Author Topic: American Pioneer Powder/Perdcussion cap misfire (Read 549 times)

Cmarti · « **on:** May 19, 2005, 03:51:16 AM »

I have had a T/C New Englander for years. I never had a problem with
black powder, but hated the clean up. I have had nice groups with the Pioneer powder with my inlines and love the quick clean up. However, I have random misfires with FFG in the sidelock percussion New Englander.
I pay special attention to the vent and nipple. I tried grinding down a musket nipple, but still can't get a good strike from the hammer. Is there a black powder substitute with ignition qualities closer to BP and easy clean up? ...Or a suggestion to my setup to have better ignition with the
Pioneer Powder? I know this is the "Modern" forum, but the "Traditional" forum would call me lazy and tell me to use BP. :oops:

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2005, 05:45:36 AM »

Couple of things. Easiest is to get fffg Pioneer Powder. I think the ffg is too coarse for the sidelocks. I believe the powder forms too much air space between the ignition path in the bottom of the barrel and the cross hole over to the nipple. I have not had this experience myself but that is my best guess. Next is if you can find Black Mag'3 I think the ignition temperature is lower than Pioneer and the powder is a lot finer grain as they only make one grind and it is at least fffg or finer. It shot great in my T/C Hawken although I was using cci mag caps. Hope this helps; and yes a lot of the modern guys have traditional stuff too. Personally I don't think the bickering does any of us any good. There are enough of the non-firearm people to deal with without fighting among ourselves. I am assuming you have checked to make sure the path is not fouled so I didn't even mention that one.

Mark whiz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2005, 07:39:19 AM »

I'm with Keith on switching to the 3fg Pioneer and using the CCI #11Mag caps(if you aren't using them already). I've found the #11Mags to be the most reliable - they really aren't any "hotter", they just have more compound in the cup to set off ignition.

I have heard several complaints about the 2fg cut not igniting well in sidelocks - and the large size of the granules is as valid an explanation for poor ignition as any. I will say I never had any trouble igniting the 2fg in my inline - but that's a horse of a slightly different color. :wink:

Cmarti · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2005, 03:26:54 AM »

Obviously, a genius I am not. I am so ingrained (no pun intended) the 3f is for pistols and priming pans, that I did not think of using a finer version.
I have shot 2F in any powder for 25 years and it had become a rule. Back to the range to play with new powders..but hey, I have never had a
stress filled day shooting black powder. Thanks!

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2005, 07:19:22 AM »

I'm not sure where the 2F is the only thing that you can use in a rifle came from but with almost every powder including the synthetics the finer grain 3F seems to burn cleaner and give better results. I have a lot of 2F in Goex and 777 and Clean Shot and wish I had bought the 3F in all of them. Black Mag'3 solved the problem by only making one grade and it is very fine. I would call it Three and a half F. I think this might just be the cure for your problem.