder will work in the pan. Tests have been done with high speed equipment and the difference is below human perception for 2F, 3F ,and 4F . 4F in a primer flask it what most use and it works well for that purpose, a pound of 4F will last longer than you.

After I got my flintlock finished all I had (or could get at the time) was 2F and it worked fine in the pan and as a main charge. I now use 3F as my main charge and 4F in the pan, unless I'm hunting then it's 3F in the pan as it's less effected by damp weather conditions.

Short anwser, as long as it's real black powder it will work as intended.