Barrel cleaning Black Powder -v- Pyrodex

[donparadowski]

I am wondering if one uses Pyrodex in their weapon how will that effect keeping the bore clean and damage free. I am from the old school of thought that if you shoot a weapon, clean it promptly. All my bores are rust & pit free but they are all center or rim fire weapons. I am just getting into muzzle loading and I wish to keep my muzzleloader just as flawless. Please advise.

 

[Acorn Mush]

After shooting Pyrodex clean your firearm as soon as possible. Pyrodex residue is itself much more corrosive than black powder.

Over the years I have read many suggestions of additional inspection and cleaning after Pyro use, in order to ensure all the residue is removed. If it is not completely, rusting and pitting are sure to follow.

Are you not able to get black powder in your area?

 

[J-Bar]

I am a cowboy action shooter. In my experience I think Pyrodex produces less fouling than most real black powders. So I use Pyrodex in cartridges. I clean the guns within 24 hours and have had no problems with rust or corrosion. I prefer loose black powder (Schuetzen is my favorite so far) in percussion revolvers because it has a lower ignition temperature than Pyrodex. Sometimes I would get a "pop-bang" delay when using Pyrodex in a revolver. I don't clean a barrel after using Pyrodex any differently than when using real black powder, though.

 

[frontiergander]

its about as corrosive as black powder if you dont clean it for a month or 3. They all rot the bore until it looks like sewer pipe after honey boo boos mom got a hold of it. Cleans up the same as goex.

 

[Jimster]

Don't let the sun go down on a dirty BP/Pyrodex firearm.

 

[mjsdwash]

I bought an 1851 navy knockoff for 10$ because someone shot pirodex and forgot to clean for a few days, it was sold for parts, I would be careful

 

[midland man]

I use dish soap and hot water to clean my bp arms then lube with bore butter afterwards works great and I do it within 24hrs of shooting, never a problem!!

 

[frontiergander]

its takes a whole lot longer than a few days for a bore to start to rust up LOL. I hunt with fouled bores for up to a week during hunting season. BH209,goex, pyrodex, shockeys gold. You name it.

I do keep that chat stick bore butter out though. Worse product they ever came up with.

 

[AJumbo]

Clean promptly and thoroughly. I use the same methods and solvents for both BP and Pyrodex. I only occasionally use the "pump" method with hot water, and then only after extensive shooting. I generally just wet patch/dry patch until clean, then oil it inside and out.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I made a cleaning tray from a section of plastic rain gutter that is slightly longer than my longest barrel. Glue a cap on each end, fill the trough with hot soapy water (I use Dawn dish soap), immerse the barrel and allow it to soak for 5 minutes or so, and then swab the bore with a bore mop on a rod with the breech end submerged. Remove from the water, blow through and around everything with compressed air, spray the bore and exterior with WD40, wipe down and again blow it off and out with compressed air, and then apply your favorite protectant, coating, or miracle salve and reassemble for storage. I have not had a problem with my muzzle stuffers yet and this is the procedure I have used since my first about 8 years ago. I am currently using Mobil 1 as my storage protectant as I can drain enough from the jug after doing an oil change to use on my guns for a year......

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Don't let the sun go down on a dirty BP/Pyrodex firearm.

And if you do listen closely and you can hear your gun rust. Had a gun get rusted and messed it up pretty good from leaving it over night after an end of season dear hunt.

Guess the gun sweated some along with the Pyrodex residue. I've left guns for several days in the same conditions after using real gun powder and never had an issue.

I only use real black powder since.

 

[35 Whelen]

Research on this subject will reveal a variety of opinions. And there will always be that small handful of people who had one bad experience with a Chevrolet (...or Dodge or Ford) and now will NEVER drive another one. Well it seems to be the same way with Pyrodex. Some folks don't clean their firearms when and as they should and blame the powder when their firearms rust.

Ballistol is a wonderful cleaner of both Pyrodex and black powder. Most folks cut it 7 to 1 with water. In my experience it is extremely simple to use and thoroughly removes fouling and even serves as a protectant against rust. Google it and see for yourself!

35W

 

[tscmmhk]

From a scientific point of view of why pyrodex may be more corrosive than good old black powder is shown if you look at the MSDS sheet. One of the components of pyrodex is potassium perchlorate. When pyrodex burns one of the by-products because of the potassium perchlorate is potassium chloride. Potassium chloride is very corrosive to your gun. Regular black powder does not contain potassium perchlorate. Still I would make sure I always clean my BP guns after using them.

 

[midland man]

I was always under the impression it was the salts left behind after the bp is burned and moisture finding its way to the salts that cause rust?? any thoughts...

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes, but as tsc... said, real BP residue is mostly potassium carbonate which is not nearly as corrosive as even the trace of potassium chloride left by Pyrodex.

I clean my BPCRs on the range immediately after the match or practice session is over, then reclean at home.
Less work than scouring the lead out of a pistol barrel or soaking the copper out of a rifle barrel.

