Powder? Pyrodex

IrishMaster · January 3, 2010, 01:24 AM

I am new to black powder. But i use to reload all the time.

Now my question's are

1. The Pyrodex Pistol pellets only weight about 25 grains?

2. Will this kill a javalina?

I also have a pound of Pyrodex P.

3. I have a powder messure and it is weird, I have to fill it to the 50 mark to
get 30 grains, is this normal?

I am using my Dillon 3 tier powder measure.

And yes, i got it as a starter pack at cabela's.

hickstick_10 · January 3, 2010, 03:29 AM

your powder measure is a VOLUME measure, those graduations are for black powder. Essentially pyrodex was made to replace blackpowder volume for volume, not i repeat NOT WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT.

I personally wouldnt use 25 grains of BP on any animal, double it up and you got something.

Gator_Weiss · January 3, 2010, 04:28 AM

Pyrodex is intended to be equal in charge strength to black powder by BULK RATE only. VOLUME = VOLUME. Weight does not equal weight for Pyrodex vs black powder.

What are you shooting? What gun and what caliber?

Like he said - 25 grains is a very, very light load.

Do some careful research on your caliber and your weapon.

Delmar · January 3, 2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Like he said - 25 grains is a very, very light load.

Unless he has a brass frame revolver, in which case it's pretty much a max load.

IrishMaster · January 3, 2010, 02:28 PM

Sweet, i was wondering that. I mean about the volume. And thanks for the info, that really helped.

As for my gun, I bought it at Cabela's1858 New Army .44 Caliber Part number FK-210082

And it doesn't have a brass frame.

I have to say, I am a life long bow hunter, I bought this B/C gun on a whim. An I love it! It is a blast. My kids watch old as westerns, and get excited when they see that gun.

hickstick_10 · January 3, 2010, 05:20 PM

Youl enjoy it alot.

If theres one gun that turns heads at the range its my SS old army when it belches a big smoke cloud, most guys put down the glocks and the tikkas and ask if they can shoot it once or twice, last time i was there some kid wearing oakleys and earings had himself a nice BP pistol.....sold his old Sig to get it.

Sometimes its quality of shooting, as opposed to quantity

ZVP · January 3, 2010, 07:25 PM

Yep Cap and Ball and Black powder clouds sure get attention at the range!
I expected complaints about the smello, but it rarely comes up. Many, many good laughs about letting the gunfight smoke clear though!
Black powder shooting is shooting pices of history and even more than shooting a nice single action reolover, compliments and comments about "Cowboy Guns" come my way all the time! I like shooting historical guns and reliving the whims and frustrations that Cap and Ball shooting revives.
ZVP

simonkenton · January 3, 2010, 08:23 PM

Cap and ball pistols are marginal for big game hunting.
You ought to use loose powder, and load as much as you can into the cylinder.
You certainly should get 30 grains in there, maybe a little more.

If you are shooting at a javelina at 20 or 30 yards and make a good lung shot you will kill that pig with 30 grains and the round ball.

IrishMaster · January 3, 2010, 11:07 PM

I usually get to well with-in 20 yards for a bow shot.

January 3, 2010, 04:28 AM	#3
Gator_Weiss Member Join Date: December 12, 2009 Location: Southwestern USA Posts: 40	Pyrodex - bulk rate is same measurement. Weight is NOT the same measurement. Pyrodex is intended to be equal in charge strength to black powder by BULK RATE only. VOLUME = VOLUME. Weight does not equal weight for Pyrodex vs black powder. What are you shooting? What gun and what caliber? Like he said - 25 grains is a very, very light load. Do some careful research on your caliber and your weapon.

January 3, 2010, 07:25 PM	#7
ZVP Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2009 Posts: 1,102	B/P and attention... Yep Cap and Ball and Black powder clouds sure get attention at the range! I expected complaints about the smello, but it rarely comes up. Many, many good laughs about letting the gunfight smoke clear though! Black powder shooting is shooting pices of history and even more than shooting a nice single action reolover, compliments and comments about "Cowboy Guns" come my way all the time! I like shooting historical guns and reliving the whims and frustrations that Cap and Ball shooting revives. ZVP

January 3, 2010, 03:29 AM	#2
hickstick_10 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 477	your powder measure is a VOLUME measure, those graduations are for black powder. Essentially pyrodex was made to replace blackpowder volume for volume, not i repeat NOT WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT. I personally wouldnt use 25 grains of BP on any animal, double it up and you got something.

January 3, 2010, 02:28 PM	#5
IrishMaster Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2009 Posts: 3	Sweet, i was wondering that. I mean about the volume. And thanks for the info, that really helped. As for my gun, I bought it at Cabela's1858 New Army .44 Caliber Part number FK-210082 And it doesn't have a brass frame. I have to say, I am a life long bow hunter, I bought this B/C gun on a whim. An I love it! It is a blast. My kids watch old as westerns, and get excited when they see that gun.

January 3, 2010, 05:20 PM	#6
hickstick_10 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 477	Youl enjoy it alot. If theres one gun that turns heads at the range its my SS old army when it belches a big smoke cloud, most guys put down the glocks and the tikkas and ask if they can shoot it once or twice, last time i was there some kid wearing oakleys and earings had himself a nice BP pistol.....sold his old Sig to get it. Sometimes its quality of shooting, as opposed to quantity

January 3, 2010, 08:23 PM	#8
simonkenton Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Posts: 891	Cap and ball pistols are marginal for big game hunting. You ought to use loose powder, and load as much as you can into the cylinder. You certainly should get 30 grains in there, maybe a little more. If you are shooting at a javelina at 20 or 30 yards and make a good lung shot you will kill that pig with 30 grains and the round ball.

January 3, 2010, 11:07 PM	#9
IrishMaster Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2009 Posts: 3	I usually get to well with-in 20 yards for a bow shot.