Pyrodex for Handgun Cartridges?

[jjohnson]

Well, there I was, minding my own business at WallyWorld and there was a clearance tag on all the muzzle loading stuff.....

So I picked up a pound of Pyrodex RS for nine bucks....

I can use this stuff in my charcoal burning .50 cal T/C White Mountain Carbine, but hey, shouldn't I be able to load .45 Colt with it? I shoot .44 Special and .38 Special along with all the other stuff. I was just wondering if any of you guys have any load data for Pyrodex.

If you're using it... I gotta ask... how is it for fouling?

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[ReloaderFred]

According to the Hodgdon 2008 free reloading pamphlet, 37 grains of RS will yield 848 fps with a 250 grain RNFP lead bullet in the .45 Colt. The pressure is listed as 11,900 CUP.

Does it foul? Yes.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[dwave]

OK here is the deal with pyrodex:

1. Fouling is bad. Also Corrosive. You need to get the gun cleaned up right away. Hot Soap and water is what I use.

2. No air spaces between the powder and bullet. You want to give some compression to the powder.

3. Clean the brass right away. You will want to clean them with hot soapy water right away. I clean them right away, straight into the bucket. Shake them up and then rinse them off. Repeat. That is my steps. After drying off, into my tumbler they go.

Shooting Black powder is very fun, as are the subs. You do have to be more careful about shooting it though. Cleaning is a top priority.

 

[rcmodel]

Cleaning is a top priority.

+1
You gotta ask yourself if totally dissembling your revolvers down to the last screw for cleaning with hot soap & water is worth the fun of shooting Pyrodex in them?

For me, it wouldn't be!

rcmodel

 

[Uncle Chan]

I just take the grips off of mine, remove the cylinders, and run them through the diswasher. Been doing it for over a decade with no problems.

 

[rcmodel]

Not with my S&W's & Colts you don't!

rcmodel

 

[Claude Clay]

guns + dishwasher x wife = me sleeping with snoopy

 

[Walkalong]

guns + me sleeping with snoopy in dishwasher = x wife - Oh wait, I got that wrong.

I am with rcmodel here, I just couldn't do it. Too much work, plus wear and tear on screws etc. Plain old smokeless for me.

 

[joneb]

37gr of RS compared to 6gr of Red Dot save the RS for your muzzle loader.

 

[Grassman]

I use to shoot a black powder .44 when I was I teenager. I haven't picked up that gun 20 years. So I thought I would get it out last week and re discover it. Took it out of the case, and what did I find......one huge rust bucket. OOOPS....like I said I was a teenager the last time I shot it, forgot to clean it up, now it's a door stop.

 

[Uncle Chan]

Not with my S&W's & Colts you don't!

Well, my Rugers are a bit more manly and tough, durable, able to withstand use, etc. than those girlie Colts and S&Ws.

Oh, and I shoot stainless. Did I forget to mention that?

 

[tango2echo]

I have loaded .45 LC and .44 WM with Pyrodex and Triple 7. Both work fine. Foul like heck. Triple 7 is not nearly as corrosive and cleans up with soapy water.

 

[dwave]

Oh, and I shoot stainless.

And it can still rust up went using Pyrodex if you don't clean it.

 

[Uncle Chan]

And it can still rust up went using Pyrodex if you don't clean it.

That's what the dishwasher is for. Then, I just wipe them down to get any hidden moisture, and oil them and put them away. After 10 years, no problems. No rust. No rusty springs, etc.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

how is it for fouling?

I gotta ask, how badly does it foul up your muzzle loader?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think you will like Triple7 a lot more than Pyrodex. It's slightly hotter, slightly cleaner and cleans up slightly easier too.

I don't use either personally but a friend sometimes uses Triple7 for his .38 S&W, .38 Special, .44 Special and .45 Colt rounds. They are fun to shoot and I kinda like the smoke...