Pyrodex or T7

[SDSmlf]

correct

I see you are in NYS, where I am originally from, and still have family and friends living there. For whatever reason, none of those family or friends seem to have any issues acquiring quantities of blackpowder. On a recent visit, a nephew that I had gifted a flintlock to a couple of years ago had a quite the quantity of blackpowder available for a shooting session. Guessing it comes down to a willingness to find and acquire blackpowder.

Back to your OP, you still haven’t told us what powder your range time indicated work best in particular gun(s). Just curious what your testing is telling you.

 

[Tumbledown]

no one near has it and im in ny

When I lived in NY, I bought 4 lbs of powder from Graf's, cost including shipping and hazmat was less than 3 lbs of T7 locally.

NY has tried to outlaw mail-order of cartridge ammo, but last I knew it was a toothless law with no means of implimenting or enforcing. Has that changed in the last 4 years?

 

[Rawhide67]

no one near has it and im in ny

I'm in NYS as well, 2.gunshops within 15 min of me and neither one wants to deal with BP regs.

I like T7 because it's easy to clean. However, my experience has been that once the can is opened, it will degrade. I try to use it within a few months of opening, and won't go from 1 hunting season to another from the same can.

Having said that, I'm sure there is someone ready to pontificate about how they opened a can of T7 in 1768 while drinking ale with Ben Franklin and it's still as good as ever. Just hasn't been my experience.

 

[Rawhide67]

When I lived in NY, I bought 4 lbs of powder from Graf's, cost including shipping and hazmat was less than 3 lbs of T7 locally.

NY has tried to outlaw mail-order of cartridge ammo, but last I knew it was a toothless law with no means of implimenting or enforcing. Has that changed in the last 4 years?

Most online retailers won't ship ammo to an individual in NY. bP can be shipped to an individual, but the hazmat fee can be a burden.

 

[stank]

T7 100%. I’m sure many use pyrodex with no problems or the company wouldn’t be making it. My personal experience is that it is very corrosive.

 

[deGheyn]

Hmm, I don't like either. My ML's and cap n balls get real black. I do use a substitute for my cartridges though. It is less corrosive than 777 or Pyro, and smells better too. I might have to see how it does in the cap n balls. Not sure how it would do in your rifle and carbine, but it's another option.

American Pioneer Powder

 

[longcruise]

Having said that, I'm sure there is someone ready to pontificate about how they opened a can of T7 in 1768 while drinking ale with Ben Franklin and it's still as good as ever.

Not quite that long but about 12 years. I acquired a near full container of t7 when a frustrated inliner left it on the bench and said it was junk. I opened it to look at it, screwed the cap back on and there it sat on the shelf for 12 years. I gave it to my son in law and two of his boys When they had no powder. They shot it all day in a match with percussion guns (a tc, a gpr, and a trad deerhunter). Zero misfires and good scores.

I had about a quarter pound of pyrodex select on the shelf for even longer than that and it fired jut fine in a tc percussion gun.

 

[longcruise]

Hmm, I don't like either. My ML's and cap n balls get real black. I do use a substitute for my cartridges though. It is less corrosive than 777 or Pyro, and smells better too. I might have to see how it does in the cap n balls. Not sure how it would do in your rifle and carbine, but it's another option.

American Pioneer Powder

I have never used that stuff cause I'm diabetic. Might try it if they would make it out of Splenda.

 

[dave951]

I have a renegade and a white mountain carbine both 50cal and shooting conicals....what powder do you prefer? not interested in black powder at this time

T7 unless you just hate your carbine

 

[Billy Boy]

I have a renegade and a white mountain carbine both 50cal and shooting conicals....what powder do you prefer? not interested in black powder at this time

I have used RS, P, and both grades of T7 for a long time in pistols, revolvers, and side hammer percussion rifles, 10, 12, and 20 ga shotguns for a long time now without any gripes re. performance or clean up.

 

[Sam squanch]

I have found opened cans of real black powder( even found a large keg of looked like real black blasting powder) in open sheds that were there for years and it still worked fine!

 

[Rawhide67]

I have found opened cans of real black powder( even found a large keg of looked like real black blasting powder) in open sheds that were there for years and it still worked fine!

Real BP is a different animal, So is smokeless, as far as opening a can, closing it and going back to it a year or 2 later. I can’t be the only one to experience this. I’ve also had similar problems with American Pioneer substitute. I don’t think that’s even available anymore

 

[Ditt44]

Back in early 2021 I couldn't find BP and the local shop had T7 2F so I bought a bottle for my .50 and .54 Renegades. I had never used it prior. I settled on 57.5 grains by weight and had good accuracy at 50 yards with both guns. No ignition issues with CCI or some old Remington caps.

 

[Nobade]

I have never used that stuff cause I'm diabetic. Might try it if they would make it out of Splenda.

It's OK for diabetics. It's not made from sugar, it is made from vitamin C.
I have been playing with making my own version of it here and it works fairly well, if a bit hygroscopic. Not quite as powerful as black powder but minimal fouling and makes great smoke.

As for Pyro or the T7, I'd follow the previous advise and get a bottle of each to see which performs better in the OP's own firearms. They both work and both have their own issues to overcome.

 

[longcruise]

It's OK for diabetics. It's not made from sugar, it is made from vitamin C.

It seems that Google is in agreement with you on the ingredients. I was sure it was another sucrose derivation. I'll have to check my Mad Monk archive.

 

[RGKSR]

I like T7 pellets in my rifles. I just purchased Blackhorn 209 and I like that too.

 

[BlackRock52]

Most online retailers won't ship ammo to an individual in NY. bP can be shipped to an individual, but the hazmat fee can be a burden.

 

[BlackRock52]

I watch and wait for those emails that tell me "No Hazmat for 24 Hours" tho sometimes they want a minimum order...

 

[smoothshooter]

It’s a fair question. Personally think there’s several possible reasons as to why not just BP?

Availability? Some areas of the country it’s near impossible to find, and if found sellers tend to inflate prices to an unreasonable degree. Yes, why not order on line and pay the ridiculous hazmat fees, shipping, and any other taxes seen or unseen?

Or maybe you can just go into any other sporting goods section of any retailer and buy the Substitute’s right off the shelf .

State laws and local ordinances have a lot to play in BP availability. Pro and Anti gun state legislation along with all the red tape varies per state.

Governmental requirements both Federal and State for proper storage requirements for both seller and consumer.

The list goes on and on my friend. Personally I use both BP and Substitute’s. I save my BP for shooting my flintlock’s and use my substitute’s for my percussion guns. Trying to keep well stocked up on both.

Respectfully, Cowboy

I have it delivered to my house.
Storage requirements don’t generally apply unless you have 50 pounds or more.
Making a flimsy powder magazine for home use is cheap and easy.
(Yes, you want it to be flimsy)

 

[Cowboy]

I have it delivered to my house.
Storage requirements don’t generally apply unless you have 50 pounds or more.
Making a flimsy powder magazine for home use is cheap and easy.
(Yes, you want it to be flimsy)

Depends on what state you’re in. If you reside in an anti gun state as I do it’s illegal to have that much power stored on your property. Some areas also have local ordinances banning delivery of BP to your residence.

Again, it depends on the state and some local municipalities within the state in question?

Believe me, I know!

Respectfully, Cowboy