Pyrodex: Lower velocity for same volume?

[flmason]

Seems most references to velocities show about a 10%-15% lesser velocity for equal volumes of Pyrodex P vrs. Goex FFFG. Everyone's experience back that up?

Are there any shippable substitutes that are closer to BP on this point?

I read that 777 is actually significantly hotter than anything else going, but really didn't want to exceed BP levels. It's also unclear to me whether 777 makes for a cleanup problem or not. I've read some, that it makes a very rock hard sort of fouling? And... it definitely seems to be the priciest, coming in 9 oz. containers, no less.

Anyway, what have the rest of y'all experienced?

For plinking in a Navy Colt repro I was happy with Pyrodex P. But for this '58 Remi I have coming I'm considering knockdown power.

Anyone know how much of a velocity advantage accrues to the use of cartridges?

 

[mykeal]

Goex black powder is shippable and less expensive.

 

[Pulp]

It has been my findings that Pyro P will give a bit more velocity than GoexFFFg. While 777 is indeed a bit hotter than any other ML powder, it still gives BP levels of performance.

If your talking about inlines, then yes 777 will create a "crud ring" just above where the bullet is seated if using shotgun primers.

 

[flmason]

@mykeal - really, wow. I've been reading everywhere that BP is classed as "an explosive and thus not shippable". Which I took to mean as "not shippable to private individuals via the mail". Guess I have some more legwork to do.

@Pulp - Hmmm... interesting. Every test I've read show Pyrodex P being at about 100 fps less for similar powder volume in C&B revolvers. Now I don't know what to believe, LOL!

 

[Shultzhaus]

Mykeal is correct. Goex is shippable, but you will pay a hazmat fee. He might be able to refer you to several web sites, that ship Goex.

 

[arcticap]

Swiss powder velocities can exceed Pyrodex P sometimes, in some pistols.
At least they're more closely matched.

 

[whosyrdaddy]

And... it definitely seems to be the priciest, coming in 9 oz. containers, no less.

Where did you find those? All mine are 1 lb. If you click the picture below, it takes you to Cabela's website where it lists only 1 lb containers. The grocery man has been playing a mean game of shrinking package sizes without lowering the price for a while now. If Hodgdon is trying to pull this same garbage, then we are all in trouble since they now own Goex.

 

[arcticap]

Blackhorn 209 comes in 10 oz. containers and is even more expensive, but then it's also comparatively fluffier.

http://www.blackhorn209.com/

 

[sundance44s]

Goex 3F is slower through my crono than Pyrodex P ...

 

[flmason]

@whosyrdaddy - At this point I'm not sure where I thought I say 9 oz. bottles of 777. Somewhere early in my research, as I looked at the price and weight and said... "Hmmm.... that's pricey".

Darned if I can find it now though. So I'm willing to write it off as my error or an error on a web page.

 

[mykeal]

Suppliers of real black powder:

 

[BHP FAN]

Pyrodex: Lower velocity for same volume?
Yes,or it sure seems like it anyways.I don't have a chrono,but in my penetration tests into 4x4 mill ends,777 came out on top,Goex right behind,and pyrodex dead last.

 

[mec]

Ive found that pyrodex P is close to swiss and both are "hotter" than goex 3f. Sometimes one is a bit faster and sometimes the other.
This might not have always been the case. Data published by a number of gun writers (some of the seem to be still using their old data) showed pyrodex p and goex 3f to be close together.

We tried a 25 year old can of pyrodex p and found it more like goex than swiss but this could be caused by aging rather than a change in formulation.

A lot of times, pyrodex gives extremely satisfactory performance but a couple of my revolvers persistently hang fire with it and the only solution is to use black powder in those guns. (right. I've tried everything and don't find any explaination for this.)

this particular revolver likes pyrodex very well:
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/digital/G0909.htm
loads on page 36