Pinnacle is very course-grained and blacker than Pioneer. It is alleged to be non-hygroscopic though, the presence of a desicant pack inside the can makes me wonder about that. It also tends to clump like pyrodex- indicating that at least in its unfired state, there is some moisture transfer taking place.
We shot it in 75 degree temperature with near-absent humidity due to drought conditions. A high wind kept us from noticing the volume of smoke or any odor and there was no odor about the fired handguns. In general, it ignited very well even with some old CVA pre-magnum caps I had on hand. Decanting it from flask or powder measure was tedious as it tends to bridge and stop up the spouts. This tendency was present with the approximately forty caliber micrometer adj. Measure I used for most loads. Loading was done in the same manner we use Black Powder and other substitutes (except h777) with balls compressed the full extent of the loading ram and no wads or inert fillers. This is possible with the loads used with all of the substitutes. While black powder will generally not allow this level of compression with the full chamber charges, it will do so with the majority of loads we used today.
.31 Colt type Pocket Model
Average velocity for five shots , .320 ball 12.5 grain charge was 415 feet per second Extreme spread was 117 feet per second- quite large considering the low average velocity. By comparison, we have recorded 720fps/ 51 spread with Goex; and 682/47 with Pyrodex P.
I was shooting over the chronograph at a 30 yard target - one hand and produced about a five inch group low on the silhouette. This is so much better than my usual shooting with a pocket model that I know it was a fluke.
.36. Model 61 Navy.-.380" Warren Ball and 22 Gr/vol Equivalent- Average of six rounds 754fps/136 spread. Substituting .375 Ball six rounds averaged 753 fps /46. This appeared to be a consistent combination so I fired another six rounds of the same load, This time-769/141 fps- the wide spread caused by a single outlier that clocked 856 fps . The down range groups fired in the manner above had several widely scattered fliers.
By comparison the same volume charge and a .375" ball did this with Goex FFFG- 966/65; with swiss fffg-1070/37 and Pyrodex P-1046/36. From a 51 Navy loaded with the same charge of American Pioneer, we got 639/113.
.44 1860 Army
35 Gr/vol equivalent .454 Ball 788/85 and with a 40 grain /vol eqivalent, we got 880 fps/125. I shot a moderately good 30 yard off-hand group with both loads. With 35 grains of Pyrodex P and the .454 Ball, this revolver has done 1055/69. With Swiss 3fg-1031/48.
We recorded 855/37 from a Second Generation Colt loaded with ball and 35 grains of Goex 3f. the Pinnacle appears to be narrowing the gap in velocity with Goex 3f but is less consistent shot to shot.
.44 Uberti Dragoon.
This revolver was the only one that demonstrated exceptional accuracy and acceptible consistency with Goex Pinnacle;
Six shots .454 Ball/ 50 Gr/vol equivalent Velocity /Spread= 951/49.
Six shots .457 Ball/50 Gr/vol. Equivalent Velocity/Spread=953/89
The 50 grain charge with .454 ball and goex has recorded 890/37. Swiss 37 has done 1217/51 while 45 gra/ vol of pyrodex P recorded 1157/55.
The dragoon showded some promise with Pinnacle. I shot a very fine .30 yard six shot "duelist"group with the .457" ball load group. The Pinnacle loads in the Dragoon actually exceeded velocities recorded with Goex 3f on a different day.
.45 Caliber Spanish Single Shot
.440 Ball / .015" patch /20 gr/vol charge
Velocities in sequence: 363, 368,438,461, 531(swab bore), 511,500,452,430. Extreme spread= 168 feet per second. With other powders, this pistol has demonstrated extreme spreads ranging from 19 to 70 feet per second.
It appears that Pinnacle is much less consistent and usually less powerful than black powder or the other substitutes and altogether less versatile. It became more consistent at the .44 Caliber level and actually equaled or bettered the velocity performance of Goex 3f. It was just about useless in a normally well-behaved single shot. Fouling build up on the external parts was minimal and wiped away with little or no effort. The revolvers never began to bind from any accumulation. There was no more residue than might have occurred with a modern revolver and jacketed bullets. The bore was quite a different matter as fouling quicly accumulated and seemingly baked on to the lands and grooves. It required quite a bit of effort to remove with the bp wash we had in the field but responded quickly to alcohol when It came time for thorough cleaning.
All in all, I prefer black powder and the other substitutes for their consistency and predictability. Of the substitutes, Pyrodex P is superior in revolvers and H777 has a number of advantages in the accurate single shot target and field pistols.
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