Black powder vs. pyrodex
Question:
Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of using pyrodex vs. black powder? New to it all… Thanks. Junius Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
# # Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of # using pyrodex vs. black powder? # # New to it all… Practical terms? 1) Black powder is classed as an explosive; I can’t buy it in the town next door due to city ordinance. Pyrodex is a propellent and is available over the counter. 2) Black powder, where I can buy it, seems a mite cheaper. $9.00 per pound vs about $13, last time I bought any. 3) Black powder leaves a lot more soot. In my gun anyway. Takes me 2x to 3x as long to clean after shooting. 4) I have to clean DURING shooting with BP; with Pyrodex I can usually get through a 20 round session without the gun misfiring from powder fouling buildup. (My gun is admittedly hinky about fouling.) 5) I get better accuracy with Pyrodex and heavy charges with bullet or ball; for light loads I get best accuracy with BP and round ball. My heavy load is 120 grain equiv. of Pyrodex and a 290 grain .570 Hornady round ball or a 560 grain TC conical in my .58 TC; my light load is about 55 grains of FFg and a 290 grain round ball. Point of impact stays the same with all three. Going with a light load of Pyrodex or a heavy load of BP moves point of impact significantly and opens the groups up pretty badly. 6) BP lights at a lower temperature … about 400 degrees, if I recall, so it ignites easier. Is *theoretically* more succeptible to ignition from static discharge but proper safety procedures should nullify that. It also collects moisture, so while it might light off more reliably in dry weather, it can be less reliable in damp conditions. I’d say plan to use both, choosing what works best for your specific conditions. I need both so I can match my choice to the prevalent conditions. Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
# Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of # using pyrodex vs. black powder? Pyrodex: modern, safer than blackpowder, classed as a propellant powder. It is the equivalent of a ‘doped’ smokeless powder so that it burns similar to black powder. I have seen it available in FF size, but I probably wouldn’t buy it unless they had FFF grade. Personally, I don’t like it because it doesn’t do away with cleaning the piece. I have had times when it wouldn’t ignite properly, either. I don’t think Pyrodex stays good for ever, though, and may get to the point where it won’t ignite. Black Powder: manufacture hasn’t changed much in 200 years or so, classed as a low explosive (that is why a lot of stores won’t / can’t carry it because of the additional safety requirements). It does smoke. It comes in a variety of grain sizes, and I am partial to FFFg. It does leave residue that after a few reloadings (as in a pistol) you have a tough time working the action. As far as hunting goes, you only need to load once or twice during the day. It is more corrosive than Pyrodex, but it ignites nicely (had one hangfire last year) You have to clean the piece afterwards, usually with hot soapy water. Black powder doesn’t go bad, as far as I can tell. I was hunting last year with the powder I bought about 20 years ago and it worked great. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
Pyrodex is supposed to give equal velosity with lower pressure. Pyrodex is less dense than black, but compares to black volume for volume,i.e. 70 gr.volume measure of pyrodex is equal to 70 gr. of black, but wieghs less, so you get more shots per pound. Black powder is usually cheaper than pyrodex, even considering that pyrodex is less dense, black is also easier to find in my area. Black ignites at a lower temp, so is more suitable for guns with ignition problems, pyrodex isn’t suitable for flintlocks due to it’s higher ignition temp.Black is available in a greater number of grades, 4f through 1f, so if your shooting a ten gauge shotgun the 1f may work better than the pyrodex rs which is equvalant to 2f black.Pyrodex burns cleaner than black, leaveing less fouling. Old timers will hassle you for shooting pyrodex because it "smells funny", this is the least important thing in desiding which powder to use. I sugest trying both powders at varying loads, your gun may perform better with one over the other. — Good fishing, Matt Moore Visit Matt’s Severum World at: http://www.virtualseeds.com/matt.html Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
#Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of #using pyrodex vs. black powder? Junius, Biggest difference…Pyrodex doesn’t smell good. Cheers/ Donald Carron, Preserve endangered species; collect a complete set Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
One you will use less powder with and get same velocity or something like that. The other you do NOT have to give your firearm a bubble bath w/a bore brush and hot water all over,and thats Pyrodex,,,thats my choice,I will bathe alone.If we still had a third choice we coulduv had some golden powder,and be able to do what we want,it cost more but ,no rust or clean and I if I remember right if all else failed in the grocery dept. it had some vitamin in it,beleive they burnt down,about $18 or $19 ,,12 or 13 oz.,but it worked.,,,,Gary
#Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of #using pyrodex vs. black powder? # #New to it all… Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
My friends who shoot muzzleloaders tell me Pyrodex is more stable. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
# # Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of # using pyrodex vs. black powder? # # Thanks. # Junius I have used both in flintlocks, caplocks, and BP cartridges. BP is better is all cases. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find. To this day, I have never found a place I can order it through the mail. None of the gunshops anywhere within driving distance carry it. Whenever I see a can on a gunshow table, I grab it. Pyrodex is supposed to be harder to ignite (this is true, meaning it is no good for flintlocks), less corrosive (not that I can see), and fouls less (also, not that I can see). If it is less corrosive and fouls less, it is too small to measure. The only advantage to Pyrodex is that you can order it through the mail, buy it in most gunshops, and can even get it is K-Mart and Wal-Mart. Use BP if you can find it. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
# # I have used both in flintlocks, caplocks, and BP cartridges. BP is # better is all cases. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find. To this # day, I have never found a place I can order it through the mail. # Try Track of the Wolf. It’s a company which sells numerous BP kits. They sell BP in cases and will ship in in the US. Their phone number is 612-424-2500. The only disadvantage is a case is 25 cans. — Frank Vital Mechanical Engineers design weapon systems. Civil Engineers design targets. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
Face it…either way, you’re going to need to clean that firearm. Pyrodex burns noticeably slower and a slow burn is something that you don’t want. Blackpowder is readily available through the mail if you you can’y find it locally. It is also availble through the mail, if you know where to look. You can try Track of the Wolf (612-424-2500. You can buy either single 1 pound can or a case of 25. So why bother with Pyrodex?
#Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of #using pyrodex vs. black powder? Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
## ## Can anyone tell me what are the advantages and disadvantages of ## using pyrodex vs. black powder? Black powder is better for HUNTING because it ignites more easily. You want the gun to go bang when you pull the trigger. Pyrodex MAY be ok for just target shooting, since you can take more shots without cleaning. Mike 8*) Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
