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General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: OldMtnMan on September 23, 2018, 07:30:47 PM

Title: Pyrodex and Real Powder Info
Post by: OldMtnMan on September 23, 2018, 07:30:47 PM
I'm having a heated discussion about Pyrodex being more corrosive than black powder. I'm on the side of black powder of course.

I can show lots of opinions taking my side but the other side can do the same. Does anybody have any scientific proof that Pyrodex is more corrosive than BP?
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 23, 2018, 07:55:04 PM
Not scientific, just my own observation, Pyrodex is far more corrosive than real BP.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Hungry Horse on September 23, 2018, 08:37:44 PM
Ahhh, Mike and I finally agree, I can die happy.

  Hungry Horse
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: J Henry on September 23, 2018, 09:19:52 PM
 Shoot what you have, just do a good cleaning after, and you will have no problems,shot it from the swamps of Georgia,and Virginia/Maryland to the winters here in Maine,never had a problem.SECRET cleaning,and cleaning some more. Not science,,bees can not fly according to them ( science )
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: moleeyes36 on September 23, 2018, 10:27:57 PM
I'm having a heated discussion about Pyrodex being more corrosive than black powder. I'm on the side of black powder of course.

I can show lots of opinions taking my side but the other side can do the same. Does anybody have any scientific proof that Pyrodex is more corrosive than BP?

Do some searches on ALR using the search function and you will find a lot of scientific proof from folks that are chemists or have just done thorough testing, that go into how the perchlorates in Pyrodex destroy the bore, even when cleaning the gun well after shooting.  Try postings from Mad Monk about Pyrodex or perchlorates for some facts on the subject.

Mole Eyes
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 23, 2018, 10:57:28 PM
I destroyed the bores of two old breechloading shotguns using Pyrodex. Once it gets into  small little pits it turns them into LARGE pits over time. Never had that problem with black powder.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Dennis Glazener on September 23, 2018, 11:41:10 PM
Ok OldMtnMan here is a thread that should help your "discussion": http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=38532.0

Have fun.
Dennis
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: stubshaft on September 24, 2018, 03:18:35 AM
I only use Pyrodex in SS guns or chrome lined barrels.  I was shooting a brand new Bobby Hoyt relined barrel and observed small brown rust spots developing in the bore while shooting.  I had thought that prior reports were fabricated until I saw them for myself.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on September 24, 2018, 04:06:28 AM
Ok OldMtnMan here is a thread that should help your "discussion": http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=38532.0

Have fun.
Dennis

I should have remembered Dennis. I posted in that thread. I'm a dummy sometimes.

It's all a moot point now. The owner of the forum who you guys ran off this forum just banned me. He didn't like me telling him he should use black powder if he's going to own a traditional muzzleloader forum. He also didn't like me saying Pyrocrap is more corrosive than black powder. He was supposed to be a good friend.

Oh well, I like it better here anyway. His forum is full of wannabes.

Thanks, guys.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Roughneck on September 24, 2018, 04:37:08 PM
Not scientific, just my own observation, Pyrodex is far more corrosive than real BP.

I 100% agree with this statement and have had the same experience.  I haven't used pyrodex in years and would never use it again. 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Bob Roller on September 24, 2018, 04:59:05 PM
Years ago,Lynton McKenzie had a set of barrels from a double barrel shotgun that
had been reamed to the point of being a threat if fired with anything.
He loaded black powder,GOEX in one barrel and Pyrodex in the other as blanks and
fired them. A few days later he said the barrel fired with black powder was cleanable
and the Pyrodex barrel was destroyed.Turning to a verboten venue,I have seen brass turned
to a really weird shade of green with Pyrodex.WHY bother with it.Keep in mind also that
there are people who will argue with proven experience and nothing is settled.

Bob Roller
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Lead ball 54 on September 24, 2018, 05:15:28 PM
Okay so I'm going to use black powder only but I can only buy 1 can at a time money issue and a lot of the time it's not available in my stores in the area I believe Pyrodex is not good but what about others like triple7 just asking cause that's sometimes is all that's on the self
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on September 24, 2018, 06:34:03 PM
Years ago,Lynton McKenzie had a set of barrels from a double barrel shotgun that
had been reamed to the point of being a threat if fired with anything.
He loaded black powder,GOEX in one barrel and Pyrodex in the other as blanks and
fired them. A few days later he said the barrel fired with black powder was cleanable
and the Pyrodex barrel was destroyed.Turning to a verboten venue,I have seen brass turned
to a really weird shade of green with Pyrodex.WHY bother with it.Keep in mind also that
there are people who will argue with proven experience and nothing is settled.

Bob Roller

Isn't that the truth Bob. Those hardheads would never admit they were wrong. I'm glad he banned me. Now I don't get frustrated dealing with them. Imagine getting banned for saying Pyrodex is corrosive.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Bob Roller on September 25, 2018, 12:05:09 AM
On another black powder forum I was on there were comments by chemists
who were far more knowledgeable than I that said the fumes(smoke) from Pyrodex
were dangerous (cyanide).

Bob Roller

Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: bob in the woods on September 25, 2018, 03:03:53 PM
Look up what Mad Monk has to say about the various Black Powder substitutes. Some are better than others, some more corrosive, some less stable in humidity [ the sugar based powders]  some produce less energy etc etc.  Black Powder is the best option. If you use something else, knowing the draw backs is important so you can take steps to alleviate them.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: bones92 on September 25, 2018, 04:59:48 PM
The only thing Pyrodex has going for it (IMHO) is that it is available in many more places because the rules regarding black powder.   I tried convincing a local bait & tackle shop owner (who also sold muzzleloading accessories) that a BP license would generate business, and that I would advertise his shop on local forums as a place where one could find real BP.  He declined due to the cost and requirements of a "explosives license".

The fact that Pyrodex is a "propellant" and BP is an "explosive" is somewhat ludicrous as a grounds for dealer requirements.  One can do everything with Pyrodex that he or she could do with real BP, using the right amounts and primer. 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Rsl on October 08, 2018, 02:08:30 AM
Pyrodex is garbage. I gave mine away. Too corrosive and hard to clean. If your shooting a percussion  try Alliant MZ.  Super easy to clean and non corrosive.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on October 08, 2018, 08:50:56 PM
With black powder fouling, if the humidity is above about 35%, will cause oxidation ie: rusting of steel or iron. With humidity below 35%, the fouling is inert.

Pyrodex fouling, if a water based lube is used,(humidity be !@*%&@) now has enough moisture to cause it to convert to an acid-like substance or material, seemingly

 dissolving iron molecules, not merely rusting, thus the deep pits. It is barrel-cancer causing. Use it if you like that sort of thing.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 02, 2018, 10:14:42 PM
I'm having a heated discussion about Pyrodex being more corrosive than black powder. I'm on the side of black powder of course.

I can show lots of opinions taking my side but the other side can do the same. Does anybody have any scientific proof that Pyrodex is more corrosive than BP?

