Cleaner firing black powder

Chris_B · July 26, 2007, 06:06 PM

Currently my Dad and I are using Pyrodex (P?, I don't exactly recall). His pistol is a .44 Old Army Remington repro, mine is a .36 Colt Police repro, steel frame. I'm using a 20 gr load, and he's shooting the same

Cleaning is actually quite easy, but I did have the barrel pilots get fouled and jam the barrel onto the frame last time we were shooting- judiciously use of the loading lever pushed the barrel off, no trouble, but I have heard of a cleaner black powder. What's the story with that?

Linear Thinker · August 7, 2007, 05:31 AM

Chris,

There are a few competitors to Pyrodex out there, I tried Canyon (out of business) and American Pioneer.
Canyon powder was much harder to ignite, was not much cleaner than Pyrodex, and was hygroscopic. After a couple of years in original sealed cans it turned to inert clumps.
American Pioneer seems to be somewhat cleaner, and works well. I am not convinced it's any better than Pyrodex, and don't know if it will keep.
Pyrodex will store for 20+ years, from personal experience.
Your question was about clean alternatives - American Pioneer might be your ticket.
Good luck,
LT

mec · August 7, 2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Pyrodex will store for 20+ years, from personal experience

A lot of people deny that but it's true. We shot some that had been opened and then put in a garage the first year it was introduced. Temperature ranged from -5 to 100+ degrees. Tried it out a couple of years ago and it was just as consistent as new stuff 'though velocities were a bit lower. I believe the older pyrodex was a bit milder than current lots (from looking at old published loading data.)

45Marlin carbine · August 7, 2007, 11:57 AM

777 is supposedly sulfur-less, I haven't tried any, have heard good and bad about. it's supposedly easier cleanup. I use black myself. Goex or Grafs.

mykeal · August 7, 2007, 12:12 PM

I've used 777 for the past couple of years, with an occasional cylinder or two of Goex holy black. I am very satisfied with 777; my experience is that its cleaner than real black (not a great deal, but noticeably) and cleans up easier. It does require different loads than real black for the same accuracy (within my ability to shoot).

Raider2000 · August 7, 2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linear Thinker

Pyrodex will store for 20+ years, from personal experience.

I can not state for 20 years but I will say that I have an opened & an unopened container of Pyrodex P from about 12-14 years & used that opened container last weekend "see my thread" My day with my Chronograph & velocities were quite impressive especially when my home "2 different ones" have ranged from 102*F w/ 80% humidity down to a nice 62*F w/ maybe 30% humidity.

As far as using your Colt Police, it actually sticks on the Main Arbor not the frame pins where it gets 100% of the blast when you fire the weapon, & it has been normal tradition for me & a few others that have Colt designed Revolvers, to use the loading lever to help in dissassembly when many shots are fired through it....

July 26, 2007, 06:06 PM	#1
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Cleaner firing black powder Currently my Dad and I are using Pyrodex (P?, I don't exactly recall). His pistol is a .44 Old Army Remington repro, mine is a .36 Colt Police repro, steel frame. I'm using a 20 gr load, and he's shooting the same Cleaning is actually quite easy, but I did have the barrel pilots get fouled and jam the barrel onto the frame last time we were shooting- judiciously use of the loading lever pushed the barrel off, no trouble, but I have heard of a cleaner black powder. What's the story with that?

August 7, 2007, 05:31 AM	#2
Linear Thinker Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Location: Blue State, NE US Posts: 202	Chris, There are a few competitors to Pyrodex out there, I tried Canyon (out of business) and American Pioneer. Canyon powder was much harder to ignite, was not much cleaner than Pyrodex, and was hygroscopic. After a couple of years in original sealed cans it turned to inert clumps. American Pioneer seems to be somewhat cleaner, and works well. I am not convinced it's any better than Pyrodex, and don't know if it will keep. Pyrodex will store for 20+ years, from personal experience. Your question was about clean alternatives - American Pioneer might be your ticket. Good luck, LT

August 7, 2007, 11:57 AM	#4
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	777 is supposedly sulfur-less, I haven't tried any, have heard good and bad about. it's supposedly easier cleanup. I use black myself. Goex or Grafs.

August 7, 2007, 12:12 PM	#5
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	I've used 777 for the past couple of years, with an occasional cylinder or two of Goex holy black. I am very satisfied with 777; my experience is that its cleaner than real black (not a great deal, but noticeably) and cleans up easier. It does require different loads than real black for the same accuracy (within my ability to shoot).