my experience with pyrodex pellets was not too stellar

[john keyes]

until today I had shot only loose powder.  I had an unopened box of 50 gr pellets that I had never used.  So today I fired off 30 shots (sixty pellets) of them, I tried to use them all but my sidekick kept popping open at the shots 28, 29 and 30.  Usually when the gun gets dirty it won't STAY closed but today it was staying closed, when I touch off the shot it popped open and the carrier went flying.  I even cleaned the surfaces that lockup and it was still real bad so I called it a day, I'll blow it all out with some air.

back to the pellets....I'm thinking I have been sloppy cleaning between shots and the powder is much more tolerant of left over solvent because I had never ever had a hangfire or misfire.  So today I had a bunch of hangfires, split second in duration, and one misfire.

I'm not slamming the pellets but I won't ever get anymore of them.

[john keyes]

just back today from shooting the last 20 shots from the box of pellets (40 pellets total).
I had a much better outing, for one I swabbed only with water and had no hangfires or misfires.
However despite very rigorous cleaning after yesterday's session the rifle would pop open after every shot.  the harder I tried to stop it by cleaning the hinge areas the worse it got.
finally (despite my breech plug being screwed in firmly already) I tightened the breech plug just a little more, it barely moved, but that cured the pop-opens and I started getting some nice shooting in.

yesterday I had been swabbing with petroleum solvents and I guess that was messing up the pellets.
But Im glad I shot up all the pellets and can use only Pyrodex RS powder now.

Looks like the empty pellet box will make a nice pistol ammo container.   

[Swampman]

I don't like pyrodex or 777 pellets.  They are too hard to light.  3F blackpowder is where it's at.