I just dropped in to see what has been going on.
To answer your question.
Pyrodex uses 17 parts of Potassium Perchlorate as part of the oxidizer system.  Powder combustion converts that potassium perchlorate into potassium chloride.  Minute crystals scattered over the surfaces of the bore.  Given the right range of relative humidity each of the tiny crystals becomes an electrolytic corrosion cell on the surface of the metal.  This "micro-pitting" happens very quickly.  It makes the bore's surfaces look dull.  Under magnification they are seen to be little pits in the metal.  Most shooters who used, or use, Pyrodex find it necessary to frequently check the bore during storage.  Once you get surface pitting of the metal it is difficult to insure no traces of the chloride have entered the porous metal in the pits.

This chloride pit corrosion was one of the driving forces behind the development of the 777 powder.  It is free of any chlorides and will not pit corrode the bore.  When the in-line crowd went to plastic sabot carrying pistol bullets the minute crystals of chloride left by Pyrodex made reloading without cleaning difficult at best.  So getting rid of the potassium perchlorate became a must in the 777 development project.  While the 777 is a bit more difficult to ignite, compared to Pyrode, it is a far better powder.  More powerful and very clean burning.  Being more powerful you can use less of it in a load.  It's post combustion residue, as with black powder, may cause light surface rusting it will not pit corrode the bore.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: smylee grouch on November 02, 2018, 10:22:36 PM
Thanks for stopping by Bill. Your posts are always informative and valued.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Dennis Glazener on November 04, 2018, 12:34:35 AM
Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this stuff? https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/07/25/alliant-black-mz-range-test-review/

Dennis
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: ltdann on November 04, 2018, 02:04:23 AM
Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this stuff? https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/07/25/alliant-black-mz-range-test-review/

Dennis

It's all I've shot for the last year.  As the article said, it's very clean.  I can shoot at the range for 3 hours, maybe 40 shots, without ever running a cleaning patch through the gun.  My 4f goex in the flashpan easily ignites it with very little if any delay.  I have a pretty aggresive cleaning regime, water, wd40, clp and fluid film for storage.

I took the breech off yesterday and looked down the bore and didn't see any pitting....and that's after running about 5 lbs down the barrel.  So far so good.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Darkhorse on November 04, 2018, 04:28:25 AM
I've only used one substitute powder since I started shooting ML'ers back in 1976 and that was one can of Pyrodex. At the time it was marketed as non corrosive. So one day after shooting my wife rushed me off to a flick or something and I didn't get a chance to clean it that day. Three days later I took it down to clean it and the bore was already covered with rust. I was able to get it all cleaned out but I never again was tempted to use anything but real blackpowder.
And that's scientific enough for me.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: ltdann on November 04, 2018, 06:10:07 AM

[/quote]


This chloride pit corrosion was one of the driving forces behind the development of the 777 powder.  It is free of any chlorides and will not pit corrode the bore.  When the in-line crowd went to plastic sabot carrying pistol bullets the minute crystals of chloride left by Pyrodex made reloading without cleaning difficult at best.  So getting rid of the potassium perchlorate became a must in the 777 development project.  While the 777 is a bit more difficult to ignite, compared to Pyrode, it is a far better powder.  More powerful and very clean burning.  Being more powerful you can use less of it in a load.  It's post combustion residue, as with black powder, may cause light surface rusting it will not pit corrode the bore.

Bill K.
[/quote]

Hey Bill,  I think they put the chlorides back into 777 powder.  I just checked the SDS for Pyrodex and 777 and they both have potasium percholrate.

Regardless, BP is classified as an explosive and requires a special license and storage requirments.  Most gun shops just don't want the hassle, especially since the demand is pretty low and the substitutes are classified as a powder.  Agree or disagree, it's a fact of life.  Locally, there's only one shop that carries it and they price it accordingly.

Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Davemuzz on November 04, 2018, 02:49:43 PM
Hmmmm.....I never used Pyrodex or 777. A great thread gents!  I learn new stuff everyday reading this forum.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on November 04, 2018, 08:38:57 PM

Hey Bill,  I think they put the chlorides back into 777 powder.  I just checked the SDS for Pyrodex and 777 and they both have potasium percholrate.

itdan - we were told Hodgdon used the same msds formulae on paper as it was very expensive or difficult, time wise, to get them changed for the new powder.
Is this still true, I don't know. 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 04, 2018, 09:24:32 PM
Daryl,

I at first thought they had some perchloate in the 777 when I looked at some of their papers on it.  So I broke it down in water and recrystalized all that dissolved.  No potassium perchlorate crystals.  Then the proof.  Out on my roofed over deck I flashed some of it on steel plates and brass plates and watched how the powder residue effected or attacked both.  On the steel plates there was thin surface rusting but not one pit.  On the brass plates there was discoloration and copper leaching but no pits.  So the two told me no perchlorate.  Then I sat down and mulled over all that I had looked at.  Then the dawning light.  The patent work was written up as if this 777 was simply a modification of Pyrodex.  As such they would not have to go through a lengthy and expensive trial as a new explosive composition.  So the comparison to the Pyrodex formulation was a money saving thing even though it was only remotely related to Pyriodex.  The sodium benzoate was replaced with sodium dinitro benzoate.  Highly reactive with charcoal so they did not need a perchlorate to speed up the burn rate.  In the Pyrodex they needed the big slug of perchlorate because the reaction rates of the sodium benzoate would otherwise be too slow for a propellant powder.
Hodgdon has, or had, an employee who used to front for them on the various bp message boards.  I sometimes used him as a target for my caustic sense of humor.  He had once posted that the 777 name was the result of having run 777 batches in the modification of the Pyrodex formula.  Once I was able to stop laughing I pointed out that at OxyChem I was in a  job where I developed new PVC resins for different customers and if I took 777 attempts at modifying an existing resin I would have been out the door after 25 no go batches.
In any event.  The perchlorate was a no no in the 777 originally designed for the in-line actions shooting pistol bullets in sabots.  The perchlorate left minute crystals on the bore walls.  When you shoved a plastic sabot down the bore the sabots did not just push the crystals down.  The crystals would embed into the plastic which acted to increase it's diameter.  After about 2 or 3 rounds with Pyrodex in an in-line you could not get the next saboted bullet down on the charge.  You would then have to debreach and drive the thing back out the muzzle.  We used to have a guy here calling himself Hilljack.  I had him here and down on the range one evening when a guy and his wife showed up with two new inlines.  As he set up he bitched about the dirty unreliable bp flintlocks we were shooting.  He was using Pyrodex P pellets.  Then he could not get the third round down the bore.  So I loaned him cleaning supplies and a real ramrod to drive it back out the muzzle.  And all the while he is lecturing us on the evils of dirty unreliable ml rifles used black powder.  Neither Hilljack or I laughed at him.  But once back home and out on the deck with a few cold beers we could hardly contain ourselves.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 04, 2018, 09:49:51 PM
Daryl,

