[Glenn Kelley]

Please fill me in on the various blackpowder alternatives.How do they perform compared to BP?How does the clean up compare?Thanks.

[NEW222]

I think what you are after is a list. If so I will start and am sure others will help me and add to this.
Pyrodex
Pyrodex Select
Triple Seven
Black Mag 3
Jim Shockey's Gold

Sorry this is all I can think of at the moment. Unfortunately here in Winnipeg I only have the option of the top three. As far as performance and clean up I cannot anwser that as I have never had access to the real black powder. Sorry this isn't much, but hope it will be a start.

NEW222

[Ala Dan]

Some say that the American Pioneer caplets are cleaner burning,
allowing you to get more shots without cleaning~?

[mec]

American Pioneer is considerably milder than others.
H777 behaves eratically if compressed to any degree
Pyrodex P generaly gets higher velocity than goex 3fg and is very close to swiss 2f.
All the above in revolvers. In some recent carbine shooting I've done, the pyrodex P was behind goex. Pyrodex RS was erratic in a rifled musket but got about the same velocity as 2f goex.

I clean them all the same way so, can't tell if one is less prone to rust that the others. More black crap flows out from traditional black than any of the others and pyrodex and especially h777 and pioneer tend to build up in the barrel or chambers more slowly than black.

the substitutes are more difficult to ignite and delayed ignition is more common than with black.

[stevelyn]

Add Goex Pinnacle to the list. I don't know anything about it and the Goex website isn't real informative either.

I use Triple 7 in my caplock .54 GPR. It's nearly as clean as nitro and the smoke has a neutral non-odor to it. T-7 also cleans up very easily with hot water. At the range a few swipes with a flannel patch on a jag will clean most of the residue out.
Triple 7 has about 15% more ooomph than BP or Pyrodex. I spark it off with CCI #11 Magnum caps. I've never had a misfire with it that wasn't self-inflicted.

[redneck2]

I've used Pyrodex RS, Clean Shot (or Clear Shot, I forget which), and Goex 2f.

With Pyrodex, I can get 4 shots in my Knight without cleaning. Some white smoke and some smell. Never chrono'd so I can't give velocity

With Goex, I also think ignition is easier. I let the gun set for a week loaded during deer season without problems. More smoke and smell. Fireworks when shooting at dusk are impressive. Sparks and fire-ball. One shot and the next is real hard to load (sabot).

My Clean Shot is several years old. I've been told that it goes bad and I believe it. Left a grey, kind of mess that turned gummy when I cleaned with solvent

I'm trying 777 next

[Glenn Kelley]

Hadn't thought about the ignition aspects.I use a flintlock the most.

[Jaeger]

I would definitely stick with good old black powder in your flint lock.
I've used Pyrodex and 777 in my Encore and they work great. My flintlock does not care for them. If the powder ignites it usually goes off like a hang fire.

Black powder isn't all that bad to clean. I mainly use Goex Ffg in my flintlock. It's a 1/60 twist so I really just shoot patched round ball. I lube my patches with "Lehigh Valley Patch Lube". That stuff is the best! It actually cleans as you shoot and allows you keep up a pretty decent string of fire before swabbing out the bore. I don't know what's in it but it sure does work well.
When I am ready to clean I remove the barrel and dunk it breach end first into a mason jar of hot, soapy water. The hotter the better. I'll wet a patch and work it in and out of the bore. It will draw the hot water up into the barrel and loosen up the crud in the breech. When the water gets dark, dump it and repeat with a fresh jar of hot water. That one will remain fairly clean. Remove thae barrel, dry it and give it a light coat of oil. DON'T FORGET TO SWAB OUT THE OIL BEFORE YOU SHOOT!!!!! It can contaminate your first charge and make a real mess that has to be removed the hard way. Don't ask me how I know! :cuss:

My method only takes a few minutes and a few patches.

[Tinker2]

Glenn Kelley

Like you I’m looking for some thing to use in a flintlock.
Black powder is not available with out going 400 miles
round trip. I have tried 777, only worked if I put a small
amount in the barrel first and in the pan. That works ok.
I don’t like Pyrodex, not sure why probably because it was
about the first in a long time for a black powder substitute.
I did have a # of some thing that did work in my flint locks
but I gave it to some friends to try and now don’t remember
what is was and can’t find it any more. If you find something
that let us/me know.

[Glenn Kelley]

Jaeger,
You just answered a question that I hadn't thought to ask.I've been using T/C Bore Butter on my patches and since I started using it to protect the clean barrel I haven't had a problem with the second or third shot being almost impossible to seat.Didn't know you were supposed to clean out the oil.

The T/C products seem to work well.I get at least 10 shots without troubles.