Range report.........

[Little Wattsy]

Well after much deliberation I had ordered some "Holy Black" KIK FFFG to be exact and wanted to go test it at the range. I also had been convinced to weigh and sort my RB's and wanted to try some at the various weights that mt LEE was throwing (cool .535 mold = 230 to 231.5 ~ Hot .535 mold = 231.5 to 233).

My constanats were a 32" .54 cal 1 in 60 twist T/C RB barrel, CCI #11 Mag caps, and .018 T/C prelubed patches. I wiped one side of one patch in-between each shot to try and create a consistant bore. This is my "hunting gun" and is sighted in with 90grns of Pyro RS, .535 home made RB, .018 prelubed patch. 1" high at 25 yards ~ 2.5" high at 50 yard ~ 1" low at 100 yards. avg 3" grps at 100 yrds per my shooting ability with open sights.

I started with the KIK FFFG useing the same 90 grain measure. I noted that the ignition was just as instintanious as it is with the Pyro. The recoil felt a tad lighter. I was able to duplicate group sizes (sub-1" at 25 yrds ~ 1.5" at 50 yards ~ 3" at 100 yards) POI, however, was about 1" lower all around compared to the Pyro RS. My non-scientific personal observation was that the FFFG was NOT producing quite the muzzle-velocity that the RS was but not terribly far off.

Second observation on the KIK was that although it was about the same "dirty wise" the fowling seemed a tad crustier in the barrel vs a softer fowling with the RS (admittedly no load was "worked up" AKA: "optimal load" with the KIK but again the grouping was almost ragged hole at 25 yards, 1.5" at 50 yrds)

Then I shot the lighter vs the heavier balls...With either the KIK or the Pyro the POI was no more then 1" differant at 100 yrds and imperceptible at 50 yrds or less (again this based on my shooting ability with open sights)

My conclusion: At the end of the day "Holy Black" vs Pyrodex I would buy and use which ever is cheaper and take into account that there are more shots per pound with Pyro. I also conclude that for hunting purposes a 3 grain spread in a .535 RB was negligable. I am SURE that a compitition paper puncher would disagree but the dead deer wont.

AND....This is how I justify misplacing 4 hours of the work day today. :grin:

 

[Semisane]

AND....This is how I justify misplacing 4 hours of the work day today.

Not misplaced Wattsy, spent - and spent wisely.

Good report.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I never tried KIK powder.

Sounds like a fun day, with great repeatable results :thumbsup: .

Thanks for sharing.

Dave

 

[ebiggs1]

That is exactly what I have seen. Folks try to make muzzle loading much more difficult than it has to be. It is really quite simple. I don’t shoot black powder in my cap locks anymore at all. Good report.

 

[arcticap]

Good for you that you took the plunge and tried out the KIK powder and it worked out just fine.
I wonder how well a mixed loading of black powder and Pyrodex would shoot?
Since you're shooting the KIK anyway it might be worth trying it out as an experiment just for fun. Maybe some positive benefit or at least some first hand information would result.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

According to the reports I read, the substitute powders are almost all a bit "hotter" than black, some as much as 20%. As for Pyrodex, my experience is that it is more corrosive than Goex. In a caplock, there is less necessity for black. Although some folks have reported less consistency from shot to shot with some of the substitutes. A lot of folks like Pyrodex. It is easier to ship and doesn't require the same powder storage requirements as black so some stores like to peddle it. It has been 26 yrs since I tried it. Shot consistency was ok with Pyrodex. I was doing alot of traveling to matches, as far as two hundred miles. With black, I could soak the barrel with a WW2 US surplus bore cleaner, travel home and clean the gun the next day with no ill effects. Not so with Pyrodex, the gun would rust up terrible overnight. If I cleaned the gun immediately after the range session, it made no difference. It is just simply alot easier to swab the barrel good with bore cleaner and clean it at home in the shop.

 

[Kentuckywindage]

ive left rifles loaded (fouled) for 2 weeks with no rust/corrosion problems with Pyrodex. :idunno:

 

[BrownBear]

I think you have to distinguish between "loaded" and "fouled." I've left unfired rifles loaded with Pyro for a couple months without a spec of rust. Unfired Pyro is just not a rusting agent in my experience. But the residue from firing (fouling) is nasty beyond nasty. I left one overnight without cleaning and it was gory the next morning. May have something to do with my wet climate, but I'll never leave a dirty gun till the next day for cleaning. Less rust with BP left overnight, but I won't leave them overnight either.

I have no issues with Pyro and I don't feel like a sinner when I use it. But I HAVE learned how to use it and what to expect from it.

 

[hardtimes]

Sounds like you had a good day at the range.

Thanks to all for some good information on the Pyrodex.