Forgot another funny gem in my last post.
If you look at the patent for Pyrodex you see another chemical not found in the 777.  That being dicyanamide (spelling?).  This dicyanamide is an corrosion preventer for the powder before powder combustion.  It keeps the charge from attacking and pit corroding the bore where the powder grains come in contact with the bore.  Now during powder combustion that is broken down and it gives off pure cyanide or potassium cyanide.
I learned this the hard way when I flashed Pyrodex on a bunch of steel plates in my poorly ventilated basement.  After a half dozen plates I felt like I was going to pass out.  I knew from my experience at work that I had inhaled cyanide gas.  At work I had been hospitalized several times after inhaling acrylonitrile fumes.  You breath in the acrylonitrile and it breaks down to cyanide in your blood stream.  DSo I dug out the Pyrodex patent and Lo und Behold there was the dicyanamide.  Which explained why precombustion charges did not corrode the bore but post combustion reside did.
Now without a perchlorate in the 777 they could do away with the dicyanamide.
Now on the Internet message boards we had the Internet front man from Hodgdon monitoring any posts that might reflect badly on them or their product.  One poster commented about toxic fumes given off by the burning of Pyrodex.  Well.  The Internet monitor really ripped into the guy.  In part telling him that organonitriles do not give off toxic fumes.  That proved to be the opening I was looking for.  You see at work, in the PVC Pilot Plant we used this dicyanamide to passivate metal in glass lined reaction vessels with pieces of glass missing from the inside surfaces of these reaction vessels.  This would help stop unwanted polymerized PVC from sticking to the walls of the reaction vessel.  So I routinely heaved around 40 pound bags of this chemical.  And on all edges/sides of the bags were big red warning labels to avoid heat, fire or flame as it evolves toxic fumes of cyanide when heated to it's decomposition temperature.  So I posted that the man should get up from his desk and head out to the raw materials storage area and read the labels on the bags of this chemical.  Boy did that end that thread in a hurry.
I laugh.  These people that supply we ml shooters think we are all a bunch of dumb clods.  Otherwise we would be shooting smokeless powders.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Martin S. on November 05, 2018, 12:59:51 AM
Very interesting thread.

I have an old pound of pyrodex, maybe a few years old that I bought before I found a new source of the real stuff.

I can't remember if I ever used it or not.  I hope, for the sake of my guns, I did not.

What would be the best way to safely dispose of it, since, after reading this thread, it is the last thing I want to use.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: smylee grouch on November 05, 2018, 01:32:36 AM
Give that Pyrodex to a inline shooter.  ;D
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 05, 2018, 02:27:17 AM
Give that Pyrodex to a inline shooter.  ;D

Or !
Here in the city we sometimes have problems of colonies of mice living under cement pads or short stairs in our back yards.  A few ounces of Prodex in a sandwich back and 6 inches of cannon fuse into the bag.  Light the fuse, stuff the bag in the hole and sit a brick over the hole.  The cyanide will take care of the entire mouse population in the in-ground colony.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Davemuzz on November 05, 2018, 02:41:43 AM
Give that Pyrodex to a inline shooter.  ;D

Or !
Here in the city we sometimes have problems of colonies of mice living under cement pads or short stairs in our back yards.  A few ounces of Prodex in a sandwich back and 6 inches of cannon fuse into the bag.  Light the fuse, stuff the bag in the hole and sit a brick over the hole.  The cyanide will take care of the entire mouse population in the in-ground colony.

Bill K.

Wow!! The stuff you learn here!!!
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 05, 2018, 03:13:09 AM
I have been digging through draws and brain cells all afternoon.  Here goes.

The Alliant Black MZ is an ascorbic acid based powder.  The oxidizer system is a mixture of potassium nitrate and potassium perchlorate.  A little carbon black to color it black.  This would replace the one previous ascorbic acid powder made with a big slug of perchlorate.  I seem to recall it being called Black Mag.  That operation was being run out a garage someplce when they had the perchlorate blow up and destroy the building with two deaths.

The stuff that was a modified nitrocellulose powder was sold as Blackhorn 209.  I suspect that the 209 designation meant only 209 shotshell primers would light it off.

These ascorbic acid based powders have come and gone since the first one in the mid-1980s called Golden Powder.  The inventor took on investors.  This gave a number of people to exploit the patent on the "invention".  After lengthy expensive litigation several people walked away with the ability to exploit the basic patent.  And each one had a different idea on how to get it to work best as a firearm propellant powder. 

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Davemuzz on November 05, 2018, 04:22:35 AM


The stuff that was a modified nitrocellulose powder was sold as Blackhorn 209.  I suspect that the 209 designation meant only 209 shotshell primers would light it off.


Ok....are you saying the Blackhorn 209 is similar to Pyrodex?  I only ask as I have used Blackhorn 209 in my in-line ML with no ill effects....at least, none that I can find.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: mountainman70 on November 05, 2018, 05:29:33 AM
Bill K --- our club has recently allowed inlines in the unlimited class. I have noticed when they go off, in addition to hurting my already damaged ears, with earplugs and muffs,btw, the fumes almost make my lungs lock up, and I smell the odor that acc glue puts off when it gets too warm,I already have copd courteousy of Uncle Sam and asbestos,and I guess I will have to clear leave firing line when these  guys are shooting.
 Big question is, how much risk are the shooters putting on themselves,and the rest of us?
Thanks for your knowledge and frankness. Best regards, Dave f 8) 8)
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: galudwig on November 05, 2018, 05:54:38 AM
This is a really good thread. I've never had any inclination to try Pyrodex or any of the other BP substitutes and this thread has helped me understand why I wouldn't want to anyway. I especially appreciate the information and insight given by Mad Monk. He is informative and easy to follow. It's also refreshing to see somebody who knows what they are talking about not trying to use facts to beat the rest of us into submission.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 05, 2018, 06:41:20 AM
Bill K --- our club has recently allowed inlines in the unlimited class. I have noticed when they go off, in addition to hurting my already damaged ears, with earplugs and muffs,btw, the fumes almost make my lungs lock up, and I smell the odor that acc glue puts off when it gets too warm,I already have copd courteousy of Uncle Sam and asbestos,and I guess I will have to clear leave firing line when these  guys are shooting.
 Big question is, how much risk are the shooters putting on themselves,and the rest of us?
Thanks for your knowledge and frankness. Best regards, Dave f 8) 8)

Dave,

No.  The Buckhorn 209 is way different than Pyrodex or 777.
With the Pyrodex you want to shoot on an open firing line.  Avoid roofed over firing lines if the roofs are very low. BP fumes are not that bad.  But what looks like smoke is really potassium carbonate and potassium sulfate in very fine particle sizes.  Carried out in the combustion gases.  Those being mainly CO and CO2.  On very humid days the smoke is gone quick because the micro particles of carbonate and sulfate dissolve into the minute droplets of water that make up the "humidity" in the air.  On dry days the smoke tends to linger.

With the asbestos and Uncle Sam.  I worked in a big tire plant at first. They used a lot of talc.  The industrial grade talc was about 15% asbestos dust.  Then there was the benzene and two other chemicals.  I am now looking at leukemia.  But at 76 I am not getting too excited.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on November 05, 2018, 11:07:31 PM
Thanks Bill - you are indeed, a National Treasure of knowledge on this stuff.

