Pyrodex in Matchlock

[Jay Templin]

So a little while back, the question had come up on one of the boards here: “can you shoot Pyrodex in a Matchlock?” And for all that there were a lot of opinions about it, it didn’t seem like there was a lot in the way of experience-based information. I’ve been shooting black powder for over 30 years, but had never fired any Pyrodex. So I acquired a can from a friend and this morning I set out to see…
This first one is a flash-in-the-pan. Probably my fault- I grabbed a dirty musket, scraped the bore, but didn’t pick out the touch hole. I will say, I was surprised at how long the match sat in the pan before the stuff ignited.
And when it went, it halfway snuffed the match.
Jay

 

[Nobody85]

It seems like a hot ember would touch it off no problem, but I’ve never shot any matchlocks before. I think your video answers your question though.

 

[Jay Templin]

Got it to go on the second try. Still surprised and disappointed by the speed of ignition.
CAN you use Pyrodex in a Matchlock? Evidently. Is it a good idea? Maybe not. I’m certainly in no hurry to try it again. That stuff doesn’t even smell right!

Jay

 

[Jay Templin]

It seems like a hot ember would touch it off no problem, but I’ve never shot any matchlocks before. I think your video answers your question though.

Yeah, I was surprised- I had used a piece of match to light a pile on the table one time and it seemed to work okay. Still slow.
Jay

 

[jrell5678]

I find this matchlock stuff fascinating. Is this the kind of weapon the Pilgrims used in 1620, or were flintlocks around by then?

 

[russellshaffer]

About the Pyrodex - was it the fine P or the coarser RS?

 

[Jay Templin]

About the Pyrodex - was it the fine P or the coarser RS?

RS - it’s closer to the 2F that I usually use. And it’s what I had.
Jay

 

[Jay Templin]

I find this matchlock stuff fascinating. Is this the kind of weapon the Pilgrims used in 1620, or were flintlocks around by then?

The true flintlock shows up ca. 1615, but matchlocks continued to be used for decades because they were cheap and reliable. Here in Virginia, snaphaunces became super popular with civilians in the mid 1620s.
Jay

 

[PathfinderNC]

Use BlackPowder. I thought most people knew the ignition challenges of Pyrodex in pan-ignition systems by now…
Beautiful gun by the way.

 

[Jay Templin]

Use BlackPowder. I thought most people knew the ignition challenges of Pyrodex in pan-ignition systems by now…
Beautiful gun by the way.

As I mentioned above, this was an experiment based on the fact that another thread clearly indicated that people were curious about the possibility of using the P stuff in a matchlock. I also pointed out up there that this was my first- and likely LAST- experience with replica powder. I’m a flintlock boy at heart, and never even considered trying this stuff except here, in the interest of science.
Jay

 

[PathfinderNC]

As I mentioned above, this was an experiment based on the fact that another thread clearly indicated that people were curious about the possibility of using the P stuff in a matchlock. I also pointed out up there that this was my first- and likely LAST- experience with replica powder. I’m a flintlock boy at heart, and never even considered trying this stuff except here, in the interest of science.
Jay

My comment wasn't directed at you. It was a statement in general, in the interest of needless redundancy

 

[Jay Templin]

My comment wasn't directed at you. It was a statement in general, in the interest of needless redundancy

Did you clear it with the Department of Redundancy Department?

 

[cynthialee]

I suspect if you used a duplex load with some BP in the pan you would get that pyrodex to ignite much faster.

Was my immediate thought when I saw the post headline. And as I suspected, you saw delayed ignition.
When we do a duplex with the lions share of the charge as pyrodex, flintlock guns have no issue with the stuff. No reason the same won't hold true with a matchlock.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Like a friend said, Pyrodex burns like a garden fire!

 

[toot]

So a little while back, the question had come up on one of the boards here: “can you shoot Pyrodex in a Matchlock?” And for all that there were a lot of opinions about it, it didn’t seem like there was a lot in the way of experience-based information. I’ve been shooting black powder for over 30 years, but had never fired any Pyrodex. So I acquired a can from a friend and this morning I set out to see…
This first one is a flash-in-the-pan. Probably my fault- I grabbed a dirty musket, scraped the bore, but didn’t pick out the touch hole. I will say, I was surprised at how long the match sat in the pan before the stuff ignited.
And when it went, it halfway snuffed the match.
Jay
View attachment 157649

I did not see the main / barrel charge ignite? what happened with that?

 

[russellshaffer]

The second video shows the main charge firing. There is some delay, about the same as with some serpentine powder I aquired.

 

[rickystl]

Thanks for the test results.

Yes, good looking gun !!!

Rick

 

[Jay Templin]

Thanks for the test results.

Yes, good looking gun !!!

Rick

She’s a .58 caliber Dale Shinn copy of a 1580s Dutch caliver shown in deGehyn’s manual of arms. I was issued that gun when I started working on James Fort in 2003. The museum bought her brand new in 1985.
Jay

 

[stephenprops1]

I find this matchlock stuff fascinating. Is this the kind of weapon the Pilgrims used in 1620, or were flintlocks around by then?

Flintlocks were not out in 1620 era, but they came out sometime later in the 1600's. The Pilgrims did use Matchlocks.

 

[JeffG]

Beautiful gun. I use non-black powder that people give me because it won't work in their guns. I shoot it in my cannons; it's hard to deny a hot fuse.