New Sharps - Smokeless Load Data?

[Jackrabbit1957]

Interesting, I've shot a lot of Pyrodex as well with no problems, both in cartridge and muzzleloaders. I too am in the southwest. Have left stuff overnight on occasion and saw no corrosion, same as Hawg.

 

[hawg]

I live in MS. It is very humid here. You would think if something was going to rust it would do it here first.

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I live in MS. It is very humid here. You would think if something was going to rust it would do it here first.

I think here in Florida near the coast we might have dibs on the rusting, humid Salt air...

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've shot factory loads (made for breech blocks), smokeless reloads and black powder reloads in my 45-70, I enjoy shooting the BP in my "smoke pole" I'll save the smokeless for the Marlin. When shooting at the public range the BP loads draws a lot of attention from younger shooters

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I do the same! Plus it's fun lobbing bowling balls at things far away.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I do the same! Plus it's fun lobbing bowling balls at things far away.

You got THAT right...

 

[Cliff Roberts]

Follow up question for anybody willing to share some wisdom.. as black powder is so difficult to come by in this neck of the woods, what is the general consensus on Triple 7 or Pyrodex 2f as a substitute for one F Swiss. I don't imagine I'm going to get the same level of accuracy and Pyrodex smells to high heaven but that's kind of what I got access to here period

 

[hawg]

I like Pyrodex. It performs close to Swiss 2F. It's the only sub I've ever used. I prefer Swiss but Pyrodex works well except it won't work in flinters and doesn't work well in paper cutter Sharps. Some people hate it and claim it rusts their guns up overnight if not cleaned. That is not the case with me. I frequently go two or three days without cleaning and I never have any rust or corrosion.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I have a Lyman Trade Rifle in .50 cal that I've shot nothing but Pyrodex RS out of since purchase (around 1984). It gets cleaned immediately (the same day) after shooting and is holding up just fine. You can't toss a BP rifle in the closet and expect to clean it a week later with any black powder or sub.

 

[Cliff Roberts]

@Captain*kirk that surprises me a bit! My 62 cal trade gun HATES pyrodex! I use Pyrodex when I load it with shot but it'll throw a slug. How does yours do with RB and pyrodex?

 

[Jimster]

I didn’t think smokeless powder worked in Sharps rifles.

 

[hawg]

I didn’t think smokeless powder worked in Sharps rifles.

The new ones it does. Its just not historically correct.

 

[Captain*kirk]

@Captain*kirk that surprises me a bit! My 62 cal trade gun HATES pyrodex! I use Pyrodex when I load it with shot but it'll throw a slug. How does yours do with RB and pyrodex?

With a TIGHTLY patched RB (1:48 twist)...IIRC, I think it's .495RB and either a .010 or .015 lubed patch...I can ring the 130 yard gong offhand almost every time with open buckhorn sights. Good enough for me, anyway. That's with 90gr Pyrodex RS.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I didn’t think smokeless powder worked in Sharps rifles.

The newer ones are proofed for smokeless. Check out the Sagebrush Longshots YT channel...the majority of the Sharps and Marlin shooters are using smokeless like Unique.

 

[Jimster]

Oh c’mon fellas. I was just funnin’! It does seem a bit blasphemous though.

 

[Cliff Roberts]

@Captain*kirk my flinter is a smoothbore. I've got a buddy might be getting rid of his 32 cal rifled flinter so I might have an option there.

I was just curious about everyone's opinion on the BP alts in cartridge guns. I know Pyrodex will spike in pressure when over compressed - not something I expect to do with a ramrod but, if I'm not paying attention, something that seems totally plausible with a bench press.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'm not paying attention

So pay attention. BPCR loading is some of the most tedious and demanding I have done.
An interviewer once asked a custom stockmaker how he dealt with overruns in his borderless checkering.
He replied, "I just don't do overruns."

 

[hawg]

@Captain*kirk my flinter is a smoothbore. I've got a buddy might be getting rid of his 32 cal rifled flinter so I might have an option there.

I was just curious about everyone's opinion on the BP alts in cartridge guns. I know Pyrodex will spike in pressure when over compressed - not something I expect to do with a ramrod but, if I'm not paying attention, something that seems totally plausible with a bench press.

If you keep your charges equal to bp volume to volume you'll be fine. Personally I don't "think" you'd have a problem with heavily compressed Pyrodex.

 

[Captain*kirk]

@Captain*kirk my flinter is a smoothbore. I've got a buddy might be getting rid of his 32 cal rifled flinter so I might have an option there.

I wouldn't recommend Pyrodex with a flintlock. My Trade Rifle is a caplock. I also have a Great Plains in flint but have no intentions of using anything but black powder in that one when I finally get around to shooting it.
Being a 'propellant' rather than an 'explosive', Pyrodex was designed to be harder to ignite than black powder. I would not recommend using it in a flintlock.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

It will light off in a flinter, with a booster charge of blackpowder and black in the pan. The rub is you gotta carry 2 different powders to do it. Why bother with the hassle? For me it just ain't worth the trouble.