We are in debt to you and your willingness to help us poor sods.

I was hoping my post at the top of this page, would elicit a response from you to further educate us.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Dennis Glazener on November 05, 2018, 11:22:02 PM
Bill,
I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge regarding Black Powder substitutes. Its something we need to know, not just that some of it produces pitting. I don't know about others but I won't be using any of it in the future (not that I have used much but a friend gave me a new un-opened can and I have tried it in a percussion rifle, NO MORE).
Dennis
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Hessian on November 13, 2018, 09:03:36 PM
I just found this thread, and sometimes I can be a bit "slow," but is it safe to say that the by products of combustion of pyrodex include small amounts of cyanide gas?

If this is the case, why in the world would one want to use this stuff; particularly in a closed area such as an indoor range!

Thanks Mad Monk! I learn something new every time I log onto this forum!

Hessian
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on November 13, 2018, 09:55:12 PM
Give that Pyrodex to a inline shooter.  ;D

Or !
Here in the city we sometimes have problems of colonies of mice living under cement pads or short stairs in our back yards.  A few ounces of Prodex in a sandwich back and 6 inches of cannon fuse into the bag.  Light the fuse, stuff the bag in the hole and sit a brick over the hole.  The cyanide will take care of the entire mouse population in the in-ground colony.

Bill K.

Hmmm, I have a mole situation I'm dreading doing the slow drudgery of trapping out.  If I only had some of that cyanide producing stuff.   I poured out my last container onto a rock and burned it.   But then I like buying things and using them completely contrary to any noted use on the label!  Science yo!  :P 

Would never ignite it (the P-word) around any steel I care about again. I paid a price and Bill here helped me understand how/why many years later. Thanks for that.  Now, lookout moles!
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Bob Roller on November 14, 2018, 04:57:19 PM
Thanks Bill - you are indeed, a National Treasure of knowledge on this stuff.

We are in debt to you and your willingness to help us poor sods.

I was hoping my post at the top of this page, would elicit a response from you to further educate us.

Bill K,
Daryl is SO right about the help you post and in easy to understand form.My own
knowledge of chemistry is almost zero but I do remember being on another forum
and I think it was YOU that posted about the joys and delights of P dex and cyanide
and how to commit bloodless suicide with it.Artificial powder for artificial muzzle loaders.

Bob Roller
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 15, 2018, 06:34:07 AM
Bob,

While I shot it a few times in my testing comparing it to black powder the Pyrodex did serve a useful purpose in areas where black powder was almost impossible to buy.  I know some shooters who started with it and then later changed over to bp once they really got hooked with bp shooting.  Remember when we only hand one brand of BP which was difficult to find in some areas.  Now we have a much larger selections of bp brands and performances.  And now we can buy partial rather than full cases that require a bank job to pay for.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: bgf on November 15, 2018, 08:02:38 AM
Monk,
That's what a lot of people miss.  When I started on my own, the random guy at the gun store told me Pyrodex was what EVERYONE uses, so I bought some...  I now realize that situation was because the stores didn't want to comply with storage regulations, but as long as I was pretty much on my own, I shot Pyrodex and lots of it.  Along with the Wonder lube (also a popular item) and some very unsuitable patching choice, because "it really didn't matter" :)...  Eventually I grew skeptical of the Wonder lube and patching, and changed to more suitable choices, but the Pyrodex stayed until I found real information on the interwebs.  I think the combination of Wonder lube seasoning and Pyrodex nearly ruined a barrel for me, but I knew how to lap one and saved it!  I did continue to use 777 for some time (with a hot primer) off and on more or less until I switched to flintlock.  The Pyrodex actually shoots pretty well, even if it is evil!  777 is serviceable in caplocks and is a nice option to have.


Anyway, I'm probably a little more sympathetic than most to the situation where someone can't get or doesn't know how to get BP, and I like your knowledgeable, fact based approach a lot better than the Inquisition  that is often let loose on people who don't use the holy black :).
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Maven on November 15, 2018, 07:50:33 PM
"While I shot it a few times in my testing comparing it to black powder the Pyrodex did serve a useful purpose in areas where black powder was almost impossible to buy."  ...MM

That's exactly why I started using it in the first place (not much powder of any kind available locally) in spite of the difficulty of removing its residue from my bbl.s   Oddly enough, Pyro RS produced accurate results for me, especially so in my fast twist rifle with home cast Maxi-Ball bullets (T/C mould).
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on November 16, 2018, 12:02:35 AM
"While I shot it a few times in my testing comparing it to black powder the Pyrodex did serve a useful purpose in areas where black powder was almost impossible to buy."  ...MM

That's exactly why I started using it in the first place (not much powder of any kind available locally) in spite of the difficulty of removing its residue from my bbl.s   Oddly enough, Pyro RS produced accurate results for me, especially so in my fast twist rifle with home cast Maxi-Ball bullets (T/C mould).

Regarding Pyro RS.  Hodgdon had found that every now and then they would produce a lot of Pyro that gave more uniform results (ballistics).  They had no idea why.  Just that some lots were better than others in shot to shot uniformity.  So they would set those lots aside and sell them at a slightly higher price.

The thing about any of the Pyro variations was that it was really sensitive to moisture.  It was produced to give a moisture content of about 1%.  They had found that this moisture content was critical to the performance of the powder in the gun.  But as you used from a container and left in fresh air it would pull moisture from that air.  This would then set up a chemical reaction in the powder.  A reaction between the potassium perchlorate and the sulfur.  When you read on old primer compounds you see warnings not to mix these two chemicals.  That with traces of moisture it will start a self-accelerating decomposition reaction.  The first thing you notice is that ignition becomes erratic.  Then muzzle velocities become erratic.  Eventually you have a powder that simply cannot be ignited in the normal manner.  When it first came out they told the shooters that once they opened the container use it quickly.  That once opened the shooter could see changes in how it behaved.  The old writings on primer compositions were adamant on not mixing those two chemicals.  The chlorates and perchlorates were commonly used in primer compounds once smokeless powder were introduced.  These were corrosive compounds simply because of a fraction of a grain of chlorate or perchlorate in the primer composition.  But then we more recently see a number of BP subs out using far greater amounts of potassium perchlorate with the manufacturers insisting they are not corrosive.  Utter and total BS.

Bill Knight
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on November 16, 2018, 12:15:22 AM
Further to that, some 17% by weight per charge is now perclorate, seems to me, whereas as noted

 by Bill, just a fraction of a grain weight - back in the day, made corrosive primers that rotted barrels.

So - your 70gr. Pyrodex load contains almost 12 grains of perchlorate.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 18, 2018, 06:36:38 PM
I took a vacation from forums to calm down. I come back here and i'm surprised to see this thread still going. Some good stuff in it now.

I think everybody should be convinced Pyrodex is not an option for anybody who cares for their guns.

Good going guys.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 24, 2018, 07:18:36 AM
I'm a little slow on the uptake. So help me here...

Pyrodex is bad. I've garnered that much.

If you are doomed to only being able to buy subs, are you better off using 777?

