Pyrodex in the .45-70

[GH1]

Has anyone ever tried it? I was thinking about it since I have some on hand, both FFFg and FFg. Which would be preferable?
GH1

[Ranch13]

It has been done lots of times in the almost 40 years that the stuff has been available. It usually takes a bit more compression than what Hogdons recommends to get any sort of decent accuracy. It is super prone to rust your gun and ruin your cases if the gun and cases aren't properly and immediately cleaned.
FFg is the place to start and probably stick with.

[Smokin Joe]

It is super prone to rust your gun and ruin your cases if the gun and cases aren't properly and immediately cleaned.

+1 on that. I lost a Shikari barrel to pitting after a "friend" let it go for 3 days.

[GH1]

I figured as much on the barrel, but I hadn't considered the toll it would take on the brass. I'll have to give it some serious thought, thanks for the info guys.
GH1  

[stimpylu32]

Has anyone ever tried it? I was thinking about it since I have some on hand, both FFFg and FFg. Which would be preferable?
GH1

FFg is about all I shoot in my 45/70 anymore , it just works wonders with cast bullets . I like the Pyrodex RS , I even made my own 24" drop tube to load the case's . Its not as bad as the Holy Black as far as bore pitting and case life , I just run a Bore Snake soaked in warm soapy water down the barrel and toss the case's into the tumbler like all my other brass .
 
stimpy 

[mechanic]

I've about shot up what I loaded...I like trailboss better, but I carry a gallon jug of soapy water with me to the range and dump in the brass as I shoot it.  When I'm done, I use some of the same water to swab with.
 
It was a novelty for a while but I'm too lazy for all that cleaning.
 
Ben

[Ranch13]

Hogdons own words about the corrosiveness of Pyrodex, many of us have found that to be somewhat understated,,,
Pyrodex does produce a corrosive residue from combustion. Even though this fouling is softer than the fouling produced by blackpowder, firearms should be cleaned after each use. Hodgdon Powder Co. recommends the use of natural cleaning solvents.
Cartridge cases that have been fired using Pyrodex require special care. As soon as possible after firing, cases should be de-primed and immersed in 50% water and white vinegar. The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the corrosive residues remaining in the case. Care should be taken to limit the soaking time of the cases in the vinegar to 10 minutes. Soaking for a longer time may cause etching of the brass case resulting in shortened case life. Rinse cases with clear water, dry and polish in a tumbler with corncob or walnut shell media.

[Blackhawk44]

After a friend pitted a stainless Ruger OA by letting it wait overnight (our humidity is not that bad), it only emphasized the cleaning problems I had experienced.  Tiring of the worry, I gave away the last six pounds of Pyrodex.  Real black has never given me the cleaning issues that I had with Pyrodex.

[shot1]

Treat Pyrodex exactly like black powder in loading and cleaning up gun and cases. I have gotten some of the best accuracy out of Pyrodex Select in my Sharps 45-70. Shoot cast bullets and use the proper lube for black powder to keep the fouling soft so with the next shot the bullet will not strip out of the rifling because the fouling is so hard. SPG is one of the best store bought lubes for black powder cartridge use. I use a Walters 30 thousands wad between the powder and bullet and compress the powder about 1/10 of an inch and use Fed 215 mag primers.

[stimpylu32]

I screwed up and let my ( Blued ) Handi 45/70 sit 2 weeks before cleaning , I FORGOT that I had finished the day with some RS loaded rounds just to shoot them up ( only a so-so load ) and it looks fine , no pits or other signs of corrosion . Stainless can react badly to caustics in a very short time though .
 
stimpy

[tacklebury]

I've gone the pyrodex route too, but found it actually is worse in my book for rusting surfaces.  I have gone back to Goex FFFg and have no issues with rust between the range and time I can get to cleaning in the evening.  I've actually had spots appear literally in 4 hours with pyrodex on exterior surfaces.  Really discolors brass too unless you drop your empties into a water jug or something and clean right away.