So what is the big difference between using actual BP and pellets?

[RAM117]

my local sportsman stores are ALWAYS sold out of regular BP or dont have it, and they always have pellets, and to be honest i really dont mind, but wat is the major diff bewteen the two? why do some people steer away from pellets other then wanting to be a 'traditionalist' and does it have an overall negative effect on ur firearm?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Lawyers! The real stuff is classified as an explosive has specific storage, permit and liability insurance requirements. They have made it so expensive to sell these days that nobody in NYS carries it anymore. I have to order from out of state and pay HAZMAT.

 

[biliff]

Never tried 'em, but my guess is they would be problematic in a side lock. Given a patent breech, the pellet would be a long way down an empty flash channel from the cap, which is an invitation for misfires. That and what do you do if your rifle likes 80 grains of powder and doesn't shoot for beans with 50 or 100? That and they seem pretty pricey compared to loose powder. Reading the package description, they seem to be more for the unmentionables with 209 primers.

 

[TFoley]

I have only seen one type of pellet, and that is made of compressed substitute propellant. There is a small central core of BP to aid ignition. In every flintlock or percussion firearm of traditional design, there is no way that the flash of the priming or the percussion cap can directly impinge on that easy-to-light-up BP core. Only a direct flame from the rear of the breech can do that.

And we all know the only kind of firearm CAN do that, right?

 

[Carbon 6]

but wat is the major diff bewteen the two?

The major difference is that pellets are designed for use by those who don't know the difference.

 

[Gene L]

I don't know from use, but an advantage of BP over pellets is you can tailor your load with BP and you can't with a pellet. It's a fixed charge and you're not supposed to cut it to reduce the charge. For working up a load, Pyrodex with all its faults, is probably more adaptable than pellets.

 

[trent/OH]

I have only seen one type of pellet, and that is made of compressed substitute propellant. There is a small central core of BP to aid ignition. In every flintlock or percussion firearm of traditional design, there is no way that the flash of the priming or the percussion cap can directly impinge on that easy-to-light-up BP core. Only a direct flame from the rear of the breech can do that.

And we all know the only kind of firearm CAN do that, right?

Actually, I own two handguns where the flash could theoretically get to that theoretical bit of BP in the core of the pellet. One is a revolver (no surprise there), and the other is a Pedersoli Kentucky pistol. It doesn't have a flint breech, instead the flash goes through the vent, to the middle of the bore, then turns right angle into the bore. Something like a patent breech, but I don't know if it's entirely the same.
That doesn't mean that I'm ever going to try pellets, unless I feel the need for more aggravation in my life. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they have an irregular burn rate. That supposed irregularity probably evens itself out in a long barrel, but in a pistol's short barrel, it would be evident.

 

[Carbon 6]

A right angle vent turn results in about a 50% drop in cap velocity. Pellets like pyrodex and 777 have a black powder igniter coating at the base to help with ignition.
The single biggest reason not to use pellets is cost. They are stupidly expensive. I calculate a per shot cost on everything I shoot.

 

[drobs]

Biggest difference is price. Pellets are sold to people that don't know better or haven't done the math.

If you're shooting a C&B revolver with Pyrodex pellets, which are 30gr pellets, you're looking at about $20 a tub of 100. $0.20 / pellet

A pound of powder has 7000gr in it. I use a 30gr load of loose powder in my Pietta 1858 & 1860.
7000/30 = 233 shots. I'm paying $20 for a pound of Graf's FFFg powder at my not so local gunshop.
$20/233 = $0.08 per charge.

Right now the cheapest substitute powder out there is Alliant Black MZ from Sportsman's warehouse @ $9.99 a pound.
Access this link through internet explorer:
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...lliant-black-mz-muzzleloader-powder/p/1318670

Using Black MZ my cost per charge is $0.04

Using loose powder I can also reduce my powder charge reducing my price per charge & increase the numbers of shots I can get out of a pound of powder. I can also increase my powder charge.

