Pyrodex

[Bald Baron]

Say a muzzle loader shooter was using 75 grains of FFG-Goex. Shooting a round ball in a 1:60 barrel. If he runs out of Goex and has to purchase Pyrodex to use until he can find Goex, how many grains do you think would give him the same result? This shooter does not, can not purchase a case of Goex at one time. Are there different kinds of Pyrodex?

 

[musketman]

Pyrodex comes in different ways...
P, RS and Select.
Pyrodex also comes in Pellets form.

Example:
45cal. .440 r/b Pyrodex "P" 75 Gr. 1785 fps

Pyrodex is used on a volume to volume scale, use the same setting of your black powder measure.

75 grains of b/p, use 75 grains of Pyrodex P.

Pyrodex is suppose to yeld the same results as black powder.

I was told that flintlocks have a harder time shooting Pyrodex than caplocks.

Here's their link:
http://www.hodgdon.com/pyrodex/

 

[roundball]

FYI...Need to clarify the comment about:
"75grns BP = 75grns of Pyrodex P"

The question was comparing FFg to Pyrodex, so the example should be 75grns of FFg equivalent which would be Pyrodex RS or Select, but not "P".

Pyrodex "P" is the FFFg equivalent...faster and has higher pressure than RS or Select

 

[musketman]

Thanks ROUNDBALL:
My use with pyrodex is limited.

 

[Zonie]

In my percussion guns I have loaded the same volumn of FFg and Pyrodex RS and find little if any difference in the point of impact. That is to say, the group size and location on the target was about the same. The only time I have had ignition problems with Pyrodex is when I used some caps which are at least 20 years old. With new caps, no problem.

Pyrodex doesn't work well at all for me when used in my Flintlocks. It usually takes at least 3 panloads of FFFFg before the main charge goes off. (With Blackpowder the ignition rate in the same gun is about 95% so it's not the gun or my loading methods).

I have read that the ignition point for Pyrodex is about 100 degrees hotter than Blackpowder so that could easily explain the flintlocks dislike of it.

With blackpowder I usually get about 6 shots before I need to clean the bore with a damp patch and a dry one. With Pyrodex I can shoot for over 2 hours without wiping the bore once.

No, I don't work for or own stock in Hodgdon. In fact, in my humble opnion (IMHO) their Select isn't as consistant as the RS so I don't know why they charge more for it.
Good Shootin'

 

[roundball]

Yes, that's it...pyrodex has a much higher ignition temperature than black powder, which is why black powder is rated & regulated as an
"explosive" and pyrodex is rated only as a propellent...also why pyrodex is so unreliable in flintlocks as it requires a hotter flame to ignite it...works great in percussions.
And I reached the same conclusions regarding RS and Select...couldn't see enough benefit to make it worth the price difference.
PS: If you try Goex FFFg in your flintlock, and use natural lube 1000 prelubed wonderwads and/or patches, you might end up switching as I did and use Goex FFFg in everything...you can shoot it all day without wiping the bore because of the benefits of the natural lube 1000 interacting with the black powder.

 

[tg]

I would suspect that there are some ML groups/clubs/events in your area and some real BP might be available through a club or benevolent member of a club, most folks in this sport will go out of their way to help a fellow shooter come up with things they need.Seldom does one really HAVE to resort to Pyrodex or any of the other fake powders if a little effort is put forth, these web forums are a great way to hook up with shooters in any given area.

 

[Zonie]

I agree with you TG that if you look long enough you can find it but a lot of the dealers in my area don't want to handle BP because it takes a special "Explosives" license. It also jacks up their insurance rates.
Because Pyrodex is not an explosive but a combustable like smokeless they don't have those problems.
I'm lucky because the NMLRA holds it's match here so when it's here I stock up to the max Federal limit on BP.

 

[musketman]

What is odd about my area, the gun shops do not carry black powder, but the bait and tackle shop does...

Go figure?

 

[AdirondakDD]

Just to point out the obvious

Pyrodex P = pistol
Pyrodex RS = rifle, shotgun
Pyrodex Select = RS and you have too much extra money to spend

 

[Stumpkiller]

One caution. Use the equivalent VOLUME of Pyrodex, not the same grain weight. A 75 gr. measure of FFg would not hold 75 gr. of Pyrodex (75 gr. of FFg occupies the same volume as about 60 gr. of RS Pyrodex). The good news is that Pyrodex is formulated by design to give the proper oomph for the same VOLUME of black powder so you can use the same powder measure.

Never touch the stuff myself. But it is getting impossible to buy black powder in this region. I have to drive out-of-state to get mine.