Blackpowder Pellets

[Intrepido]

Hello! I was looking through technologies and techniques to reload CapNBall Revolvers quicker than the regular method. I came across Black Powder Pellets and I began to get curious. What is binding the powder together? Are they compressed or is there a chemical side to it? Is it possible for these to be made in Smokeless powder? Thanks!

 

[ontarget]

NEVER EVER think about putting smokeless powder in a muzzle loader. It becomes a pipe bomb. There is a thread going now that has a video showing what appears to be smokeless in a ML.
I have not seen black powder pellets. Only BP substitutes in pellet form. I believe they are compressed not held by chemicals but I'm not 100% sure about that.

 

[drobs]

There was a similar topic here:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/making-my-own-pyrodex-pellets-possible.368942/

Seems it is possible to make your own pyrodex pellets.

Dithsoer writes:
"Actually you can make Pyrodex pellets with just water. I've made them before with a dowel rod and a section of pvs tubing of the proper size. I add a pinch of black powder first in the tube to assist combustion since it has a lower combustion temperature. An even better method is to mix a little dextrin or even sugar to the water that you are going to use. One can make pellets that are extremely hard and can not be crumbled with your fingers this way."

The problem is factory pyrodex pellets have a hole down the center of them that aids in ignition.

In regards to smokeless powder pellets for cartridge reloading - NOT FOR BLACK POWDER GUNS!!!

This thread has some reading on it:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...x-pellets-so-why-not-smokeless-pellets.43231/

The main issue is smokeless powder needs surface area to ignite.

 

[BullSlinger]

Smokeless Pellets would have no market except as stated above, to turn a Muzzle Loader into an entry into the Darwin Awards.
Pellets don't speed the process up enough for me to justify the expense. But hey that's just me.

 

[1KPerDay]

I have half a can of pyrodex pistol pellets. I hate them. They stink and they bound up the pistol... the only thing that has so far, including black powder, 777, and loose pyrodex powder.

see here if interested

 

[rodwha]

Smokeless Pellets would have no market except as stated above, to turn a Muzzle Loader into an entry into the Darwin Awards.
Pellets don't speed the process up enough for me to justify the expense. But hey that's just me.

Precisely. If I want a faster load making paper cartridges fills that need, which was fun, but to me not necessary whatsoever. I'll spend half a day at the range and shoot what ever I shoot and a lot of powder and lead can be consumed in 6-9 hrs...

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I personally see no advantage to the pellets. It seems more like a marketing gimmick than any kind of an advantage. Pre-measured loads of loose powder can be dumped as easily if not easier than the pellets with the advantage of adjusting for the optimum load.

 

[whughett]

I used the rifle loads for a number of years hunting. Several loads could be carried in a plastic tube. It was just easier to drop the pellets down the bore and the shot to shot consistence was guaranteed. Now I'm a purist, black powder only so no pellets. Cost was a very large factor. Shot for shot pellets are way more expensive.

 

[walterelm]

Did you encounter any prpblems using the bp pellets? ... Did they go bam every time?

 

[Patocazador]

To my knowledge there are no Black Powder compressed pellets unless you are able to make your own. The phony junk comes in pellets and is not worth the price.

What if you want a load with 85 gr. of powder, do you chunk it up or just go with 50 ... or 100? Plus the manufacturers say not to chunk up the junk.

 

[walterelm]

In europe, at least in germany, you do get black powder pellets. If you do not have a license to buy and store black powder, you may buy these pellets, because according to german law they are not considered to be black powder. Instead, they are considered to be equal to ammunition, in regard to storage. Dont ask, thats just the law.
Of course, i do have all the required licenses and use the real stuff to shoot my walker.

 

[BullSlinger]

Did you encounter any prpblems using the bp pellets? ... Did they go bam every time?

When I used pettets a few years ago I never had a problem with them not going off. Rifle pellets had a side down that had a coating to aid in ignition, pistol did not. They work just costly.