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Bob Roller on November 24, 2018, 03:57:31 PM
Further to that, some 17% by weight per charge is now perclorate, seems to me, whereas as noted

 by Bill, just a fraction of a grain weight - back in the day, made corrosive primers that rotted barrels.

So - your 70gr. Pyrodex load contains almost 12 grains of perchlorate.

I had a friend who owned a pristine WW2 Mauser K98 and got a box of ammo loaded in
1939 in Eastern Europe,Czechoslovakia maybe. I warned him it was corrosive primed and
he said,It's sporting,not military.two days later he asked me if I knew any way to get that barrel clean
and I told him,NO I do not.Hard lesson learned.

Bob Roller
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 24, 2018, 04:42:55 PM
I'm a little slow on the uptake. So help me here...

Pyrodex is bad. I've garnered that much.

If you are doomed to only being able to buy subs, are you better off using 777?

Mike

I think most of us can't buy real powder locally. We buy it online. Can you do that? I get mine from Graf's and Sons.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 24, 2018, 06:40:41 PM
Nah, I can buy Goex at BPS... And on a work trip I made a detour to Mexico, MO and stopped at Graf's... Picked up some Goex OE, Swiss, and some of Graf's house brand ( made by Wano )

I'm good on the real stuff for a while.

I'm asking about 777 for those who don't have ready access or haven't hit the bullet on mail ordering BP.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 24, 2018, 06:46:55 PM
BTW...

Graf's is having a sale on BP right now. Everything is 10% off.

In case anyone is interested.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 24, 2018, 07:33:57 PM
Not sure how I was to know you weren't talking about yourself? No matter. It applies to everybody who doesn't live in a state that can't get BP shipped to them.

If I couldn't get it shipped to me i'd find a way to get it. I'd never use a sub in a sidelock.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 25, 2018, 04:21:59 PM
black powder is all that's needed.  period.

whether or not they're more corrosive than real black powder (and they all are), all the faux black powder concoctions are smokeless variations that are more difficult to pan ignite with a flintlock.  we do love our flinters, don't we?

there is no excuse for not using black powder.  no, 95% of us won't find it locally and need to mail order it out.  deal with it and be done with it. 

the more black powder that's used, the more reason for black powder factories to make and offer the stuff we Require.  for them, it's all about the money.  good for them, let's give it to 'em.

so buy black powder and enjoy all its benefits over that white devil dust cr@p, while at the same time insuring that the good commercial black powder will always be made available.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on November 25, 2018, 04:43:46 PM
Mr. Monk once said if he had to use a 'phony' powder, it would likely be T-7 due to it's lack of perchlorates.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 25, 2018, 04:58:26 PM
really, just say NO to any phony powder.  not at all hard to say, or do.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on November 25, 2018, 08:19:47 PM
really, just say NO to any phony powder.  not at all hard to say, or do.
[emphasis added]

Well, you know, it kinda is hard to do for guys/gal located in more restrictive areas than others.  I have heard more than once that these areas exist, and my statement reflects the assumption that it is true.

The information above about t7 from Bill (MadMonk) is the best on the subject most folks will ever hear.  If I was trapped in an area of limited access to powders (assuming no connections to other areas), I'd likely use t7 instead of making my own BP.

As tiring as it gets repeating most all of these words again and again, I quite thank Bill, and others of chemistry-professional ranks, for setting straight those who will listen .  AS more of this information becomes well-known to the BP shooting public, the less demand for perchlorated-powders will be.  And when no one will buy it, they'll quit making it.

So this mostly repetition, over and over (same as advertising/brain-washing) is what it may take to get just a FEW MORE pilgrims to understand the damage possible/probable to their beloved firearms using perchlorated powders. 

Pessimistically- Probably in 2 or 4 hundred years folks will understand how bad it can be.  Optimistically-keep talking about it, let the world begin to understand how perchlorate mercilessly attacks steel every chance it gets--and is why many folks won't use it and sometimes go to great lengths to acquire and keep a good supply of genuine powder.

Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 25, 2018, 08:39:30 PM
for the very most part, real bp can be mail ordered.  it's how most of us get it, one way or t'other.  if there are parts of the states that make bp illegal to own and use (really?) that's a totally different story entirely.  other than that, you can find it and get it.  didn't say it would be easy and where there's a will there's a way. 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on November 25, 2018, 10:27:40 PM
for the very most part, real bp can be mail ordered.  it's how most of us get it, one way or t'other.  if there are parts of the states that make bp illegal to own and use (really?) that's a totally different story entirely.  other than that, you can find it and get it.  didn't say it would be easy and where there's a will there's a way.

Exactly.  There are extremely restrictive jurisdictions in these very United States, and as well there are a good number of folks here who do not live in these United States.  I cannot speak with veracity of their restrictions or viable work-arounds, but that some of those folks may not be able to mail-order as many of us obviously do.

Some folks go to great lengths to get real powder.  Others don't (assuming legality), mostly because they don't know how despicable perchlorates are, or because they do not understand how to get 3 or 6 guys together and make a mail-order purchase that seems "affordable" to them all.  I agree some don't "try hard enough", but that there are others who actually cannot get it.

Speaking of "economy" if folks would BUY IT at the stores who offer it up locally, less of them would quit handling it. But there we go again pinching pennies in the wrong places.  They tell me that some of the big catalog-type stores have some in the back, but you must request it as they don't advertise this fact.  I don't know I never shop those places-and if I do it's never for guns or related.

 I hold that the more folks understand perchlorated powders, the more folks will TRY HARDER to acquire BP rather than destructive and toxic concoctions for propellant.  Ignorance is not a crime (stop believing advertisers is a big step), if we can help reduce such, then eventually the steel-destroying perchlorates will become unprofitable and disappear.  But we have to spread the word to those who will listen. 

If I ever get my hands on some more perchlorate-rich steel eater, I'll make a video.  Seems that kids these days believe only the youtube.  But don't hold your breath (unless in the presence of cyanide-rich fumes of Hodgdon's formula) for me to make the video as I'm not in any hurry to find any Pyro-stuff.  I sure as shanties won't be buying any at retail. Won't need much.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 25, 2018, 10:43:13 PM
I can buy the minimum amount of Goex at Graf's (5lbs) and even with Hazmat fees and shipping charges it still comes out cheaper than going to a local shop and buying T7.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 26, 2018, 12:40:07 AM
for the very most part, real bp can be mail ordered.  it's how most of us get it, one way or t'other.  if there are parts of the states that make bp illegal to own and use (really?) that's a totally different story entirely.  other than that, you can find it and get it.  didn't say it would be easy and where there's a will there's a way.

Exactly.  There are extremely restrictive jurisdictions in these very United States, and as well there are a good number of folks here who do not live in these United States.  I cannot speak with veracity of their restrictions or viable work-arounds, but that some of those folks may not be able to mail-order as many of us obviously do.

Some folks go to great lengths to get real powder.  Others don't (assuming legality), mostly because they don't know how despicable perchlorates are, or because they do not understand how to get 3 or 6 guys together and make a mail-order purchase that seems "affordable" to them all.  I agree some don't "try hard enough", but that there are others who actually cannot get it.

