old bp subs

[topbreak]

Now I know a lot of you guys are Black Powder purists and the word Pyrodex sends shivers up your spine but I have a question. I shoot a lot of the subs because its available locally and I want to save my real black for specific uses or specific guns. When I have a period of time when I am not shooting much I have found that my subs lose a good deal of their umph. Rather than just burn it up in a silly smoke show I was going to keep it and use it for plinking with my single shot pistols. Power wouldn't be my first concern beyond having enough of it to get the ball down range. What do you guys who shoot subs do with your old weakened subs?

Don

[Cherrybow1]

I didn't think the subs lost its umph over time. This would be interesting to know.

[topbreak]

I have done a lot of shooting over chronographs over the years especially with my revolvers and have noted a drop off in performance over time. I think storage methods effect this decline in performance. Storing subs in powder horns or flasks seem to cause a more rapid decline in performance for reasons unknown to me. Stored in original containers subs seem to decline more slowly.

Don

[Patocazador]

If you have a garden, it makes good fertilizer. Collard greens taste better when grown with it.
That's how I got rid of my Pyrocrap.

[Hanshi]

Other than testing some Pyrodex years ago I have no experience with it.  The stuff I used was given to me and had been around for quite some time.  Also it likely wasn't stored the best.  Performance was rather dismal, though.  My understanding is that unlike BP Pyrodex, and maybe other subs, is more sensitive to how it is stored and also doesn't age well like black.  If you got it, use it.

[beowulf]

seldom use the stuff , but was given a pound of it and have used it off and on since , 20 years old and still works like it did when new !

[hotfxr]

Absolutely hate it. Not allowed in any of my firearms, ever. Highly corrosive and you're right, it does lose potency with age (like Hanshi) due to it's tendency to absorb water faster than real black powder.






Sorry about the dig there Mi hermano mayor, couldn't help myself. 

[flintboomer]

I do use 777 when hunting, but I stopped using that P stuff years ago when I realized that it was the reason I was finding rust in my barrels that I never had when I was using real black powder.
I did some genuine testing with both and stopped using the P stuff. I still have 2 unopened cans in case of emergency but I hope I never need to use them.

[DandJofAZ]

   I've got some old "P" stuff that I've tried to give away at shoots... Nobody wants it.  777 worked good in my 58 with no extra rust..  Even use Neosporin as lube and grease on hunt in an emergency.  Worked good even in the rain with the lucky 7's.  Us only real BP now and hope to for all eternity or as long as I live.
Doug

[Hanshi]

Absolutely hate it. Not allowed in any of my firearms, ever. Highly corrosive and you're right, it does lose potency with age (like Hanshi) due to it's tendency to absorb water faster than real black powder.






Sorry about the dig there Mi hermano mayor, couldn't help myself. 

I've never been so insulated in all my life!  I'm telling mama!