pyrodex in a flintlock???

[norfolk shooter]

I was just wondering if i used BP in the priming pan then pyrodex as the main charge will it work??

[tacfoley]

Sir - I write on muzzleloadingforum.com in the US. The general concensus over in the US of A, where there prolly about 8 million BP shooters, is that you will be farting in the thunder to waste your time and energy trying to do what THEY can't do.

The in-line percussion muzzle-loader CAN and DOES use Pyrodex, or another of the subs, but only because they are percussion and use a #209 SHOTGUN primer to set off the charge.

I often wonder if I'm not wasting ALL my time trying to ejumacate folks....

tac

[norfolk shooter]

thanks tac i just thought that the flash from a good ol' BP primer chrage might get the sub to go off. oh well i guess im going to have to source some BP (fenlands in warboys never seem to have any at the mo).

[tacfoley]

thanks tac i just thought that the flash from a good ol' BP primer chrage might get the sub to go off. oh well i guess im going to have to source some BP (fenlands in warboys never seem to have any at the mo).

Needless to say, there ARE those who have tried duplex loads of 10-20gr of BP topped off with a sub, but I really don't see the point of that.

For future reference, please note that Pyrodex flashes at 740F and Triple 7 at 800+F. Regular BP, on the other paw, goes off at around 500F. This is, of course, intentional on the part of the makers, as a low level deflagration = VERY DANGEROUS TO HANDLE, and a high level = Won't go off accidentally even with the odd spark or two. This is howcome BP is a Class 1 Explosive, and the subs are propellants.

I've seen a practical demo of a flintlock that was actually eventually MADE to shoot Pyrodex - it was VERY sad watching the swoosh/whoosh............................................ .....................bounce, bounce, bounce........

In-line percusssion [spit] rifles use a very spiffy 50gr cylindrical pressed-charge pellet of Pyrodex with a BP core. As the name implies, the flash in-line from the HUGE shotgun primer ignites the BP core and thence the rest of the pellet. The downsides are -

1. You can only load in multiples of pellets - and take it from me, a 150gr load is a WHOLE world of difference from a 100gr load.

2. They are unavailable here in yUK, AFAIK.

3. The guns look just like big-bore regular bolt action rifles.

4. They are NOT permitted in any form of BP competition here in UK.

The upside is, uh....



















Sorry, can't think of an upside right now.

Leave that one with me.

tac

[slowcoach]

Pyrodex RS fires ok in my Pedersoli Brown Bess 8 out of 10 throws of the flint.
BUT the vent hole needs to be pricked every time, I think not so much as to clear fouling but to create a cone or space in the well tamped down main charge into which the BPowder priming charge of the pan can shoot its fire into.
A pipe cleaner inserted and twirled once or twice does the trick more often than not
I use a load of 80 grains RS main charge and 4FG priming BP.

As Tac says the BP main charges usually only need the whiff of a spark to start roaring but I adjust the method depending on whats available to throw the lead

[tacfoley]

Pyrodex RS fires ok in my Pedersoli Brown Bess 8 out of 10 throws of the flint.
BUT the vent hole needs to be pricked every time, I think not so much as to clear fouling but to create a cone or space in the well tamped down main charge into which the BPowder priming charge of the pan can shoot its fire into.
A pipe cleaner inserted and twirled once or twice does the trick more often than not
I use a load of 80 grains RS main charge and 4FG priming BP.

As Tac says the BP main charges usually only need the whiff of a spark to start roaring but I adjust the method depending on whats available to throw the lead

Ah, OK. Why bother, is all I'm asking. The original users of the Brown Bess used the same propellant powder in the breech AND in the pan.

tac

[slowcoach]

The subs are easy to purchase 5 miles away black involves a 150 mile round trip. Keeps em running no matter