Speaking of "economy" if folks would BUY IT at the stores who offer it up locally, less of them would quit handling it. But there we go again pinching pennies in the wrong places.  They tell me that some of the big catalog-type stores have some in the back, but you must request it as they don't advertise this fact.  I don't know I never shop those places-and if I do it's never for guns or related.

 I hold that the more folks understand perchlorated powders, the more folks will TRY HARDER to acquire BP rather than destructive and toxic concoctions for propellant.  Ignorance is not a crime (stop believing advertisers is a big step), if we can help reduce such, then eventually the steel-destroying perchlorates will become unprofitable and disappear.  But we have to spread the word to those who will listen. 

If I ever get my hands on some more perchlorate-rich steel eater, I'll make a video.  Seems that kids these days believe only the youtube.  But don't hold your breath (unless in the presence of cyanide-rich fumes of Hodgdon's formula) for me to make the video as I'm not in any hurry to find any Pyro-stuff.  I sure as shanties won't be buying any at retail. Won't need much.

I think the main hurdle to retailers stocking real BP is the onerous storage requirements... When I would buy it at Bass Pro it was a 30 minute ordeal. I don't know where the sales guy had to go to get it, but it was a hike.

Even Graf's does not keep the powder on the same site as their store... You give the clerk a list of the powder(s) you want and someone has to climb in a car and drive to their powder magazine.

And per local ordanance, real BP is not permitted to be sold in the city limits of Joplin, MO at all.

Contacting elected officials and working to loosen ATF ( possibly NFPA too ) regs might make it more available.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 26, 2018, 12:40:47 AM
I can buy the minimum amount of Goex at Graf's (5lbs) and even with Hazmat fees and shipping charges it still comes out cheaper than going to a local shop and buying T7.

Very good point.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 26, 2018, 01:14:37 AM
I know one restriction on selling BP is it has to be kept in a safe. Our local shop used to carry it until they came up with this law. He said he didn't sell enough to make it worth it.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on November 26, 2018, 04:57:07 AM
I know one restriction on selling BP is it has to be kept in a safe. Our local shop used to carry it until they came up with this law. He said he didn't sell enough to make it worth it.
 

Exactly.  If at all possible, even if you burn 100# per year and buy it all online, buy a can or two from any local vendor now and then--just to help them justify their hassles. Use "cost averaging" to make the few dollars more melt away into your consumption figures (keeps the accounting dept happier).  We lose valuable options in the good Mom and Pop's because bargain hunting can be short-sighted. I hate losing locals and getting stuck with supermegalowmarts dominating all sales.

Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 26, 2018, 05:14:31 AM
I'd buy it all locally if I could. I live in the boonies and have to drive 60 mi to a local gun store. He doesn't carry BP. He'll sell me lots of fake powder though.

My only option is online.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: shootrj2003 on November 26, 2018, 04:47:38 PM
I have not paid attention to the sub powders for a long while,So I am given to understand that there still is no satisfactory sub for black P in Flintlocks ? This amazes me in this day and age but,like I say,I quit looking a long time ago,I get mine in PA. It is interesting to note that the soil on Mars has quite a bit of perchlorates in it!
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: shootrj2003 on November 26, 2018, 04:54:50 PM
I can only get BP from small shops in PA.none of the big stores ever bother with it that I know of.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 26, 2018, 05:28:27 PM
for a flintlock, we NEED real black powder.  h3ll, we ALL need real black powder for ALL our 18th and 19th century guns!!!  stop it already with the fake powder!!!  that stuff always was and always will be INFERIOR to good real black powder (aka "gunpowder").

local stores are Heavily fed regulated as to the storage of black powder because it's listed as an explosive.  and add in the low demand for it, and it ain't worth the little ROI yer LGS would reap for offering it in the first place. 

again, for *most* of us, we mail order bp.  you can usually save the shipping and hazmat by ordering in 25lb lots.  too much to outlay at one time?  make it a group buy with friends or a club or a range. 

the thing is, this is always all about manufacturer profits.  the more consumer demand for bp, the more likely it will still be available and the manufacturers will do the necessary DC lobbying to keep it available to we, the consumers.  worst case scenario, we make our own bp, and don't think it'll never come down to that. 

PLEASE consider spending the extra dollars and support the continued manufacturer offerings of real black powder.  i thank you and so will yer guns.  promise.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Hungry Horse on November 26, 2018, 05:42:05 PM
Boy, I’d like to know where these “highly restricted” areas are. I live in California, where our restricted areas, have restricted areas, and I can get powder mail order.

  Hungry Horse
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 26, 2018, 05:58:03 PM
Boy, I’d like to know where these “highly restricted” areas are. I live in California, where our restricted areas, have restricted areas, and I can get powder mail order.

  Hungry Horse

many decades ago i wished i lived in cali, now i feel sorry for those who do.  just as there are those who feel sorry for me living in jersey.  talk about gun restrictions, jersey is absolutely among the worst .... ack.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Black Jaque Janaviac on November 29, 2018, 10:56:24 PM
Mike,

I think to answer your question, yes 777 is a better option than Pyrodex if BP is not available;  from the perspectives of corrosion and toxic gases. 

The storage requirements for BP are ridiculous and unnecessary.  To buy BP they have to leave the building and open a locked bunker?  Meanwhile, on your way to the register you can grab a can of Coleman fuel and propane off the shelf.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike Brooks on November 29, 2018, 11:20:04 PM



This chloride pit corrosion was one of the driving forces behind the development of the 777 powder.  It is free of any chlorides and will not pit corrode the bore.  When the in-line crowd went to plastic sabot carrying pistol bullets the minute crystals of chloride left by Pyrodex made reloading without cleaning difficult at best.  So getting rid of the potassium perchlorate became a must in the 777 development project.  While the 777 is a bit more difficult to ignite, compared to Pyrode, it is a far better powder.  More powerful and very clean burning.  Being more powerful you can use less of it in a load.  It's post combustion residue, as with black powder, may cause light surface rusting it will not pit corrode the bore.

Bill K.
[/quote]

Hey Bill,  I think they put the chlorides back into 777 powder.  I just checked the SDS for Pyrodex and 777 and they both have potasium percholrate.

Regardless, BP is classified as an explosive and requires a special license and storage requirments.  Most gun shops just don't want the hassle, especially since the demand is pretty low and the substitutes are classified as a powder.  Agree or disagree, it's a fact of life.  Locally, there's only one shop that carries it and they price it accordingly.
[/quote]

That's why most folks here have real BP delivered to their door. Easy peasy.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Huntschool on November 30, 2018, 03:05:19 AM
Back in the day (1980's) wife and I ran a wholesale distribution outfit and GOEX was a big part of it.  ATF required that a retail outlet store their BP in a locked "magazine" of no more then 50 lbs.  No big deal, we had magazines available with double locks....

I  seem to remember when BP was reduced from a class I explosive to something less (class III maybe)  but no storage requirements were changed.  The ATF license was required but that was it.  This was back in the days when BP sold for less then $10.00/lb. We bought from 3000-5000 lbs. at a time.... to sell wholesale

It blows me away to see the prices today and then there is the Haz Mat stuff..... Crazy.

