lowdown on powders

[jdbe]

Ok that is the best to use to clean between shots with pyrodex?  I still see al lot of stuff on the patches when I run them down between shots.

Is tripple 7 a lot cleaner?  I hear it adds to velocity and is les dense than pyro so you get more shots per pound.  Is it worth it to buy over pyro for shooting sabbots at 110 grains?  Will breech plug threads not colg as fast with it?

[Keith Lewis]

Answer depends a little on what rifle you are using. I personally use a T/C stainless Omega and have tried everything on the market. (check out the comparison I did this site under Black Mag 3 Powder). I recommend American Pioneer fffg powder or Black Mag'3 if you want good performance with a little power increase over Pyrodex and a lot cleaner rifle. Personally I use only Black Mag'3 now but it is hard to find and expensive when you do find it. Expect to pay $25 a pound which I think it is worth for the benefits. You have to make up your own mind on that. I would not use Triple Seven for anything as it is a mess in my rifle. I don't get the seized breechplugs that is common with 777 as I use the T/C tape but the crud ring it forms in my rifle is too difficult for me to deal with.

[Camper]

I dont think that I would close the door on 777.  I use the pellets and find they clean up very easy  in my M/L and the only time I had the breech plug almost seize, is when I tightened the hell out of it and forgot to put Gorrilla grease on the threads.  I shoot 100grains of 777pellets and use 245 grain powerbelts. Oh and there is a hell of alot less stink with the 777

Camper

[Camper]

I forgot to add in the post above that 130gr of 777 pellets are equivelent to 150 gr of pyrodex pellets.

Camper

[Mark whiz]

jdbe,

You will find that 777 does leave fouling, but it breaks up much easier than the Pyro fouling does.  When spit patching between rounds, I've found that 3 patches will pretty much remove all fouling - but when continuing to shoot, I only run 1 patch between rounds.

Now with my Knight, 777 DOES tend to gum up my breech plug - and pretty badly at that.  I still use #11cap ignition, so the common recommendation to loosen the plug every few shots to make sure it doesn't freeze doesn't work for me as I'd have to remove the nipple everytime to do it.  I've tried every grease, anti-sieze, etc I could find and the only grease product that come close to working is CVA's Slick Breech Plug & Nipple grease - but after about 20 shots, even it fails to prevent seizing.  The only 100% surefire cure I found is using the  T/C Breech Plug Tape (or a Generic heavy duty Teflon equivalent) - this has never failed to work and it is actually easier to clean out of the threads than any of the greases, so it isn't a bad thing to use anyway.

777 is definitely more powerful than Pyro, by 10 to 15%.  Your 110gr Pyro load will probably only need 90gr of 777 for equivalent performance.  Based on my average rifle load, you can figure on 6 to 10 more shots out of a one lb bottle of 777.

[DannoBoone]

jdbe -

As you well know, Pyro will eat your barrel if you do not clean it after
shooting even one shot.

Imagine shooting an explosive syrup in your rifle - that's H 777. The sugar
based stuff freezes breech plugs and causes horrible crud rings in a lot of
rifles. Try some..........your barrel may be one of those in which the problem
is less severe than those a lot of us have.

Clean Shot is very good, as far as residue left in the barrel, but it does not
have the power of Pyro or T7.

Goex Clear Shot has similar results as Clean Shot, both in power and
cleanliness. However, some have reported dampness in the barrel of
sidelocks after firing a few rounds with Clear Shot. Personally, I have not
experienced this in my Encore and have gotten the best accuracy using
it.

Per Keith Lewis's results, I am anxious to try BlackMag3. Take his advice
and read his results using it. If indeed, it has the slower pressure peaks
as smokeless in a barrel resulting in less severe "kicks" to the shooter,
along with more power per grain than 777, and accuracy to boot! WOW!
The price difference may just be worth it!!!

[JRSR126]

I was reading in a muzzleloading magazine that Pyro starts breaking down when the jar is opened especially as the air space in the jar increases. They said a load shot in Nov-Dec would be quite different than that same load shot 6 months later. Have you guys noticed a significant power reduction with Pyro over 6 months.  What do you do to maintain quality of powder. I guess you could get a smaller container or pack the airspace with foam or something. I keep mine in my basement which has a dehumidifier.

How does the other powders hold up over time (Triple 7, Black Mag etc)?

Makes you wonder if you buy a batch of Pyro on how fresh it is,

Please advise. Thank you.

[Redhawk1]

I would not give up on triple7 so fast. It is a very good and reliable powder for me.  

[Stan M.]

I have used Pyrodex for quite a few years. I have had a can clump up before. It was in my old reloading room in an outside garage. It was exposed to heat and cold. It was fine to shoot but it didn't seem to be any different. Maybe a chronograph might have shown it. I didn't hunt with it though. I'm sure some of the pizazz may have been gone.
 I now keep all my powders on a shelf in a hall closet near the front door. Climate controlled heat and AC. I can get it out of the house quick in case of a fire as well.
 I have several cans of Pyrodex, and 777 that I have had for several years sitting there. Some have been open and some not and I wouldn't hesitate to use it because it hasn't been exposed to high heat of cold as well as humidity.
My two pennies,
Stan