 

[drobs]

Pellets are good for new shooters. They simplify the loading process and make charging a revolver or percussion rifle a smidge faster.
I started with them and still have a tub floating around the house.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Differences:

1. Pellets are more expensive.
2. Pellets are fixed quantity of propellant.
3. Performance of pellet loads (velocity from shot to shot) is variable, more so than with measured powders.
4. Choice of propellant is limited to Pyrodex. You have many choices of propellant if you use granulated powders.
5. Loads can be adjusted for best performance with granulated powders.
6. Pellets are more difficult to ignite with percussion caps and next to impossible in a flint lock.

 

[Elkeater]

I don't know why; Colorado does not allow pellets in ML season.

 

[Carbon 6]

Differences:

1. Pellets are more expensive.
2. Pellets are fixed quantity of propellant.
3. Performance of pellet loads (velocity from shot to shot) is variable, more so than with measured powders.
4. Choice of propellant is limited to Pyrodex. You have many choices of propellant if you use granulated powders.
5. Loads can be adjusted for best performance with granulated powders.
6. Pellets are more difficult to ignite with percussion caps and next to impossible in a flint lock.

7. Pellets come in only a couple calibers.
8. pellets are subject to damage.

 

[GreenMtnHunter]

Years ago, I bought a slightly used ML from someone who sold it 'cuz "It wouldn't hit the broad side of barn..." Then he tried to sell me his pellets/bullet packs... I laughed and said, "nope, no thanks; I'm actually gonna hit the target I'm aiming for.." Even if someone made a 115 grn pellet, I don't think I'd try it. If it had been a buddy, or even a friend of a friend, I'da showed him how to shoot it....

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Differences:

1. Pellets are more expensive.
2. Pellets are fixed quantity of propellant.
3. Performance of pellet loads (velocity from shot to shot) is variable, more so than with measured powders.
4. Choice of propellant is limited to Pyrodex. You have many choices of propellant if you use granulated powders.
5. Loads can be adjusted for best performance with granulated powders.
6. Pellets are more difficult to ignite with percussion caps and next to impossible in a flint lock.

7. Pellets come in only a couple calibers.
8. pellets are subject to damage.

Therefore:

9. Pellets are a gimmick.

LD

 

[hawkeye2]

"9. Pellets are a gimmick. "

:thumbs up: That sums it all up!

 

[Carbon 6]

Therefore:

9. Pellets are a gimmick.

LD

10. IMO, they dumb down the process to the point of being stupid, and IMO, stupid and firearms don't mix well. Convenience is not a substitute for knowing proper methods.

11. Pellets are primarily intended and designed for inline ignition systems, (with exception of revolvers), guns designed for using pellets use 209 primers and have larger flash hole openings, this means that loose powder of 2ff size or smaller can be problematic in the guns because the powder can flow through the flash hole and fill the primer pocket or action with powder. This can result in a face full of blow back when the gun is fired, or worse.

12. Binders added to pellets to maintain form can result in harder fouling.

 

[Rat]

Perhaps the difference is 20 points on the intelligence scale.

 

[Melnic]

I think all the "why nots" are covered.

I know its the way of this forum but don't confuse those who don't want to learn the ways of traditional black powder with intelligence. I know plenty of people who are "smart" but just not interested in Traditional BP ways. (unless they are there to shoot my guns and use my stuff). That's fine, they are still brothers in arms as far as I am concerned. Traditional BP is a bit of an Esoteric part of my range I attend. I can agree that Pellets "dumbs down" or "simplifies" the process and people who shoot muzzle loading "unmentionables" often go with Pellets cause they have less items to buy or think about and are FINE with the accuracy it achieves for their purpose. Most often it is hunters who may buy one box of pellets all season (or several seasons). That was the target market for Pellets. For the pistol pellets, I think its the "occasional" or starter shooter they target.

Upon my initial dive into traditional Sidelocks, all I could find was sub powders and had a heck of a time with ignition mostly due to my cleaning. Once I got the cleaning better, I still had delays in the ignition.

RAM, are you successful in getting pellets to work in your sidelock? what do you have and what is the breech design?

 

[Carbon 6]

The additional cost of pellets easily pays for a flask and measure. likely within the first pound of powder.

And, I wasn't referring to intelligence. "stupid" refers to an action, and applies to all intelligence levels.