I was running low on Pyrodex and decided to make a jump to Triple 7. Mostly to try something new. Had used Pyrodex for years, nothing else. This is out of two caplock rifles. I have to say, the Triple 7 is cleaner shooting in my two guns. Cleanup is faster, and I feel like I got the barrel cleaned out quicker and better.
What do others think ? And in fact, if you know of a BP substitute that you like, tell a little about it. Thanks to all.
I use 777 for hunting because in Colorado I was sometimes hunting in a snowstorm and wouldn't have time for cleanup for a few hours if I put something down.
I tried Pyrodex for a while and it took finding rust in my barrels when I didn't have that problem with real black powder and then taking 2 rifles to the range, shooting both and cleaning and oiling both and finding rust in the pyrodex barrel, switching and shooting black and P stuff in the oposite guns and finding rust in the one with P stuff again and not in the one shot with black again.
I won't tell a person not to use Pyrodex but I will tell them that real black or 777 work better and do not leave rusty barrels if cleaned properly and oiled.
Pyrodex will rust your guns and takes more cleaning than black.
I cut my muzzleloader teeth on pyrodex and shot it for many years. 777 came around and it seemed to be a little cleaner. Started using real black powder about 2 years ago and I don't think I will ever go back to substitutes unless i have to because of availability.
I`ve used pyrodex , but prefer bp , have`nt tried 777. I`ve never had the rust problem , no idea why , maybe something I do different ? I do clean my guns within ten minutes of use ! other than that , just the usual cleaning ! [hmm]
My only experience with Pyrodex was trying it out in a couple of revolvers. I ended up pouring all three "gifted" cans out in the backyard. I'm a looong time exclusively black powder user. If I couldn't use real black I'd buy 777 based on what I heard from other shooters.
for me the main problem with pyrodex is the fact that it`s useless in flintlocks ! from what I`ve read, none of the substitutes work in flintlocks !
All i had ever used was Pyrodex, before the change to 777, simply because its what i found available at the time i started, then kept using it. This was in the mid '80s I'd guess.
Did also find had to get that barrel very clean or would have the barrel rust problem pretty fast; was afraid to leave it uncleaned overnight due to that. You learn as you go.
Lots of good experiences and advice shared here on forum.
The only phony powder I ever use is Blackhorn 209. It needs a 209 primer to ignite it but is about as clean as smokeless powder. I have shot my caplock with it (using a Magspark nipple replacement) reloaded, and let the gun stand uncleaned for over a year. There was no pitting or rusting of the bore.
Black powder has only 70% of the power of Blackhorn 209 so 70 gr. of Blackhorn is equal in force to 100 gr. of black powder.
Just saw some of that Blackhorn in my local Bass pro/ Cabales today. They think the stuff is gold! 64.99 for 10 oz. (susp). I can't believe how that place is price gouging these days.
Quote from: Cherrybow1 on December 30, 2021, 12:40:36 AM
Just saw some of that Blackhorn in my local Bass pro/ Cabales today. They think the stuff is gold! 64.99 for 10 oz. (susp). I can't believe how that place is price gouging these days.
looked it up ,its doubled in price in just seven years ! as I see it , that`s just greed ! they know you want/ need it so they figure you`ll pay what they`re asking !
Yet Wally World sells it for 36.95 when you can find it in stock.
If all I had to shoot were percussions then I'd use whatever I could find/afford. BUT, I shoot flintlocks virtually to the exclusion of EVERYTHING else. So my only choice is real BP. Most all these type problems are more or less just the "afterglow" of the pandemic. hntr
Quote from: Cherrybow1 on December 30, 2021, 03:34:51 PM
Yet Wally World sells it for 36.95 when you can find it in stock.
like I said , it`s just greed !
Quote from: Hanshi on December 30, 2021, 06:59:06 PM
If all I had to shoot were percussions then I'd use whatever I could find/afford. BUT, I shoot flintlocks virtually to the exclusion of EVERYTHING else. So my only choice is real BP. Most all these type problems are more or less just the "afterglow" of the pandemic. hntr
yeah ! black is it for flinters and at the moment I have two of them , so gotta have the black ! and I hope you are right about the "pandemic" being the cause , but I fear it`s much more than that !
I'm afraid this selling problem will linger a while, beowulf, but I hope we can tamp this down before long. The supply chain business can't last forever, at least I hope it doesn't. Inflation, just like greed, tends toward permanent or at least chronic status.
The supply chain has been living on borrowed time since manufacturers drank the koolaide and bought into "just in time" inventory philosophy to reduce their investment. Inventory minimalization has certainly created a lot of weak links in the supply chain. One fumble, and many processes grind to a screeching halt ....... just as we have observed. I don't foresee a quick fix for that mess.
hope you are right ! but I dont see things getting better any time soon , there are morons in congress that want the same rules applied to muzzle loading firearms that are applied to modern , this stupidity is of course an import from europe . there are countries that not require registration , a full background check , and you have to provide a reason for owning one ! and some of our congressional control freaks have been pushing for the same thing here !....you know ! ...to fight crime ! ucrzy
But you can bet they get to have THEIR guns!