Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting BP vs Pyrodex

[BIGNASTY]

Got new TOY for Birthday (a little early) anyone used Pyrodex in Metallic cartridges like the 50-100 for the Sharps Rifles? Have plenty of BP what's the difference in loading by weight or volume? Any REAL, PRINTED LOAD INFO WOULD BE APPRECATED, don't really want to load by, Well Grandpa use to filler up and smack the slug in with a BALL PEEN AND PINCH THE NECK DOWN TIGHTER THAN A FROGS BUTT!!!

BIG

 

[Axtell3]

http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=reload

http://www.bpcr.net/forum/

http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=5&sid=a60c6ded8e7cf40e4451532b7567e60b



A few years ago, my brothers gave me an Axtell 1877 model. I haven't gotten to the reload stage yet, but did bookmark these sites.

I also have a book by Mike Ventrino- "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West", that I found to be quite good.



Pyrodex in my opinion still stinks, but forms more of a crusty buildup than the real deal ( FROM EXPERIENCE WITH A MUZZEL LOADER) As long as you clean your rifle it has no benefit over BP. That'll be 2 cents please.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Thanks Axtell I have found a few reads on the subject but like as many as I can to compare each to the other. Thanks again.

BIG

 

[JLeake]

Pryodex is equivalent to black powder by volume only.

 

[Axtell3]

http://www.bpcr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3704

 

[BIGNASTY]

The more I read about Pyrodex I think I will stay away from it. The reloading manual that I have gave both, I was just wondering if any had experience with Pyrodex

 

[Axtell3]

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Black+powder+loads+for+"sharpshooters!"-a03451922

 

[Gunny]

Axtell3,
While I did not read the entire article you linked to, one paragraph was all it took me to know that this guy didn't have a clue about Black Powder or the loading of these old cartridge rifles, I do have a comment or two.

I competed for over twenty years shooting these old BPCR rifles. BPCR is Black Powder Cartridge Rifle, I shoot in Creedmoor Matches across the country as well as Long Range matches out to 1,000 yds but mostly I competed at Silhouette. The loading and shooting of these old Smoke Poles is really one of the simplest forms of Hand Loading there is. Cleaning a Black Powder Cartridge rifle takes all of 5 minutes and was never the task so many associate with Muzzle Loaders, which can be a bear to clean. As an example when shooting a Silhouette match the normal shots for record are either 40 shots or 60 shots, add to this unlimited shighters shots within the timed period you are looking at anywhere from 65 to 90 or so rounds fired in one day. I never cleaned my rifle during the day only at the end of the match. These rifles are capable of extreme accuracy especially at known distance's when loaded correctly, and once the shooters learns how to control the fouling that is always present with Black Powder.

Pyrodex in comparison is just the worst stuff you can shoot, it is extremely corrosive, and will "NEVER" provide the accuracy that is there with Black Powder.

Big Nasty, I would recommend you talk to someone who knows how to load one of these old rifles before you take Grandpa's advice. No black magic shooting one of these, but anytime you use words like Ball Peen and Frog's Butte and are talking about shooting you are headed down the wrong path. Drop me a note and I would be glad to show you the path...

Gunny

 

[Axtell3]

What he got to in the end was that BP was a much better option than Pyrodex.
I have my rifle zeroed, but have not had the opportunity to shoot any distance yet. I don't have all the paraphernalia put together yet to shoot more than a few shots, but I do like the old way. I'm in the accumulating parts phase I guess for reloading. I talked to Carmen Axtell, who built my rifle, and shot it with success in a competiton, and she gave me some pointers. I wish I remembered them LOL.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I appreciate all the opinions on this and have yet had time to collect all the equipment to reload BP cartridges due to family projects that need my attention while the ground is still thawed. I have been doing some reading in Lymans book on reloading with Black Powder and some others that were suggested by some that have a pretty good knowledge of black powder firearms. C. Sharps the people that built the rifle have been a GREAT source of info and who better than the one that builds them!



Gunny



I WILL be in touch with you on this subject as im new to BP cartridge but not to BP front loaders, last years Elk was taken with a 54cal round ball with 120gr of BP pushing it out the end of my Great Plains rifle at about 25 yards after an hour of belly crawling to get that close, best hunt that I that I can remember in a VERY long time. Family says that they can still hear the echoes of me yelling after the Elk was down, I have NEVER shot an animal that close WHAT A RUSH OF ADRENALINE THAT WAS!!! They watched the entire hunt thru bino's and spotting scopes.



In the front loader I use Black Powder only and to clean it RIGHT or WRONG I pull the barred and use warm soapy water and scrub until the soapy water comes out the barrel the same as it went in. At very most a 10min operation.



Thanks again for the info

BIG