Pyrodex Pistol Pellets?

[AbitNutz]

Anyone used these? Besides being silly expensive....any issues? I'm going to try them in my stainless 5 1/2 ROA

Cap and Ball revolvers just entered the modern age! No flask or spout, no loose powder mess; loading has never been cleaner or easier. These 30 grain volume Pellets are intended for use in 44 or 45 caliber cap and ball revolvers. Packed 100 pellets to the jar.

 

[ArmedBear]

I've used them in a Uberti Remington NMA replica. No problems. I bought them once because the store/range had nothing else.

I don't think they're really easier or cleaner than using a flask with a measuring spout. Either way, you're going to go home covered in soot.

 

[TomADC]

What do you think of their use in a brass framed Pietta 1851 Navy? The one's sold by EMF.

 

[AbitNutz]

I picked up a box of these "pellets" and a pound of 3F American Pioneer Powder. Never heard of either one. I suppose they'll both catch fire...

 

[arcticap]

35 grains of APP fffg worked well in my Remington and was easier to clean than Pyrodex. Loading several more grains of it in an ROA should work even better.
If the pellets give you any ignition problem, you can always load some APP under them as an ignition booster.
Let us know what you think about both the APP & pellets.

 

[AbitNutz]

I noticed that the pellets have a hole down the center. Upon thinking about it, it's likely the hole is to funnel the spark through the entire length of the pellet. Great idea. This would not be unlike a "flash tube" in some artillery shells.
However, I have a couple of problems with this.

1) The pellet has to line up perfectly in the cylinder...maybe.

2) The directions said to be careful not to "crush" the pellet when you ram it down. They seem pretty fragile. That may not be easy and result in inconsistent ramming pressure to avoid this.

3) They also say they "require" lube or wad. Not likn' that at all. The APP specifically says the opposite. No lube or wad needed.


Now I'm starting to rethink the worth of these. They seem relatively fragile

 

[SixShootinSam]

I have used some of these and I won't again for that very reason - they crush too easy.
Almost every time I seat a ball I can feel it getting crushed.

 

[Nicodemus38]

the pellets may or may not be getting crushed. i use pellets alot in rifles and well heres what i can say on pellet damage.

the black powder end of the pellet will have some slight chipping when the load is put in, in a rifle. I have loaded the same pellets multiple times without shooting in a rifle and they really dont dientigrate. merely make a little bit of dust when they hit the breech plug.
however the question we should ask is if these pellets actually seal the entire chamber as loose powder does, or do they merely stick half way in the revolver chamber with a nice layer of empty space between them and the percussion cap?

 

[Hellgate]

They are pretty "hot" compared to 30grs BP. I would NOT shoot them in a brass framed Colt for sure and I would hesitate to shoot them in a brass Remington as well. They seemed to give a pretty sharp rap in my Uberti Remington. I also did not get consistant ignition from them (several "pops" w/o the boom following).

 

[Pulp]

They are easy to crush. I tried them in my '60. I loaded all six at home, then for some reason never made it to the range that day. I was going to a cowboy action match a week or so later so I just left it loaded. The night before the match I drilled out one bullet (you only load 5 in CAS) and the pellet was crushed and very difficult to dig out. In fact, I didn't get it all dug out. First shot of the first stage I had a very unique experience. "BOOM" followed by what sounded like a jet engine, and a foot long flame coming out of the "empty cylinder". I also had a lot of delayed fire, you know "pop" and then "BOOM".

They work very well in .44-40 Winchester and .45 Colt cartridges. It kinda goes against conventional wisdom of BP loading, 'cause you can hear the pellet rattle around in the cartridge, but it is safe. And you'll get another 100 fps or so more velocity over a 30 grain FFg load in the same cartridge. That said, I don't use them anymore, due to the high cost.

 

[sandy4570]

I use the Pyrodex Pellets on my Pietta Army 60 and it shoot fairly well but it is too small for Dragoon (and Walker ) replica ,I tried it once from the Dragoon and it shot the still burning pellet into paper and caught it on fire .