Support you local guy that has jumped through the hoops.  Ordering a split order fro mail order folks is ok or buying by the day at Friendship if you can is also good for those that get there.

 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on November 30, 2018, 06:34:36 AM
Mike,

I think to answer your question, yes 777 is a better option than Pyrodex if BP is not available;  from the perspectives of corrosion and toxic gases. 

The storage requirements for BP are ridiculous and unnecessary.  To buy BP they have to leave the building and open a locked bunker?  Meanwhile, on your way to the register you can grab a can of Coleman fuel and propane off the shelf.

Thanks.

And I agree,  the irony of safe storage requirements for BP and not Coleman fuel/propane are not lost on me.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 30, 2018, 02:35:45 PM
I can only get BP from small shops in PA.none of the big stores ever bother with it that I know of.

yer at least lucky to have an LGS selling bp.  i don't within 100 driving miles.  and if i did, such as a place in MA, they have no realistic bp selection for my bp needs.  this again drives us, forces us to go mail order.  it is what it is.  this is far cry from the 50's to 70's when i could get all the bp assortments i wanted within a few miles of home base.  yep, restrictions are getting worse and narrowing down.  this doesn't bode well for the future, be it near or far .....
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Black Jaque Janaviac on November 30, 2018, 08:51:18 PM
So, since the advantages of BP are real, why don't BP companies lobby to get the commercial storage requirements loosened? 

Their sales would have to jump up if stores could have a pound of GOEX & Swiss on the shelf next to the others. 

Like it or not, the hazmat fees and the paucity in stores is prohibitive to many people.  Especially people who read sporting magazine ads.  Those people think they are happy substitute customers and are simply not willing to pay a $20 hazmat fee to TRY one pound of BP.  But they are more than willing to give it a try if they can buy a pound at normal prices. 

In Central Wisconsin the closest place I know of that sells BP over the counter is a 2 hour drive.  I stopped in years ago when I got my first flintlock and picked up a pound of 4F (because it was going to be some years before I needed to order another 25# case.) and paid $40!!!

I think if BP could improve its availability it would take a big market share.  Just because people with modern guns would give it a try.  And if they gave it a try they might discover its advantages.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 30, 2018, 09:27:27 PM
  Few who shoot modern muzzleloaders can be convinced to use real powder. They call it dirty, smelly, fouls more, and has less power. Most can't be convinced. They want a modern gun with modern powder, bullets, and primers.

They aren't muzzleloaders. They just like the extra season to hunt.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfd on November 30, 2018, 11:34:38 PM
.... I think if BP could improve its availability it would take a big market share.  ...

it's all about the money.  money is Everything to most businesses, particularly the manufacturers of black gunpowder.  the corporate bean counters dictate how the dollars are to be allocated.  i suspect that, in these leftist progressive liberal socialist democratic dayze here in the states, it's just too much of a gamble for the hope of too little ROI in the matter of promoting black gunpowder.  too many obstacles.  since the turn of the millennium it's become a fast food, hollyweird inspired gun culture.  the weekend hunters wanting to get in on the muzzy hunting season are not going to put down their ar15's for a sidelock muzzy, but instead a zip gun powered by white devil dust pellets.  traditional muzzleloaders are the minority of the minority.  we don't get no respect 'cause there ain't enuf of us left.  we'll not fade away or die out, we'll always be around until the next "last of the mohicans" flick and then the next short spike in trad muzzy sales will occur, along with that devil white dust sub gunpowder.  sickening, but true. 
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on November 30, 2018, 11:53:29 PM
What they don't know about us is how much fun we're having. Plus, when we make a kill it's much more rewarding.

All they want is more bone hanging on their walls.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: bob in the woods on December 01, 2018, 04:25:44 PM
Perhaps a bit off topic, however I find myself laughing when my friend complains about the price of a pound of B.P. but then goes and pays $120.00 for a box of 20   30-378 's ;D   
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Daryl on December 02, 2018, 03:00:44 AM
I just paid $50.00 per pound for the modern stuff, in Dawson Creek.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: bob in the woods on December 02, 2018, 05:21:18 AM
Something else just came to mind, "sparked" by a comment we often hear regarding B.P being hydroscopic. It really isn't to any great degree. The fouling is. That said, I can say from experience that Pyrodex [ unfired]  is hydroscopic . You need to seal the container well.  The same is true of some of the other substitute powders.  Not a good thing.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on December 03, 2018, 12:01:25 AM
Something else just came to mind, "sparked" by a comment we often hear regarding B.P being hydroscopic. It really isn't to any great degree. The fouling is. That said, I can say from experience that Pyrodex [ unfired]  is hydroscopic . You need to seal the container well.  The same is true of some of the other substitute powders.  Not a good thing.

BP subs and hygroscopic properties.
When you look at what constitutes a powder grain in most of these BP subs you are looking at powder grains that were not produced as the result of any compacting or densification process.  These grains are little more than loosely bonded large agglomerations of the pre-ground ingredients.  The pre-ground ingredients are blended together in the desired proportions and then the mix is slowly "wetted" while being mixed or agitated.  The dampened ingredient particles then simply stick together.  They generally lack mechanical strength as is seen in black powder grains that came out of compacted press densified "press cakes".  If you look at these bp sub grains under magnification you can see the large "pores" in the grains.  Almost "sponge like" in appearance.  Lots of room for moisture from the surrounding air.
When you look at patent disclosures for a lot of these subs they state that by not going into press densification and then "corning" their method of production is far safer than that used to produce dense compacted grains of black powder.

This thing about grains being little more than large agglomerations of the basic ingredients is one of the reasons most of the subs will not give as uniform a shot to shot consistency as black powder.  A properly made black powder is something of a gold standard for shot to shot consistency in the gun.  Go back and look at the claims once made by Ely where they claimed a shot to shot variation of no more than 5 fps with their higher priced bp cartridges.  With BP grains you want good density, a highly polished grain and a certain degree of uniform grain size in a particular loading.
It is a bit more complex than what I have gone through but some of the subs are open violations of all that was holy in bp mfg.  But then they are not catering to a technically astute customer base.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 03, 2018, 12:13:26 AM
Bill,

Can I ask a couple of questions about real powders?

I always wondered how Swiss powder achieved the power it has over powders like Goex/ Are there any extra ingredients added?

The same question about Olde Eynsford since it's very close to the same price as Goex and made by the same company. Yet, it almost has the same power as Swiss. Anything suspicious about the ingredients?
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on December 03, 2018, 01:11:34 AM
Bill,

Can I ask a couple of questions about real powders?

I always wondered how Swiss powder achieved the power it has over powders like Goex/ Are there any extra ingredients added?

The same question about Olde Eynsford since it's very close to the same price as Goex and made by the same company. Yet, it almost has the same power as Swiss. Anything suspicious about the ingredients?