 

[CraigC]

I personally see no advantage to the pellets. It seems more like a marketing gimmick than any kind of an advantage. Pre-measured loads of loose powder can be dumped as easily if not easier than the pellets with the advantage of adjusting for the optimum load.

Pellets are for folks who hunt with a $200 inline from Walmart and can't be bothered with doing things the old way.

 

[whughett]

Pellets are for folks who hunt with a $200 inline from Walmart and can't be bothered with doing things the old way.

Here in the North East a lot of deer are harvested with $200 dollar Walmart inline. Don't think its about being bothered one way or the other. Its about being able to deer hunt in multiple but otherwise limited seasons in states that are restricted from using high power rifles. Many of those folks also have limited resources.

 

[CraigC]

It's about being able to hunt the early muzzleloader season with as little hassle as possible. No powder horn or flask. No powder measure. No pre-lubed patch. No experimenting to find what ball diameter and patch thickness works best. Just a little plastic tube with the pellets and sabot contained therein.

 

[rodwha]

I have various preloaded tubes but they are for loose powder.

I'm not interested in the pellets available because I cannot tailor my load (my rifle seems to like 70 grns of 3F) and don't care for the price hike in comparison. The convenience would be nice but I wouldn't concern myself with that unless I could create my own. But then the various tubes I have make it convenient and quick enough.

 

[CraigC]

Yes but the pellets aren't really marketed for those who are interested enough in blackpowder firearms to be on a blackpowder forum.

 

[alsaqr]

Yes but the pellets aren't really marketed for those who are interested enough in blackpowder firearms to be on a blackpowder forum

Malarky!! i know several guys who use pellets. One guy kills 8-10 deer, a couple elk, an antelope or two and numerous hogs every year with his pellet fed Knight rifle.

Do whatever you want to, go howl at the moon while wearing a coonskin cap. But don't put down muzzleloader folks who do something different from you.

 

[rodwha]

Inlines aren't my flavor, but as long as you are obeying the laws I don't care much what you use and would prefer others doing it in a way I don't care much for than to have too few hunters out there.

 

[Patocazador]

would prefer others doing it in a way I don't care much for than to have too few hunters out there.

You obviously don't hunt public areas in Florida. I was surrounded by hunters this last weekend. At the time I wished for LOTS fewer hunters.

 

[AlexanderA]

Actual black powder (not Pyrodex) "pellets" would be similar to a very coarse granulation, like cannon powder. Cannon powder is not particularly suitable for small arms, so I don't see such "pellets" being useful either. (I think the coarser the granulation, the slower the burn rate.)

 

[entropy]

In europe, at least in germany, you do get black powder pellets. If you do not have a license to buy and store black powder, you may buy these pellets, because according to german law they are not considered to be black powder. Instead, they are considered to be equal to ammunition, in regard to storage. Dont ask, thats just the law.
Of course, i do have all the required licenses and use the real stuff to shoot my walker.

That's because they are NOT black powder, they are a black powder substitute.

 

[drobs]

That's because they are NOT black powder, they are a black powder substitute.

I imagine walterelm is referring to these Vectan pellets made by Nobel Sport. Not sure if they are a substitute or real BP. It's not a Hodgdon product.

 

[CraigC]

Malarky!! i know several guys who use pellets. One guy kills 8-10 deer, a couple elk, an antelope or two and numerous hogs every year with his pellet fed Knight rifle.

Do whatever you want to, go howl at the moon while wearing a coonskin cap. But don't put down muzzleloader folks who do something different from you.

Uh, don't get so defensive. I didn't "put down" anyone for any reason. Lots of people use them for different reasons. I USE THEM. However, it is undeniable fact that the pellets are marketed for the reasons stated. As a matter of convenience for those who have no desire to have the traditional blackpowder experience. Far as I can tell, that statement doesn't impugn anyone's character, so relax.

 

[walterelm]

Yes, its the vectan product. And it is indeed black powder, not a substitute.
In fact, in Germany, it is more easy to use black powder instead of a substitute due to legal restrictions.