[Pancho]

In Sam Fadala's 5th edition book 'Blackpowder shooting' he states that Pyrodex has been reformulated to perform in flintlocks. Does anyone know of any data to support this claim?

[unspellable]

Sounds like hot air to me. For the main charge a flint lock doesn't want anything any different than a cap lock. For the pan you want FFFFG and Pyrodex has never been offered in that fine a granulation.

[Voodoochile]

Actually I've fired a Flinter with FFFG the same as the main charge with no issues.

It was also common practice during & prior to the Revolutionary War to tear the tail of the cartridge & pour a small amount into the pan from the cartridge & then closing the frizzen prior to loading the weapon.

But to answer the OP's question, I have never heard of Hodgdon changing the formula of Pyrodex to accomodate Flintlock firearms but there are a few Flinter's out there that is designed to use pelleted propellent like TC's Fire Storm.

[arcticap]

No one recommends using Pyrodex in the pan. However IIRC some folks have used it successfully, although it may be very unreliable. It seems that folks who tend to do this are novices but they do manage to make it work somehow, probably along with having a number of misfires.
I located a thread with posts by one such fellow who uses it for priming the pan of his Traditions Deer Hunter .50 flintlock.

He stated:

i have used pyrodex Rs powder and to get it to go off i have to fill my flash pan up till it almost wont shut to get it to go off

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47881

[dwave]

From Hodgdon's website:
To insure proper ignition in flintlock systems, 5 grains of FFFFG priming powder should be placed into the bore prior to loading the main charge of Triple Seven or Pyrodex.

The main powder charge should be reduced by 5 grains to compensate for the addition of the priming powder.

[mykeal]

Hodgdon's advice to use 5 grains is theoretically ok, but as a practical matter 5 grains is a pretty small amount and can easily be lost when pouring down a barrel. By the time it gets to the bottom there's not much of the 5 grains left together, so when the main charge is poured it the real black is pretty much covered up or diluted, making it less effective. In my opinion 10 grains of real black is the practical minimum that should be used in a duplex charge.

[dwave]

Just repeating what was on the website. Personally, I would use real black powder if available in a flinter.

[1858rem]

still workin on that 10 lb minimum order from powder valley inc.

lately i been spending most money on reload equipment


im gonna tare down my flintlock kit i built and fitt it better to my cheek so i dont turn green an blue every time i shoot it lol

plan on getting....
2lb 4f
3lb 3f
5lb 2f


oughta be satisfactory for a while i think!:D:D

[Voodoochile]

That much FFFFG will last you & your kids a few life times.

I have 2Lb of FFG & 10Lb of FFFG.
I also have 3Lb of Pyrodex P & 1Lb of 777.

[1858rem]

2800 primes.....umm, maybe too much thanks for pointing that out

1lb 4f
4lb 3f
5lb 2f

hows that.


hey Voodoochile, i know its not bp, but i have mostly been using my 45 colt kirst konverter in my 1858, avg 920fps with a 255g slug with universal and shoots about 3-5" at 50 yards off a rest prone in my 8"



i think though when i get the bp i will test the duplex with 5, 10 ,and 15g bp with main charges of pyro and 777, then compare to some goex or swiss and see the accuracy and velocity differences....jus cuz i like using my new chrono so much....but it will be a while before i make a powder order, heck ill see how consistant a primed and charged load of solely pyro is too while im at it!

seein how much testing you do i thought id add that in for ya as far as conical vs rb lol

[arcticap]

GOEX's Pinnacle Powder and American Pioneer Powder can be used in some flintlocks without resorting to a breech prime of real back powder.
When GOEX first introduced their Pinnacle Powder I was told to take some and crumble it up in the pan of the flintlock as a lock prime. Testing it down around 35 degrees. It worked. I could shoot the flinter without black powder. Ignition was a bit slow but it worked. But this rifle has a fast vent. Not one with a long hole between the pan opening and the main charge opening.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=3470.0