To get into this.
Going back to the 1800s.  You had 3 types of black powder for use in small arms.  The slowest was musket powder.  Intended to be used in the muskets of fairly large caliber.  .58 and .69 caliber muskets.  Then you had a rifle type powder that was roughly 10% stronger/faster than musket powder.  Then you had Sporting type powder that was at least 10% faster than a rifle burn rate powder.  You can change the burn rate of a black powder by playing with the sulfur content.  You can change the burn rate of a black powder by how long you run the charcoal and sulfur mixture in the ball mill and then how long you run it in the wheel mill.  Finer grinding of ingredients gives faster burn rates, up to a point.  Type of charcoal and fixed carbon content of the charcoal will influence burn rates.    In other words there is a host of little things that will change how fast the powder burns chemically.  You can adjust the temperature at which the powder burns.  You can alter the volume of gases and the temperatures at which the gases are evolved from the burning grains of powder.  You can alter the ratio of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide produced during powder combustion.

The Swiss powder is a true Sporting type black powder.  Nearly identical to the old C&H black powder made by C&H in Scotland until around 1970.

I have not taken the Olde Eynsford powder apart.  I have a strong gut feeling that it is another version of what GOEX used to produce as the Express powder.  I know how that was made and had a hand in it's development.  But now that GOEX is owned and operated by the Hodgdon Powder Company I avoid it.  I have discussed it in private but now avoid it publicly. 

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 03, 2018, 01:19:11 AM
Great info Bill. I had no idea they had so many things to play with when making powder.

Thanks a bunch.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mike from OK on December 04, 2018, 05:26:15 AM
I have been told that Alder buckthorn makes the best charcoal for BP... And that is what Swiss uses exclusively.

Mike
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 04, 2018, 06:10:12 PM
Bill gave me a bunch of info on powders. It takes more than just using Alder wood for the charcoal. It's how you use it that counts. Nobody does it like Swiss does.

I'm back to using nothing but Swiss again. No other powder can come close it.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on December 05, 2018, 02:22:00 AM
I have been told that Alder buckthorn makes the best charcoal for BP... And that is what Swiss uses exclusively.

Mike

You can make black powder with almost any wood.  But only a few will make the best black powder.  A number of factors involved in this.  The structure of the wood is important when it comes to being able to grind the char down to nearly a micron in final particle size.  Then there is a point of cost versus results.  How much charcoal do you get per 100 pounds of wood charred.  Then the point about a moist burning powder.  Wood with a high lignin content is required to get a char with a good deal of creosote left in the char.  And the charring temperature cannot get too high or you simply blow the creosote out the charring cylinder vent.  The mineral content of he wood cannot be too high.
Even little things count big in this.  The wood is generally harvested in the Spring just as the sap begins to rise in the wood after Winter.  The fresh sap is loaded with sugar.  Which remains in the wood as it is dried.  When that sugar is charred in the wood it adds to the strength of the finished powder.  The Swiss charcoal is somewhat labor intensive in preparation so that adds to the cost.

Bill K.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfcbuf on December 06, 2018, 01:51:51 AM
Have been using Pyrodex combined with black powder  in 50 cal. flint rifle with great ignition performance. Target load of 15 grains black powder (3 f) down the bore followed by 40 to 50 grains Pyrodex 3f equivalent ignites with no delay. Priming is 3f black powder. Have noticed that this hybrid powder mixing is more difficult to clean. Also leaves behind some barrel rusting. Black powder not available in my area thus necessitating the hybrid load. Has Pyrodex (a Hodgdon company) ever responded publicly to this rusting problem? Seems like they should as a responsible supplier to the muzzle loading community.
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on December 06, 2018, 02:09:20 AM
Have been using Pyrodex combined with black powder  in 50 cal. flint rifle with great ignition performance. Target load of 15 grains black powder (3 f) down the bore followed by 40 to 50 grains Pyrodex 3f equivalent ignites with no delay. Priming is 3f black powder. Have noticed that this hybrid powder mixing is more difficult to clean. Also leaves behind some barrel rusting. Black powder not available in my area thus necessitating the hybrid load. Has Pyrodex (a Hodgdon company) ever responded publicly to this rusting problem? Seems like they should as a responsible supplier to the muzzle loading community.

I won't touch this one with a 10 ft wiping stick !!!!!!!!!!


Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: rfcbuf on December 06, 2018, 04:23:55 PM
why not?
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on December 06, 2018, 06:08:30 PM
why not?

...  But now that GOEX is owned and operated by the Hodgdon Powder Company I avoid it.  I have discussed it in private but now avoid it publicly. 

Bill K.



Far be it from me to know exactly Bill's reasons, but this comment a couple of posts up tells me enough.

Thanks Bill. That's all the push I needed to change to Swiss (that H owns G now). The bigger the companies get the less options we have.  Diversify your spending yo.

By the way rfcbuf, where is "your area"? There have been strong implications in this thread that no one [here]  lives beyond the reach of mail-order. Do you live where you cannot mail-order powder, and have no Bass Pro or other big store- those that stock BP, but tells no one of it?

mods/OP:
It would be GREAT if we could now modify the title of the thread with such good info hidden under the "p-word".
--make title searches great again--
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 06, 2018, 06:15:18 PM
I can change the title Wade. What would you like?
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: WadePatton on December 06, 2018, 07:34:33 PM
I can change the title Wade. What would you like?

Oh I dunno, It's your thread, and I only looked at it because it wasn't going away. I knew my opinion of the P and didn't think there was more I needed to know about it.  This thread is much deeper than that and the more truths we understand the more debunking we can do if given an opportunity. So it's now a bit of a "must read". 

Of course I steer clear of nearly anything that says I "must"... just a rebel i reckon  :P

something like:
Pyrodex?  and gun powders chemistry

Title: Re: Pyrodex and Real Powder Info
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 06, 2018, 08:35:32 PM
How about now?
Title: Re: Pyrodex and Real Powder Info
Post by: WadePatton on December 06, 2018, 10:07:45 PM
lookin good!  8)
Title: Re: Pyrodex?
Post by: Mad Monk on December 06, 2018, 10:44:53 PM
why not?

...  But now that GOEX is owned and operated by the Hodgdon Powder Company I avoid it.  I have discussed it in private but now avoid it publicly. 

Bill K.

I am very lucky.  I lkive about 15 miles from Dixons and Cabellas is just a short hop North on Route 61 here in Berks County PA.



Far be it from me to know exactly Bill's reasons, but this comment a couple of posts up tells me enough.

Thanks Bill. That's all the push I needed to change to Swiss (that H owns G now). The bigger the companies get the less options we have.  Diversify your spending yo.

By the way rfcbuf, where is "your area"? There has been strong implications in this thread that no one lives beyond the reach of mail-order. Do you live where you cannot mail-order powder, and have no Bass Pro or other big store- those that stock BP, but tells no one of it?

mods/OP:
It would be GREAT if we could now modify the title of the thread with such good info hidden under the "p-word".
--make title searches great again--
Title: Re: Pyrodex and Real Powder Info
Post by: OldMtnMan on December 07, 2018, 12:00:00 AM
We were trying to decide if Goex charcoal is made from old railroad ties or old pallets.