Adui said:
I dont own a flinter yet, so take this for what its worth. While I have used Pyrodex almost universally for my caplocks, I have looked at the flashpoint numbers. Pyrodex ignites at a much higher temperature than real black. I dont think Pyrodex would be less reliable in ignition based upon that alone..
I'm reading between the lines here but based on the context of the sentence I'm sure you meant to say,
"Pyrodex ignites at a much higher temperature than real black. I think Pyrodex would be less reliable in ignition based upon that alone..".
Notice that the word "dont" was removed.
I'll add to this, Pyrodex burns much like smokeless powder does when it is out in the open.
It's only when it is confined inside the barrel that it burns rapidly and delivers any real power.
For those who haven't tried this, if you pour a small pile of Pyrodex out on a flat surface and hold a lit match to it, it goes, "swisssssssssh" as a cloud of smoke rises from it.
If you do the same thing with a equal pile of black powder, when it ignites it goes
POOF!.
The uncontained black powder actually explodes in a flash.
That flash and explosion drives the flame thru the touch hole and ignites the main powder charge.
The Pyrodex "swisssssssssssh" develops heat but without the force of the small explosion there is nothing to drive the heat thru the vent hole to ignite the main powder charge.
I suppose if there was enough Pyrodex in the pan to fill up the vent hole it could become a fuse and eventually light the main powder charge but that's no way to run a railroad, ah says.
