For those of you who have been shooting real black powder for decades, this will certainly seem like I have just now received a firm grasp of the obvious. But I figured I'd share for the sake of others who may be, like me, a bit early in their journey.
I've been messing around with muzzleloaders for 3-4 years now. Started with a cap gun and Pyrodex. I figured that was all I'd ever really need.
But after I picked up a couple of flintlocks this year & was forced to find a way to feed those things, I got to try out real black powder -- some homemade and some bought. While it is necessary for the flintlocks, I figured I'd keep using the Pyrodex on my percussion guns. Ignition delays with percussion/Pyrodex were only slight but also common. It's faster than a flintlock but still feels noticeably slower than a modern weapon. I figured that was just how it went.
But then, just a couple months ago, I tried black powder in the percussion guns. Wow! While Pyrodex and CCI caps would give a very slight delay every few shots, real black powder feels almost like I'm shooting a modern weapon. I also have gotten better at making my own caps to feed those percussion guns. These caps have gotten more reliable and much more consistent ignition than anything I've bought pre-made. The combination of shooting real black powder with my own homemade caps has converted me to the church of the Holy Black. It's just better -- by a longshot. Now I know. I'm converted.
Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with those cans of Pyrodex in the cupboard.
I've been messing around with muzzleloaders for 3-4 years now. Started with a cap gun and Pyrodex. I figured that was all I'd ever really need.
But after I picked up a couple of flintlocks this year & was forced to find a way to feed those things, I got to try out real black powder -- some homemade and some bought. While it is necessary for the flintlocks, I figured I'd keep using the Pyrodex on my percussion guns. Ignition delays with percussion/Pyrodex were only slight but also common. It's faster than a flintlock but still feels noticeably slower than a modern weapon. I figured that was just how it went.
But then, just a couple months ago, I tried black powder in the percussion guns. Wow! While Pyrodex and CCI caps would give a very slight delay every few shots, real black powder feels almost like I'm shooting a modern weapon. I also have gotten better at making my own caps to feed those percussion guns. These caps have gotten more reliable and much more consistent ignition than anything I've bought pre-made. The combination of shooting real black powder with my own homemade caps has converted me to the church of the Holy Black. It's just better -- by a longshot. Now I know. I'm converted.
Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with those cans of Pyrodex in the cupboard.