 

[tscmmhk]

That's absolutely true that the burned salts attract moisture that cause corrosion it's just that the potassium chloride that's left after a pyrodex burn is more corrosive than regular black powder. Potassium chloride is similar to regular table salt as far as it's being corrosive. Bottom line is that burned pyrodex or blackpowder all attract moisture from the air over a period of time that will rust your favorite gun.

 

[alsaqr]

Both black powder and Pyrodex contain charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate. Pyrodex also contains potassium perchlorate along with other stuff.

IMO: The corrosiveness of potassium perchlorate residue is much overblown. Triple Seven also contains potassium perchlorate as does JSG and Black MZ: None of these powders contain sulfur.

Triple Seven, JSG and Black MZ lack the corrosiveness of blackpowder and Pyrodex. The primary culprit in black powder and Pyrodex is sulfur.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Both black powder and Pyrodex contain charcoal, sulfur and potassium nitrate. Pyrodex also contains potassium perchlorate along with other stuff.

IMO: The corrosiveness of potassium perchlorate residue is much overblown. Triple Seven also contains potassium perchlorate as does JSG and Black MZ: None of these powders contain sulfur.

Triple Seven, JSG and Black MZ lack the corrosiveness of blackpowder and Pyrodex. The primary culprit in black powder and Pyrodex is sulfur.

It is the potassium perchlorate that makes Pyrodex so much more corrosive that BP. It leaves behind potassium chloride which is very corrosive. It is a salt and that is the white crusty deposit that soon forms on a firearm shortly after shooting Pyrodex.

Potassium chloride is mainly used for making fertilizer. Anybody that has ever used much fertilizer will know how corrosive it is on anything metal.

 

[Rattus58]

I am wondering if one uses Pyrodex in their weapon how will that effect keeping the bore clean and damage free. I am from the old school of thought that if you shoot a weapon, clean it promptly. All my bores are rust & pit free but they are all center or rim fire weapons. I am just getting into muzzle loading and I wish to keep my muzzleloader just as flawless. Please advise.

You need to clean them both as soon as you can... use 99% alcohol in the field to wipe as much residue as you can off, use Rand CLP to clean your guns... amazing stuff for later after shooting and ease of cleaning...

Pyrodex can kill a muzzleloader... true black will render it ugly... to me.. pyrodex is the worst for after effects... but in my case.. #1 for shooting... very very consistent and I use Pyrodex P for all my guns... .40 though 58.

Water works, by the way to clean your guns... a little detergent, a tooth brush and some pipe cleaners... leave your gun whistle clean... and don't forget the lock/trigger mechanisms either.

My OPINION on the subject...

 

[Panzerschwein]

At the range I use high test rubbing alcohol as a bore swab during shooting. It dries fast and degreases it.

At home, I use a mixture of about 5:1 of water to Ballistol. It works nicely to remove fouling during a normal field strip. During detail cleanings that I like to do every once and a while depending on the gun, I like to flush completely with hot soapy water in either the sink for pistols, or with a bucket for rifles using the suction rod method.

I haven't had a problem yet. One thing I do is make sure not to use petroleum products, other than Ballistol which has mineral oil, on my guns. When mixed with powder petroleum can make an awfully gummy substance that is no fun to clean.

I always try to find new ways for better, faster muzzleloading cleaning. Especially since I've really started to do more of it lately. Now that I'm really getting into it again, the weather gets super cold! Just my luck!

 

[kniejadlik]

I am a novice. What is the suction rod method?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Remove barrel from the stock, take of nipple, and submerge the breech end in hot soapy water. From the muzzle, insert a jag on a cleaning rod with a patch on it. Stroke. This will suction water up the barrel and out the nipple hole, cleaning the gun.

 

[alsaqr]

It is the potassium perchlorate that makes Pyrodex so much more corrosive that BP.

First: i don't find Pyrodex to be " much more corrosive" than blackpowder.

Second: Triple Seven, JSG and Black MZ also contain potassium perchlorate. They are much less corrosive than black powder or Pyrodex.

i clean the bores of my muzzleloaders with Windex Multipurpose Cleaner, formerly called Windex With Vinegar. It contains about three percent acetic acid. It neutralizes the fouling wihch is mostly base material. Mike Venturino, formerly the black powder editor for Shooting Times magazine, put me onto Windex With Vinegar about 20 years ago.

 

[Jimster]

I clean mine outside because it makes the house smell like a fart. Just sayin'.

 

[Rattus58]

Remove barrel from the stock, take of nipple, and submerge the breech end in hot soapy water. From the muzzle, insert a jag on a cleaning rod with a patch on it. Stroke. This will suction water up the barrel and out the nipple hole, cleaning the gun.

You can also just affix a length of clear fishtank air hose to your nipple and weight it into the bucket of hot water and soap.... if you don't want to dismantle your gun from the stock for some reason...

Aloha...