• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Pyrodex Vs. Traditional Black

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
I’m gonna guess that the pyrodex fans have not really hunted in various humidity with their gun loaded for several days.

I have, All kinds of weather, sun, rain, snow, and cold.
That's why I prefer the real stuff.
Pyrodex is my #2 choice. Subs go down hill from there.
I also consider 777 as pyrodex.
 
I’ve hunted from 90f to -40f in heat, rain, snow and bitter cold. Pyrodex has never failed me as long as I did my part. This is no different than the measures you would take when using Holy Black.
I’ve spent all day in the rain waiting for elk to sneak across, and when I fired the rifle a few days later, instantaneous (no elk sneaked across!!).
Walk
 
My flinters only behave well with real BP. Years back, when I took the leap from modern inlines to traditional guns, I thought you could just pour 777 down the bore of a flintlock, put some 4F in the pan and go shoot. That ended in a lot of swearing and a screw extraction, all the while discovering that the subs just don't play well with this ignition system. I switched to traditional BP and haven't looked back.
 
Again I wonder . . . How and why Pyrodex continues to be the default BP substitute when we have 777 at our disposal. Triple 7 does everything that Pyrodex does only much better and without the crud and corrosion. Other than tradition, I have no idea why 777 hasn’t killed the demand for Pyrodex almost entirely.
 
Again I wonder . . . How and why Pyrodex continues to be the default BP substitute when we have 777 at our disposal. Triple 7 does everything that Pyrodex does only much better and without the crud and corrosion. Other than tradition, I have no idea why 777 hasn’t killed the demand for Pyrodex almost entirely.

You need to shoot more Pyrodex, Then you will understand.
777 is great and all, but still lacks desirable qualities that Pyrodex has.
Both 777 and Pyrodex pale in comparison the Real black powder.
 
777 isn't really an improvement over Pyrodex. If you wanted to improve Pyrodex, it would be more like Real black powder.
Pyrodex is a substitute for Real black powder, 777 is a substitute for Pyrodex.
 
Pyrodex 100 grains + conical+ prime in pan= Meat in freezer.
I do not know what else to deliberate on....
Have a great season.
SM
When you said "prime in pan" you must be talking about a flintlock.

Please folks. Don't use Pyrodex in a flintlock unless you pour at least 5 grains of REAL BLACK POWDER down the bore first to act as an igniter. If you use just Pyrodex by itself in a flintlock you should expect to have 2 to 3 flashes in the pan before you will finally get it to fire. I speak from personal experience about this as I have been there, done that.
 
True, it is harder to ignite. Those pellets they make have a hole in them and a surface igniter coating. Those new fangled things even use shot shell primers. I can't wrap my head around them and acquired one when a friend died and it will never be shot by me.
I use Pyrodex in my Hawken but only BP in my flinters.
The problem with 777 is it does not want ANY compression or it cracks to dust. If used in BP cartridge, not enough can be put in to equal BP.
 
Again I wonder . . . How and why Pyrodex continues to be the default BP substitute when we have 777 at our disposal. Triple 7 does everything that Pyrodex does only much better and without the crud and corrosion. Other than tradition, I have no idea why 777 hasn’t killed the demand for Pyrodex almost entirely.
I've been using Pyrodex P and RS for more than 20 years in .44 revolvers up to .58 muskets and never had a problem with ignition until CCI stopped making decent musket caps. Still use RS in the rifle musket but add 10-15 gr. of Goex 1st with 45 gr. of RS with a No.11 cap. Even the CCI re-enactors caps won't set that off. Tried 777 and gave it away. The crust that it formed, being sugar based was terrible to clean out. I can buy Goex but too expensive as I shoot a lot.
 
I have had nothing but success using P-dex in my circa 1992 New Englander for many years.
I have even taken the liberty of turning down slightly a nipple so that it takes the # 10 caps.
It has consistantly gone off round after round even when dirty. Both conical and patched R.B
The only time is when I give it a hard flush with solvent I may have to prime under the nipple as it still my be a little damp even after dry patching.
At 100 yards I can still manage to get it to stay in five inch groups although I will not take a shot at a Deer as my eyes are not as good as they used to be...so I take closer shots.
Same for my Hawken Flinter...it does work pretty good for what it is, although I think the barrel needs to go off to Hoyt for a through examination and possible rebore as I got this as new old Stock about a year or so ago. The barrel my have not been bored correctly when it was made for it is way off, about six inches to the right at a very close distance. On a rest with no flinching and instant ignition.
All the variables have been examined leaving this as the next step as far as the flinter is concerned.
I do understand that my success with P-dex in the new englander does not set a standard for all things
Muzzleloading, results will vary for everyone...mine just digests it without any major hassles.
Have a safe and successful Season and above all, be safe.
Best to all

SM
 
Only issue I ever had was with Pyrodex "rs". I would get a hesitatiin ignition only occasionally in 50cal. Switched to "p" and no issues since.
 
Way back in the late 1980's I bought Pyrodex RS, as a member of an Artillery Civil War reeinactment group, I was gifted lots of Dupont Fg and FFg poweders, which I also shot.
The Pyrodex had less fouling in my CVA rifles and reproduction Remington and Colt revolvers.
Accuracy was about the same. With my .45 calibure CVA "Kentucky" percussion rifle, I could kill broom sticks at 100 yards with either powder. (shooting prb. Powder measure set at 120 grains. Pillow ticking patches. I don't remember what lube I used. Remington or CCI number 11 caps.)
Citrently shooting Swiss FFg black powder in my .54 calibure Thompson Center Hawken rifle.
Eventually I'll get some Pyrodex and see how it does in this rifle.
 
Back
Top